20/10/2024
We’ve had some beautiful weather this week (and thankfully dodged the worst of Storm Ashley overnight!).We ventured to Castle Drogo-National Trust on Thursday and did the stunning Teign Valley Gorge walk. Starting at Drogo, walking along the top of the gorge with beautiful views of Dartmoor, then through woodland before dropping down to Fingle Bridge and walking along the River Teign in full flow with a picnic stop, though the woods before the climb and scramble back up around Sharp Tor to the castle.
Desperate to go again in a couple of weeks when the leaves have even more autumn colour.
Last time we went the castle was under renovation so it was lovely to explore it again with the kids now it’s back to normal and it is lovely. Our Downton Abbey fan daughter loved it and even youngest, who has the attention span and energy levels of a springer spaniel, found it ‘OK’!
It’s probably the most modern National trust we’ve been too and very ‘unstuffy’. The wide corridors and lightness, especially in all the functional servants quarters and storage areas, are so weirdly modern. Fascinating building and the feel of the two sets of lives lived in it was really striking. I think we all found the staff areas the most engaging-the butlers quarters and the bell system were particularly interesting to all of us for some reason.
Actually it would be lovely to have been given more information on the key staff and put some faces and names to them, as well as the family.
Maybe running around after two kids and three dogs I found I could more easily relate to them 😅.
Southole Barns The Barns sit within a peaceful secluded setting and enjoy amazing views over the surrounding countryside.
