About the garden
Owned by
Fortescue Farm Partnership
Located in the rolling hills of North Devon, the 50-acre garden at Castle Hill is a haven of tranquillity surrounding the magnificent Palladian House. Enhanced and tended by many generations of the family, this beautiful expanse of gardens offers a wealth of sights and scents that change with the seasons; from the pinks, reds and whites of the camellias in the spring, followed by 170 different magnolias, profusions of rhododendrons and pastel coloured azaleas.
You will then be captivated by the heady scent of lavender through late summer before the red, amber and gold of the autumn. You can enjoy the gardens at any time of year.
Wander through rare trees along tranquil paths where magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas grow in abundance together with a hosts of daffodils and bluebells among carpets of North Devon primroses. The Millennium Garden is a particular joy to walk around on a sunny spring day with its colourful herbaceous borders that lead to winding pathways into historic parkland interspersed with temples, follies and statues.
A climb to the sham castle so rewarding for the panoramic views across to Exmoor, Dartmoor and, on a clear day, Lundy Island. The track through the magnificent woodland gardens, filled with a variety of flowering shrubs, leads down to the river and the Ugley Bridge. Perched high on the hill is the newly restored Holwell Temple and as a memory to Lady Margaret Fortescue, The Kennel sits proudly on Oxford Down. No visit is complete without taking in these highlights.
Dogs on leads and young children are welcome to come and explore the expanse of landscape. Light lunches and refreshments are served from the tearoom from March to October; we offer delicious Devon cream teas, homebaked cakes, made-to-order sandwiches, seasonal ploughman’s or soup – the perfect way to round off a visit.
