Coleton Fishacre

When we visit Dartmouth, we regularly walk from town along the South West Coast Path to Coleton Fishacre. It is about four miles, beautiful, and relatively challenging in places. The walk starts with taking the foot ferry from Dartmouth, near Bayards Cove Inn, over to Kingswear. There is a lot of uphill walking, so be prepared, but it is absolutely worth it for the stunning views. I have included a few photos of the coastal path walk. When you arrive at Coleton Fishacre, you can access the gardens straight off the coast path via a gate at the bottom of the garden, then there is a steep climb uphill through the lush, layered planting to reach the reception and coffee shop at the top.

The gardens are RHS accredited and worth the climb. Paths weave through glades and past tranquil ponds, with viewpoints back out to sea. The valley is sheltered and damp enough that tender plants from the Mediterranean, South Africa and New Zealand thrive here.

The house was the D’Oyly Carte family’s country home, built in the late 1920s in the Arts & Crafts style with Art Deco interiors. Music from the family’s Gilbert and Sullivan connections plays in the rooms, and you can wander upstairs and downstairs, from the glamorous Saloon to the airy servants’ quarters.

Dogs are not allowed inside the house. If you are visiting with others, you can take it in turns – one of you stays in the garden with the dogs while the other goes in. If not, there is more than enough to see in the gardens that you will not feel you have missed out.

Café Coleton is excellent and gets busy at lunchtime. I love a jacket potato with beans and cheese and a cup of tea. Ros loves the soups. There is indoor and covered outdoor seating, with dogs welcome throughout.

There is also a shop selling gifts, homewares, books, local produce, and seasonal plants chosen to reflect what is growing in the garden at the time.

Each season brings something different, from cherry blossom and Easter trails in spring to wildflower meadows in summer and scenic coastal walks in winter.

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