Historic Houses and Places of Interest

BUCKFAST ABBEY (about 20 minutes) www.buckfast.org.uk

One thousand years of history are yours to discover at Buckfast Abbey, home to a a living community of Benedictine monks. The centre piece is the magnificent Abbey Church. It was rebuilt on it`s medieval foundations this century and astonishingly represents 32 years of labour by just four monks. In addition to it`s pastoral work in the local area, this thriving monastic community keeps bees, runs a farm, makes stained glass and of course, produces the famous Buckfast Tonic Wine.

Buckfast Abbey boasts a Bookshop, Gift Shop, Abbey Exhibition and a Monastic Produce Shop. Also renowned for it`s generous Devonshire Cream Teas, The Grange Restaurant is a popular venue for morning coffee and an essential stop for lunch. All the dishes are home-made from the finest of ingredients.

BUCKLAND ABBEY (about 30 minutes) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scripts/nthandbook.dll?ACTION=PROPERTY&PropertyId=16

Tucked away in it`s own secluded valley on the edge of Dartmoor, Buckland Abbey holds the secret to over 700 years of history. Here medieval monks established a Cistercian monastery "far from the haunts of men." Here Sir Richard Grenville converted the abbey into a dwelling place, and Sir Francis Drake lived at Buckland during the turbulent period of the Armada. Exhibitions, furnished rooms and ancient buildings rediscover this exciting story, and walks through the farm estate allow exploration of its beautiful and historic setting.

COTHELE HOUSE (about 45 minutes) www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housecorn_cote.htm

Cothele is situated just across the River Tamar (approached via the Tamar Bridge) in Cornwall, and is a fascinating and enchanting estate set on the steep wooded slopes of the Tamar. The steep valley garden contains exotic plants which thrive in the mild climate, and a walk through the garden and alongside the river or down the lower drive leads to Cothele Quay which was a busy river port in Victorian times. One of the least-altered medieval houses in the country, Cothele is built in granite, slate and sandstone. Inside, the ancient rooms,unlit by electricity, are famed for their furniture, textiles and tapestries. Near the house, the great medieval barn now houses the National Trust Shop and the licensed bar restaurant which serves a delicious range of home cooked meals.

MOUNT EDGECUMBE HOUSE & COUNTRY PARK, CREMYLL (about 50 minutes) www.aboutbritain.com/MountEdgcumbeHouse.htm

Sir Richard Edgecumbe of Cothele built a new home in his deer park at Mount Edgecumbe in 1547-53. Miraculously the walls of his red stone Tudor House survived a direct hit by bombs in 1941 and it was restored by the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe between 1958-64. It is beautifully furnished with family possessions, including paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Gerard Edema. There are three gardens - the Earl`s Garden was created beside the House in the 18th century and is home to many ancient and rare trees. The Formal Gardens are grouped in the lower park, and the English Garden with its unusual trees - cork, oak, maidenhair, magnolias and the "handkerchief" tree.

SALTRAM HOUSE (about 10 minutes) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scripts/nthandbook.dll?ACTION=PROPERTY&PropertyId=30

With its Palladian facades wrapped around its Tudor core, this perfectly proportioned mansion boasts some exceptional plasterwork by Robert Adam, and a virtually intact Georgian painting collection, including ten by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Also of interest is the Great Kitchen, a gallery of local art in the chapel, and an orangery in the Garden. The house starred as Norland Park, the Dashwood`s family home in the film Sense and Sensibility.