Castle Drogo
DevonWhere dramatic architecture meets innovative family home. A 20th century castle overlooking the Teign Gorge.
National Trust, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, near Exeter, Devon, EX6 6PB
Important notice
Opening times for 26 September 2025
Asset Opening time Castle 10:30 - 16:30 Garden 10:00 - 17:00 Visitor centre 10:00 - 17:00 Café 10:00 - 17:00 Shop 10:00 - 17:00 Last entry to the castle is always 30 minutes before the advertised closing time, so during the main season last entry to the castle is at 4pm, in the winter season last entry is at 3pm. Last orders in the café are 30 minutes before closing.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Car park 4 hours £3.00 Castle and garden
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £18.70 £17.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £9.40 £8.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £46.80 £42.50 Family (one adult) £28.10 £25.50 Group (Adult 18+) £16.50 Group (Child 5-17) £8.08 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Bookshop
There is a small second hand bookshop in the café.
- Café
The café at Castle Drogo, serves hot and cold drinks, light bites, hot lunches, bakes, and cream teas. The café also offers a takeaway offer including hot and cold drinks, snacks, and bakes.
- Car park
Limited spaces. If the car park is full please come back another time. Please do not park along the drive as this blocks access for farm vehicles.
- Cycle parking
There are bike racks on site, located near the outside seating area for the café.
Cycle parking - more information- Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads are welcome, with the exception of the café, circular lawn and castle. Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the property.
Dogs allowed - more information- Family friendly
Baby-changing facilities are available at visitor reception and the castle. Buggy/pushchair friendly routes are available around the garden. Hip-carrying infant seats available for loan in the house. Children’s menu available. Throughout school holidays children's trails and activities run throughout the grounds. Please supervise children at all times.
Family friendly - more information- Guided tour
Roof tours run at certain dates of the year subject to volunteers and suitable weather conditions.
Guided tour - more information- Picnic area
There are benches available in the Orchard and close to the Visitor Centre and car park. Please note: we ask that all visitors take their rubbish home with them.
Picnic area - more information- Plant shop
- Shop
- Toilet
Blue Badge parking and drop-off point. Poor phone signal. Accessible toilets. Some uneven surfaces.
- Accessible route and/or map
There is an accessible map and walking route available from visitor reception.
- Accessible toilet
Accessible toilet at visitor reception.
- Braille (guide or menu)
Braille guides are available in the castle
- Drop-off point
There is a drop-off point on entering the main car park to the left.
- Induction loop
The visitor reception, shop and café have induction loops.
- Large print (guide or menu)
Large copies of maps, children’s trails, and guides available. Please ask at Visitor Reception.
- Level access to food outlet
- Level access to shop
- Level access/terrain
Step-free access available via tarmac and gravel paths (please note steep in places). Please note there are steep drops around the property so please supervise young children or vulnerable adults.
- Photograph album
- Powered mobility vehicle available
Tramper hire available (call 01647 433306 to book).
- Ramped access/slopes
Ramped access to the castle entrance
- Seating available
There are benches around the grounds and garden and chairs throughout the castle
- Transfer available
The buggy is available when the Castle is open, as a shuttle to and from the Castle. Please contact us if you require confirmation of the buggy service.
- Wheelchairs available
There are wheelchairs available in visitor reception and in the castle.
This is the Castle Drogo car park - what3words: ///premises.taxed.sublet
- By road
- 5 miles south of A30. From the A30 take A382 Whiddon Down to Moretonhampstead road; turn off at Sandy Park, then follow signs to Castle Drogo. Approach lanes narrow with tight corners. From Plymouth drive over Dartmoor passing Two Bridges, when you reach Moretonhampstead follow the A382 to Sandy Park, turn right, and follow signs up to Castle Drogo. Due to the narrow roads on the approach to Castle Drogo coaches and motorhomes longer than 10.5 metres and wider than 2.39 metres (or bigger than 43 seats) are not recommended.Parking: 400 yards, parking charges apply, £3 for up to 4 hours, £7.50 all day. Members free, but please scan your card in the machine to receive a ticket to put on your windscreen.
- On foot
- Castle Drogo is on several long distance walking routes. Two Moors Way, a coast to coast walking route crossing Dartmoor and Exmoor and the Dartmoor way, 108 miles circular route around Dartmoor National park.
- By train
- Trains run from Exeter to: Yeoford train station (8 miles from Castle Drogo) Okehampton train station (12.3 miles from Castle Drogo)
- By bus
- Take the Stagecoach bus 173 from Exeter City Centre, Bus station stand 1 (Exeter to Chagford). The 173 bus operates Monday to Saturday and takes roughly 1 hour. The bus drops off at the bottom of Castle Drogo's drive which is 800 yard walk uphill to the Visitor Centre.
- Cycling
- Castle Drogo is close to National Cycle Network Route 28 which is part of the long distance cycling route, the Dartmoor Way. There are bike racks on site, located near the outside seating area for the café.
National Trust, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, near Exeter, Devon, EX6 6PB
Planning your visit
Sustainable travel across Dartmoor National Trust
Sustainable travel to National Trust places around Dartmoor is easier than you might think. We've put together a useful guide to help you navigate some greener transport options.
Visiting Castle Drogo with your dog
Castle Drogo is a two pawprint rated place. You and your dog are welcome to take a gentle stroll around the grounds or head to the Teign Gorge for miles of dog friendly routes.
The Tramper at Castle Drogo
Mobility Tramper hire is available for use on the estate and grounds, operated in partnership with Countryside Mobility Scheme.
Highlights
Castle
Where dramatic architecture meets innovative family home. A 20th-century castle, overlooking the Teign Gorge. Please check our opening times page for full details.
Estate
Explore this ancient gorge, teeming with wildlife on trails along the river.
Garden
Created over 100 years ago and carved into the landscape, there's something of interest to see in all seasons.
Shop
Pick up souvenirs from your visit at the Castle Drogo shop.
Café
Come and fill up in the Castle Drogo café, with a selection of hot and cold drinks, light lunches and snacks.
Chapel
The last part of the castle to be built, finished in 1931, with the addition of the bell tower.
Things to see and do
Christmas at Castle Drogo
Experience a unique Christmas at Castle Drogo. With stunning wintery walks, music, festive food and of course Christmas shopping. There's something for everyone to enjoy.
Exploring the Teign Gorge at Castle Drogo
Follow the winding paths below the castle into the sheltered Teign Gorge. Explore this ancient gorge teeming with wildlife on trails along the river or soak up views over Dartmoor.
Visiting the garden at Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo’s garden is the highest garden cared for by the National Trust. Discover circular lawns, formal terraces, a rhododendron garden and a tranquil Chapel Garden at this castle garden on Dartmoor.
Family-friendly things to do at Castle Drogo
Explore the garden and Teign Gorge at Castle Drogo. With miles of paths to explore, there’s an adventure for children of all ages. Discover the Bunty House in the garden, let off some steam along the river or tick off some of your '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.
Things to see and do inside Castle Drogo
Explore the castle’s interior and discover its precious treasures and family stories. As the last castle to be built in England modern features were included for the ambitious owner.
Spotlight events
It's About Time – October Half-Term Trail
Join us in the October half term for a tour around the gardens featuring games and activities all about time. Do you know what the time is? Have you asked Mr Wolf? Make sure to pop up to Castle Drogo... if you have time!
Eating and shopping
Eating and shopping at Castle Drogo
The café at Castle Drogo serves hot and cold drinks, lunches, snacks and sweet treats. Afterwards, stop off at the shop for a choice of gifts and souvenirs to take home with you.
Top trails
Piddledown Common walk
Enjoy a visually memorable walk from Castle Drogo that overlooks the dramatic Teign Gorge and takes in a variety of flora, including oak trees and wildflowers.
A walk to the Hydro Turbine at Castle Drogo
Take a gentle walk down to Castle Drogo's Hydro Turbine, built over 100 years ago to supply electricity to the castle, and find out more about how it works.
Teign Gorge classic circuit
Follow the breathtaking Hunters Path high above the river Teign for chances to spot wildlife and stunning views. The path then drops down into the beautiful woodland as you follow the river back to Castle Drogo.
Places to stay
Warcleave Cottage
A woodland hide-out complete with a tree-top balcony and a riverside garden.
The Lodge at Parke
A homely bolthole for two with the wilds of Dartmoor on its doorstep.
Upcoming events
Open Cabinets
Want to have a peak inside some of the amazing cabinets we care for in our collection?
Little Boy Blue Exhibition
To tie in with the launch of the National Trust's '100 Things to wear' book launch, we have Adrian Drewe's little boy blue suit on display in the Drawing Room.
Nursery Corridor Exhibition
The Nursery Corridor will be open for you to explore, with displays about how the different eras have looked throughout Castle Drogo's history.
It's About Time — Half-term trail
Join us in the October half term for a tour around the gardens featuring games and activities all about time. Do you know what the time is? Have you asked Mr Wolf? Make sure to pop up to Castle Drogo... if you have time!
Hydro Open Day
The hydro turbine building on the River Teign will be open for you to look inside. The knowledgeable guide will be able to tell you about the history of this building along with how it was restored and how it works.
Christmas 2025
Get ready for tinsel, paper chains and a kaleidoscope of coloured lights as we turn back the clock for a 1970s Christmas.
The Sound of Christmas
Throughout December we will have musicians in the Drawing Room playing for you to enjoy during your visit.
About Castle Drogo
High above the ancient woodlands of the Teign Gorge stands Castle Drogo. Inspired by the rugged Dartmoor tors that surround it, the castle was designed and built by renowned 20th-century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Outside the Lutyens designed garden is colourful in all seasons, and there are miles of pathways to explore in the Teign Gorge.
History
The hydro turbine at Castle Drogo
Discover how a hydro turbine was used at this remote family home and castle on Dartmoor, by generating electricity from renewable resources.
Art and collections
Castle Drogo's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Castle Drogo on the National Trust Collections website.
Our work
Conservation at Castle Drogo
Find out how Castle Drogo has been conserved using a combination of high-tech and heritage building materials. Discover how the work was funded through generous donations.
Conserving Castle Drogo’s Casson organ
Last year we started a project to put the icing on the cake in the Chapel. After finishing work to make the chapel watertight, redecorating the interior, conserving our stained-glass windows and altar rail, the final piece in the jigsaw was conserving our organ so it can be played.
Support us
Volunteer opportunities at Castle Drogo
Find out more about volunteering opportunities at Castle Drogo and how you can join the team to play your part in looking after this special family home.
