Greenway's spring walk
This walk leads you around the parts of Greenway garden which have the best display of spring flowers and where you may even spot some of the highlights of nature in spring such as herons nesting at one of the largest heronries on the River Dart. This is a perfect walk to do from February to the end of April.
As this walk is within Greenway garden, normal admission prices apply. Greenway operates a car parking system: if you wish to travel to Greenway by car, you must pre-book a parking space online or by phone. There is more information in the 'how to get here' section.
Map
Start:
Greenway Visitor Reception, grid ref: SX876548
1
From Visitor Reception, walk through the courtyard until you reach the fork in the path. Take the right-hand fork, and follow the path around to the front of the house. Once you are level with the front of the house, turn right and walk almost to the cream gates, where you should find a path on your left signposted Camellia Garden.
Magnolias and rhododendrons
As you walk around the house at the right time of year you'll be greeted by the colourful sight of magnolias and rhododendrons. Just a few of these are the large magnolia ‘Peter Vietchii' on the left bank as you walk round the house, and below the bank towards the river is a vibrant rhododendron called ‘Cornish red,’
2
Follow the path signposted Camellia Garden down the slope. It will branch off shortly; if you follow the branch it leads you to a viewing point where you can take a break and soak up the views of the River Dart. When you continue down the main path, follow it until you reach the next fork, and turn right here. This leads you to the Camellia Garden, where you can see a collection of camellias in flower in the spring.
Camellia Garden
The Camellia Garden once housed a greenhouse with a 'hot wall' to protect tender plants, and the garden was also home to an aviary. The rustic walls and archways that remain lend a romantic air to this little garden.
3
Once you have finished, retrace your steps out of the Camellia Garden (if you were to carry on following the path through the garden, you would return to Visitor Reception). Follow the path further downhill and along the riverside until you reach the Battery.
The Battery and Boathouse
From the Battery you can see the village of Dittisham upriver. The Battery was built in the early 1700s and may have been a Napoleonic defence in the 1790s. If you were to follow the path further along the riverside you would reach the Boathouse, which was the scene of the crime in 'Dead Man's Folly.'
4
Take the steps leading from the Battery uphill. Follow the path until you reach a fork: take the left-hand path. Follow this path uphill until you reach another fork: here turn right. Continue to follow the path uphill until you reach another fork, where you should find the Greenway Bird Pond.
Greenway Bird Pond
The sculpture beside the pond is known as the Greenway Bird was created by Bridget McCrumm. Near to the bird pond look out for camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ in flower.
5
Take the right-hand fork at the Bird Pond to continue up the hill, keeping the boundary of the garden on your right. This section is pretty steep, but worth it for the views once you reach the top.
Heronry
Once you reach the top of the hill, you've earned a rest. There's a bech right on the edge of the garden, overlooking the River Dart. You can see Kingswear in the distance from here, and the fields and woodland that borders Greenway. You may even see a heron or two, as this area is home to one of the largest heronries on the River Dart.
6
Follow the path back into the garden, through the area known as the Top Garden. Keep to this path until you reach a fork leading to a zigzag path leading downhill.
7
Take the zigzag path downhill, and turn right at the bottom. By following this path you will arrive back at the house and get a great view of the bank filled with snowdrops. From there you can follow the path around the house and back through the courtyard to Visitor Reception.
Max's magnolia
As you arrive back at the courtyard you may spot a very tall magnolia in flower. This was planted by Max Mallowan, Agatha Christie's husband, and is a magnolia campbellii.
End:
Greenway Visitor Reception, grid ref: SX876548
