Come along to A la Ronde and stock up on reading and reference books during our annual bumper second hand book sale from Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August, 11am - 4pm. You will be able to browse a wide and varied range of titles and authors, including reference, fiction, children’s and antiquarian books. The sale is in the marquee and entry is free. All funds raised go towards conservation work of the unique and quirky collection in the house. A la Ronde is open 7 days a week. The grounds and tea room are open from 10.30am until 5.30pm with last order at 5pm. The house is open from 11am with...
On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, months of apple picking across all 500 acres of orchards on the Killerton estate culminates in a two day family festival to mark National Apple Day. Sparrow Park orchard is festooned with bunting, stalls are scattered between the apple trees, and live music drifts in and out of the shade. The amazing smell of a traditional hog roast will greet you at the gate, tempting you to try all sorts of tasty local food produced right here on the Killerton estate. Live music will conjure up a magical atmosphere and will have you dancing round the apple trees. A...
In 1965 the National Trust launched the Neptune Coastline Campaign to protect the coast from the threat of development and look after it for the nation for ever. That same year, St Austell Brewery chairman Egbert Barnes included a passionate postscript in his annual company statement. It read: ‘May I commend to shareholders’ generosity the National Trust’s Enterprise Neptune to save as much as possible of what is left of the country’s coastline? Nowhere is that more important than it is in Cornwall.’ Following words with actions, in 1966 Mr Barnes and the Brewery helped to buy and give to...
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...
The Killerton Kitchen restaurant has won gold in the prestigious ‘Taste of the West’ awards celebrating fantastic local food and drink in the South West.
The judges were highly impressed with the food and service, putting the restaurant on par with other’s in Devon such as the River Exe Cafe and Two Bridges.
Killerton is the only National Trust property to have a full-service bistro restaurant where diners can enjoy high-quality, home-cooked dishes and afternoon teas. Special evening fine-dining events are held once a month.
Following a popular programme of activities last year, the National Trust rangers in East Devon are once again running free family activities each Wednesdays of the summer holiday at Branscombe. With an extended list of events, including kite making and den building, Wild Wednesdays looks set to be even more successful than last year. Ranger Ruby Cole explained: ‘Last year some families came to all of our Wild Wednesdays and, for that reason we’ve added new activities, including a big wild sleep-out which I’m particularly excited about. It will include a supper around a campfire followed...
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...
Killerton, near Exeter, is hosting three evening theatre shows this summer against the backdrop of its wooded hillside garden. On Thursday 16 July at 7.30pm, visitors will be transported back to a time when finding the perfect match was the order of the day. Heartbreak Productions’ performance of Jane Austen’s classic ‘Emma’ explores themes of class, dating and friendship alongside a healthy dose of wit and humour. On Tuesday 4 August at 7pm, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men are giving an action-packed production of Shakespeare’s greatest romantic comedy,’ Twelfth Night’. This is a story of love...
The colourful characters from ‘Mr Stink’, the celebrated novel by David Walliams, will come to life with Heartbreak Productions. A heart-warming message is at the heart of this humorous performance as two souls forge an unlikely friendship. Call 0844 249 1895 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton to book advance tickets.
The sun came out and so did thousands of people to the biggest mass participation event the National Trust in the South West has ever organised.
The Big Beach Picnic yesterday (4 July) took place at 15 different locations across the South West. From Wembury beach and even Branscombe in Devon to Gunwalloe and Marazion beach in Cornwall to Weymouth and Brownsea Island in Dorset to Bossington and Brean Down beach in Somerset. There were events at some of our secret coves like Pentireglaze Haven, Polzeath and Portnadler, Looe in Cornwall to the big stretches of beach like Woolacombe...
