K is for Killerton

That is where I ventured today for letter K of my alphabet tour. Its just a 40 or so minute drive from home, a quick run down the motorway to Cullompton, followed by a nice country drive for a few miles until this National Trust Estate is reached.

I arrived in the middle of quite a stream of cars at about 2pm. We wound our way through additional car park after additional car park and eventually found spaces here and there! It was a very popular choice of destination for this bank holiday weekend Sunday. 

I had often seen signs for Killerton  as I had driven to Exeter and beyond on the M5 motorway, but had never before thought to visit it. Its about 7 miles outside of Exeter itself.

Would you give your home to the National Trust?  That's what Sir Richard Acland did in 1944 when he gave his house, garden and ten square mile estate to the the National Trust!

Killerton was the home of the Aclands, an important Devon family, for 350 years and the house was probably built as a temporary residence in 1778-9.  There seems there was nothing temporary about it as it is still standing today and makes for a great tour as I found out.

An impressive and inviting tea room in converted stables greeted me on my arrival (along with a tempting National Trust Shop, second hand bookshop, plant shop and visitor reception).

Having not had much for lunch because I wanted to get on the road as quickly as possible, I was quite hungry, so could not resist a beautiful home made cheese scone and coffee in the tea rooms - I sat at a table out doors in the warm sunshine.



Refueled, I purchased my ticket and started to explore the estate.  I headed first to the house, which I could see in the distance, along with many, many cars parked infront of it - turns out there was a classic car show on which would add to the enjoyment of the day.

The walk towards the house was beautiful and very tame sheep and goats grazed the route.

My first close up view of the house - reminded me in some way of Lee Abbey (for those of you who know it - don't you think!)  It was missing the beautiful sea view though and had a view over Exeter, looking towards planes taking off from the airport!

Could almost be the Lee Abbey Octagonal Lounge jutting out into the garden there!!













Before entering the house for a mooch around I decided to go and have a look at all the classic cars.  I don't know much about classic cars, but enjoyed looking.  Here are a few photos of ones that took my fancy! There are quite a few car pictures - just scroll down quickly through them if you are not particularly interested in cars - there is much more about the house and gardens to follow after these photos!!!

This Morris car reminded me so much of the one my grandad used to drive. I don't think his was one with an opening top, but otherwise its very similar, even down to the lovely red leather seats on the next picture. I still remember the smell and touch of them!

A live band playing jazz on the site made for a very relaxing time wandering around and looking at hundreds of cars. 'Don't think my Clio will ever make it to one of these shows!

After looking around the cars, I headed to the main event - the house!

Lady Acton's bicycle propped up outside the house.

 
The front door!  I don't have any photos of the inside, beyond this point.



















The tour of the house was fascinating. There were very informative signs at each point of interest, along with friendly and interesting guide people in most rooms. 

I loved the music room with its grand piano, organ and tiny piano.  Musical visitors are allowed to play the grand piano and organ if they so wish.  I don't think there was anyone musical or brave enough when I was there as I walked around in silence!

Upstairs in the bedrooms was a fascinating costume exhibition with many clothes of all sorts from over the years (even dolls clothes!).  I did not do so, but the guides were encouraging people to try on the clothes.  A really nice, hands on experience and taster of how people used to dress. Some of our ancestors used to change their clothes up to 6 times a day, depending on the occasions of the day!

I loved the nursery too and there were some hands on toys and old fashioned colouring pages for the children to get stuck in to, along with a beautiful glassed over dolls house (to keep little fingers out!)

After a good amount of time spent looking around the house, I decided it was time for sunshine and ice cream! To the side of the house is the garden tea room and there I purchased a delicious locally made honeycomb ice cream which I ate whilst sitting on the sunny lawns with many others.

A few more pictures.  The above picture was taken while I was in the queue at the tea room, waiting to pay for my ice cream.  Those arm chairs look so inviting!

Here are some pictures of the tea room and the lawns. They are the last I was able to take on my phone as the battery unexpectedly died - (note to self  - pack spare camera next time!)

The garden tea rooms











After my sit down in the sun and my ice cream I rambled my way around the magnificent hillside garden.  How I wished that I had had a spare camera!  There were so many photos just waiting to be taken and nothing to take them with!

My walk took me to various places in the grounds including this bear's hut (thankfully there were postcards available in the shop, so I bought some and scanned them in to my computer so I could show you at least some of the places I could not photograph!)

This rustic, thatched hut was once home to a Canadian bear!!  It was lovely inside. Everything, even the floor was made from logs and tree trunks. The floor was made of slices of tree trunk circles arranged in a lovely mossaic type pattern.

Here is a post card of a bit more of the hillside garden














The final building I visited on the estate was the chapel. Here is a postcard of that

After visiting this chapel I made my way back to the very tempting and enticing shop to purchase these postcards.  I could have spent a fortune there, but didn't have a fortune to spend!








So, I headed back to the car, the car parks now almost empty!   Killerton estate closes at 7pm or dusk, depending which comes first.  It is very child friendly.  There are lots of picnic areas (formal and just anywhere on the lawns you fancy!), a play area, discovery centre and all sorts of fun for kids.  You can also fly kites there on the lawns.

For the less mobile there are driven buggies that tour the gardens and take you from the entrance to the house.  There are several pick up and drop off points. There is also a designated disabled car park.

If you fancy visiting and want to stay in this beautiful part of Devon longer, there are 5 holiday cottages on the estate.

If you want to see more and read more about the estate and perhaps plan a visit click HERE
That link will take you to the Killerton page on the National Trust website and it has all the useful info about prices, opening times etc!

Hope you have enjoyed sharing my day out with me through photos and writing as much as I have enjoyed my day and compiling this blog entry!

See you soon from somewhere beginning with L!