Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
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)
is definitely worth a detour. Yearlstone is on the outskirts of the village of
Bickleigh, 10 miles north of Exeter on the A396.
Knightshayes Court
(NT; 01884-254665;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
; Bolham; adult/child £7.20/3.15; 11am-5pm daily early-
Feb-Oct; )
For a full-blooded dose of Victorian excess, head to Knightshayes Court. It
was designed by the eccentric architect William Burges for the Tiverton MP John Heath-
coat Mallory in 1869. Burges' obsession with the Middle Ages resulted in a plethora of
stone curlicues, ornate mantles and carved figurines, plus lavish Victorian decoration (the
smoking and billiard rooms feel just like a gentlemens' club).
The gardens feature a waterlily pool, imposing topiary, terraces with extensive views
and an inspirational kitchen garden. Knightshayes is 1 mile east of Tiverton at Bolham;
bus 398 runs to Bolham from Tiverton (10 minutes, seven daily Monday to Saturday).
HISTORIC BUILDING
Grand Western Canal
( 01884-254072;
www.devon.gov.uk/grandwestern-canal
;
Canal Hill, Tiverton; open access; )
Built in
1814, the canal that meanders around the hills above Tiverton provides an intriguing in-
sight into life on man-made inland waterways. Tub boats carrying limestone from local
quarries worked this waterway for 130 years before the network declined. This 11-mile
stretch is all that's left. In November 2012 severe flooding and storms caused a massive
breach of the canal at Halberton; water thundered into the surrounding fields and 20 fam-
ilies were evacuated from their homes. Engineers dammed the canal either side of the
fractured embankment, and the local council pledged £3 million to rebuild it before the
canal's 200th anniversary in 2014.
The breach hasn't affected activities at the canal basin near Tiverton. Here water-side
displays chart its history; there's also the sweet
Ducks Ditty
( noon-4pm Tue-Sun Apr-Oct)
canal-
boat cafe-bar and a
boat hire office
( 01884-253345;
www.tivertoncanal.co.uk
;
noon-3.30pm Tue-Sun
May-Sep, from 10.30am Sun-Fri July & Aug)
, which rents out motor boats (one/four hours £40/90),
row boats (one/four hours £10/25) and Canadian canoes (one/four hours £15/30). Or jour-
ney on a brightly painted
horse-drawn barge
( 01884-253345;
www.tivertoncanal.co.uk
;
adult/child from
£9.50/7; 1-2 trips daily May-Sep)
. On these all you'll hear is gurgling water and clip-clopping
horses' hooves as you look out for moorhens, kingfishers, little grebes and roe deer.
The Grand Western Canal and Country Park is on the outskirts of Tiverton. Tiverton is
15 miles north of Exeter on the A396.
CANAL
