Castle Drogo

Castle Drogo was originally built for self-made retail millionaire Julius Drewe.
Designed between 1910 and 1913, it took 20 years to build. Sadly, Drewe died, aged 76, a year after it was completed. The family gifted the house and grounds to the National Trust in 1974. It was the first 20th Century property they took on.
Drogo was special because the Edwardian building was designed by Edwin Lutyens.



Lutyens was arguably Britain's greatest 20th century architect. It’s a thoroughly modern castle he designed here – no dungeons! Yet it’s an awe-inspiring piece of design, with touches like interior courtyards to give natural light and internal windows build to suggest an older rambling building that has been built onto. I think my favourite room was the switch room, with all the old fashioned wiring. The wooden fittings in the kitchen, in use up to the 1960s, reminded me of my grandmothers’ house, though hers was somewhat less grand...






The formal garden is one of the highest in England - Drogo is so high that although a fig tree cloaks one of the castle walls, its fruits don't ripen.





But there are plenty of flowers in the borders,and you can play croquet on the enormous circular croquet lawn (hire equipment from the visitor centre - June to September)



But if other people’s grand houses are not your thing, exploring the grounds may be. Drogo is perched high up on the northern fringe of Dartmoor, overlooking the Teign Valley. You can hike down to the river, maybe even walk to popular Fingle Bridge if you’re feeling energetic. The visitor centre sells leaflets with details of walks if you don't trust our own nose. You can't take your dog into the house or the formal gardens, but elsewhere dogs on leads are welcome.




The Trust, of course, has a cafe as well as a shop on site. There are often optional extras such as tours of the roof or boiler rooms (and an explanation of how Castle Drogo is hoping to go carbon neutral) or seasonal trails for children. The house sometimes has a cast of actors explaining what life was like in this Dartmoor mansion.


Winter opening: Castle Drogo grounds and tea room(but not the house) are open at weekends in January and February, and on extra days (sometimes including the house) around the Christmas break

Summer opening: from mid March to the beginning of November Castle Drogo is open most days - check the National Trust website (see below) for details.

Castle Drogo is about 17 miles from our Devon eco lodges and cottage. For more information about events there, see our diary pages.

Castle Drogo
Drewsteignton,
nr Exeter,
Devon EX6 6PB
Telephone: 01647 433306

Find out more, check opening times etc...

RHS Rosemoor

RHS Rosemoor is just 11 miles from our cottage and lodges, and makes a relaxing day out, or you can combine it with other attractions in nearby Torrington (walks, Dartington crystal, Torrington 1646, The Plough Arts Centre). You can get there by bus from Winkleigh - the 315 service stops right at the gate.

See formal and rose gardens, a potager, the vegetable plot, a foliage and a plantsman's garden, and even a winter garden.


Open every day of the year except Christmas day. Hours are 10:00 until 17:00 from September to March and 10:00 until 18:00 in the summer months. Last admission one hour before closing. There's a cafe, shop, loos etc.




Free to RHS members, otherwise adults cost £6, kids under 6 go free, ages 6-16 cost £2.

Guide dogs only

We liked the vegetable garden best!

Rosemoor often has events - check out our diary pages for details..