On a recent visit to Devon (one of our South West Coast Path trips, you may have read some of my numerous reviews), we visited Rosemoor RHS Gardens in Great Torrington. Coincidentally, a week before we were due to go to Devon I had an email saying I had won 4 tickets to Rosemoor so, obviously, whilst down there we made the one and a half hour drive from where we were staying to have a free day out!
When we arrived we were immediately impressed by the beautiful blue and white wisteria that was blooming on the restaurant terrace. They had given us a ‘Garden Map and Spring Trail’ brochure, so, having never been here before we decided to follow this. We were lucky that it was a beautiful day and everything looked absolutely glorious in the sunshine. We headed off into the Winter Garden where there were some wonderful camellias in flower and some of the magnolias were still blooming as well. We then made a small diversion to the Learning Centre which had a wonderful blue bell display amongst the oaks and blossoming fruit trees in the Forest Garden. We then entered the Cool Garden where some early summer flowering plants were beginning to bloom. Our next garden was the Model Garden with its pagoda and, again, this was all very colourful. Our next point of call, The Shrub Rose Garden was also a delight and then the Hot Garden was impressive with its allium display. As we were walking the paths between the gardens, there were many irises and foxgloves almost standing to attention as we passed by!
We passed through the herb garden (not the most interesting garden I always feel) then we were in the Potager where the new seasons crops were planted out in neat rows. The next garden, the Cottage Garden was one of my favourites, lots of tulips in pots and the glimpse of an iris every now and then in the borders. We walked on past the orchard (nothing in fruit yet) and into the Foliage Garden. Although the plants here are chosen for their beautiful foliage, many of them did also have lovely flowers.
Now we were at Stream Field and The Meadows. Such a lovely cool tranquil place with buttercups, ox eyed daisies and even orchids in abundance. There is a little bridge here and after we crossed it we were at the lake. We stopped here to have our sandwiches and it was an idyllic spot.
Later we visited Lady Anne’s Garden where you can visit the Bicentenary Arboretum, full of flowering trees and shrubs. The meadows of Lady Anne’s Arboretum are full of camasses and buttercups. The Mediterranean Garden and the Exotic Garden followed, and then the Cherry Garden and Stone Garden (full of pots of flowering bulbs). There is also a Woodland Garden (rhododendrons are prominent here, but they weren’t in flower during our visit).
When we visited there was a small art exhibition in one of the buildings and this was interesting to visit.
As a family (and as members of the National Trust) we usually go on day trips to National Trust places which encompass a house and grounds. We have rarely been to an RHS site (I always thought it would be just like a large park!) but Rosemoor is just so beautiful and so well maintained that I am pleased we got the chance to visit and would definitely visit again if we were in the area (even if I had no free tickets this time!)
I would suggest allowing plenty of time for your visit though. Because of Covid-19 you have to book a time slot, and we chose an afternoon one which, in retrospect, did not leave us enough time to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace. Book a morning slot, and you could easily spend all day here.
