Discover Ilsington: Trails, History and Special Details

Ilsington combines varied trails with a remarkable local history. The Ilsington Walk offers views of Haytor Rocks, while numerous traces of past centuries can be discovered around St Michael’s Church. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Ilsington can therefore choose to focus their stay on landscapes, walks and historical discovery.

Walking and landscapes around Ilsington

The Ilsington Walk is an obvious starting point for anyone wishing to get to know the village on foot. This trail includes views of Haytor Rocks. Another option for planning your trip is the Ashburton–Bovey Tracey section of the Dartmoor Way, which leads into the village of Ilsington. This means the village can be explored both through a local walk and as part of a longer route.

The Around Ilsington walk passes through a woodland covered in bluebells. This creates contrasting impressions: on the Ilsington Walk, the view of Haytor Rocks takes centre stage, while Around Ilsington conveys the character of a distinctive woodland landscape. Parking for the Ilsington Walk is available at Ilsington Parish Hall, provided the hall is not in use. You should take this condition into account when planning your trip.

St Michael’s Church and visible local history

The Church of St Michael is a Grade I listed building. At the west entrance to the churchyard of St Michael’s Church stands a lychgate, built in 1908 by Thomas Henry Lyon. Beneath the lychgate are two stone plaques commemorating the wars of 1914–1918 and 1939–1945. To the right of the west façade of St Michael’s Church there is also a niche containing a stone statue of St Michael.

The history of the village goes back even further: Ilsington was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a manor. The grounds of St Michael’s Church contain the ruins of a 16th-century manor house. A section of wall from Ilsington Manor survives as a structural remnant in the churchyard of St Michael’s Church. In 1639, the original building above the lychgate housed a school for 30 boys.

Crafts, mining and local features

One unusual historical detail is the Bottle Kiln at Applewoods Factory. It was rebuilt at this location in 1932 or 1934 for Devonmoor Art Pottery. It is believed to be a Revalation Kiln brought here from Candy’s Pottery in Heathfield, Bovey Tracey. This presumed attribution nevertheless makes the kiln an interesting destination for anyone interested in the history of regional crafts.

The nearby Silverbrook Mine is also part of the area’s inherited working history. Silver, lead and zinc ores were produced there. A present-day local connection is provided by the village shop with post office: gift baskets containing products from the region are available to order. This adds a small insight into regional produce to your trip planning.

The right accommodation for planning your trip

When searching for holiday accommodation in Ilsington, it helps to first decide what kind of daily routine you want. If you are mainly looking for walks and landscape views, the Ilsington Walk, Around Ilsington and the Dartmoor Way section can provide the thematic framework. If historical sites are more important, the focus shifts to St Michael’s Church, the lychgate, the remains of Ilsington Manor and the Bottle Kiln at Applewoods Factory.

Ilsington is a suitable destination for visitors who do not want to consider nature and history separately: a woodland walk, views of Haytor Rocks, a Grade I-listed church and evidence of mining and pottery each offer a different way of experiencing the village.

Further places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Ilsington, here is a compact selection: Broadhempston, Braunton, Tawstock, Sampford Courtenay, Bridgerule, Staverton, Colyton and Halberton.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.