South West

We’re reopening a number of places in line with government guidance. You can visit places across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. We recommend you book in advance for visits to gardens, parks and houses, especially at busy times such as weekends. See what’s open and ready for you to book this week below…

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 pick up a takeaway 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.

Glorious Cornish garden with valley views and an expansive estate to explore. The garden features terraces, ponds and orchards with 150 local apple varieties.

An ancient and atmospheric estate with a medieval garden rich in archaeology and wildlife. In the walled King's Garden, cloud-like box hedges follow neat paths that shelter the primroses flowering below them come spring.

Peaceful and playful valley garden near Falmouth, where big leaves and exotic flowers thrive in the jungle-like lower valley and sun-loving specimens enjoy the upper banks. Colourful camellias, snowdrops and early daffodils and primroses bring colour to the garden for local visitors to enjoy.

You'll find ancient woodlands and tranquil riverside paths on Lanhydrock's estate, near Bodmin.

Sheltered garden bursting with exotic trees and shrubs where you can follow in the footsteps of the 1920s plant hunters to see plants that flowered in Britain for the first time. Award-winning magnolias and rhododendrons will bring spring colour, and winding wooded paths lead to sea views across Mount's Bay.

An estate with maritime views and woodland walks, near Truro. Explore the meandering paths through the garden, leading to exotic plants and herbaceous borders.

Tranquil small but varied garden complete with Elizabethan knot garden, wild meadow and orchard, open for local walkers from 27 February, with tickets available to book from 19 February.

On the edge of Exmoor, the facilities at Arlington Court are closed, but there are over 20 miles of footpaths to explore on the estate. The pleasure grounds and Victorian garden are open for local visitors.

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

High above the ancient woodlands of the Teign Gorge stands Castle Drogo. The garden is now closed for winter but the wider Teign Gorge and countryside walks are open for local walkers to explore. There's no need to book ahead, however parking is limited so if the car park is busy please come back another time.

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. There's no need to book ahead, however we have limited spaces, so if the car park is busy please come back another time.

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 parkland near Tiverton, with woodland walks and acres of tenanted farmland where you may even spot Exmoor Horn sheep.

A glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland, a stone's throw from Exeter. When visiting for local walks you can explore winding paths, climb an extinct volcano, discover an Iron Age hill fort and take in distant views towards Dartmoor.

The parkland at Saltram has 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. There's no need to book ahead to make a local visit to the park, but there are limited spaces so if the car park is busy please come back another time.

Situated near Bath, this ancient parkland is full of magnificent trees and view points with extensive vistas that stretch as far as the Welsh mountains. The garden is home to sumptuous planting, formal areas and peaceful wooded terraces.

Arts and Crafts-inspired garden with intricately designed outdoor spaces in the rolling Cotswold hills. Explore the maze of narrow paved pathways and discover secret gardens, delightful vistas and colourful planting.

Tudor hunting lodge set proudly in an estate on top of the Cotswold escarpment, looking down into the Ozleworth valley and to the Mendips beyond. The quaint gardens and sprawling parkland are filled with snowdrops at this time of year.

Home to a walled White Garden, Rose and Iris Garden and Lily Garden which were influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, with playing fountains, vibrant colours and intoxicating scents.

Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, Dunster Castle is a place of dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens near Minehead in Exmoor. The terraced garden displays varieties of Mediterranean and subtropical plants leading to the tranquil riverside wooded garden below.

Fyne Court is a hidden gem in the heart of the Quantock Hills. You can explore this wild garden and surrounding countryside, discovering pieces of its history hiding in the undergrowth. The estate was the home of the Crosse family who lived here until the house was destroyed by fire in 1894.

A beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath, undergoing a major restoration on its historic dams. Set in a sweeping valley above Bath, it's a place of magnificent views and lawns to relax on, with one of only four Palladian bridges in the world.

One of the few Elizabethan houses in England to have retained its setting within a compartmented garden, Montacute is complete with herbaceous borders, a magnificent fountain, orchard and parkland.

Extensive garden and parkland, just a stone's throw from Bristol. Terraces, a rose garden, an empty lake, woodland, champion trees and the kitchen garden balance faded beauty and function with an abundance of nature.

World-famous landscape garden with magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees.

Take a wintry wander through the grounds of this country house with monastic roots, once home to William Henry Fox Talbot, inventor of the photographic negative

Here's our pick of the most beautiful, tranquil, exciting and inspiring gardens in the South West to walk through this winter. Come rain or shine, these special places are filled with fresh air and tranquillity.

Explore the diverse landscape of the South West on foot. Here's a selection of great walks by county, taking in coastline, hillforts, woodland, countryside and more across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Navigate through these to find your local walk, perfect for getting some fresh air as spring emerges.

Check out the places to explore as a family in each county in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire on fresh winter days out, as well as some fun to have with your family from home.

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.