The garden and house have been in the hands of a number of families over the last few hundred years; each developed the gardens in one way or another. It became Agatha Christie's holiday home, and stayed in the family after her death. It is now in the highly capable hands of the National Trust, which provides as much information as you want on the plants – if leaflets aren't enough, find one of the gardeners, There are magnificent specimens of many species of trees and shrubs, especially from S. America and Asia. Spring is the best time, as there fantastic displays of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. There is a Victorian fernery, a restored peach house, a huge walled garden, and a tennis court – I wonder if the sleuth had a strong hand for tennis? It's easy to wander along some of the little paths, or stick to the beaten track – some people will need to avoid the steeper gradients. It's quite a step down to the River Dart (and the Bath House, for bathing in the river in private). So think about how much trouble it might be to get back up – the teas and of course car park are near the top!
