Quick Find
When the sunshine starts breathing life back into nature, what better place to appreciate the blooming of springtime than the sprawling grounds of a country house. From carefully pruned topiary to sparkling swimming pools, these classic locations can provide stunning backdrops for any summer shoot.
One of the most striking properties on our roster is The Welsh House, a cruck framed farm house tucked away in Monmouthshire. Its vibrant tangerine-hued renaissance tower stands beautifully in contrast with blue skies, its windows winking in the sunshine and surrounded by gardens in all directions.
From its character-filled front door, networks of cobbled paths lead to other rustic buildings and outhouses, each dressed in softly hanging wisteria. Pots and planters line every walkway, whilst secluded seating areas can be found nestled amidst trees of all shapes and sizes. A little further on lies a tidy vegetable garden, its raised planters teeming with bushy-leafed plants and trellises. Looking beyond the greenhouse and out into the distance, there is only green and blue; the rolling countryside stretching out as far as the eye can see.
Not too far away, in the rolling Somerset countryside sits Gaulden Manor, a historic home with period features around every corner. Reshot last summer to better showcase its exterior, the grounds are now filled with lush greenery and lively wildflowers.
The property’s original doorways and textured walls are perfect backdrops, broken up here and there with a smattering of foliage. Further on, pretty courtyard spaces and rustic outbuildings lay waiting to be discovered down daisy-lined paths.
Located near the village of Malmesbury, this beautifully converted barn is ever popular for summer scenes. Traditional topiary gardens weave their way around the dramatic stone facade of the barn whilst olive trees sway on the sun-soaked patio.
There are plenty of stunning spots to choose from in these grounds, but the glittering outdoor pool is a particular highlight. The pastel blue tones of the shiplap pool-house feel fresh and coastal, yet the golden stone walls and scented lavender bring forth the timeless style of the Cotswolds.
Further up north lies The Rectory, perched atop a hill near the market town of Stamford. Its original peaked windows and arched doorways look lovely in the summer sun, particularly when framed by the thick bunches of lavender growing beside the stone steps. Sweeping views spread out before this Grade II listed building, from its neatly manicured lawns and beyond into the Lincolnshire countryside.
To the rear of the property lies a gorgeous courtyard space, with climbing greenery and colourful flowers at every turn. This location’s grounds seem to stretch on endlessly, with the peaks and chimneys of the house just poking above the trees when viewed from the pondside decking.
Every inch of this Georgian property’s gardens are meticulously maintained and gorgeously photogenic. The main veranda is a particularly lovely spot, dappled with afternoon sunlight through climbing foliage. A second, even leafier veranda can be found in a red brick courtyard too, surrounded by fragrant verbena which attracts the hum of bumblebees.
The exterior boasts multiple picturesque seating areas, each one decorated with terracotta pots and planters. The largest dining patio sits beside the stable-style buildings, a single towering tree above offering gentle shade and a leafy ceiling to the room-like space.
Whether it be shady dining spots or winding garden paths, all of our country locations have so much to offer on a shoot day. With the weather getting warmer each day, we can’t wait to get back beneath blue skies at these beautiful homes.
We have a wonderful journal post talking about The Rise of the Country Location which explores in more detail why these locations have become more popular in recent years.
If you’d like to see an example of a recent shoot at Gaulden Manor, take a look at this post where we go On Location with Graham & Green.
To browse our entire collection of countryside locations, take a look at our Country Houses listing page.
