Clovelly Court Gardens

About the garden

Owned by

The Hon. John Rous

Clovelly Court Gardens are a classic example of a lovingly restored Victorian walled kitchen garden, including magnificent lean-to glasshouses with their original manual levers. Years ago the walled garden was built to give protection from the sometimes salt-laden coastal winds and provide produce for the owners of the Manor house and staff. Exotic plants thrive in this sunny corner of North Devon tendered by head gardener Neil Coldrick and his team. It benefits from its enviable sheltered position in the Bristol Channel and the effects of the warm Gulf stream flowing past Clovelly.    

Protected from the winds and bounded by an avenue of lofty lime trees, plants are usually a month ahead of the season – but there’s always something to see and enjoy at any time of the year. Peaches, apricots, nectarines, vines (including Muscat grapes), citrus fruit, figs, melons, cucumbers, peppers, chillies, aubergines and tomatoes in the run of glasshouses can be bought, together with cut flowers and pot plants from the nursery and freshly dug vegetables, herbs and other harvested fruit in season. All of the garden produce is grown to organic principles and in rotation, ensuring sweet tasting and wholesome produce.    

The juice from the homegrown apples is also available for purchase at the Visitor Centre. There are ornamental plants, such as the Judas tree, said to be the oldest Cercis siliquastrum in North Devon, with purple flowers robing the branches in late April or May and herbaceous beds bordering the gardens with a blaze of colour throughout the summer.    

On a visit to the gardens, enjoy the tranquillity of the woodland walk and admire the view of Lundy and the sweeping vista of Bideford Bay from Clovelly Court Great Terrace. A variety of seasonal produce and propagated plants are available to purchase. Refreshments are also available.