Dartington Hall

Open 9am-5pm, daily, with free garden tours

You can’t really stay at Dartington Hall without strolling its Grade II*-listed gardens. For over 1,000 years, these gardens have been carefully tended to and shaped by remarkable custodians, such as Beatrix Farrand’s ‘painting’ with colour and form and Henry Avray Tipping’s formal Arts & Crafts-style hedging.

Previously of a formal Victorian design, when Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst bought the Estate in the 1920s they created a deliberate sense of natural wilderness – mossy paths, fern-covered stone walls and banks of spring flowers. Indeed, acclaimed American garden designer Beatrix Farrand helped them develop and realise their vision during the 1930s, and the gardens remain a rare example of her work outside the United States.

Twenty-six inspiringly beautiful acres reveal unfolding vistas by Percy Cane (from the High Meadow and the Glade), a tiered “tiltyard” overlooked by the “12 apostles” (Irish yews), sculpture including Henry Moore’s ‘Memorial Figure’ (‘Jacob’s Pillow’ by Peter Randall-Page and ‘Donkey’ and ‘Swan Fountain’ by Willi Soukop, too), champion trees (a 1,500-year-old yew and ancient Spanish chestnuts), and an activity trail for children with bug hotels, den building and secret paths to explore.

In the gardens, you may wander across badgers, foxes, stoats, deer, rabbits, bats and a wide variety of birds, including three species of woodpecker. In spring, woodland walks are awash with displays of magnolias, camellias and cherry blossom, and wildflower meadows are adorned by carpets of bluebells, primroses and snake’s head fritillaries. Come autumn, the maples of the high meadow and valley field turn burgundy and gold. Open year-round, the gardens are fully accessible, with a wheelchair-friendly entrance and a step-free route. Guide dogs are permitted. RHS Partner Garden and Silent Space member.

Download Dartington Estate Map

Download Deer Park Trail

Download Access for All Path Route

Cider Press Centre open 10am-5pm, daily. Welcome Centre Shop open 10am-4pm, daily

A carefully curated yet wonderfully eclectic range of boutiques with a firm focus on arts, crafts and local food and drink. From one of the largest collections of Dartington Crystal in the South West, right through to the UK’s first and only micro distillery creating grape-marc-spirit, Dappa, and exclusive prints inspired by Dartington. Shops and eateries include:

• Food Shop
• Glass Gallery
• Home Accessories
• Lifestyle Store
• Stationery & Gifts
• Toy Shop
• Cider Press Gallery
• Devon Distillery
• The Re-Store
• Tog 24
• Bayards Kitchen

Box office open 1.30-8pm, daily

It’s not every day you get to watch a film in a converted 14th-century barn set in a medieval courtyard. From mainstream blockbuster to indie arthouse and kids’ classics, the Barn is an independent cinema with a eclectic program. Its film archive dates back almost a century and today it very much prides itself on unusual events that go beyond traditional screenings. Supported by funding from the BFI and the Cultural Recovery Fund.

Overnight guests at Dartington Hall get preferential rates with a range a partner organisations. Enjoy and experience everything the Estate has to offer, including ziplining, climbing, paddle boarding and canoeing in partnership with with Dynamic Adventures.

• China Blue – 10% off within ceramic studio & restaurant
• Creative Journeys in Nature – 10% off all sessions
• Devon Distillery – 10% off at Devon gin school & Devon rum school
• Dynamic Adeventures – 10% off all sessions (not including hire)
• Wildwise bushcraft, survival skills, kids & family camps – 10% off all courses