Leave Knightshayes house through the smoking room and conservatory café and this vista opens out,
Wicker deer have appeared at several nation Trust properties recently, I think they are the work of Woody Fox and they make a lovely addition to the lawns and woodland wherever they’re placed.
Turn the corner around the front of the house, then stand back and admire,

The garden is beautifully planted, and there were quite a few plants that I didn’t recognise.

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Family sized benches with a view.

I loved these windows.

and the creatures supporting this curved one upstairs. But lets stroll around the corner now to the rest of the garden.

Isn’t this a lovely path? But look behind you,

This simple elegant planter was a real delight for the eye.

Years ago, when I first visited Knightshayes I feel in love with this tree. It’s a weeping silver pear, pyrus salicifolia, and it still takes my breathe away. I think that bench is a spot that Jude would enjoy.

From the pond, take these steps down and you can either turn left and go to explore the Garden in the wood, where I took you last weekend and turn this gentle stroll into a Monday walk that Jo would like, or turn right and head back to the from of the house.

Spend a few minutes sitting in the summerhouse house, there are jewels to be seen.

Then linger along the long border, where some of these beauties are planted.

We could see heavy rain clouds coming our way, so we had tea and cake in the conservatory and then made our way out through this pretty gate.

Knightshayes, a Gothic revival house was built in the 1870’s, for the Heathcote-Amory family, who made their fortune in the lace and textile industry. Heathcotes is still in existence to this day, they make high tech materials and have a factory and shop in nearby Tiverton.