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Compton Castle
DevonDramatic fortified manor house and small formal garden
Marldon, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 1TA
Important notice
Please note, there is currently no access to Compton Castle via Marldon or Widdicombe Lane due to roadworks.
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 1 November 2026
Asset Opening time Compton Castle Closed Whole property
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £13.20 £12.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £6.60 £6.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £33.00 £30.00 1 adult, 2 children £19.80 £18.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Assistance dogs only
Dogs on short leads welcome in garden and orchard; access is signposted. Assistance dogs welcome in the Castle.
- Car park
Free limited visitor parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). Accessible drop-off point in front of the main gates to the castle. The car park can get very busy in the morning; we advise visiting after 2.30pm.
- Toilet
Drop-off point available in front of the main castle gates. Ground floor accessible. Uneven pathways and steps. Poor phone reception. Manual wheelchair available.
- Accessible route and/or map
Grounds are partly accessible, steep slopes, steps and narrow paths. Full access statement here - https://www.accessable.co.uk/national-trust/compton-castle-national-trust
Accessible route and/or map - more information- Accessible toilet
- Designated parking
- Drop-off point
Drop-off point available in front of the castle gates. Free limited visitor parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). The car park can get very busy in the morning; we advise visiting after 2.30pm.
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Steps/uneven terrain
- By road
- 1½ miles north of Marldon. Signposted off A380 to Marldon or turn south from A381 Totnes road at Ipplepen - 2 miles in country lanes (with passing places) to ComptonParking: Free limited visitor parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). Drop-off point outside the main castle gates. If you wish to visit by motorhome, please contact 01803 843235 before your arrival.Sat Nav: please be aware that you may need to update your SatNav to find Compton Castle, as older versions do not recognise the new South Devon Link Road
- By train
- Torquay approximately 4 miles. Newton Abbot 6 miles
- By bus
- 125 Country Bus from Paignton bus station: alight at Marldon. From bus stop, 1½ mile walk through narrow country lanes, steep in places
- Cycling
Planning your visit
Compton Castle is now closed for 2026
Thanks to everyone who visited this year. The castle is now closed, and will reopen in April 2027. We look forward to welcoming you back then.
Plan your next day out
From an Arts and Crafts house by the sea to Agatha Christie's holiday home and an exotic garden on the cliffs of Salcombe, there's lots of adventures to be had with historic homes, gardens and coastal walks in South Devon.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Compton Castle
From spotter trails to dressing up, there's lots for families to do at Compton Castle. Why not take a look and see what you can do when it reopens?
Highlights
Castle
Dramatic fortified manor house with towers and portcullis, home to the Gilbert family for nearly 600 years. Open April-October.
Garden
Formal medieval-style knot garden and rose garden with pergolas, kitchen herb garden and informal lawns with orchard. Open April-October.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do in Compton Castle
Step inside this fortified medieval manor, complete with a Great Hall, Solar and sub solar, and learn about the lives of people that once called it home.
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Things to see in Compton Castle garden
The garden at Compton Castle is small but perfectly formed, its character and appearance changing with the seasons. Discover the variety of plants, sights and smells to be found, including a rose garden and medieval knot garden.
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Family-friendly things to do at Compton Castle
You'll find plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained at Compton Castle, with a nature trail, garden games and costumes to try on. What adventures will you have next?
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Things to see on Compton Castle estate
With views over the sloped Devonshire valleys and traditional farmland, the estate at Compton Castle is as historic as the castle. A new project has been established to improve areas of the countryside for nature, while managing the commercial farming.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Compton Castle
A rare survivor, this medieval fortress with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis, is set in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards. Compton Castle is a bewitching mixture of romance and history. It has been home to the Gilbert family for nearly 600 years, including Sir Humphrey Gilbert - half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
You can wander round this charming small castle's gardens, great hall and sub solar, and peer into the Chapel and medieval kitchen.
Our work
Project
Community forest at Compton Castle
Discover more about Compton Castle's ambition to plant over 10,000 trees and create new wooded habitats to benefit nature.
Project
History
Article
History of Compton Castle
Follow the changing fortunes of this medieval castle, home to the Gilbert family for over 600 years, though its periods of disrepair and restoration.
Art and collections
Compton Castle’s objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Compton Castle on the National Trust Collections website.
Support us
Article
Volunteering at Compton Castle
Learn about volunteering at Compton Castle and other properties in South Devon, including the opportunities available and how to get involved.
