Killerton with kids: National Trust Devon days out

Legend has it that on the hill near Killerton National Trust, a dragon lies – when it’s not popping to Cadbury Castle across the border in Somerset, apparently. And that was just the first reason to visit Killerton with kids on our family holiday in Devon.

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Because as well as exploring the National Trust house near Exeter in east Devon, there’s a huge estate to discover – 10 square miles, with trails galore, including a special poetry trail when we visited and a dragon quest play trail, plus gardens and woodland before you even get indoors.

With just a few hours to explore on our way back home from Teignmouth, after a rainy stop at Dawlish Warren beach, we didn’t have chance to see it all, but still managed to pack in as much as possible.

While the sun shone, we headed into the grounds first of all: you can follow the ancient trees walking route, or look for seasonal trails like the lovely poetry inspired walk we found as well as the walk to The Clump and up Dolbury Hill, home of that legendary dragon, also called Dolbury.

Leading us through trees and over bridges, past views down through the grounds, it was a great way to get kids interested in poems too, with animals and easy imagery to capture the attention.

We stopped and read to each other before my seven-year-old raced off to explore more.

But however hard we looked, there was no dragon to be seen – or its treasure.

Presumably it was taking a break from guard duties at its second home, one member of staff suggested later, which has another Iron Age hillfort like the one at Killerton.

Knowing the mound is an extinct volcano is a definite exciting bonus when you’re visiting Killerton with kids though, even if my daughter was quite happy with the gentler slope of the lawn to roll down.

Around the estate, you can also find the Bear’s Hut: once home to an actual bear cub, it was built as a summerhouse in the early 1800s, with stained glass windows and a thatched room – until around 50 years later, Tom the bear moved in, brought to Devon from Canada.

But if there were no dragons and bears to be found, there were mice… like many National Trust properties, Killerton has a great family trail through the house to spot a scurry of little grey mice figures dotted throughout the rooms.

Killerton house dates back to the 18th century, although the Acland family (which owned the estate until it was given to the National Trust in 1944) has lived here since the 1600s. 

At one point, plans for an even more impressive home were drawn up, although it was never built. Hidden in the woods for 240 years, it was rediscovered in 2017 and you can see the remains if you follow the walk to Columbjohn Wood.

But there’s plenty inside the existing house at Killerton with kids too: as well as the usual impressive and opulent rooms, plus the chance of spotting a mouse or three, we came across an organ in one room.

Then scampering up the staircase, under a series of crests, there’s a fashion exhibition upstairs – including dressing up for younger visitors, more of the mice and a chance to decide which outfit was our favourite.

As with most National Trust houses, the more you linger, the more there is to discover, including the lovely staff to chat to.

But with our final mouse found, we just had time to peek inside the laundry room around the corner and leave the flowers in the gardens behind, before heading back up the winding drive.

And just time to stop in the playground once more for a quick play – where, finally, we found our dragon.

For more things to do in Devon with kids, check out my ultimate guide to Devon as well as free things to do in Devon and ideas for a rainy day in Devon with kids

Need to know: Visiting Killerton with kids

Tickets to Killerton National Trust cost from £7.50 for children and £15 for adults (free to members). Click here for the complete opening times at Killerton, but during the summer months, the property is normally open between 10am and 5pm.

There’s a cafe and coffee shops, parking and multiple sets of toilets in the house, grounds and by the visitor centre. You can also find special events taking place throughout the year, including at Christmas.

*last updated 2024*

PIN FOR LATER: KILLERTON WITH KIDS, DEVON

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