Coleton Fishacre

website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Coleton Fischare, an impressive home formerly of the D’Oyly Carte family of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, lies across the river from Dartmouth. The house reflects the time of the English ‘Arts & Crafts Movement’ which favoured the handcrafted in preference to the machine-made and mass-produced. It delights with its feel of quality and attention to detail, but it is its setting that is truly breathtaking. Perched high above the English Channel, the house is framed by a garden that falls steeply down to meet it.

The luxuriant stream-fed garden has year-round interest, with water features, gazebo and a wide variety of rare and exotic plants basking in the very special microclimate. A recent addition to the house is the re-creation of Lady Dorothy's bedroom, as it was in 1930.