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.
GARDEN OPENING HOURS: Our gardens are now open to all visitors and will be open Sunday 29th March until Thursday 29th October 2026 on Sundays to Thursday 10.00am to 5.00pm.
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE OPEN WHILST THE B32332 IS CLOSED FROM BARNSTAPLE, YOU WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL DOWN THE A39 TO BIDEFORD AND TURN RIGHT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS BEFORE THE BRIDGE AND FOLLOW THE BROWN SIGNS
No need to book a slot for the gardens – just turn up and purchase your tickets from the Gift Shop
Adults £8.50
Children £6.50 Under 5’s Free
Seniors £7.00
Family Ticket (2 Adults and up to 3 Children) £22.00
Friends of Tapeley Season Ticket – Adult – £35.00, Child – £15.00
Group prices on application
Family friendly, dog friendly (on leads).
Disabled facilities
If you use a wheelchair (manual or electric) or a walker there are parts of the garden which may not be suitable, for example the walk through the wood to the lake and across the fields to the monument statue.
We offer disabled parking (located by the Pay Hut) which are not too far from the gardens which offers seating, and the toilet facilities are close at hand.
There is a lovely Tea Room which is accessible with indoor and outdoor seating – garden admission charges apply to use this facility – now open to all visitors from Sunday 29th March until Thursday 29th October 2026. Our opening times are Sunday to Thursday 10:00am – 5.00pm.
Address:
Tapeley Park
Instow
North Devon
EX39 4NT
Tapeley Park
Instow
North Devon
EX39 4NT
Whatthreewords: padding.makeovers.return
Telephone:
01271 860897
(or contact the Estate office 01271 342558)
01271 860897
(or contact the Estate office 01271 342558)
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Why is this Rhododendrum coming into bloom in October?! Is that normal?![]()
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No, it's not normal, in 'normal' years, but this Autumn bloom is another effect of this year's heatwave. Heat stress caused this plant to shut down and go into Summer stasis, or drought induced dormancy. With the mild September and wetter weather, its biological clock has been tricked and it has woken up, thinking it's Spring. ![]()
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Rhodedendroms, along with Azaleas, are more prone to this phenomenon - their shallow root systems make them vulnerable to drought and, as they set their buds relatively early, a chill in the air and some rain can set them off.![]()
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The impact on the plant is not life threatening, but it will probably mean weaker blossoms next Spring.
Orange October is here! We've got a lovely bunch of organic pumpkins for sale, plucked fresh from the kitchen garden.![]()
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- We've got big ones for £10 (an absolute steal) - pumpkin soup and pie for all!![]()
- We've got medium sized ones, for a window sill and perhaps a modest bowl of soup. ![]()
- We've got small ones, perfect for a desk top decoration.![]()
- We've got Butternut squash too (if pumpkin isn't your thing!)![]()
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Available from the gift shop, Sunday - Thursday.
This month we're seeing a lot of 'cowboy's toilet paper' around.... AKA Great Mullein. So nicknamed because of its large soft, velvety - and very absorbant leaves - mullien has been a natural friend to anyone caught short in the fields for centuries. ![]()
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Mullein also has a long history of being used medicinally - as a poultice to treat cuts and burns and for the relief of cold and cough symptoms through a tea. The plant exudes mucilage, a sticky substance that is said to coat and calm an irritated throat.![]()
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Disclaimer: Its microscopic hairs can cause irritation to sensitive skin (although if you're desperate, you're desperate...). Also worth noting that Tapeley Park has plenty of loo paper in the toilets, so if you're thinking of experimenting, please do so off the premises!![]()
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#permaculturegarden #medicinalplants #tapeleypark
Almost 200 years ago, the driveway to Tapeley took a dramatic twist in direction. ![]()
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Visitors coming up the Tapeley drive today may cast a glance to the right and catch sight of a long stone wall and think nothing more of it. Pulling level the view reveals a walled track disappearing into the trees. ![]()
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This was the original driveway to the house, as seen (with a touch of artistic licence) in this 1770s work from the artist, William Tomkins. It ran up to the Westleigh - Treyhill road.![]()
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However, the arrival of a new turnpike road, running between Bideford and Barnstaple, prompted a change in direction.![]()
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An exisiting route from the house to the estuary was upgraded to become the new approach drive, with a new Italianate lodge and gates (added in the 1830s).
It's that time of year to get creative with apples! Exhibit A: Tapeley Bramley apple crumble cake. This Autumn addition to the Tapeley tea room menu has been exceedingly popular with visitors in the past week. ![]()
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Apples picked fresh from the orchard, cake home crafted in the tea room kitchen, cream clotted in the county of Devon... say no more!![]()
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#tearoom #gardens #NorthDevon #TapeleyPark
