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Main Instructor:

Click to View: Bruce Perkins Instructor Page

Walk Description:

Meet at the free car park to the entrance of Tapeley Park (Post code EX39 4NT)

Located in the parish of Westleigh, Tapeley Park (part of the Christie Devon estates) sits high on a hill overlooking the river Torridge with commanding views of the North Devon coastline.

Following a warm up in the car park while soaking up the views on offer we will make our way along a defined fenced pathway to the monument built in 1855 and enjoy one of North Devon’s finest coastal views. 

Here we also find the Labyrinth – find your own journey through the Labyrinth. Follow your heart and no matter how despondent you become at finding yourself back at the outer ring time after time you WILL get there.

From here we will return along the same path to the car park before entering the enchanted woods with centuries’ old trees as we make our way down to the hidden lake that is home to various dragonflies and Kingfishers. Our return journey to our start point will prove how beneficial learning the Nordic Walking technique of ascending steep paths actually is.

Once we catch our breath we will visit the history room where the history of Tapeley really comes to life over a period spanning time from the Crimean war (1853-1856) to the present day, before rewarding ourselves with some light refreshments in the Dairy Tea Rooms prior to exploring the gardens.

We will marvel at the 18th century Ice house and Shell house folly & wander aimlessly while admiring the vast collection of fruit and veg on offer in the Walled Kitchen garden. I’ll be keen to see the Kennels & Straw bale house before stepping around the Sundial & Shepheard’s shed to enter the Middle terrace gardens. We will seek out the Ilex tunnel and discuss its amazing construction. We can rest up in the Toot while taking in all that the Bottom terrace garden has to offer including the icon Italian garden. We have kept the best for last ‘’The Permaculture garden’’ a model of how agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient are displayed at their very best.  

Location Notes:

Enjoy the Tapeley Park Gardens experience