Arlington, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4LP
Arlington Court is one of North Devon’s most complete country house experiences, and a visit here rewards a leisurely half-day at the very least. The house itself is a modest Regency building, but what it contains is genuinely remarkable: the National Trust’s largest collection of horse-drawn carriages anywhere in the country, housed in the magnificent Victorian stable block. Over 40 carriages and nearly 100 sets of harness are displayed here, from elegant town coaches to working farm vehicles, and the collection tells the story of transport and rural life with rare depth and humanity.
The grounds are equally rewarding. A walled kitchen garden, formal Victorian terraces, a wildflower meadow, and a wildlife lake with one of the most impressive heronries in the region all make for excellent exploring. The lake and surrounding woodland are managed specifically for bats, and evening bat walks in late summer are among the estate’s most popular events.
The house tour reveals the remarkably personal collection assembled by Rosalie Chichester, the last of the Arlington family to live here. She collected everything: ships in bottles, pewterware, model ships, shells, and curiosities from around the world. It gives the house an intimate, slightly eccentric quality that sets it apart from grander estates.
Horses are still central to Arlington. Estate carriage drives operate during the season, and you can often see the Trust’s horses working the estate. The café in the converted stable block is excellent, and the garden tea room is a lovely spot in summer.
Arlington is approximately 18 miles from Woolacombe on the A361. National Trust members enter free; non-members pay standard NT house admission. Open mid-February to October daily, with winter weekend openings. A genuinely special property.
The wider estate at Arlington is also notable for its population of lesser horseshoe bats, which use the attics of the house as a roosting site. A real-time bat cam allows you to observe the colony during the day, and guided bat walks in the evenings are among the most popular events the property offers. If your visit coincides with one of these walks, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
