Tapeley Park Gardens

 Tapeley Park is well worth a visit if you're in north Devon, it's on the right, just before you reach the village of Instow, if coming from the direction of Bideford. It has a long history dating back long before the Norman Conquest, a thousand years ago. Chosen for its elevated plateau, from the grounds, it's possible to see the river Torridge and across to Bideford, which during the 1600s was the second largest port in Britain. There's a very instructive booklet we were given on entry to the gardens, in there it traces the history of the ownership of Tapeley, written by the current owner, Hector Christie whose ancestors first moved onto the estate in 1855. This is what the website says:

'Located in the parish of Westleigh, Tapeley Park sits high on a hill overlooking the River Torridge and the North Devon coastline. Home to the Christie family for two centuries, Hector Christie is the current custodian of the estate.

Tapeley Park is located between Bideford and Barnstaple, near the village of Instow.  Visitors can follow brown tourist signs from the A39 onto the B3233 (please note if you use the post code in Sat Nav you will be directed to the incorrect entrance).  The Tapeley Garden entrance is just beyond the turning sign posted to Westleigh Village, coming from the Bideford direction. ' 

I looked up Hector Christie and he's clearly led quite a colourful life as an eco warrior and supporter of the environment. The gardens are fascinating to look at. There's a monument overlooking the estuary reached by walking down a long path, and well worth seeing, then there are fabulous Italianate gardens beautifully cared for. I took a few photos, including this one of the house from the back lawn:

These clipped hedges, seen from the house, are very effective

This is the view to the right of the lawn

And here's a cherubic figure on a plinth

This is the view to the left of the lawn, a semi circular pond with steps behind it

The house is on a mound or ridge so there are steps down to the garden with palms and echiums growing on either side

I liked both views of the steps, below are the steps going down

This was a garden room with lots of penstemons

The vegetable growing was impressive, intended to supply quite a lot of people at one time, and maybe still does

All large houses like this would of course have an ice house

It's difficult to say which is the front of the house, I think this is probably it, looking over tpwards the estuary and drive to the house.

A  general sign photographed to remind me which garden is which! It's well worth watching their video of the gardens on their website, lots of aerial shots of the fabulous garden.