Bickleigh Castle
8.9Tiverton, Devon, England
Exclusive Use
You can have the venue to yourself, sleeps 40 guests in 18 rooms.
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Fortified castle, nestled in Devon countryside, by the river Exe
Historic Bickleigh Castle is situated in the Devonshire countryside surrounded by acres of countryside and the River Exe.
House Parties
Bickleigh Castle is perfect for a large group of family and friends to stay for a weekend, a week, or longer.
The castle can comfortably accommodate up to 40 adults in a variety of cottages, luxury bedrooms and suites. The Tudor Suite is located in the main castle building with the remainder of the accommodation in traditional thatched cottages overlooking the courtyard.
Bickleigh Castle is able to offer very flexible arrangements depending on your requirements – self-catering, part-catered or fully-catered.
House parties include exclusive use of the estate (except for the private wing), meaning that no other guests will be staying during your visit.
Exclusive use includes: 18 bedrooms, Great Hall, Guard Room, Armoury, Chapel, Orangery, Banqueting Room, Mews Sitting Room and Bar, 5-star commercial kitchens, tennis court, croquet lawn, gardens and parking.
Activities
The estate comprises a large amount of land, some 45 acres of which is available for your enjoyment - the gardens, the 25-acre field across the river, and the 5-acre field next to the chapel and the River Exe itself.
Previous groups have held football games, zorbing, tug-of-war, cricket, archery and croquet. There is a hot-tub for relaxation, or the river for wild-swimming, fly-fishing, kayaking and rafting.
The lane (public) is suitable for walking, running and cycling. Clay-pigeon shooting and horse-riding can be arranged, as can a treasure hunt (for children or adults) and a history tour of the castle.
Themed events are popular, previous examples included a “Medieval Staycation” where dress, meals, music and even activities were of the period and a “Great Gatsby” themed weekend.
There is plenty of scope for more activities, just let us know your ideas!
The Dining Room can be used for a grand dinner event, or you could arrange a drinks reception in the Great Hall – but of course, you may prefer something different!
Local Area
Bickleigh Castle is in a beautiful part of mid-Devon affording good walking and cycle-rides.
The local town of Tiverton has shops, its own castle, horse-drawn canal barge trips, and an excellent museum.
Exeter (nine miles away) is famous for its Medieval cathedral, its historic quay and many other items of interest.
The castle is almost equidistant between the English Channel coast and the Atlantic coast – there are the famous promenades of Dawlish (where the GWR expresses pass), Torbay and Dartmouth and the open spaces of Dartmoor to the south, and the wilds of Exmoor and the beautiful sandy beaches near Barnstaple to the north.
History
In 600 AD, the Saxon Meeting House (now the chapel) was first built. In 1018 the original ‘Motte & Bailey’ construction was built to defend the Bickleigh community, which included cottages and a Saxon manor house.
Prices
House parties are priced on a "per guest" basis, which means that you only pay for the number of people attending. From 20 guests, the weekend rate is £290 self-catering per person (£145 per night) or £395 fully-catered (including full hotel services). Part-catered is between the two and will depend on requirements. Extended stays (e.g. a week) are usually accorded a percentage discount.
Location
Bickleigh Castle is in Devon in South-West England, just 20 minutes from the M5 motorway. The castle is easily reached from Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St David's Railway Stations, and Exeter Airport. London is a little over 3 hours' drive away.
Reviews
8.9