Bickleigh Castle
Devon, England
Key facts
- Operator
- Private owner (Hay family)
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Limited tour days
- Nearest station
- Newton St Cyres, 6.0 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
Pinpoint
Bickleigh, Tiverton EX16 8RP
Telephone 01884 855363
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
A Norman motte with an 11th-century chapel among the oldest complete buildings in Devon, wrapped in later Tudor and Civil War-era rebuilding after the original hall was slighted by Parliamentarian forces. It's still a private, lived-in home, so visits run on scheduled tour times rather than free wandering.
Worth the trip
The chapel - claimed as one of the oldest complete buildings in Devon, predating the castle built up around it.
Before you go
Reviewers say it's a small site best paired with the guided tour and cream tea rather than treated as a long day out - check the tour time before you arrive.
Opinion is mixed on the day-visit experience: some reviewers found the garden overgrown and the wait for the scheduled tour frustrating, while others rate the guided tour and cream tea highly. Overnight guests are consistently more positive, praising the hosts by name and the character of the rooms. Several reviewers suggest checking the tour time before arriving, since there's little to do on site before it starts.
Grade I-listed manor around a Norman motte and an 11th-century chapel; main hall demolished after Civil War slighting.
“Amazing overall I loved it so much I recommend going only think that needs to change is that gardens need to be fixed up a bit and food”- Runy Bell, visitor review
Common questions about Bickleigh Castle
Where is Bickleigh Castle?
Bickleigh Castle is in Devon, England, at Bickleigh, Tiverton EX16 8RP.
How do you visit Bickleigh Castle?
Bickleigh Castle opens on limited tour days rather than every day, and is looked after by Private owner (Hay family). Because the dates are restricted, check the official site and book ahead before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Bickleigh Castle?
Yes - Bickleigh Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Bickleigh Castle?
The chapel - claimed as one of the oldest complete buildings in Devon, predating the castle built up around it.
Is Bickleigh Castle a ruin or still intact?
Bickleigh Castle is a partial ruin - Grade I-listed manor around a Norman motte and an 11th-century chapel; main hall demolished after Civil War slighting.
