| Great Escapes - N Devon 2 |
Many of the gardens in North Devon are highly acclaimed but those of us without green fingers can still appreciate the beauty and diversity of their floral displays, landscaping, themed gardens and woodland walks. For a great day out, follow our route and let your senses be dazzled by colour and fragrance.
1. Ashford Gardens
The start/finish for our tour is the Butterfly House and Ashford Gardens. Take the A361 from Barnstaple for two miles and turn right to Ashford and Marwood. Ashford Gardens is on
your left.
The landscaped gardens here boast a lake stocked with fish, and overlook the Taw Estuary. There are tea rooms, rose gardens and an adventure playground for the kids. Do visit the Butterfly House, where vibrantly-coloured butterflies flit around in the tropical climate.
2. Marwood Hill Gardens
Leaving Ashford Gardens, turn left, then right at 0.6 miles at the T-junction signed to Marwood. Go straight on at the junction at 0.9 miles. Turn left at the T-junction at 1.2 miles, towards Marwood, then left again at 2.4 miles, to Marwood Hill. Park at St Michael Church car park and walk back to the Garden entrance.
In 1949, when Dr Jimmy Smart came to the Georgian House at Marwood Hill, the gardens and grounds had been neglected. Now, however, the gardens are a visual feast.
In the upper garden, there are many rare trees and shrubs, alpine plants and the smallest conifer in the world. During the summer, the areas around the walled garden are a burst of colourful blooms.
Down in the lower garden, there are three lakes linked by a bog garden and populated by ducks and carp. Here you'll find dwarf conifers and Tasmanian tree-ferns, which are among the few examples in Devon.
3. Arlington Court
Return down Marwood Hill to the junction and turn left at three miles, signposted to Muddiford and Ilfracombe. Turn right at 3.2 miles for Muddiford and then right again at the next T-junction for Barnstaple on the B3230. At 6.4 miles, turn left onto the A39 towards Arlington Court and Lynton. At 12.4 miles, turn right for Arlington Court, and park on the left within half a mile.
Arlington Court is an 1822 stately house with a Victorian garden and 11 hectares of landscaped park. The grounds are grazed by Shetland ponies and Jacob sheep and there is a nature trail which leads visitors down to the lake with its hide and waterfowl.
As we went to press, Arlington Court was closed but the situation is under review daily. Be sure to phone ahead for the latest news.
4. Tapeley Park
Return to the A39 and turn left towards Barnstaple. At 20.7 miles, go straight across the next two islands and follow this road, which skirts the town centre, until you meet a roundabout at 21.3 miles. Take the third exit here (at the lights) which takes you over a bridge over the River Taw. Continue straight through the next island, on the B3233, then take the second exit at the roundabout at 22.1 miles, signposted Instow. Continue on the B3233 and at 28.5, turn left for Tapeley Park.
The owner of Tapeley Park, Hector Christie told us: "the beauty of the gardens here is their unregimented nature." Indeed there is a profusion of rare plants, shrubs, trees palms, mimosa and hibiscus which thrive on the attractive terraces of ground.
The gardens are divided into four, themed areas: the Italian terraces, the traditional walled kitchen garden and a new organic permaculture garden.
Take a walk down to the Lake where massive Thuja-Plicata trees stand – the oldest of their kind in the country. The Wild Garden has a children's play area and gives the kids a chance to see Highland cattle, rare breed pigs and peacocks. Round off your day with a Devon cream tea in the Park's tea rooms. A labyrinth is currently under construction and there are falconry
displays during the summer.
Tapeley Park was still open when we went to press but phone to check before you go.
5. Rosemoor Garden (RHS)
Turn left out of the gates and stay on the B3233. Turn right at 30.7 miles for Torrington and Okehampton, crossing the river, then left onto the A386 south for Torrington. Follow the route through Great Torrington at 37.6, and at 38.1 miles turn left for Rosemoor Garden, which is on the right at
39 miles.
Rosemoor Garden spreads across 40-acres of the Torridge Valley. The formal garden has one of the longest herbaceous borders in the country, and is connected to the mature planting of Lady Anne's Garden by a winding, rocky gorge with bamboos beside the stream.
Rosemoor had closed due to the foot and mouth crisis in Devon, but had reopened by the time we went to press.
6. Torrington 1646
Make a short diversion, here: take the first left, return to the A386 and head north towards Bideford.
Torrington 1646 commemorates the last major conflict of the Civil War. A visit here is a chance to meet costumed 17th-century characters and explore the walled Physic garden that is brimming with herbal remedies for all ailments.
7. Clovelly Court Garden
Make your way back to the A386 through Bideford and at 46.5 miles turn left onto the east bound A39. At 56.8 miles, turn right onto the B3237 for Clovelly Court Garden (57.8 miles).
This is a Victorian kitchen garden, with lean-to greenhouses. Apricots, melons and a fig tree are among the fruit growing there. The walls of the garden also shelter a selection of organically-grown vegetables. The gardens were open as we went to press.
8. Hartland Abbey
Return to the A39 and turn right onto the B3248. At 62.2 miles, continue through Hartland and join West Street. Follow signs for Hartland Abbey, and arrive at 63.3 miles.
Hartland Abbey (founded in 1157) sits astride a beautiful, sheltered valley by a small trout stream. The winding paths through woodland gardens with azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas lead to the Baronet's Bog Garden. Hartland Abbey's gardens flourish all year round, with mixed borders and rare plants in the re-discovered walled gardens and Victorian Fernery.
Hartland Abbey was closed for the first few weeks of the foot and mouth outbreak, but had reopened by the time we went to press.
9. Docton Mill
Continue on the road into Stoke and Hartland Quay, then turn left towards St Leonards. At 64.6 miles turn right for Wargery, then at 65.3 miles turn left for Lymebridge. At 66.7 miles turn right at the cross roads for Docton Mill.
Docton Mill sits in a pretty, secluded valley. There's a fully-restored watermill, and delightful gardens to stroll around in the summer. It was closed for the first weeks of the foot and mouth crisis, then reopened as we went to press.
Return journey
• Return to the Wargery junction, turn right. At the fork in the road, bear right, then turn right and rejoin the B3248 at 68 miles. Rejoin the A39 at 69.7 miles. Head back to Barnstaple on the A39 then the B3233.
• Enter Barnstaple, crossing the Taw and turn left at 91.3 miles. Skirt the town centre and join the A361 for Ilfracombe. Return to Ashford Gardens at 94 miles. |
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Distance 94 miles
Time 9 hours
Start/finish The Butterfly House and Ashford Gardens, Ashford.
Suitable for All the family
REFRESHMENTS
Squires Fish and Chip Restaurant Exeter Road, Braunton,
Tel 01271 815533.
The Old Barn
Bickington, Barnstaple.
Tel 01271 372195
ATTRACTIONS
The Butterfly House and Ashford Gardens
Tel 01271 342880
Torrington 1646
Tel 01805 626146
Tapeley Park
Tel 01271 342371/860528
RHS Garden Rosemoor
Tel 01805 624067
www.rhs.org.uk
Clovelly Court Garden
Tel 01237 431781
www.clovelly.co.uk
Docton Mill
Tel 01237 441369
Website
Hartland Abbey
Tel 01237 441264
Website
Marwood Hill Gardens
Tel 01271 342528
Arlington Court
Tel 01271 850296
TIP
You're welcome to take photos in the gardens of National Trust properties such as Arlington Court, but photography is not allowed in the historic buildings.
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