There are some places near to where you live that make you sometimes think; "If we moved from here I'd really miss this". This morning was one of those occasions. A 10 minute drive down the road, a short walk, with the girls collecting a multitude of pine cones, feathers and small sticks along the way.........
.....brought us here to Heavens Gate. A stunning, peaceful location on the Somerset/Wiltshire border, where you can see for miles across Somerset, Longleat House and its estate designed by Capability Brown in the latter half of the 18th century.
The sculptor, Paul Norris, worked on these stones (made from Granite originating from Mabe in Cornwall), for 2 years whilst living on the estate, and carved the them inspired by his surroundings.
Like Paul, Heavens Gate lifts my spirit too, as I know it does many others that live and visit this lovely part of Wiltshire.Here is what Paul had to say;
"Heavens Gate is a magnificent place of beauty where people spend time absorbing the splendour of Longleat House and its park. My intention was to convey beauty through emotion rather than attract attention by art. I hope the sculptures will act as a greeting place rather than an attraction as they are set back from the viewpoint. The Millennium was the end of an era and the beginning of another, which encouraged excitement and hope for the future. Longleat is so very special as it changes with the times but holds onto its deep rooted history".
I have many happy memories of times spent at Heavens Gate. I have photos of me standing in the circular stone when pregnant with big shrimp and others of her tucked up in her sling carried by daddy when she was newborn. I have one particular memory of walking up there one Sunday morning when 41 weeks pregnant with little shrimp. Mr Shrimp and big shrimp striding on ahead telling me to hurry up as only a man can who has no idea of quite how much climbing a hill when overdue with a child, can take out of a pregnant woman!! There have been lots of pictures taken over the years here of the girls standing in the circular stone and our picnics together.
Only last week I whittled away 4 hours here, chatting away with a very dear friend I've met since living here in Wiltshire, whilst our two girls played hide and seek with each other behind the carved stones, before enjoying a picnic lunch in the April sunshine.If ever you are this way, or visiting Center Parcs at Longleat, then take an hour out of your day to visit this spiritual place. It is located on the same road as the Center Parcs entrance. A little further up on the left you will find a car park, cross over the road into the clearing and follow the path...it's worth it, you'll see.
This is selling in Cath Kidston at the moment for £25.00, but good old WH Smith has it reduced to £7.50. I was able to use the 20% off discount card that I had knocking around in my purse from a previous purchase which made me smile even more!
