Festive Grandeur at Knightshayes Court
Organised by OutdoorLads
Check with the organiser before travelling, as this source may not report cancellations.
Location
Central Devon
OutdoorLads shares the exact meeting point with people who have signed up, closer to the date. See the OutdoorLads listing for details.
About this event
Kick off the festive season with a scenic, varied winter day walk on the Devon/Somerset border! Starting directly from the National Trust’s grand Knightshayes Court estate, our circular route weaves together peaceful estate parkland, the River Exe valley, the historic Grand Western Canal, and quiet rolling country lanes through charming hamlets.We’ll finish our hike back at Knightshayes with plenty of time in the afternoon to warm up with hot drinks, festive treats, and explore the spectacular Victorian Gothic mansion dressed in its full Christmas glory.Event OverviewDuration: ~4 to 4.5 hours (excluding post-walk estate visit)Distance: ~8.5 miles (13.5 km)Difficulty: Moderate. A mix of estate trails, flat canal towpath, gentle rural ascents, and quiet paved country lanes.Pace: Social and steady, with stops for photos and a packed lunch on the trail.The Route HighlightsKnightshayes Parkland & Bolham: Leaving the estate grounds, we head west through ancient parkland before dropping down towards the picturesque village of Bolham.Grand Western Canal: Joining the tranquil, flat towpath at the edge of Tiverton, following the historic waterway eastward toward Copplestone.Devon Countryside & Hamlets: Turning north through rolling countryside, passing Craze Lowman, Peadhill, and the village of Chevithorne before looping back through Chettiscombe.Estate Return: Entering the Knightshayes grounds through the tranquil wooded trails to complete the loop.Afternoon: Knightshayes Christmas Festivities After completing the walk, we will head into the courtyard to enjoy a well-deserved hot drink, mince pie, or festive treat from the Stables Café. You’ll then have the rest of the afternoon free to tour the Knightshayes Victorian mansion, lavishly decorated with towering Christmas trees, seasonal garlands, and glowing period displays.Note: Access to the estate grounds and car park is free for National Trust members (remember to bring your NT card!). Non-members can pay for parking/entry on the day.DogsDogs are welcome to join us on this event but we do ask the following:Please appreciate the fact that not everyone is a dog owner or lover- especially when we stop to eatPlease ensure you adhere to the Countryside Code at all times - see (Keeping Dogs Under Effective Control)If your dog is uncontrolled and strays in open land frightening other animals or livestock, the leader is supported by the OutdoorLads board of trustees to ask you to leave the event as this is not acceptable behaviour.Please note that dogs are not allowed inside Knightshayes Mansion.Photo Credits: All photos taken by OutdoorLads Members and permission is granted to OutdoorLads for further use.Also - please note: All photos taken during summer. Obviously in December it'll be a lot more wintery and less sunny!
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