Greenway garden

The colourful top garden border in the garden at Greenway, Devon — The Top Border is one of the most colourful areas of Greenway garden

A view of the Vinery in the Walled Garden at Greenway — The sunny Walled Garden is home to the Vinery and vegetable plots

A view of a bench on the battery in the garden at Greenway, Devon — Take in the best views of the River Dart from the Battery

From walled gardens to riverside woodland, the informal garden at Greenway is very relaxed and tranquil. There are hidden gems to discover, views to admire and places to relax. Find out about the different areas to explore, and what the garden is like throughout the seasons.

Please book ahead before visiting

The car park, garden, café, shop and toilets at Greenway are open. We've introduced advance booking to keep everyone safe and maintain social distancing. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends and bank holidays. However, where space is available on weekdays, pre-booking may not always be necessary.

The ground floor of the house is open daily, 1.30-4.30pm: visits are limited to ensure social distancing and entry to the house is not guaranteed on the day you visit.

We're looking forward to welcoming you back.

Book now

The walled gardens

The walled gardens are a combination of industry and leisure; the peach house, vinery, vegetable plot and Galmpton School allotment all thrive in the shelter provided by the high walls. The South Walled Garden is also home to soft borders where hydrangeas flower in summer, and there is a large lawn to relax on.

Schoolchildren working in the garden at Greenway, Devon

Greenway's school allotment

Pupils from Galmpton carry on a traditional link between Greenway and their school by tending to an allotment in the Walled Garden. Once the vegetables have been harvested, the kids come for a celebration with their parents and enjoy the fruits of their labours with a delicious dinner.

Clock Golf

A sunny lawn tucked behind the walled gardens is named Clock Golf after the game Agatha and her family would play there. To one side of it is a grass border, to the other side of Clock Golf is the dahlia border, and just behind is a swathe of towering trees.

The Fernery

One of the most magical areas at Greenway is the recently-restored fernery behind the walled gardens and just along from the dahlia border. Dappled light and shade fall upon the fronds and the central water fountain creates an unrivalled atmosphere of tranquillity. One of the more quirky aspects to the fernery is the dog cemetery, where Agatha's dogs are buried.

The Top Garden

A stroll to the top garden rewards you with a gorgeous summer border. Year-round this part of the garden is the place to go to see one of the best views over the river; stand by the fence to the field at the edge of the garden to admire the River Dart down to Dartmouth.

The Battery and Boathouse

A walk around the garden isn't complete without visiting the Battery, which was built as a Napoleonic defence in the 1790s. Just along from there is the Boathouse, which was the scene of the crime in the Poirot mystery Dead Man's Folly. The Boathouse has recently had a lot of conservation work done both inside and out, to help to care for it for ever, for everyone.

Questions about the garden?

You could drop the garden team an email if you have any questions about Greenway garden, or would even like some advice about your own patch.

Changing seasons at Greenway

Visitors in the distance walking through a camellia archway at Greenway — Greenway garden is glorious in spring

Greenway Devon

Greenway garden in spring

Spring starts early in this woodland garden. Camellias, rhododendron, spring bulbs and more bloom all over the woodland garden. Find out about the best places in the garden to see the spring colour and the spring flowers on the free daily garden walk at 2pm.

Spring at Greenway

Spring into summer

Follow the path past the house and through the garden, you'll see bluebells taking over the banks and drifting down the hillside toward the River Dart. In the South Walled Garden the smell of wisteria and apple blossom fills the air, and from the Croquet Lawn the delicate scent of elderflower drifts over from the elder 'Eva.' At this time of year you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a rare cirl bunting, a small farmland bird which is endangered but thriving on the Greenway estate.

Summer in the garden

In the summer months, Greenway's leafy garden is filled with shady spots and cool river breezes. Peaches are ripening in the Peach House, the Top Garden is a riot of colour, and the Croquet Lawn's borders are filled with flowers. The charm of the garden in summer though is it's relaxed nature; bring a picnic and a blanket and find a spot to unwind and enjoy the view.

Glasshouses in the Walled Garden at Greenway, Devon

Autumn colour

Crunch through fallen leaves, spot wildlife on the River Dart, and enjoy the last blaze of colourful planting in the garden this season from black gum tree and acers along the driveway. Look out for grasses in flower between the walled gardens and Clock Golf lawn, such as Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' and ‘Fairy Tails’ in flower. Along the Middle Path highlights are Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) and Liquidambars. Hydrangeas and cyclamen flower well into autumn.

Greenway garden in winter

Winter is the perfect time to explore the garden; while the leaves are down from the trees the views over the river are opened up, and there are plenty of interesting plants in flower. A winter weekend walk around the garden is perfect for blowing away the cobwebs. Evergreens provide some welcome greenery and winter flowering shrubs such as Camellia sasanqua offer splashes of colour around the house and walled gardens.

Greenway is a ‘Camellia Garden of Excellence’

Greenway has been accredited the International Camellia Society’s ‘Camellia Garden of Excellence.’ This honour reflects the extent and quality of the camellia collection in Greenway garden. It is the first time a National Trust garden has been given this accreditation.