Visiting the garden at Castle Drogo

A misty autumn morning in the rose garden at Castle Drogo, Devon | © Castle Drogo/Garden Team

Castle Drogo’s garden is the highest garden cared for by the National Trust. Relax in the sunken rose garden and tranquil chapel garden or wander through the formal terraces and rhododendron garden. Children can play in the Bunty House, explore in the orchard or burn off steam on the circular lawn. Whatever the weather there's something of interest to see in the garden.

Rhododendron garden

The rhododendron garden is closed, but can be viewed from the terrace above. This is due to ongoing plant health control measures. The rest of the garden is open as normal.

The Garden throughout the year

The gardens are full of colour from early spring until autumn. There's always something to see.

The Formal Garden in March, with little growing, but some colour can still be seen. — The garden in March at Castle Drogo, Devon. | © National Trust Images/Isabelle Hepworth

The Formal Gardens in March

The formal Gardens are the heart of the Castle Drogo grounds, even in winter they are a pleasure to walk around.

1 of 4

Autumn highlights

On clear days, autumnal low morning sun reaches through the garden casting a lovely light. If the sun is being shy, we might instead be greeted by low lying mists, no less beautiful than the sun, as they create a real sense of drama in the gardens. If you are lucky, you may even see the early morning mists hovering in the tree line in the valley below the Castle. It's a treat to see.

As the days shorten and the nights cool the colours become vibrant. Our trees are a spectacle, as reds, yellows and oranges emerge from hiding, having been masked all summer by the energy absorbing green leaf colour.

Highlights in the main flower borders are the ornamental grasses of Molina, that take on a lovely golden hue, pairing well with late purple flowering Asters.

In the rose garden, the four crab apple trees that we begin pruning to form teardrop shapes from early September, should have a lovely display of red flushed crabs, beloved by foraging blackbirds.

Its a quieter time of year in the garden, which makes it perfect for a reflective, leisurely stroll to enjoy the cooler calm of Autumn.

If you want to find out more about the garden you can download our garden guide here before you visit.

Herbaceous borders

From Spring through to Autumn, the Herbaceous borders are constantly changing and full of colour. The garden team work hard throughout the year to keep these borders looking at their best, from mulching in early spring and weeding and deadheading throughout the summer. There's always something to do to keep the garden looking spectacular.

Circular Lawn

The simple space of the Circular Lawn is an oasis of green surrounded by yew trees. At the top of the granite steps there's an enjoyable view straight down the garden.

Bunty House

Always popular with families the Bunty House is a treasured and charming additon to the garden. Look out for this tiny playhouse as you explore around the Shrubbery. The Bunty House is modelled on a 1930s suburban home and was built for the youngest of the Drewe children, Frances. The house in the gardens is a replica of the original and visitors young and old are welcome to play in it.

What not to bring

For everyone's safety and enjoyment we ask that there are no ball games, or bikes in the garden.

Late afternoon sun over the Bunty House, | © James Beck

Shrubbery

Many of the original trees and shrubs planted by Dillistone are still thriving today. Connecting the circular lawn with the terrace, the shrubbery has trees and shrubs chosen for their rich spring and autumn colour.

Many of the plant specimens in this area originate from China, Japan and Chile. These countries encounter very cold nights and produce plants hardy enough to survive the altitude at Castle Drogo.

Rose garden

Frances Drewe loved roses, so a rose garden was a ‘must-have’ feature. The Dartmoor weather is challenging for rose cultivation, but the milder microclimate of the sunken rose garden gives some protection from the elements.

Each rose bed is labelled with the plant name varieties. During the summer the rose garden is full of perfume, enjoy the different fragrances from one of the garden benches.

Chapel Garden

The peaceful, secluded Chapel Garden is a compact garden adjoining the castle. Follow the granite steps under the Entrance hall leading you to this tranquil space. The borders comprise of roses, catmint and lavender. A mature fig tree on the wall grows well even in the strong winds and challenging weather.

Rhododendron garden

Situated below the main garden and accessed through the Chapel Garden, this woodland garden has a south-westerly aspect so takes the full force of the winter storms.

Despite being at its best in spring and early summer, the Rhododendron Garden also provides a vibrant display of autumn colour, with acers and birch planted among the rhododendrons.

Please note: The Rhododendron Garden is currently closed due to an ongoing plant health issue.