Driveway design inspiration from the UK’s stately homes

Here at Beauxfort, we’re firmly of the opinion that gravel driveways rarely lead to ugly houses. Proving our point are the UK’s stunning stately homes. While your driveway may not run to the lengths of these historic houses, you can draw inspiration from the way that the beautiful gravel driveways perfectly complement these magnificent homes.

1. Polesden Lacey, Surrey
   Polesden Lacey in Surrey is an Edwardian spectacle with glorious countryside views. Its entire frontage is a golden gravel apron and fringed with topiary, giving it a simple but polished appearance. Opting for a gravel driveway that stretches the width of a house provides a great deal of flexibility when it comes to manoeuvring vehicles, and is a design that can be incorporated into smaller homes too.
   

   Polesden Lacey, Surrey

2. Montacute House, Somerset
   Montacute House’s primary driveway approach is a simple affair – poker straight and flanked by neat lawn. Keeping a driveway simple is a sure-fire way to let the home’s architectural features shine. In Montacute House’s case, magnificent Renaissance styling has been created from local ham stone and large windows.
   

   Montacute House, Somerset

3. Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire
   The sandy tones of Luton Hoo’s gravel driveway complement the stonework of this stately home-turned-hotel. Cleverly, the gravel driveway shoots off into matching gravel pathways allowing access to the formal gardens and giving a pleasing continuity to the design. This matching driveway and pathway feature could be incorporated into your own grand design if space in your front garden and around your home allows.
   

   Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire

4. Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
   Hatfield House boasts an iconic gravel driveway that encircles a contemporary water feature in bold contrast to the fine Jacobean building. The gardens are notably kept to a minimum around the driveway, with simple lawn and well-considered topiary keeping things simple so as not to distract from the majesty of the house. The Renaissance water sculpture takes pride of place on the North Front of the house.
5. Crag Hall, Derbyshire
   Nestled in the Peak District, Crag Hall has astounding views over the surrounding countryside. The grey gravel contrasts the sandstone of the house, with gravel pathways leading visitors into the gardens that spill down the hillside. While grey gravel may be typically more popular with modern properties, Crag Hall is an excellent example of how grey gravel can work for period homes too.
6. Goodwood House, West Sussex
   Home to the Duke of Richmond, Goodwood House features an impressively large gravel turning circle at the end of a long gravel approach. The sweep of the gravel driveway and the turning circle clearly indicate the amount of land there is to play with on a property, but it’s also highly practical, allowing cars to come and go without reversing. If space is plentiful this is a great statement and practical feature to incorporate in a driveway design.

Achieve the perfect gravel driveway with the Beauxfort Gravelrings system. Check out our website www.beauxfort.com for more information about the Beauxfort landscape systems, design inspiration and to request a free sample, or talk to our friendly team about your project by contacting us on 0330 055 2599 or info@beauxfort.com.