National Trust Properties

The English Riviera is the ideal base for a holiday in South Devon, surrounded by beautiful countryside and coastline, and towns full of character. In and around the resort you’ll find a number of National Trust properties, ranging from castles to country homes, providing the perfect day out for all ages.

Nestled in woodland on the banks of the River Dart stands Greenway, once the holiday home of Agatha Christie. The property has been lovingly restored to reflect the home as it was in the 1950s, and boasts a stunning wild garden complete with battery and boat house. Parking is limited and must be pre-booked – but by far the best ways to get to Greenway are by boat or Agatha Christie Bus.

Compton Castle, the ancestral home of the Gilbert family for almost 600 years, sits in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards. This medieval fortress was once home to Elizabethan adventurer and explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert, half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.

At Kingswear, beyond Brixham, lies Coleton Fishacre, a remnant of the lively Jazz Age. With an Arts and Crafts exterior, an elegant Art Deco interior, and stunning gardens, this country home was built in 1926 for the D’Oyly Carte family, patrons of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

Just outside of the resort in the town of Newton Abbot you’ll also find Bradley Manor, a fascinating medieval manor house. And don’t forget those National Properties further afield – day trips are easily made to Dartmoor and Cornwall from South Devon’s beautiful bay.