National Trust - Knightshayes Court

The moment you walk through those wrought-iron gates near Tiverton, you're transported to the sort of Victorian excess that makes you either laugh or weep - depending on your tolerance for ornate plasterwork. Knightshayes Court is a proper feast for the eyes: a red sandstone mansion built in the 1870s with the kind of detail that suggests the architect had absolutely no concept of 'less is more'.

Inside, the rooms feel lived-in rather than museum-like, which is refreshing. The carved ceilings and intricate tilework are genuinely impressive, though some find it all a bit much on the senses. The real draw for most visitors is actually the grounds - rolling parkland with mature trees, a working kitchen garden, and genuinely good walking routes that'll eat up a couple of hours without feeling forced.

It's a National Trust property, so entry isn't free but it's reasonable if you're a member. Allow a good three to four hours if you want to do both house and gardens properly. Families with children over about eight will get something out of it; younger kids tend to run out of steam once they've seen a few fancy rooms.

The location works well if you're basing yourself at Nirvana Glamping nearby - you can do this in the morning, then spend the afternoon exploring the Devon countryside. It's absolutely worth a visit if Victorian architecture does it for you, though if you've seen several National Trust properties already, this might feel familiar. The gardens, though, are reason enough on their own.