Visit the youngest castle in England (our suggestion: take a picnic lunch)
A National Trust visit with a difference at the Lutyens designed Castle Drogo in Devon. It’s undergoing major refurbishment work (cost £11m) and rather than detracting from the visit, this made it very fascinating.
Extensive scaffolding, shrouding and boarding sounds like a place to avoid but it actually enhanced our visit recently and we had a really interesting and unexpected time!
The visitor centre was new and at the café its worth enjoying some coffee and cake before testing your head for heights and scaling the scaffolding under strict supervision. But once on the viewing platform and looking down on the Castle it was too interesting to be lily livered. I won’t say more, it would spoil your visit, but trust me, conquer your fears and go up there!
Inside, the Castle is having the same degree of TLC. There is plenty to see and imaginative temporary theatrical installations tell the history of this fascinating family. The gardens are wonderful too, plenty for children to explore (make sure they see the cute Wendy house and miniature garden.
Then, with picnic in hand, head down the gorge along the Teign River, along Fisherman’s Path. Stunning scenery, great picnic spots beside the river, blackberry picking at the moment too.
Once you arrive at Fingle Bridge, you’ve earned a riverside seat and a cream tea at the Anglers Rest (very delicious and cardiac arrest amounts of cream). Retrace your steps, or take Hunters path on the nearside bank, a steep rise to start with but fabulous views of the valley and distant scenery, working off some of that cream as you go! Enjoy, we loved it.
