The Garden House
Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, Devon
The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum in Devon is a 10-acre garden built around the ruins of an old vicarage, with a terraced walled garden, a fourteenth-century barn and the Jubilee Arboretum.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit The Garden House?
The Garden House is a garden of linked spaces on the edge of Dartmoor, made around the ruins of the old vicarage of Buckland Monachorum. It covers 10 acres, divided into themed areas, and it rewards a slow wander rather than a quick loop.
The heart of the garden is the Walled Garden, a 2-acre plot set around the remains of the old vicarage. Five terraces step down the slope, with formally planted areas, a camellia walk and a lower terrace with foliage borders. On the lower terrace you will find the ruined tower with its spiral staircase and a thatched barn, once the kitchen. Climb the tower for views over the garden and the surrounding countryside. These terraces are a useful study for anyone with a sloping plot, showing how walls and levels can create a run of separate garden rooms.
Beyond the walled garden, the planting opens out into the wider garden. The Jubilee Arboretum, opened in 2013, has more than a hundred specimen trees and a man-made lake, and is a good place to see how trees can be grouped for shape and bark as well as leaf colour. Historic features add interest throughout, including a fourteenth-century barn and a seventeenth-century dovecote. A tearoom on site makes it easy to break up the visit, and the garden is a sensible stop if you are exploring Tavistock and the western edge of Dartmoor.
What to see
- The 2-acre Walled Garden with five terraces around the old vicarage ruins.
- The ruined tower with a spiral staircase and views over the garden.
- The camellia walk and the lower terrace of foliage borders.
- The Jubilee Arboretum, with more than a hundred specimen trees and a lake.
- A fourteenth-century barn and a seventeenth-century dovecote.
The Garden House through the year
- spring
- The camellia walk flowers and the terraces of the walled garden start to fill with fresh growth.
- summer
- The terraces and borders are at their fullest, and the arboretum lake is a cool spot on a warm day.
- autumn
- The Jubilee Arboretum's specimen trees colour up around the lake.
- winter
- Opening can be seasonal; check the official site before planning a winter visit.
The story behind the garden
The first house here was built in 1305, when the Abbot was told by the Bishop to provide a home for the parish priest, and it was later enlarged to three storeys. The house became the home of the vicars of Buckland Monachorum.
After the Second World War, Lionel Fortescue, a former master at Eton College, and his wife Katherine bought the property. Over about 40 years they restored and expanded the garden, creating a series of linked gardens around the old vicarage ruins. The walled garden with its five terraces was where the garden began. The Jubilee Arboretum, with more than a hundred specimen trees and a lake, was opened by the Countess of Wessex in 2013.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Gardeners with sloping plots, lovers of plant-filled terraces and visitors exploring the western edge of Dartmoor.
- Getting there
- The Garden House is at Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton in West Devon, on the western edge of Dartmoor.
- Before you go
- The terraces involve steps and slopes, so allow plenty of time. Check The Garden House website for current opening times and tickets.
Source: Wikipedia: The Garden House
Questions about visiting The Garden House
How big is The Garden House?
The garden covers about 10 acres, divided into themed areas. At its heart is a 2-acre walled garden with five terraces set around the ruins of the old vicarage.
Who made The Garden House garden?
Lionel Fortescue and his wife Katherine bought the property after the Second World War. They restored and expanded the garden over about 40 years, creating a series of linked gardens.
Is there a tearoom at The Garden House?
Yes. There is a tearoom on site, so you can stop for refreshments partway round the garden. Check the official website for its current opening times before you go.
Where is The Garden House in Devon?
The Garden House is at Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton in West Devon. It is on the western edge of Dartmoor, not far from Tavistock, so most visitors arrive by car.
Garden features
Location
Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, Devon
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