HISTORIC HOUSES

Buckland Abbey, Yelverton
(tel 01822 853607)
(open daily end Mar-Oct (excl.Thu), weekends Nov-Mar,
2-5pm)
Home of Sir Francis Drake from 1582. Collection of maps, portraits and mementoes from his sea-faring days including Drake's Drum, plus a display of model ships. Fine 14th century Great Barn and delightful estate walks.

Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton
(tel 01647 433306)
(open daily end Mar-Oct excl. Fri)
India tea baron Julius Drewe's fascinating dream house. Built between 1910 and 1930 by Sir Edward Lutyens, combining grandeur of medieval castle with 20th century comfort. Stands at more than 900ft overlooking wooded gorge of River Teign with stunning views of Dartmoor and lovely walks.

Saltram House & Gardens, Plympton
(tel 01752 336546)
(open daily end Mar-Oct excl. Fri/Sat)
Tudor mansion with Palladian facades, featuring Robert Adam interiors and portraits by the locally born artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. 18th century Great Kitchen with original utensils and equipment. The house starred as Norland Park, the Dashwood's family home in the film Sense and Sensibility.

Arlington Court, Arlington, Barnstaple
(tel 01271 850296)
(open daily end Mar-Oct excl. Sat)
Built in 1822, the house contains fascinating collections assembled by Rosalie Chichester throughout her travels, including model ships, costume, pewter and shells. Also home to the National Trust's carriage collection. Carriage rides are available around the gardens together with lakeside and woodland walks in a park grazed by Shetland ponies and Jacob sheep.

River Dart, West Devon

DEVON'S GLORIOUS GARDENS

Coleton Fishacre House and Garden, Kingswear, Dartmouth
(tel 01803 752466)
(open May-Oct, excl. Mon/Tue)
Twenty acre garden set in stream fed valley on the South Devon coast, created by Lady D'Oyly Carte between 1925 and 1940. Luxuriant garden with year round interest featuring fine collection of rare and exotic shrubs. The house, designed in the 1920's reflects the Arts & Crafts tradition, but with modern interiors.

Killerton, Broadclyst, Exeter
(tel 01392 881345)
(open mid-Mar-Oct, excl. Tue)
Beautiful hillside gardens featuring shrub borders, planted beds and avenue of beech trees. 18th century House has period furnished rooms with costume exhibitions.

Overbecks Museum & Garden, Sharpitor, Salcombe
(tel 01548 842893)
(open end Mar-Oct, limited opening)
Sub-tropical garden with spectacular views over Salcombe Estuary. The Edwardian houses features curios including a 19th century jukebox, plus a wildlife display and secret children's room with toys.

RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington
(tel 01805 624067)
(open all year)
Internationally renowned garden situated in the beautiful Torridge Valley. Forty acres of garden featuring many different aspects from a collection of individual gardens, including a rose garden, to a winding rocky gorge with bamboos and ferns.

The South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path runs for 630 miles, through some of the finest coastal scenery in Europe. The path begins at Minehead in Somerset, continues across North Devon, then all the way round Cornwall, through South Devon, and finally along the Dorset coast ending at Poole Harbour. It was originally a working footpath used by the Coastguards to patrol the South West Peninsula coastal area to prevent smuggling. Coastguard cottages were built at various points along the route, most of which are still standing today although usually converted to some other use, for example, the Gara Rock Hotel at East Portlemouth. Splendid scenic coastal views can be enjoyed from most parts of the path, as the Coastguards had to be able to see into every little hidden cove and inlet. It is estimated that it would take approximately six to seven weeks to walk the entire path, but obviously short stretches can be enjoyed during a short-break or holiday in the area. Probably the best time to walk the path is in May when the coastal flowers are at their best, or late summer when the purple heather is in full bloom, but any season has its own attractions.

The coast of South Devon has an area of metamorphic rock which gives rise to sharp-topped ridges falling down to the sea. These can be clearly seen at Bolt Head, near Salcombe, Start Point and Prawle.

For further information go direct to the South West Coast Path website.

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