Holnicote Estate, Historic estate in Selworthy, England
The Holnicote Estate is a large rural property in the Exmoor region featuring open moorland, ancient woods, coastal areas, and thatched villages scattered throughout. The grounds include walking routes, open land to explore, and varied terrain ranging from upland areas to shoreline.
The property passed through different owners over centuries before being given to the National Trust in 1944 by its then owner. This transfer ensured the land would be preserved and kept open for public use.
The estate holds meaning as a place where rural traditions shaped daily life and land management for centuries. Visitors walking through the landscape today experience how generations of farming and stewardship created the villages and open spaces they see.
The property is set up for walking with marked routes at different levels of difficulty. Parking is available at several entry points, and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended since conditions can change quickly in this upland area.
During World War II, the house on the grounds served as shelter for children evacuated from cities, including children with white British mothers and Black American fathers. This chapter in its past reflects how the property served the community in wartime.
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