Devon Historic and Architectural Properties and Gardens
Castles, Abbeys, Churches, Houses, Estates and Gardens (English Heritage / National Trust / other), many with brief details of disabled access.
Along with the attractions listed on this page you may also find places of interest on the Devon Attractions and Nature pages. We suggest that you also visit the pages for the neighbouring counties to see what else there is in the area.
We support ‘Accessible Countryside for Everyone’ in providing a brief guide as to the access / facilities for the sites listed, where we have them.
A la Ronde (NT) - Exmouth - "Quirky 18th-century, 16 sided house with fascinating interior decoration and collections....every nook and cranny crammed with bizarre items collected over the years", walks, tea room - "Building - level entrance. Alternative access for wheelchair users (advance notice helpful) to main showrooms on ground floor, which has narrow doorways, small rooms, very limited turning space. Lower ground floor has small ramped step and narrow doors. Photo album of first floor rooms. Grounds - hard surface paths from car park to shop, visitor reception, and courtyard in front of house entrance. Hard surface path to tea-room which is on a slope, but accessible for wheelchair users ", Braille and Large print guide available, accessible toilet
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/a-la-ronde
Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum (NT) - Barnstaple - "on the edge of Exmoor, a complete family estate held by the Chichester family for over five hundred years. The collection consists of treasures for all tastes, from model ships to shells, collected over several generations. The house itself, built in 1823 and extended in 1860, has an austere facade. However, inside the cosy rooms purvey a homely, family atmosphere...The Carriage Museum in the stables has a vehicle for every occasion from cradle to grave", Tea-room set in the original Victorian kitchen - "Loose gravel paths, slopes, partly accessible grounds. Map available of an accessible route around grounds...Lift to first floor of the carriage museum...Tramper Mobility Scooter available for hire to explore old lake walk ", Braille and Large print guide available, induction loop, accessible toilets, baby changing facilities
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington-court
Berry Pomery Castle (EH) - Totnes - "Within the 15th-century defences of the Pomeroy family castle, looms the dramatic ruined shell of its successor, the great Elizabethan mansion of the Seymours. Begun in around 1560 and ambitiously enlarged from around 1600, their mansion was intended to become the most spectacular house in Devon, a match for Longleat and Audley End. Never completed, and abandoned by 1700, it became the focus of blood-curdling ghost stories, recounted in the audio tour", woodland walks, cafe -"Only the grounds, shops and ground floor of the site are accessible to disabled visitors. An assisting companion is recommended. There are a number of slopes on the site", accessible toilets, baby changing facilities
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bradley - (NT) - Newton Abbot - "unspoilt and fascinating medieval manor house is still a relaxed family home. You can wander through rooms untouched by time, warm yourself by the open fire, and unwind in the tranquil garden" - (no toilets or refreshments) " Entrance and ground floor have steps and narrow doorways, ramp available. Chapel door is too narrow for wheelchairs. Stairs with handrail to other floors. Partly accessible grounds with narrow and loose gravel paths, steep slopes plus some steps...Braille guide and sensory experience"
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bradley
Buckland Abbey, Garden and Estate (NT) - Yelverton - "follow over 700 years of footsteps; from the Cistercians who built the Abbey and farmed the estate, to seafarers Grenville and Drake who changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country...The Abbey is part museum, part house, and filled with treasures such as the legendary Drake’s Drum", orchards, woodlands, way-marked trails, "At the cider house, herbaceous borders provide seasonal interest and a secret ‘wild’ garden", Restaurant, " Abbey is on steep slopes with some uneven paths. Ramped main entrance. Wheelchairs available. Ground floor is accessible by wheelchair - stairs to other floors", accessible toilets, baby changing facilities
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey
Burrow Farm Gardens - Dalwood, Axminster - (seasonal) "East Devons Secret Garden has 13 acres of lovingly designed gardens with colour throughout the year", tea rooom, nursery - "Wheelchair access to parts of the garden, tea room, shop and nursery", Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.burrowfarmgardens.co.uk
Castle Drogo (NT) - Exeter - undergoing conservation, "staying open during the conservation work, giving you the opportunity to go behind the scenes...Lutyens-designed terraced garden with dramatic views of Dartmoor" walks, cafe, shop - "Wheelchair access to the castle. One wheelchair available to borrow. Two rooms wheelchair accessible. Stairs to other floors...Formal garden partly accessible by gravel paths off of the main drive", accessible toilets, baby changing facilities
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-drogo
Castle Hill Gardens - Earl and Countess of Arran - Filleigh, Barnstaple - (seasonal) Palladian house, seat of the Fortescues since 1454. The house was built in 1730, family friendly 50 acre garden, set in a spectacular 18th century parkland landscape punctuated with statues, follies and temples, tea room - "Access to the formal gardens and terraced lawns in front of the house as well as the riverside walk is possible for visitors in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. There are gravel paths that can prove a problem for some wheelchairs, and some of the woodland gardens and hilltop castle are only accessible by steep paths. There are gravel paths that can prove a problem for some wheelchairs, and some of the woodland gardens and hilltop castle are only accessible by steep paths"
www.castlehilldevon.co.uk/gardens
Chambercombe Manor - Ilfracombe - (seasonal), "Chambercombe Manor was owned by the Champernon family from around 1162. In the early 16th century it became the property of Henry Duke of Suffolk father of the ill fated Lady Jane Grey", Buttery tea rooms, guided tours, shop Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.chambercombemanor.org.uk
Coleton Fishacre (NT) - Kingswear - "built in the Arts & Crafts style, and is imbued with Art Deco elegance...You can get an insight into 1920s life 'upstairs and downstairs' from the glamorous Saloon and the airy servants' rooms...In the RHS accredited garden viewpoints give enticing glimpses out to sea, paths weave through glades past tranquil ponds, and tender plants from the Mediterranean, South Africa and New Zealand", guided garden walks, cafe, shop "Wheelchair access to ground floor of house, many stairs to other floors...Map available of the accessible garden route, the upper paths are reasonably flat. Grass paths and steep slopes. Not suitable for powered mobility vehicles", Two wheelchairs available, Braille guide and induction loop available, accessible toilets, baby changing facilities
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre
Compton Castle (NT) - Paignton - "A rare survivor, this medieval fortress with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis, is set in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards...wander round this charming small castle's medieval kitchen, great hall, solar and sub solar.", orchard , Table-top shop "Access to Compton Castle is extremely limited as there are many changes in levels and steps. Please let us know when you arrive so that we can give you help with portable ramps...Grounds are partly accessible and there are steps to the Rose Garden...Braille guide and large print guides available"
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/compton-castle
Dartmouth Castle (EH) - "For over 600 years Dartmouth Castle has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary and the busy, vibrant port of Dartmouth", displays of weaponry and armour used to defend the castle, see where Victorian soldiers worked in rooms packed with gunpowder and explosive shells, two open-air gun platforms, passenger ferrry, tea room, shop - Believed not to be wheelchair accessible - No accessible toilets or baby change facilities
www.english-heritage.org.uk
