Gardens & Attractions
Holbeton is the ideal location for exploring the beautiful countryside and coast between Modbury (home of the Stetson hat) and Plymouth. The Yealm estuary is straddled by the sailing hotspots of Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo for paddleboarding and kayaking. Discover the beautiful Lukesland Gardens on the fringes of Dartmoor and the charming Mothecombe Gardens with its very own micro-climate. Forage on the shoreline, sample local wines at Callancombe Vineyard or have a wild day out with the kids at Dartmoor Zoo.
Foraging & Safari Tours
Carswell Farm, Holbeton, PL8 1HH
Fancy going on a barefoot forage? Scramble over rock pools on the beach just below Carswell Farm and learn how to sustainably harvest seaweeds. Pluck wild food from the hedgerows and meadows enroute to the field kitchen for the harvest preparation, cooking and preserving.
From sea and shore to plate in just a couple of hours. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon!
Book your Wild Food Forage & Feast workshop here
Photo credit: Carswell Farm
Calancombe Vineyard
Calancombe Estate, Nr Modbury, PL21 0TU
While away a few hours at the award winning Calancombe Wine Estate. Stroll around the orchards, vineyards and winery or book onto a guided tour and learn about Devon wine and cider production. You can of course indulge in a little wine tasting and round off your visit with delicious tapas and a glass of Calancombe or afternoon tea. Calancombe is just 7 miles from Holbeton..
Lukesland Gardens
Ivybridge, PL21 OJF
Imagine having a 24-acre garden on the fringes of the Dartmoor National Park. Lukesland Gardens is just that and it’s family owned and run. The gardens are located in the stunning Addiscombe Brook valley and host a wonderful array of spring and autumn flowering shrubs and specimen trees. Take a stroll around the islands, waterfalls and ponds (which are fed by the clear waters of the stream) and absorb the sights and sounds of this relaxing environment. Lukesland is child friendly and kids will love the freedom to explore the paths and tunnels. As with all good gardens, Lukesland has a charming tearoom serving home-made vegetable soup and a selection of cakes to enjoy with your afternoon tea.
Plan your visit to Lukesland Gardens here
Photo credit – Dan Soley photography/Lukesland Gardens
Mothecombe House & Gardens
Holbeton, PL8 1LB – Open 10am–4pm, Tuesdays from 5 Mar–27 Aug.
Just a couple of miles from Holbeton is Mothecombe House and Gardens. The grounds feature a beautiful walled garden with Lutyens terraces planted with wisteria, agapanthus and herbaceous borders. The house and gardens are sheltered from the strong south westerly winds and have their own microclimate which provides the perfect environment for magnolias and camellias and carpets of snowdrops and bluebells, hellebores, Solomon’s seal and foxgloves. A plant lover’s dream!
Photo credit: Val Corbett/Visit Devon
Dartmoor Zoo
inspiration for Hollywood film ‘We bought a Zoo’
Sparkwell, Plymouth PL7 5DG
Dartmoor Zoological Society is a charity dedicated to wildlife conservation, education and research so it strives to ensure it doesn’t have a detrimental impact on its environment, some 33 acres of woodland on the edge of Dartmoor. Take a walk on the wild side and see cheetah, tiger, lion, Amur leopard, monkeys, wolves, jaguar, tapir, lynx, monkeys, capybara, meerkats, bugs and reptiles to name just a few! So take a picnic or stop off at the restaurant for lunch or tea and cake and enjoy a wonderful and educational day out.
Photo credit: Visit Devon
