National Trust properties on Dartmoor

National Trust

Duchy House is perfectly located to enjoy and explore a fantastic choice of National Trust properties, gardens, woodlands and much more. A few of the nearby highlights are:

BUCKLAND ABBEY Part museum, part house, this medieval abbey was converted into a Tudor house during the Dissolution and was once home to Sir Francis Drake. The magnificent Great Barn (originally a tithe barn) has remained virtually unchanged since it was built and sits in the centre of the estate alongside the walled kitchen garden.

SALTRAM Saltram was home to the Parker family from 1743 and is magnificently decorated with original contents including Chinese wallpapers and an exceptional collection of paintings with a superb country house library. Overlooking the River Plym and set in a rolling 18th century landscape (with orangery and follies), the estate includes farmland, beaches, salt marshes, meadows, woodland and an estuary; perfect for walking and cycling.

COTEHELE Perched high above the River Tamar, this Tudor house forms part of an estate which spans 1300 acres and is home to a Victorian watermill, woodland, industrial ruins and Cotehele Quay where the restored sailing barge Shamrock is moored. There are 14 acres of gardens and 12 acres of orchard alongside formally planted terraces and herbaceous borders. With miles of footpaths to explore you can lose yourself in the Valley Garden, which includes a medieval stewpond and dovecote leading down to the river.

LYDFORD GORGE This steep sided river gorge is the deepest in the South West where the River Lyd plunges, tumbles and swirls as it gently meanders through ancient woodland, abundant with wildlife. Walking trails allow you to explore the old railway, take in the 30m high Whitelady Waterfall and descend into the deepest part of the gorge where a viewing platform suspends you over the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’.

CASTLE DROGO High above the ancient woodlands of the Teign Gorge stands Castle Drogo, a 20th century castle designed and built by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, where dramatic architecture meets innovative family home. The gardens in which it stands were created over 100 years ago and are carved into the landscape where the last part of the castle to be built – the chapel (finished in 1931) sits. There are miles of pathways and trails to explore alongside the river and stunning views from the top of the gorge.

LANHYDROCK Lanhydrock is the quintessential English country house, framed by formal gardens and standing in almost 1000 acres of parkland, woodland and heath with two miles of the River Fowey. After a fire in 1881 the Jacobian house was refurbished in high-Victorian style, and he two sides of Victorian life are clearly visible: from the kitchen which offers a glimpse into life ‘below stairs’, to the luxurious family areas, elegant dining room and spacious bedrooms which reveal the comforts ‘upstairs’ living. The estate is well worth exploring with ancient woodlands and tranquil riverside paths as well as off-road cycle trails – you can even hire bikes and make the most of your day.