Exploring the park at Saltram

Saltram's historic parkland

Saltram’s historic parkland is a rare surviving example of an 18th-century estate. At its height, it was made up of 4,000 acres of land and provided income for the Parker family and employment for many local people.

Today, the park continues to be a working estate, with much of the land used as permanent pasture and cattle often to be seen enjoying the sunshine in the fields around the house.

Explore different habitats

There are 500 acres with a remarkable range of different habitats, including farmland, beaches, salt marshes, meadows, woodland and an estuary, as well as the 18th-century folly, known as the Amphitheatre.

Walks in the park

The park is the ideal space for a stroll, however far you want to walk. It has a mixture of easy access pathways that are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies, and some out of the way tracks to explore. Why not pop into the welcome centre to pick up a map to start your journey.

The Riverside walk

Starting from Saltram car park follow the tarmac path straight down from the Saltram map, the play park will be behind you on the right. This path takes you on a loop around the edge of Saltram's estate, starting on the edge of agricultural fields this route will then take you through historic woodland down towards point beach and an opening out into the Plym estury. From here there are beautiful views of the wider city and countryside beyond. Continue on the path that will follow all along the estuary, the path narrows here so please be aware of cyclists, dog walkers and other path users as at times there is a steep drop down to the river on one side of the path.
The path will bring you out into a clearing alongside the eighteenth century ampitheatre, believed to have been built before 1743, this Neo-classical structure, a whimsical folly, was designed as the perfect addition to an idealised landscape. Visible even today from the opposite bank, the Amphitheatre would greatly have impressed visitors arriving by boat.
Continuing on this walk will lead next to Saltram's bird hide and Blaxton Meadow, a great place for spotting some of the wading and migratory species of bird that reside here. The path will continue and following round to the right will bring you back past Saltram house and back to the car park, stables and welcome centre. This walk takes around one hour to complete and comprises some muddy track, and uneven tarmac areas.