# Knowle St Giles Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Knowle St Giles: a tiny Somerset parish near Ilminster and Chard, with cider farms, historic gardens and quiet countryside nearby. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. A hidden Somerset hamlet between Ilminster and Chard Photo © James Jones, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants) Knowle St Giles is one of Somerset's smallest parishes, a scatter of farms and cottages on the lower slopes of Windwhistle Hill, roughly two miles south of Ilminster and two and a half miles northeast of Chard. There has never really been a nucleated village here in the way visitors might expect: historic records describe settlement spread loosely around Upper and Middle Knowle greens, and the parish today still reads as countryside first and place second, with a population numbering only in the low hundreds. The river Isle rises nearby and threads through the parish on its way towards Ilminster, giving the landscape a soft, well-watered character of pasture, orchard and hedgerow. The parish also takes in the hamlet of Cricket Malherbie, and its history stretches back to the Domesday Book of 1086, when Knowle was recorded as a modest holding worked by a handful of villagers and smallholders. The parish church, dedicated to St Giles, has origins traced to the late 12th century, when it was granted to the Cudworth prebend of Wells Cathedral; centuries of churchwardens' accounts record a run of repairs to its wooden bell tower, chancel windows and porch, a reminder that this has always been a working farming community rather than a grand estate village. For visitors, the appeal of Knowle St Giles is precisely this: a genuinely rural, unhurried corner of South Somerset within easy reach of two proper market towns and the wider Blackdown Hills. ## Getting to Knowle St Giles Knowle St Giles lies just off the A30 between Ilminster and Chard, so it is straightforward to reach by car from the A303 (which passes Ilminster) or from Taunton and the M5 to the north. The nearest mainline railway stations are Crewkerne and Axminster, both around 20 minutes' drive, with services on the London Waterloo to Exeter line; Taunton, on the main London Paddington line, is also within easy reach for those arriving from further afield. Local bus services connect Ilminster and Chard, though the parish itself is best explored with your own transport, on foot, or by bike, given its rural, unlit lanes. ## Best time to visit Knowle St Giles Late spring through early autumn suits this part of Somerset best, when the surrounding orchards, hedgerows and pasture are at their fullest and the lanes are easiest to walk or cycle. September and October bring the cider apple harvest, a good time to visit Perry's Cider Mills and see the pressing in action, while spring is ideal for the tulip and magnolia displays at nearby Forde Abbey. Winters are quiet and mild by UK standards, with muddy fields and shorter days, better suited to a cosy pub lunch in Ilminster or Chard than to long walks. ## Where to stay in Knowle St Giles [All hotels in Knowle St Giles →](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/hotels) About staying in Knowle St Giles Knowle St Giles has no hotels of its own, being one of the smallest parishes in Somerset, but the surrounding villages and market towns of Ilminster and Chard, both only a few minutes' drive away, offer a good spread of options. Expect traditional coaching inns with rooms, farmhouse bed and breakfasts set among working farms, and a scattering of self-catering cottages tucked into the lanes around Windwhistle Hill and the Blackdown Hills. Many of these stays make the most of the quiet, rural setting, with views over orchards and pasture rather than town streets, while still putting Ilminster's shops, cafés and the Ilminster Arts Centre within easy reach. Staying in or near Knowle St Giles suits visitors who want a genuinely rural South Somerset base rather than a busy tourist town: somewhere to explore Perry's Cider Mills, Chard Museum, Chard Reservoir and Forde Abbey's gardens by day, and return to a peaceful farmhouse or country inn in the evening. Because the parish itself is so small, it is worth checking exactly how far a listed property is from Ilminster or Chard for shops, pubs and public transport, and booking ahead for anywhere with only a handful of rooms, since options directly in the parish are limited by its size and character. [The Wheelhouse at Gawbridge Mill Gawbridge Mill, Kingsbury Episcopi](https://staycation.co.uk/kingsbury-episcopi/hotels/the-wheelhouse-at-gawbridge-mill) [Hornsbury Mill Eleighwater, Chard](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/hotels/hornsbury-mill) [Corner House Corner Cottage, Ilminster](https://staycation.co.uk/ilminster/hotels/corner-house) [New Inn Dowlish Wake, Ilminster](https://staycation.co.uk/ilminster/hotels/new-inn) [Haymaker Inn Wadeford, Somerset, Chard](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/hotels/haymaker-inn) [🏨Hotel The Lordleaze Hotel Henderson Drive, Chard](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/hotels/the-lordleaze-hotel) [The Dolphin Hotel 38 Fore Street, Chard](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/hotels/the-dolphin-hotel) [The Shrubbery Hotel Station Road, Ilminster](https://staycation.co.uk/ilminster/hotels/the-shrubbery-hotel) ## Things to Do in Knowle St Giles [All attractions in Knowle St Giles →](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions) Top things to do near Knowle St Giles Knowle St Giles itself is a place to slow down, but it sits within a few minutes' drive of some of South Somerset's best-loved attractions, from cider farms to grand gardens. - **Perry's Cider Mills, Dowlish Wake** — A family-run cider farm going back four generations, with a 16th-century thatched cider barn, a small rural museum of traditional cider-making equipment, a farm shop and a café. Entry is free and it is one of the most-loved local outings. - **Ilminster** — A handsome market town two miles north, built around the Perpendicular tower of the Minster church, said to have been modelled on Wells Cathedral. The Ilminster Arts Centre occupies an 18th-century Meeting House and the Warehouse Theatre is a converted 1980s fruit warehouse; both host regular exhibitions and performances. - **Chard Museum** — Housed in a converted 16th-century building in the neighbouring town of Chard, this local museum tells the story of the area, including displays on John Stringfellow, a pioneer of powered flight, and an intriguing collection relating to early artificial limbs. - **Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve** — A peaceful nature reserve with a circular walking path around open water, popular for birdwatching; herons, egrets and cormorants are regularly spotted from the bird hide. - **Forde Abbey and Gardens** — A former Cistercian monastery turned historic family home, just over the county line in Dorset near Chard, set in 30 acres of award-winning gardens with a Long Pond, arboretum and one of the highest powered fountains in England. - **Castle Neroche** — An Iron Age hillfort later reused as a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills a few miles from Ilminster, with waymarked woodland walks and wide views over the Somerset Levels. - **Hornsbury Mill** — A former working watermill near Chard with a landscaped water garden, popular for a gentle walk and a bite to eat. [Ilminster Arts Centre ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/ilminster-arts-centre) [Chard Museum ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/chard-museum) [Forde Abbey House and Gardens ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/forde-abbey-house-and-gardens) [🎟️Museums & Galleries Crewkerne and District Museum](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/crewkerne-and-district-museum) [Ferne Animal Sanctuary ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/ferne-animal-sanctuary) [Jungle Jungle Indoor Play Centre ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/jungle-jungle-indoor-play-centre) [Foxdown Childrens Farm ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/foxdown-childrens-farm) [Axminster Heritage Centre ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions/axminster-heritage-centre) ## Where to Eat in Knowle St Giles [All restaurants in Knowle St Giles →](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants) Food and drink near Knowle St Giles There are no pubs or restaurants within Knowle St Giles itself, so most visitors head into Ilminster or Chard for food and drink. Ilminster has a handful of traditional pubs and cafés around its Market Square, along with fish-and-chip shops such as the Eagle Tavern and Stonemasons. Perry's Cider Mills at Dowlish Wake has its own on-site café serving light meals alongside its farm shop and cider tastings, and is worth combining with a visit to the mill itself. Chard offers a wider choice of independent cafés, pubs and restaurants around its town centre, a short drive from the parish. [Chard Plant & Garden Centre Limited and The Potting Shed Cafe ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/chard-plant-garden-centre-limited-and-the-potting-shed-cafe) [🍽️Restaurant Gemini Carnival Club](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/gemini-carnival-club) [🍽️Restaurant Tumbles Gymnastics](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/tumbles-gymnastics) [🍽️Restaurant The Hive Young Peoples Centre](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/the-hive-young-peoples-centre) [Cubs Soft Play ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/cubs-soft-play) [Balti House Tandoori Ltd ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/balti-house-tandoori-ltd) [Freedom Leisure ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/freedom-leisure) [Warehouse Theatre ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants/warehouse-theatre) ## Attractions Near Knowle St Giles [All attractions in Knowle St Giles →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Knowle St Giles. [2 mi Ilminster Arts Centre Ilminster · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/ilminster/attractions/ilminster-arts-centre) [2 mi Chard Museum Chard · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/attractions/chard-museum) [4 mi Forde Abbey House and Gardens Chard · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/attractions/forde-abbey-house-and-gardens) [🎟️Museums & Galleries 4 mi Crewkerne and District Museum Crewkerne](https://staycation.co.uk/crewkerne/attractions/crewkerne-and-district-museum) [5 mi Ferne Animal Sanctuary Chard · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/attractions/ferne-animal-sanctuary) [7 mi Jungle Jungle Indoor Play Centre Yeovil · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/yeovil/attractions/jungle-jungle-indoor-play-centre) [8 mi Foxdown Childrens Farm Bridport · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/bridport/attractions/foxdown-childrens-farm) [9 mi Axminster Heritage Centre Axminster · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/axminster/attractions/axminster-heritage-centre) ## Camping in Knowle St Giles [All campsites in Knowle St Giles →](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/camping) About camping in Knowle St Giles There is no campsite within Knowle St Giles itself, but the wider South Somerset countryside around Ilminster, Chard and the Blackdown Hills has a good scattering of small, family-run campsites and glamping sites, typically set on working farms with views towards Windwhistle Hill. As with the rest of England, wild camping on private land here is illegal without the landowner's permission, so it is always worth booking an official site or asking directly before pitching up, even in what looks like an empty field or patch of woodland. The terrain around Knowle St Giles is gentle, rolling farmland rather than dramatic hill country, with the young river Isle running through orchards and pasture; this makes it comfortable walking and cycling country, and a good base for touring rather than for serious hillwalking. Nearby Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve offers flatter circular paths for an easy stroll from a nearby site, while Castle Neroche and the wider Blackdown Hills AONB, a short drive away, give campers access to steeper woodland tracks and long views over the Somerset Levels. Late spring to early autumn is the most reliable season for camping here, when the West Country weather is at its driest and the surrounding cider orchards and hedgerows are at their best; the cider apple harvest in September is a particularly good time to combine a stay with a visit to Perry's Cider Mills at nearby Dowlish Wake. Outside these months, sites in the area tend to be quieter, wetter underfoot, and many smaller campsites close for the winter, so glamping options such as shepherd's huts, safari tents or converted barns are a good alternative if you want a South Somerset countryside stay without depending on good weather, offering proper beds and heating while still being close to the parish's quiet lanes and to Ilminster and Chard for supplies and a pub meal. [Knowle Meadow Camping ⭐ 5.0 · from £84/night](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/camping/knowle-meadow-camping) [Ashmead Meadow ⭐ 5.0 · from £162/night](https://staycation.co.uk/langport/camping/ashmead-meadow) [Barley Hill Pod ⭐ 5.0 · from £330/night](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/camping/barley-hill-pod) [⛺Campsite Manor Farm from £90/night](https://staycation.co.uk/crewkerne/camping/manor-farm-crewkerne) [Driftaway Camping Woodlands ⭐ 5.0 · from £200/night](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/camping/driftaway-camping-woodlands) [Alpine Grove Touring Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/camping/alpine-grove-touring-park) [Jordans Estate Glamping ⭐ 5.0 · from £200/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ilminster/camping/jordans-estate-glamping) [Buzzard's Nest Glamping ⭐ 5.0 · from £120/night](https://staycation.co.uk/chard/camping/buzzard-s-nest-glamping) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Knowle St Giles [All cottages in Knowle St Giles →](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/cottages) [The Firs 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £547](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/the-firs-uk51664) [Woodstock 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £538](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/woodstock-syk1138091) [🏡Cottage The Old Dairy Annexe 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £587](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/the-old-dairy-annexe-uk38034) [🏡Cottage The Moat House 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £611](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/the-moat-house-uk41041) [🏡Cottage Parshalls Retreat 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £433](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/parshalls-retreat-uk45060) [Barley Hill Pod 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £1,089](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/barley-hill-pod-qu7155) [🏡Cottage The Old Cowshed 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £383](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/the-old-cowshed-24742) [🏡Cottage Whitney Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £437](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset/cottages/whitney-cottage-uk38373) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Knowle St Giles Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DKnowle%2BSt%2BGiles%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Knowle St Giles - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/knowle-st-giles/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Knowle St Giles [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)