If you’re reading this, I also recommend the reviews of this house already written by LindyLoo (very informative) and Jenjens (who had the unfortunate experience of bad weather).
For my wife and I, Coleton Fishacre is the most atmospheric of NT properties, and visits there to both house and gardens/estate never fail to please. Whenever we think of taking friends or family out for the day, this is our usual choice, and not because of its unusual name (there are many ‘Fishacres’ in Devon!) Our most recent visit was in July in the middle of the heatwave, so the weather was beautiful!
While, like lots of NT places, getting there involves some careful driving down typical Devon narrow hedge-lined lanes, the trip is well worthwhile. Parking is easy, suitable for all abilities, and access into the property on the flat. The toilets, shop and cafe ( which I can recommend!) are also on this level. The house is a short downhill walk, easy for wheelchairs, but the visit to the first floor of the house is unfortunately not accessible, although the house guides will try to give an illustrated description of the bedrooms.
We may be biased in liking the house because of its connection with the D’Oyly Carte family and thereby with Gilbert & Sullivan, and the operatic theme throughout. The final room, the music saloon, is a delightful room which anyone would love to have in their own home, especially with its views down the estate towards the sea.
The grounds are kept in excellent order, with formal gardens nearest to the house and more rolling fields and woods further away. There are superb viewpoints looking out to sea, with the walk all the way down a difficult one on the return, but worth the effort. There is always lots for the children to enjoy, too, including trails both inside the house and in the grounds. All-in-all, our favourite!
“House website”:https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre
