Itinerary
9:00-11:00 Starting at Fingle Bridge, where there are plenty of parking spaces along the road, we will be walking to the Hydro-Electric Turbine (and back again!). We will then drive to the Castle car park.
11:15-12:45 (Divided into 2 groups)
Group 1: “Saving Castle Drogo” Project Scaffold Tour with Tim Camborne
Group 2: House Tour with Jill Smallcombe
12:45-13:45 Lunch – we recommend the café at the Visitor Reception where there is a good range of delicious hot and cold food.
13:45-14:30 Garden Tour and Stable Block with Jane Hammacott
14:30-16:30 Exclusive tour of the Drewe Family Flat with Ruth Johnstone and walk to Castle/Laundry Cottage.
16:30-17:30 Drive to pay our respects at the grave of Julius Drewe in the nearby village of Drewsteignton.
For those wishing to have some post-tour refreshment, the Church is next door to The Drewe Arms Public House.
How to get there
Address: Drewsteignton, near Exeter, Devon, EX6 6PB
By road: 5 miles south of A30. From the A30 take A382 Whiddon Down to Moretonhampstead road; turn off at Sandy Park, then follow signs to Castle Drogo. Approach lanes narrow with tight corners. From Plymouth drive over Dartmoor passing Two Bridges, when you reach Moretonhampstead follow the A382 to Sandy Park, turn right, and follow signs up to Castle Drogo. Due to the narrow roads on the approach to Castle Drogo coaches longer than 10.5 metres and wider than 2.39 metres (or bigger than 43 seats) are not recommended.
Parking: 400 yards, parking charges apply, £2 for up to 2 hours, £4 all day. Members free, but please scan your card in the machine to receive a ticket to put on your windscreen.
By train: Yeoford 8 miles
By bus: Take the Dartline Coaches Bus 173 leaving from Exeter bus station (passing Exeter Central train station), available Monday to Saturday. The bus drops off at the bottom of Castle Drogo’s drive which is a 800 yard walk uphill to the Visitor Centre.
Conserving Castle Drogo
Saturday 27 April 2019, 9am-5:30pm
Drewsteignton, nr Exeter, EX6 6PB
Join us for this exciting day of conservation. Think you know Castle Drogo? The Lutyens Trust invite you to join us on this exclusive tour of the House, Gardens, and the Estate. More then your standard National Trust visit, the day will include a tour of the Lutyens-designed gardens with the staff who care for it; a walk along the Teign Gorge to the newly restored Turbine House designed by Lutyens; a chance to meet architect and designer Ed Crooks, whose installation on the hidden spaces of the castle is currently on display; a special tour of the rooftops including the ongoing conservation works; some time to explore the castle (subject to confirmation it is hoped that we can include access to rooms in the castle which are not on the public route); and a look at some of the outbuildings (not usually accessible to the public), including the stables and cottages.
Of course the visit would not be complete with a delicious lunch, and a wide range of tasty lunches, cakes, bakes and drinks will be available to purchase at the on-site visitors centre.
All attendees wishing to participate in the roof-top tour need to wear appropriate clothing, be physically fit and have a head for heights.
This event is for members only – join here to book
Online bookings
Please make your booking online through PayPal using your credit / debit card or PayPal account.
Please note that if you are a member of the National Trust then you able to book with a discount of £5. Please bring your membership card(s) with you on the day. Without these, you may be asked to pay the additional £5 entrance fee.
Manual bookings
For postal applications please send a SAE and a cheque made payable to “The Lutyens Trust” to Rebecca Lilley, Trust Secretary, Danewood, Crundale, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7EF.
For more information please email Rebecca on rebecca.e.lilley@outlook.com
