Knowle St Giles

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.

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.

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 near Knowle St Giles

Accommodation directly in Knowle St Giles is limited, as befits its size, but Ilminster and Chard, both a few minutes away, offer a range of guesthouses, farmhouse B&Bs and pubs with rooms. The surrounding countryside is also well suited to self-catering cottages and farm stays, many set on working farms with views towards Windwhistle Hill and the Blackdown Hills, making a good base for exploring both the Somerset market towns and the Dorset and Devon coasts within a short drive.

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.