Are you keen to explore what the National Trust in South Devon has to offer? We’ve rounded up five of our favourite National Trust properties across South Devon, from Agatha Christie’s Greenway to quirky historic houses and even an old Cistercian monastery, so you know where to head on your Devon break.
The former home of the ‘Queen of Crime’, Agatha Christie, Greenway, offers a glimpse into the writer’s life. The 1950s interiors are filled with Christie’s family collections, including many first editions of her novels. You can even visit the boathouse that inspired the crime scene in Dead Man’s Folly.
There are also extensive gardens to explore, including a walled garden, woodland, camelia garden and fernery, as well as riverside paths with stunning views over the River Dart.
Tickets cost £15 for adults and £7.50 for children, with family tickets offering additional savings. Parking on-site is plentiful, but to really make an entrance, we recommend taking the river ferry or catching a water taxi (only operating during the spring and summer months).
At just a 40-minute drive from Leonards Cove and described by Christie as ‘the loveliest place in the world’ whether you’re a fan or not, this National Trust property in South Devon is a must-visit.
Step back to the roaring 20s at the glamourous Coleton Fishacre, owned by the National Trust in South Devon and the former retreat of the Richard D’Oyly Carte - the man behind Gilbert and Sullivan musicals and London's Savoy hotel.
Built in 1925, it is a treasure trove of the Arts and Crafts movement that now offers insights into life ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’ during this period.
Coleton Fishacre is also home to an RHS-accredited coastal valley garden, so is perfect for green-fingered enthusiasts.
Opening hours vary throughout the year, with more limited openings during the winter months. It’s free for National Trust members or just £15 for adults and £7.50 for children. Plus, it’s less than 40 minutes from Leonards Cove by car.
A country idyll located a stone’s throw from Plymouth, Saltram is a Georgian mansion full of treasures. Overlooking the River Plym and set in rolling landscaped parkland, it’s easy to forget that you are quite so close to the city.
Home to the Parker family from 1743, many original features remain intact, including delicate Chinese wallpaper and an extensive painting collection, with works by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
The gardens offer year-round splendour, with extensive parkland and woodland to explore, as well as formal 18th and 19th-century gardens.
Saltram is around an hour from the holiday park, but its proximity to Plymouth means it’s the ideal National Trust in South Devon to visit if you're exploring the city too. Tickets for the house and gardens cost £14 for adults and £7 for children.
Founded in 1278, Buckland Abbey was the last abbey built in medieval England and Wales. For more than 250 years, Cistercian monks lived and farmed the vast estate.
Following the dissolution of the monasteries, Buckland was sold to Sir Richard Glenville in 1541 before being sold to Sir Francis Drake (the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe).
Highlights include the house, which offers insights into its eclectic past, the medieval Great Barn, which has remained virtually unchanged since it was first built and the stunning Elizabethan gardens.
The house is open year-round, with discounted tickets available through winter(£9 per adult and £4.95 per child).
Nestled in the Tamar Valley, this National Trust gem is just over an hour's drive from Leonards Cove.
Number five in our must-visit National Trust properties in South Devon is the quirky A la Ronde, a unique 16-sided house built in 1796 by cousins Jane and Mary Parminter.
The house has been lovingly preserved to offer you the chance to explore the curious mementos of the cousins’ Grand Tour travels as well as their many handcrafted decorations. It offers rare insight into the life of wealthy women during this time as well as extensive grounds to explore, perfect for little ones to blow off some steam.
Tickets range from £11 per adult to £5.50 for children and on-site facilities include a bookshop, kiosk to buy snacks and drinks, toilets and a picnic area.
At an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive, it may be the furthest from Leonard’s Cove but it’s worth the trip if you’re looking to explore something different.
If you want to explore the National Trust in South Devon to the full, why not plan a stay right here at Leonards Cove? Our holiday village offers a mix of accommodation, from mobile homes and lodges to cottages to suit all group sizes, so it is the perfect place to base yourself for exploring all that South Devon has to offer.