This December, staff and volunteers at Knightshayes are inviting visitors to join them for a traditional family Christmas. From 1 to 23 December from 11am until 4pm, visitors will be able to see the house adorned with Victorian decorations and festive cheer. As they wander from room to room, they will discover the ornate dolls houses on display, each from a different time period, just one part of Knightshayes’ festive experience which celebrates Christmas traditions from past and present, including the story of crackers and the advent wreath. Father Christmas has taken time out of his busy...
There is something for everyone to enjoy this November at Knightshayes Court near Tiverton. From a fresh wintery stroll through the spectacular woodland garden or a tasty hot soup in the Stables Restaurant to three unique festive shopping opportunities.
From the 1 of November up until the end of February, dogs with well-behaved owners are welcome to explore the formal gardens. Alternatively, they can take a stroll in the tranquil, frosty parkland that heads down from the house to a secluded pond. Crunching their way around the mature trees, both furry and human visitors can take in...
A new children’s play area at Knightshayes Court will be officially opened on Saturday 22 October in time for half-term.
Injecting new life into four fallen oak trees, the installation includes a tree house as well as tunnels bored into the trunks of the huge trees.
For 150 years, the cluster of fast-growing turkey oaks towered over the gentle, rolling landscape at Knightshayes; until the high winds of winter 2014 resulted in all four blowing over. Three came down in just one night, casualties of a storm which caused over 100 trees to fall across the estate, the greatest...
As the summer holidays descend upon us, Knightshayes have kicked off the summer with a packed out programme of exciting events. These include the opportunity to climb the biggest Turkey Oak tree in England as well as achieve lots of the activities on the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ list.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the summer holidays, there’ll be plenty of chances to get outdoors and close to nature exploring Knightshayes’ wider woodland and parkland. 2 - 4 August: Plant it, Grow it, Eat it. With a huge, fully productive kitchen garden,...
Families can travel all around the world this half-term at Knightshayes, following in the footsteps of intrepid Victorian plant hunters. With the launch of a brand new family trail, they can discover amazing trees, shrubs and flowers from all corners of the globe.
The Knightshayes garden passport trail takes families all around the beautiful woodland garden. From Chile to Australia and Taiwan to North America, explorers will have to find the passport stamp on each tree and add it to their own Knightshayes passport which they can collect visitor reception.
Designs for a new play area at Knightshayes are to inject new life into four fallen trees which were the victim of some of the worst storm damage the National Trust estate has ever seen.
The designs, which include a tree house and tunnels bored into the trunks, will form a new natural play area looking to reintroduce risky play into a safe world.
For 150 years, the cluster of four oak trees towered over the gentle rolling Devon landscape at Knightshayes – until the high winds of in the winter of 2014 resulted in all four blowing down.
Knightshayes is undergoing some important, though rather unusual, conservation work this winter including the repairing of a tiger’s ears.
Traditionally, National Trust properties are closed during the winter, but the team at Knightshayes feel it’s the perfect time to witness conservation first hand and discover new items from the collection. Over the next few months visitors will get to see a different side to the gothic mansion as staff and volunteers set about deep cleaning the rooms and collection. Although the team work hard to take care of the estate all year round, the most...
From 5pm until 8pm on 11-13 and 18-20 December, staff and volunteers at Knightshayes Court are hoping to make the festive season extra special by inviting visitors to explore the house and illuminated garden after dark.
They will be able to wander from room to room feeling the warm cheer of a traditional Christmas; and then pop on their woolly hats and snug coats to stroll along the terraces and see parts of the garden transformed into a winter wonderland.
Peta Richards, Visitor Services Assistant, said: “We hope to bring back the magic for families. They can peer at...
As part of the National Trust's ‘50 things to do before you're 11 ¾’ campaign, two highly skilled and friendly instructors from The Great Big Tree Climbing Company will help kids of all ages have a summer adventure at Knightshayes.
Running from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 August, between 10.30am and 4.30pm, hour-long climbing sessions will give participants the chance to enter a tree's canopy using ropes, knots and karabiners, whilst being securely attached in a harness at all times. The climbing sessions will be held in Knightshayes’ Formal and Woodland Garden, which is in full...
Knightshayes is hosting its third annual celebration of local food and music in the parkland on every Sunday during August. These are free events for the whole family.
Soupstock was started in 2013 as a way to help new audiences discover Knightshayes. The aim was to put together an event to complement the local food served in the café, much of which is sourced from Knightshayes’ kitchen garden. The rolling Devon hills and the gothic stables block form the backdrop to this popular event.
Last year’s line-up included some great music from local bands followed by some top...
