Killerton tree spotting walk
Curious about trees? Want to challenge the family to tree identification? Pull on some sturdy shoes and discover Killerton's tree spotting walk and meet its famous collection of ancient, rare and giant trees.
Near to
KillertonStart point
Visitor reception, stable block. Grid ref: SS 97622 00091Trail information
Total stages: 13
Total stages: 13
Start point
Visitor reception, stable block. Grid ref: SS 97622 00091
Stage 1
From visitor reception turn right and take the first path right and go through the gate to enter the chapel grounds.
Stage 2
Fork right, ignoring the sign to the chapel. A little way ahead on the left is a hop-hornbeam tree which belongs to the birch family. This hard heavy wood was historically used to make tools for woodwork. Up the slope to the left are two large Californian redwoods and to the right a London plane tree.
Stage 3
Bear left towards the chapel. On your left are two champion tulip trees that were planted in 1808 by respected landscape designer and nurseryman John Veitch.
Killerton Victorian chapel with a display of cyclamen flowers | © National Trust Stage 4
Continue to the wooden gates and the group of sweet chestnuts believed to be between 300 and 400 years old. The bark's spiral crevices are characteristic of their old age.
Stage 5
Continue along the path above Front Park. Go through dairy gate into the garden. Fork immediately right underneath a canopy of large magnolia trees.
Stage 6
At the junction of paths stands Killerton's tallest tree, a giant redwood standing at 41 metres. Take the path to the right and follow as it bends left uphill past two grand sweet chestnut trees. At the junction you'll meet a dawn redwood and snake bark maple. Turn sharp right uphill again and then take the next left to emerge just below the metal fence and gate.
Stage 7
Turn left and keep the garden fence on your right. Look out for the Austrian pine, an ornamental pine. Continue ahead where the paths cross. The path bends to the left and passes an Indian horse chestnut, an early summer flowering tree.
Stage 8
At the rustic bridge bear left along the 19th-century Beech Walk, a glorious avenue of veteran beech trees.
Stage 9
Take the grassy path right slightly downhill by the two giant sweet chestnut trees.
Stage 10
Turn left and take the first turning right. The path passes two cork oak trees.
Stage 11
Turn right to pass the distinctive paper bark maple and a weeping silver lime. Just below the thatched wooden hut called the Bear's hut there is a black mulberry tree. Head left downhill along the grassy path to reach the main track.
Stage 12
Pass between the stone urns. Just before the house take a short out-and-back detour to the left to an Indian bean tree. It's one of the last species at Killerton to come into leaf in the spring and the first to drop its leaves in autumn. Just above is the pocket handkerchief tree, planted in 1930.
Stage 13
Return to the main path and turn left back past the house to return to the where this walk started.
End point
Visitor reception, stable block. Grid ref: SS 97622 00091
Trail map
Killerton tree walk route map | © National Trust
More near here
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Ancient trees walk at Killerton
This circular walk highlights some of the many ancient trees that you can see in the garden and park at Killerton, including sweet chestnuts that were planted some 250 years ago.
Danes Wood walk
An enchanting walk from the Killerton estate to nearby Danes Wood, a haven for wildlife.
Plains walk at Killerton
This dog-friendly walk takes you through one of Killerton's hidden secrets, an enclosed, far-reaching expanse of grassland.
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