Buckland Abbey, Garden and Estate
Visitor information
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© Jon Cummins
Buckland Abbey on a snowy morning
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© Nick Carter
The drum belonging to Sir Francis Drake at Buckland Abbey
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© Jon Cummins
The size of the Great Barn indicates the monk's successful farming skills
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© National Trust
Cider House Garden entrance
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© Sam Spencer
Take a walk through the woods on one of many of our self guided walks
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© Jon Cummins
Relax in the warmth of the walled Cider House kitchen behind the abbey
700-year-old home of Elizabethan seafarers Drake and Grenville
In the 13th century, Buckland Abbey was home to the Cistercian monks who built the abbey and the incredible Great Barn and farmed the then vast estate.
The Abbey, now a house with a combination of furnished rooms and interactive museum galleries, tells the story of how two seafaring adventurers - Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake - changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country.
Discover the Buckland estate, the meadows, the orchards and the late spring bluebells. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Tavy Valley and the far-reaching views.
A conservator dusts the portrait attributed to Rembrandt
© Steve Haywood
Is that a Rembrandt hanging in the dining room?
A Dutch paintings expert has identified what could be a ‘lost’ Rembrandt hanging in our dining room. Our portrait of Rembrandt was previously thought to have been painted by his pupils but it could soon be verified as being the work of the Dutch master himself. Come see it in our Georgian dining room and follow the mystery as it unfolds.
Pore over our collection
Drake's boat, gravy boat... Visit the abbey to peruse our collection in person or examine it online at your leisure.
Join the conversation
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