Fursdon Gardens

The rural hillside gardens at Fursdon blend seamlessly into rolling parkland and on into the countryside with views over the Exe valley and beyond to Dartmoor.

During afternoons when historic Fursdon House is open to the public, visitors are invited to take a leisurely stroll through approximately 4 acres of garden and grounds. You can also visit the garden on open days without necessarily touring the house!

Garden season tickets are also available – particularly enjoyed by those who live locally.

Rising behind the house and sheltered by it there are terraces of roses, herbs and perennials in mixed traditional and contemporary planting. This area is mysteriously called the Fox Garden and is contained by ancient cob walls and hedges.  The Vine Pavilion and thatched Round House are great places to sit and admire the view and listen to the birds – and there are many strategically placed benches for resting and taking time to be peaceful. Throughout the gardens, there are some steep slopes with grass or gravel paths.

The Meadow Garden, originally planted nearly 200 years ago, in memory of Harriet Fursdon, is now a woodland walk leading to a pond. As in the main garden, we actively encourage wild life with particular types of planting and management.

Restoring and regenerating this area is an ongoing project which we started a few years ago. We are establishing wild flowers and have planted hundreds of bulbs to grow under the canopy of trees. It is a short walk from the main garden and visitors can wander and enjoy this peaceful natural space, while building up an appetite for tea in the Coach Hall.

 We have created a pond in The Meadow Garden which attracts all sorts of wildlife. We have also planted the banks and beds which lie next to the grassed walkways. It is a green and tranquil spot with huge old beech trees, trickling streams and interesting plants, both wild and planted. The views are across the wild flower meadows and grassy parkland in front of the house and on towards the Exe valley and Dartmoor.

Every year, we open the garden for charities such as Hospicecare. We are proud to be able to help these charities in a small way and are very grateful for your support.

Dogs are very welcome at Fursdon - there's always a bowl of water available for thirsty pooches and plenty of space for a lovely walk.