About the garden
Owned by
The Dartington Trust
Experience a sense of tranquility at Dartington’s historical Grade II* listed gardens, which evolved under the stewardship of families including the Holands (1388– 1509), the Champernownes (1559– 1925), and the Elmhirsts (1925– 1968), aided by nationally and internationally renowned landscape architects and designers Henry Avray Tipping, Beatrix Farrand, and Percy Cane. Dartington Trust now looks after the gardens.
The 26 acres of formal grounds have been developed with a sense of natural wilderness, including a range of stunning features and beautiful vistas, with impressive sculptures, including the Henry Moore ‘Reclining Figure’, commissioned especially for the gardens in 1946. Rich in history and home to some of the most impressive champion trees in the region, the gardens boast a 1,500-year-old yew tree and a line of sweet chestnuts believed to be more than 400 years old. Visitors return to admire the stunning burst of colour at the Azalea Dell and the 80-metre long Sunny Border, lovingly created by Dorothy Elmhirst in 1928 and overlooking the impressive Tiltyard at the heart of the garden.
The gardens are accessible for wheelchair users and there is also a fun children’s activity trail, with hidden paths to explore, plus volunteer-led garden tours and plant sales on select days (see website for details and booking). The wider Dartington Estate has a gift shop, a Cider Press Centre, numerous cafés, a pub and restaurant, children’s play park, river walks, and 1,200 acres of grounds to explore.
Please note: this garden is partially accessible.
