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Compton Castle
Dramatic fortified manor house and small formal garden
Marldon, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 1TA
Important notice
Please note there are currently emergency works on the road from Ipplepen to Compton with closures in place. If you're planning a visit this week, access to Compton Castle is open from Marldon/Paignton.
Opening times for 1 May 2025
Asset Opening time Compton Castle 10:30 - 16:30 MTWTFSS282930123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930311OpenPartially openClosedWhole property
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £12.10 £11.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £6.10 £5.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £30.30 £27.50 1 adult 2 children £18.20 £16.50 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 visitor parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). Accessible parking spaces on grass at front of Castle, 30 yards. If you wish to visit by motorhome, please contact us before your arrival.
- Toilet
Blue Badge parking and drop-off point. 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.
- Accessible toilet
- Designated parking
Free visitor parking available opposite at Castle Barton Tearoom. Accessible parking paces on grass entrance in front of castle gates. If you wish to visit by motorhome, please contact us before your arrival.
- 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 Compton
Parking: free parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). Accessible parking on grass at front of Castle, 30 yards.
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
Compton Castle is open Tuesdays - Thursdays between April and October 2025. Looking to plan a visit? Why not take a browse at what you can see and do when Compton Castle is open, from strolling through the Rose garden to dressing up in the castle.
Plan your next day out
From Agatha Christie's holiday home to an Art Deco house by the sea, there's lots of adventures to be had with historic homes, gardens and coastal walks.
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
Article
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.
Article
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.
Article
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?
Article
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
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.
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 on the English Riviera in Devon, including the opportunities available and how to get involved.