*************
Garden Owners,
Please copy this information and paste it into an email to:   wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com

Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us.

Regards,
Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
*************



Garden Name: Castle Hill
Last Modified: 19/01/2009
Garden ID: 0512

pic: 0512_Castlehill.jpg

Owner: The Earl & Countess of Arran
Address:
Filleigh
Barnstaple

Postcode: EX32 0RQ
County: Devon

tel: 01598 760336
fax: 01598 760457
website: www.castlehilldevon.co.uk
email: 

Features: 


English Heritage Grade:
I

Opening Times:
10th Apr - 30th Sept; daily except Fri & Sat; 11am - 5pm. Last admission 4.30pm
By appointment at other times.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
April - June
June - August

To see: 
Rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias, azaleas.
Millennium Garden with lilies, agapanthus, phlox, penstemon.

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 22nd April
20th May.

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £4; Senior Citizens £3.50; children under 14 and disabled free. Groups £3.50pp.
Season: Single £20; Double £35

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: No
Shop: No
Plants for Sale: No
Lunches: No
Teas: No
Refreshments: No
Picnics: No
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: No

Other Facilities:
Some facilities for disabled. See own website for events.
Easter Bunny Hunt & Daffodil Weekend -12/13th Apr
Teddy Bears Picnic - 2nd Aug
Filleigh Fete - 15th Aug
English National Sheepdog Trials - 21st -23rd Aug


Designer: Lord Clinton, later 1st Earl Fortescue
Description of Garden:
The parkland, studded with grass terraces and statues leads down to the river and lakes. On the east side of the house is the Millennium Garden, designed by Xa Tollemache, featuring large herbaceous borders edged with box and lavender and an illuminated "topiary" water sculpture designed by Giles Rayner in 2002. Following the path, the visitor then comes to the formal terraced lawns in front of the house where the eye is intentionally drawn to the Triumphal Arch at the end of a tree-lined avenue.

The path to the west side of the house leads to the woodland gardens full of rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias, azaleas, hydrangeas and eucryphias, together with many beautiful shrubs and rare trees growing by the river, along the network of paths and in the Easter Close.

The final climb brings the visitor to the Castle, perched on the hill behind the house, with wonderful views to Exmoor, Dartmoor and Lundy Island.


History: 
Castle Hill was built in 1730 as the Earl Fortescue's family home in Devon. The Palladian House, in which his descendants, the Earl & Countess of Arran are living is set in 18th century parkland. Each generation of the Fortescue family has added to the temples, follies and other features of the park and gardens.

Local Inns: 
Stags Head Inn, Filleigh
The Jack Russell, Swimbridge

Accomodation: 
Highbullen, Chittlehamholt
Northcote Manor, Umberleigh

Restaurants: 
Stumbles, South Molton
The George, South Molton

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Filleigh - Church

- South Molton
Quince Honey Farm 
Heritage Trail
Pannier Market (Thurs & Sat)
Museum (in summer).