A few weekends ago we ventured over to Castle Ashby, the ancestral home of the 7th Marquess of Northampton. The beautiful house is set in the heart of a 10,000 acre estate, with 35 acres of stunning gardens so as you can imagine there's lot of space to explore. There are romantic Italian gardens, a unique Orangery and impressive Arboretum to discover, with plenty of sensory experiences a long the way. The gardens are open 365 days a year, which I feel is pretty rare with older houses. During the winter time you only have to pay £4 for parking because the toilets, gift shop and café are all closed. However you could always take your own picnic and enjoy a vast amount of beautiful space for a very affordable price.