Coleton Fishacre and Compton Castle

Today, we visit two National Trust properties in this part of Devon.

The first, Coleton Fishacre, is near Kingswear and is an old country house in the 1920s Jazz Age Art-Deco style of that time. It was built 1923-26 for the D'Oyly Carte family, and the interior is very interesting. Not only that, the gardens are beautiful and are built around a narrow Combe that runs down to the sea at Pudcombe Cove (which is on the South West Coastal Path) and features many rare and exotic plants.

The second, Compton Castle, is near Marldon and is actually a fortified Manor House with high curtain walls, towers, and two portcullis. We are fortunate with timing and join a guided tour of the house and gardens; the inside features a medieval kitchen, a great hall, a sub-solar room, a solar room and a Chapel. The house is owned by the Gilbert Family (Sir Humphrey Gilbert was the half-brother of Sir Francis Drake); it has been in the care of the National Trust since 1951.

An excellent day out.Read more