We visited Powderham Castle as part of our journey from the North West down to Devon. We stopped overnight at Gloucester and then drove a further 2 hours. This place was ideal as it was half an hour from where we were staying and gave us plenty to do on the first official day of our holiday.
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We were visiting on a day when there was a performance by the Pocket Watch Theatre Company, so our day was planned around their next performance. We easily filled the time with a Robin Hood nature trail which led us to the walled garden. The Walled Garden Play Area & Pets Corner was originally the Victorian walled garden and is now home to the many friendly Powderham pets and their adventure play area. The playground was great – a real (miniature) castle for the boys to play on, with seating for the grown-ups. We even grabbed a sneaky burger and hotdog at Good Game BBQ – but these weren’t just any burgers; we tucked into pork and venison with a red cabbage coleslaw, and ruby red Devon beef – just delicious! We had been there for two hours and didn’t even make it inside the castle!
However, it was now time for the performance. The Pocket Watch Theatre Company specialise in engaging, interactive promenade children’s theatre and storytelling. For those (like me) who haven’t seen one of these before, they take place at a few different venues round the castle to fit in with the story; so the actors walk, with all the children running round them asking questions, to the next scene. Each of the scenes then had interaction with the children, with them initially asking questions and then getting the children involved with bow and arrows, sword fighting, throwing wet sponges … I could go on but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone.
Needless to say we all loved it. Our performance was Robin Hood; with just Robin, Maid Marion and the Sheriff. All three were brilliant, fitted into their character perfectly and perhaps most importantly were amazing with the children [read: very patient with their rambling questions!]. I have to say as much as we enjoyed the castle this was by far our highlight – for all five of us. We are half-way through our holiday and the boys are still talking about it!
We could have stayed for longer at Powderham Castle but it was time to continue on our journey to Devon.
NB: we were provided free entry to Powderham Castle and the performance by the Pocket Watch theatre Company but all views are our own.
