Devon

Greenway Boathouse walk

View from inside a wooden boathouse, out through an archway to two visitors on the balcony, looking at the tree-lined river — Enjoy tranquil views from the Greenway Boathouse | © National Trust Images/John Millar

This circular route around Greenway's garden leads you through woodland and along riverside paths, to the scene of the murder in Agatha Christie's mystery, Dead Man's Folly. Sharpen your sleuthing skills to spot nesting herons, and seek out River Dart views from the Boathouse and Battery.

Near to

Greenway

Start point

Greenway visitor reception, grid ref: SX871548

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)

Duration 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Some steep sections, steps, narrow paths and uneven surfaces. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Route unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Viewpoint benches to pause and rest. For further details, please see Access section.
***Please keep dogs on a short lead at all times. For further details, please see Facilities section.

Book your car parking

If arriving by car, please remember to book your parking in advance on the Greenway homepage. Members can book for free, while non-members will pay for parking when booking.

Address
Greenway visitor centre, Greenway Road, Galmpton, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 0ES
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
Dart Valley Trail – Kingswear, 3 miles; Dartmouth 6 miles.
Greenway walk from Broadsands or Churston station 3.5 miles.
By train
Paignton 4.5 miles, Churston 2 miles.
National Rail
By ferry
Services to Greenway from Dartmouth and Dittisham.
Greenway Ferry Company
By road
Please book your parking in advance. From Torquay and Paignton, follow signs to Brixham, until you reach the village of Churston. Follow brown tourist signs (directing you to Greenway), through the village of Galmpton. Follow Manor Vale Road and continue onto Greenway Road. Follow Greenway Road past the school and out of the village; continue on for approximately 2 miles until you reach Greenway. Please respect the speed limits in the village and drive with care. Satnav: TQ5 0ES will direct you through Galmpton village and along Greenway Road.
Designated parking
There are a minimum of six accessible parking spaces in our main car park. The main car park has hard surface tarmac, and a tarmac path that leads to the main tarmac drive.
Accessible toilet
Next to the visitor reception, the shop and the back of the house.
Seating available
Seating at viewpoints available along the route.
Steps/uneven terrain
Paths on this route are steep, uneven and narrow in places. Not suitable for people using wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Greenway visitor reception, grid ref: SX871548
Stage 1
From the visitor reception, walk through the courtyard, past the shop and head right to take you down to the house. Follow the Middle Path past the house, heading into the woodland garden.
Follow the Middle Path into the woodland garden | © National Trust Images/John Millar
Stage 2
Keep to the Middle Path until you come to a fork in the path, which is signposted 'to the Boathouse'. Turn right here, and head downhill.
Stage 3
Follow the path downhill until you reach a fork. Take the path to the left.
Stage 4
This path leads you down to the edge of the garden, where it borders the River Dart. Grey herons nest in the trees here. There is the largest heronry on the River Dart at the edge of the garden.
View of the River Dart from Greenway's garden | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey
Stage 5
The path forks to the left again, leading to a viewpoint with a handily positioned bench. Why not stop for a minute and soak up the view of the river? From here you can see down towards Kingswear. When you're ready, join the path again and follow it along the riverside until you reach the Boathouse.
Stage 6
Explore the Boathouse and Quay, then re-join the path and continue along it, keeping the river to your left, and head towards the Battery.
Stage 7
Once you've enjoyed the views from the Battery, take the steps on the left from the way you arrived, with the River Dart behind you. You will begin the climb back up to meet the previous path.
Keep the River Dart on your left | © National Trust Images / Andrew Butler
Stage 8
Follow the path until back up the hill towards the statue of Kwan-Yin. Turn left and follow the path all the way until it emerges to back at the front of the house. Head back towards the courtyard and visitor reception where you started.
End point
Greenway visitor reception, grid ref: SX871548
Trail map
Map of the Greenway Boathouse walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Place

Greenway

Greenway house and garden: 'the loveliest place in the world'

Greenway Road, Galmpton, near Brixham, Devon, TQ5 0ES

01803843235

greenway@nationaltrust.org.uk

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