The Estate
Gardens
The Italianate terraced gardens were laid out in
1863. The plans showed the Spanish chestnut tree outlined with an arrow
to the blank dairy wall nearby; 'For conservatory when the tree
falls’. We are still waiting! If you go exploring you might
find the Rose Garden and Rockery amongst the Rhodies too.
There is a walled where we grow some vegetables
for our kitchen - you can enjoy the results. It is beautifully
sheltered with old varieties of apple trees, plums, pears and figs.
We preserve most of the 600 acres of old woods and
the bogs in their natural state; they are an extension of the gardens
for us. There are acres of bluebells, rhododendrons, ferns, heathers or
lichens and many different fungi, depending on the season.
Farm
The farm is
stocked with 1,500 sheep, which we work with border collies and an ATV.
We do not grow any crops – the climate is not suitable. The
sheep are bred for their meat or breeding and the wool, which we clip
once a year, just about covers the cost of shearing. Lambing starts
around the middle of March when one hopes there will be sufficient
grass growth. The farm is in REPS (Rural Environment
Protection Scheme) which means that we endeavour to farm in
an environmentally friendly manner.
There are miles of walks
through our EU Special Area of Conservation surrounding the lake with
rare wet woodlands, with many trees covered in stags horn and other
lichens, honey suckle, thickets of wild raspberries or banks of red or
white alpine strawberries in season. Further a field explore our
ancient naturally sown Scots pine forests with bilberries, mountain
ash, wood anemones & acres of blue bells and rhododendron etc.
Wander through the colourful bogs looking for plants that eat flies or
rub your hands through the seeds of bog myrtle for a wonderful natural
scent.
Temple House Lake
is about 200 acres in size, 1 mile long and pear shaped, it has a
limestone substrate with many springs of fresh water. There are four
boats on the lake which you may use to go fishing or to visit the
crannogs and promontory fort.
We provide maps
to show the paths, tracks, roads & many other sites of interest
in the estate.
"We
got back to Spain safely, and we just wanted to send you a quick e-mail
saying what a wonderful time we had at Temple House. It certainly was
one of the highlights of our honeymoon. I hope we can be back soon!!!!!
Everything at that marvellous house of yours was superb.
We really felt at home." Carmen June 2008
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