Compton Castle
Compton Castle is a fortified manor house in Devon, England, notable for its medieval architecture, historic connection to the Gilbert family and Newfoundland colonisation, restored interiors, and small formal gardens.
Devon is a scenic coastal and rural county in South West England with historic towns, national parks, and popular seaside resorts, accessible by rail and bus.
Compton Castle is a fortified manor house in Devon, England, notable for its medieval architecture, historic connection to the Gilbert family and Newfoundland colonisation, restored interiors, and small formal gardens.
Paignton is a historic seaside town in Devon on the English Riviera known for its beaches, Victorian architecture, cultural events, and heritage railways, offering family-friendly tourism and coastal walking experiences.
King Doniert's Stone is an outdoor historic site featuring two granite cross-shaft fragments from the 9th century with intricate interlace decoration, an ancient inscription commemorating a Cornish king, and an underground rock-cut chamber possibly related to ancient mining or worship. The site is freely accessible with parking and open during daylight hours on Bodmin Moor near St Cleer.
Castle Drogo is the last castle built in England, located in Devon. It is a Grade I listed country house designed by Edwin Lutyens, featuring a mix of medieval and Tudor revivalist architecture. Visitors can explore the castle's interiors, formal gardens, and enjoy facilities including a café and shop provided by the National Trust.
Parke is a historic estate in Bovey Tracey, Devon with a grade II listed mansion rebuilt in the 1820s. It currently serves as the headquarters for the Dartmoor National Park Authority and has significant historical monuments in the nearby Bovey Tracey Church.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Castle Drogo revealing unusual objects kept in the house’s collection, including items requiring special storage and large objects displayed in custom-built frames.
Lundy is an English island in the Bristol Channel, known for its rich wildlife including puffins, and as Britain's first Marine Conservation Zone. Managed by the Landmark Trust, it offers both outdoor natural exploration and indoor historic sites and accommodations, attracting many visitors by boat and helicopter.
Coleridge Cottage is a 17th century historic cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset, where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived and wrote some of his famous works. Now a National Trust writer's home museum, it features period rooms, a garden with wildflowers, and serves as the starting point for the Coleridge Way walking trail.
Fyne Court is a National Trust nature reserve and visitor centre in Somerset, featuring historic estate grounds with woodland, ponds, meadows, and remnants of a 19th-century country house. Visitors can explore outdoor natural habitats as well as indoor visitor facilities including a café and shop.
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
A volunteer-led tour through the rooms of Coleridge Cottage explores the women who influenced Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s life and writing, including Sara Fricker and Dorothy Wordsworth.
Launceston Castle is a historic Norman castle ruin in Launceston, Cornwall, England, featuring extensive medieval stone fortifications including a motte, keep, high tower, gatehouses, and curtain walls. Serving as the administrative center of the earldom of Cornwall and later a county gaol, it is now a publicly accessible heritage site managed by English Heritage with archaeological remains and scenic views over the former deer park.
Launceston is a historic market town in Cornwall, England, known for its Norman castle, heritage railway, and rich cultural and historical heritage. It offers walkable town center attractions, including Georgian architecture, museums, and active cultural events.
The River Heddon in Devon offers scenic outdoor experiences with coastal river views, natural walks along the National Trust land, a cobbled beach, and historical ruins including a Roman fortlet and a lime kiln, making it a well-rounded nature and heritage destination.
Old Shute House is a Grade I listed medieval manor house in Devon, featuring a 14th-century great hall with the largest medieval fireplace in Britain, Tudor expansions, and an Elizabethan gatehouse. Managed by the National Trust, it offers a mix of historic indoor architecture and outdoor grounds reflecting centuries of English history.
Watersmeet House is a National Trust property in Devon featuring a historic fishing lodge with a tea room and shop, nestled at a river gorge confluence and serving as a gateway to extensive woodland and riverside walks. The site includes a notable area of ancient oak woodland designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Hound Tor is a granite rock formation on Dartmoor in Devon featuring weathered granite outcrops, ruins of a medieval village, and nearby prehistoric remains, offering an outdoor experience popular for rock climbing and cultural history.
Overbeck's Garden at Sharpitor is a Grade II registered Edwardian garden in Devon featuring a subtropical collection of plants, themed garden areas, and a historic house housing a museum with maritime exhibits and unique displays like a secret door and musical box.
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Join Overbeck’s gardeners for a guided walk through the garden, with insights into its unusual plants, gardening techniques and coastal setting. The tour is intended for everyone from keen gardeners to casual visitors.
Salcombe is a picturesque resort town in Devon known for its historic maritime heritage, sailing activities, sandy beaches, and charming waterfront, attracting tourists with its natural beauty and cultural events.
Lambert's Castle is an Iron Age hillfort in Dorset, open to the public as open access land and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Visitors can explore steep natural slopes, historic earthworks, and enjoy views from Lambert's Castle Hill, with nearby parking available.
St Catherine's Castle is a 16th-century Henrician coastal fortification in Cornwall, England, overlooking the mouth of the River Fowey. Originally built to defend against invasion, it features a distinctive D-shaped stone blockhouse and historic gun platforms, and is now a preserved ruin managed by English Heritage for visitors to explore its historic military architecture and coastal views.
The Royal Citadel is a historic 17th-century military fortress in Plymouth, Devon, built on the site of an earlier Tudor fort. It features large defensive walls, historic architecture, and remains an active military base with guided tours for visitors.
23 May–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A display at Saltram brings together two companion portraits by Joshua Reynolds and explores the story of ‘Jersey’, an enslaved boy depicted in one of them. Visitors can encounter historical research and conservation insights through audio, scent and touch.
The Hurlers is a group of three prehistoric stone circles located on Bodmin Moor near Minions in Cornwall. Visitors can explore these ancient outdoor monuments along with nearby standing stones called the Pipers, managed by the Cornwall Heritage Trust and recognized as a Scheduled Monument.
The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge in Branscombe is a National Trust property featuring a historic thatched bakery, a restored working watermill, and England's only thatched forge, with a tea room and blacksmith selling ironwork.
Dunster Working Watermill is a restored 18th century watermill in Dunster, Somerset, featuring working overshot wheels to grind organic flour, set within the grounds of Dunster Castle. Visitors can explore the historic mill machinery indoors and enjoy the surrounding outdoor area including the castle grounds and a cafe.
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, with stories about the cooks, maids and other staff who worked there.
Loughwood Meeting House is a historic Baptist chapel near Dalwood, Devon, dating back to the 17th century. It is notable for its thatched stone construction, early Baptist origins, and its designation as a Grade II* listed building managed by the National Trust, with limited regular worship use.
Bradley Manor is a medieval manor house in Devon featuring a detached early 15th-century chapel, medieval wall paintings, and a collection of Pre-Raphaelite art and Arts and Crafts furniture. Set in limestone woodland and meadows, it offers both indoor historic exploration and outdoor natural beauty.
Newton Abbot is a historic market town on the River Teign in Devon, known for its Victorian railway heritage, thriving markets, cultural venues, and historical landmarks like St Leonard's Tower and Bradley Manor.
Penhallam Manor is a historic medieval fortified manor house site in Cornwall featuring exposed foundations and moats. Visitors can explore the ruins and surrounding outdoor area managed by English Heritage, reflecting an important Norman to medieval heritage site.
Okehampton Castle is a medieval motte and bailey castle ruin in Devon, England, historically serving as a fortification and later a luxurious hunting lodge with extensive deer park grounds. The site offers scenic views and insight into medieval noble life, operated by English Heritage as a tourist attraction.
Okehampton is a historic market town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, England, known for its Norman castle, medieval religious sites, and vibrant outdoor and cultural activities. It offers rail access, local public transport, and a walkable town center surrounded by scenic countryside and historic landmarks.
Hawker's Hut is a small historic timber hut near Morwenstow, Cornwall, built by poet Robert Stephen Hawker and offering coastal views. It is maintained by the National Trust and accessible by foot along a coastal path.
Burrow Mump is a historic hill in Somerset featuring the ruins of a 15th-century church atop a Norman motte, offering visitors panoramic views and a significant war memorial managed by the National Trust.
Totnes Castle is a well-preserved Norman motte and bailey castle in Devon, England, featuring a 14th-century stone keep on a commanding hilltop above Totnes. It is managed by English Heritage and offers a historic outdoor experience showcasing medieval architecture and fortifications.
Totnes is a historic market town in Devon, England, known for its medieval castle, rich heritage, vibrant arts and alternative lifestyle community, and scenic riverside location near the River Dart estuary.
Lydford Castle is a medieval castle in Devon, England, historically significant as an early purpose-built prison and a centre for forest and stannary law enforcement. Visitors can explore the castle ruins managed by English Heritage and the adjacent Anglo-Saxon earthworks owned by the National Trust, reflecting law, order, and medieval authority in the region.
Restormel Castle is a well-preserved Norman shell keep castle near Lostwithiel in Cornwall, notable for its unusual circular design and historical significance. Visitors can explore the outdoor ruins and enjoy its scenic riverside setting with a picnic area, maintained by English Heritage.
14 Oct, 21 Oct…
A friendly weekly group walk at Lanhydrock, offering gentle exercise, time outdoors and the chance to chat with others. The walks follow a slow-to-medium-paced route over varied paths, including some hills.
Grimspound is a late Bronze Age prehistoric settlement located on Dartmoor in Devon, England, featuring 24 stone hut circles enclosed by a massive granite wall. Visitors can explore the extensive outdoor archaeological site surrounded by natural Dartmoor scenery, gaining insights into ancient settlement structures and early human activity in the region.
Buckland Abbey is a 700-year-old Grade I listed former Cistercian abbey in Devon, converted to a historic house museum notable for its connection to Sir Francis Drake. Visitors can explore the unique architecture, museum collections, and extensive grounds including historic barns and gardens.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition marking 75 years of Buckland Abbey welcoming visitors, reflecting on its significance to the local community and visitors. Attendees can share memories and stories of the abbey.
Finch Foundry is a 19th-century water-powered forge in Devon, England, preserved by the National Trust, showcasing historic agricultural and mining hand tool production with operational demonstrations of water-powered hammers.
Greenway House is a historic Georgian estate on the River Dart in Devon, once home to Agatha Christie. Visitors can explore the house, riverside gardens with diverse plants, and the Barn Gallery showcasing local art, with connections to Christie's literary legacy.
12 Oct (next Monday)
Join a Greenway Gardener for a walk around the garden to learn about tree safety management, tree decay fungi, structural defects and the ecological importance of trees.
Blackbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort in Devon featuring large earthwork ramparts and an oval enclosure, situated within a scenic natural area. Visitors can explore the outdoor archaeological site and enjoy views of the surrounding valleys.
Berry Pomeroy Castle is a Tudor mansion ruin within a late 15th-century castle in South Devon, known for its picturesque romantic ruins and reputed hauntings. It is managed by English Heritage and open to the public as a historic site with extensive outdoor exploration.
Kirkham House is a late medieval stone house in Paignton, Devon, featuring original oak beams, medieval-style furnishings, and a historic interior open to visitors at certain times of the year.
Cadson Bury is an outdoor Iron Age hillfort near Callington, Cornwall, featuring a large oval enclosure with curved ramparts and ditches, owned by the National Trust and accessible to the public.
Dupath Well, near Callington in Cornwall, is a Grade I listed historic well-house built in 1510 over a natural spring, featuring distinctive granite architecture and medieval religious significance. Visitors can explore the well-house and its ancient water trough in a scenic outdoor setting.
The Butter Cross in Dunster is a historic 15th-century market cross, a Grade II* listed building and scheduled ancient monument, managed by English Heritage and the National Trust, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval market traditions in Somerset.
Cleeve Abbey is a medieval Cistercian monastery in Somerset featuring some of the best-preserved monastic buildings in England, including cloisters, a refectory with a wooden vaulted ceiling, medieval tiled floors, and historic wall paintings, open to public visits under English Heritage.
8–9 Oct, 15–16 Oct…
A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, exploring the work and stories of the cooks, maids and other staff who kept the castle running.
Coleton Fishacre is a historic Arts and Crafts style country house with 24 acres of rare, exotic gardens running down to the sea in Devon. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a combination of beautifully preserved interiors and scenic outdoor garden walks along the coast.
Dartmouth Castle is a historic artillery fort in Devon, built from the 14th century onward to protect Dartmouth harbour with significant gun batteries and fortifications. Now managed by English Heritage, visitors can explore both indoor historic buildings and outdoor gun platforms, enjoy scenic views, and learn about its military history from medieval times to World War II.
12 Sep–21 Oct (another 12 days)
An outdoor exhibition presents shortlisted photography and film exploring nature, people, places and environments, including the impacts of and adaptations to climate change. The exhibition takes place throughout the garden at Coleton Fishacre.
Cotehele is a Grade I listed medieval and Tudor manor house in Cornwall with extensive historic gardens, a working restored mill, and riverside quay, offering both indoor and outdoor historic experiences. It features original Tudor interiors, chapels, and has been used as a film location.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Cotehele exploring tapestries and other textiles in the collection, including how they were made and their significance to the property’s history. Visitors can see items such as cushions and natural dyes, along with objects that have been stored away.
Saltram House is a well-preserved Georgian country house near Plympton, Devon, featuring exquisite interiors by Robert Adam and a fine art collection including works by Joshua Reynolds. The estate includes expansive gardens and parkland, offering both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences.
Killerton is an 18th-century Georgian country house in Devon with extensive gardens and an estate including ancient hill forts and Roman sites, open to the public under the National Trust with historical costume displays indoors and scenic outdoor walks and landscapes.
13 Oct, 15 Oct
A guided walk through Killerton’s orchards explores historic apple varieties, traditional orchard management and their role in Devon’s rural life. The walk also visits the cider barn for an overview of how apples are turned into cider.
Antony House is an early 18th-century Grade I listed historic house museum in Cornwall, featuring fine 18th-century furnishings and a notable art collection. It is complemented by Georgian landscaped gardens and a large woodland garden with walking paths, offering both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences.
Torpoint is a planned town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, notable for its ferry link to Plymouth, historical roots, and naval training connections offering a scenic riverside visit.
A la Ronde is an 18th-century, 16-sided historic house near Exmouth, Devon, notable for its unique octagonal design, intricate Shell Gallery, and beautifully crafted interiors. The site includes Grade II listed gardens and the adjacent Grade I listed Point-in-View chapel. Owned by the National Trust, it offers a blend of indoor and outdoor historic experiences.
7–11 Oct, 13–18 Oct…
An exhibition about the 18th-century Grand Tour and the travels of Jane and Mary Parminter, whose journey through Europe influenced A la Ronde. Visitors can see travel souvenirs, pages from Jane’s diary and an original board game to play.
Exmouth is a historic seaside resort town in Devon known for its long sandy beaches, marina, watersports, and status as the western gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It offers Victorian architecture, walking and cycling routes, and a vibrant town centre with leisure and cultural amenities.
The Wellington Monument is a 175-foot tall triangular obelisk located on the Blackdown Hills near Wellington, Somerset. It commemorates the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo and offers an outdoor historic landmark experience with an internal viewing platform. Owned and maintained by the National Trust, the monument was restored and reopened in 2021.
Gallox Bridge is a 15th century narrow stone packhorse bridge in Dunster, Somerset, crossing the River Avill. It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument, managed by English Heritage, and notable for its historic architecture and rural setting near Dunster Castle.
5 Oct–2 Nov (another 24 days)
An exhibition marking 50 years of the National Trust at Dunster Castle, featuring golden objects from the castle’s collection, including its rare gilt leather hangings. Visitors can also learn about the castle’s gift to the Trust and view a film presenting a virtual gallery of the hangings.
Trethevy Quoit is a well-preserved Neolithic dolmen located in Cornwall, England. It features large standing stones capped by a massive slab and is accessible to the public for free. The site is managed by Cornwall Heritage Trust and is part of the region's rich ancient heritage.
Bayard's Cove Fort is a 16th-century artillery blockhouse located at the entrance of Dartmouth harbour in Devon. It features historic military architecture with multiple gunports and is managed by English Heritage, open to the public for exploration of its significant coastal defence heritage.
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Little Acorns is a term-time session for children under five at Coleton Fishacre. Families can explore the garden on a welly walk and take part in creative outdoor activities.
Dartmouth is a historic town in Devon, England, known for its medieval streetscapes, maritime heritage, and riverside setting. It offers cultural festivals, historic castles, and walking trails along the scenic River Dart.
Knightshayes Court is a Victorian country house near Tiverton, Devon, known for its architecture by William Burges and extensive historic gardens. The Grade I listed house and Grade II* listed gardens offer a blend of indoor heritage and outdoor landscape experiences, including rare features like a stické court and a golfing memorabilia exhibition.
The Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, is a historic Grade I listed octagonal building from the early 17th century, originally built to support the local wool and cloth trade, featuring a unique central pier with timber roofing and marked by Civil War history.
Holnicote Estate is a historic country estate in Somerset within Exmoor National Park featuring extensive natural landscapes, historic villages, walking trails, and a hotel-operated hunting lodge. The estate includes notable hills such as Dunkery Hill and Selworthy Beacon, ancient monuments, and a National Trust-managed nature reserve.
Dunster Castle is a historic motte and bailey castle and 17th-century manor house in Somerset, featuring medieval gates, Victorian Gothic remodeling, and extensive gardens including a National Plant Collection. It offers both indoor and outdoor experiences as a National Trust property.
7 Oct–1 Nov, 7–8 Nov…
Explore Dunster Castle’s refreshed display of seventeenth-century gilt leather hangings depicting Antony and Cleopatra. The display presents new research and examines the hangings’ craftsmanship and place in art and culture.