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Knepp Castle Estate In West Sussex – What To Expect

At the weekend we had a family birthday and the sun was shining so we decided to head out to the Knepp Castle Estate, which is a ten-minute drive from where we live. We often drive past the remains of Knepp Castle and the boys have visited the Knepp Estate several times as Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. However, my husband and I knew of its existence yet had not visited the 3500 acre estate. We didn’t really know what to expect for our first time other than probably a very muddy field after the weather we had been having. Turns out there is a lot more to it than we realised and I am sure we will be back for another Knepp Castle walk.

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Where is the Knepp Castle Estate?

Located in West Grinstead in West Sussex the Knepp Estate has various entrances. Although the main entrance is located off the A24. Reached from either side of the dual carriageway keep an eye out for the Dial Post sign and you should now also spot the brown tourist signs underneath it. From the exit off of the main road, the Estate is signposted and you will easily find yourself in a large car park. It is a popular location with much of the car park being full even on a cold morning in early March so I would suggest arriving early. You can use the address – Worthing Road, Dial Post, RH13 8NQ. Parking is free. Please note this is not the entrance for Knepp Wildland Safaris or Knepp Camping. The entrance to both of these are further into the village of Dial Post.

Brief History of the Knepp Estate

When we arrived I saw a lot of mention about the Knepp rewilding project. I must admit despite being so close by this had completely passed us by. But it is fundamental to how the estate is set up. The pioneering rewilding project started in the 2000s when they moved away from conventional farming practices. Instead looking to recreate a natural environment where ecological processes can evolve with minimal human intervention. This has resulted in the introduction of Fallow Deer into Knepp Park. With other species returning at their own accord. Some of the most notable are the return of rare birds such as turtle doves and nightingales. As well as an increase in insect populations, with rare species like the purple emperor butterfly now thriving.

This transformation has taken place under current stewards Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell. A legacy of the Burrell family, it was inherited by Charlie Burrell in 1987. As well as the Fallow Deer they have introduced other keystone species which are free roaming including Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, and English Longhorn cattle. They do not use chemicals in their process as conventional farms do, opting for natural processes. The different areas of the estate are connected so that animals and plants can enter new habitats. The result is that Knepp Wildland is becoming a prominent nature reserve, supporting an astonishing array of wildlife and proving to be a huge success.

All of this makes it a great area to explore, for small children to spot wildlife and enjoy the outdoors. More recently the estate has added facilities to make it more accessible to families.

Facilities on the Knepp Castle Estate

If you park in the main car park then you will find some maps which show you the walking routes. You should also be able to see a barn this is where the farm shop is located and also the start of many of the routes.

Walking Routes

There are four different walking routes, red, orange, yellow and blue. I like that there is such a wide variety as it means that you will be able to find a walk suitable for you.

Red Route – this is the longest at 10km and takes you around the outside of the estate including close to the village of Shipley. With plenty of opportunity to see the rewilding tree houses which the boys rave about.
Orange Route – this is 4.7km and goes from the barn to out towards the Knepp ruins. All that is left of
Yellow Route – this is the shortest of the routes that are near the car park and the one which we did on our visit. It is 3.4km. However, we did not do the full route as it was very muddy and we got distracted by the white storks we came across.
Blue Route – this is another short route but not one you can reach from the car park or barn. It is almost an extension of the red route and takes you to the Countryman Pub. Which has a good size garden and a reasonable menu.

On the yellow route, you do cross a number of fields and we found them to be extremely muddy on our visit. But we have had a lot of rain. It also allowed the boys to spot the deer tracks which they thought was brilliant. They also had a giggle at the fact the sign said you could see wild boar. We did take a little detour along the footpath to the campsite where some of the white storks nest and we were rewarded with seeing several of them from afar.

Cafe & Restaurant

When we visited we had lunch booked in the restaurant. It is worth booking the restaurant in advance as they do not have many covers, especially in the colder months when you are less inclined to sit outside. The menu is designed to be shared with Knepp wild range meat of venison from the Deer Park and steak from the longhorn cattle. Many of the side dishes are grown in their market garden. Or they source other fresh produce from the local community.

Our Experience

We found that food in the restaurant was probably on the top end of what we would normally spend for lunch and the menu was limited, offering only three main or sharing options. For 6 our meal came in at £190 and that was with one kids cheesy pasta at £8. We had a sharing starter of two portions of bread, two cut meats and a one sausage. The cut meat dishes were the size of a saucer. Harry had the cheesy pasta. Two had a Venison sharer which turned out to be a neck joint and mainly bone we did question this but didn’t really get an answer. The steak options that start at £20 for a sharer are probably a better bet based on our experience.

You also need to buy side dishes they opted for a potato side dish. One had a sharer of chickpea curry but it came in flat soup bowl and was just right for one. We also had a pear and blue cheese salad, mushrooms on brioche (one slice) and another sausage. Portion sizes are not large, I was happy with my salad on the basis we had bread to start. We had three beers and a 500ml carafe of wine, along with two bottles of water. Plus the 12.5% service charge. I would not eat there again. I found it lacking and perhaps trying to be something it is not. Although we did note the chairs you sat on were for sale in the shop for £1250 each. We are not averse to spending money on a good meal having eaten in various high-end restaurants.

The kitchen also caters for the cafe next door which is also on the higher end. But from what I could tell offers a slightly broader menu. Expect to pay £18 for a burger.

Shop

There is a large shop in the barn which has a wide selection of produce from local farmers. As well as locally made crafts and gifts. You can also purchase various cuts of meat which are both fresh and frozen from the gift shop. All cuts are Knepp wild range meat grown and farmed on the estate.

Glamping and Camping

Like all large estates the Knepp Castle Estate offers camping and glamping facilities. if you take the yellow route as we did then you will walk by the camp site. They offer a selection of shepherd’s huts and bell tents. With their own wood-burning stoves and open-air fire-pits. You can of course bring your own camping equipment as well. Located close to the campsite is the safari centre. Where you can also take wildlife safaris to see all the animals.

We had a lovely time exploring the yellow walking route on our visit to Knepp Castle. The boys are keen to return and try out the red route and I would like to spot some purple emperor butterflies in the warmer months. So I am sure we will return and I will update this post with our experiences when we do.

Have you visited the estate and been on a Knepp Castle Walk? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below. If you are looking for other days out in West Sussex – 25 Days Out in West Sussex.