A garden with water gardens and an arboretum, a church tower with two relief-carved wheels of Saint Catherine, and an annual village trail held in August give visitors different reasons to visit Holt. The Courts Garden is in Holt near Trowbridge; the Church of St Katherine and the Scarecrow Trail are also associated with Holt. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the southern part of the parish, and Footpath 63 follows it. Those planning a stay can therefore choose between a landscaped garden, church architecture, a seasonal event and a specific walking route.
The Courts Garden: a variety of garden features
The Courts Garden is in Holt, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire. The grounds include water gardens, herbaceous borders, topiary, an arboretum and a kitchen garden. The different features offer several possible focuses for a visit: if you particularly enjoy gardens, you can compare different styles of design rather than seeing just one feature. Free parking for The Courts Garden is 80 yards away, on the opposite side of the B3107 in the Village Hall car park. As parking arrangements can change, check the latest visitor information before setting out.
The Church of St Katherine and its tower
The Church of St Katherine in Holt is an Anglican parish church and is listed Grade II*. Its tower dates from the 15th century. Beneath a large image niche, it bears two relief-carved wheels of Saint Catherine. This gives the church both a formal classification and a specific motif on the tower that characterises its architecture in greater detail.
The Holt Scarecrow Trail in August
The Holt Scarecrow Trail takes place every year in August in the village of Holt, Wiltshire. Visitors can follow fancifully decorated scarecrows throughout the village, designed and made by local residents. During the trail, community groups, village churches, pubs and a café offer refreshments. If you would like to include the trail in your stay, check the event date for the relevant August in advance.
Canal, river and Footpath 63
The waterways play different roles in the landscape: the River Avon forms part of the southern boundary of the parish of Holt, while the Kennet and Avon Canal runs through its southernmost part. Footpath 63 follows the canal west from the boundary with the parish of Staverton to the boundary with Bradford on Avon. The route, described in 2019, is about 1,609 metres long. Check local conditions again before walking or cycling there.
A historical connection: Holt Spa
The village’s history offers another point of interest: Lady Lisle and Rev James Lewis promoted Holt Spa in 1720. This historical connection complements the garden, church and landscape themes with another perspective on Holt.
Discover more destinations: Yatton Keynell, Castle Combe, Stapleford, Crudwell, Durrington, Wootton Bassett, Stanton Saint Quintin, Andover.
For the main travel overview: Wiltshire.
