Devon

On the edge of Exmoor there are over 20 miles of footpaths to explore on the estate, plus pleasure grounds and a Victorian garden to discover.

The Carriage Museum in the stables has a vehicle for every occasion from cradle to grave, showcasing innovations in travel. The ground floor of the Carriage Museum reopens from Monday 17 May. The house at Arlington Court will reopen from Monday 24 May. The intriguing Regency house, built in 1823 and extended in 1860, has an austere façade. However, inside the cosy rooms purvey a homely, family atmosphere.

Tranquillity and history meet at this ancient gem in the Tavy Valley landscape, with gardens, meadows, orchards and woodlands to explore.

Follow over 700 years of footsteps; from the Cistercians who built the Abbey, to seafarers Grenville and Drake who changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country.

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. The castle has recently come to the end of a major conservation project, making it watertight, and reopens from Monday 17 May.

Outside the Lutyens designed garden is colourful in all seasons, and there are miles of pathways to explore in the Teign Gorge.

In this RHS accredited garden viewpoints give enticing glimpses out to sea, paths weave through glades past tranquil ponds, and tender plants thrive in the moist and sheltered coastal valley.

The house is imbued with Art Deco elegance. It was the country home of the D'Oyly Carte family, and now you can travel back in time to the Jazz Age. The ground floor is reopening from Monday 17 May.

At Greenway, swathes of spring flowers, walled gardens, river views and romantic woodland combine to make up 'The loveliest place in the world' in the words of Agatha Christie. The relaxed and atmospheric Georgian house is set in the 1950s, when Agatha and her family would spend summers and Christmases here with friends, and is home to their extensive collections.

The ground floor reopens from Monday 17 May.

The deepest river gorge in the South West, with 30m high waterfall, Lydford Gorge gorge is filled with wildlife, plants and trees that enchant the senses.

A hidden paradise of subtropical gardens, Overbeck's is tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe. The garden is bursting with colour, filled with exotic and rare plants and surprises round every corner.

A peaceful retreat set within the beautiful Devon countryside near Bovey Tracey, Parke is open with no need to book to visit. Take a short stroll around the garden, or a longer more strenuous walk through the woodlands and along the river to the medieval weir.

A 19th-century garden and parkland near Tiverton, with woodland walks and acres of tenanted farmland where you may even spot Exmoor Horn sheep. The formal and woodland garden is one of the finest and most varied plant collections in the country.

From 17 May, inside you can discover the 19th century manor house, built for a former Tiverton MP. Knightshayes is a rare example of the work of William Burges, whose lavish designs have always inspired extremes of opinion.

A glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland, a stone's throw from Exeter, beautiful year-round with rhododendrons, magnolias, champion trees and formal lawns. Explore winding paths, climb an extinct volcano, discover an Iron Age hill fort and take in distant views towards Dartmoor. The ground floor of the friendly Georgian house is reopening daily from 17 May, and the fashion exhibition on the first floor of the house will reopen from 21 June.

At Saltram there's a secret garden to lose yourself and parkland with riverside and woodland walks. Strolling through this precious green space on the outskirts of Plymouth, you can almost forget that the city lies so close. The magnificently decorated house, with an exceptional collection of paintings and impressive kitchen, reopens from 7 June.

See the full list places we care for in the South West which are open by county.

Whether you’re looking for fuel to kick-start a ramble on the coast, or are returning from a gentle stroll in the woods, you’ll find these kiosks, cafés and tea-rooms are great places to stop for a treat. What's more, every visit you make and piece of cake you buy helps us carry on looking after special places for everyone to enjoy, for ever.

From rock pooling on beautiful beaches to exploring gardens filled with spring flowers, there are places to get a daily dose of fresh air with the family this spring. Find out the best places to explore with the kids in Devon.

There's plenty of late spring colour to be found in a garden near you. The gardens we care for in Devon are in full bloom and are a great place to get some fresh air, have a picnic in the sunshine and stretch your legs.

Here's a selection of our some of our favourite walks in Devon. As spring unfolds, soak up the views from Devon's rolling hills and rugged coast, take shorter walks in parks and gardens or circular walks on Dartmoor or Exmoor.

From Godolpin in Cornwall to Stourhead in Wiltshire, places in the South West are brimming with bluebells during the spring months. Find out if a beautiful bluebell spot can be visited on your local walk, or let us bring the bluebells to you.

As well as providing us with beautiful spaces to relax and delicious food and drink to enjoy, traditional orchards and gardens with flowering fruit trees in are home to many birds, bees, butterflies and insects.

Connecting with nature can bring a sense of continuity and calm. Whether it be on a walk, from your window or in your garden, here are some tips for looking out for nature.

We’re doing everything we can to make space for nature in the countryside, thanks to your support. Find out about the projects that are taking place in the South West to create space for nature.