Buckland Abbey

Buckland Abbey in the Tavy Valley was founded by Cistercian monks over 700 years ago and turned into a house after the Dissolution by the seafarer Sir Richard Grenville, before Sir Francis Drake bought it in 1581. The Abbey is now part museum, part house, holding Drake's drum and a self-portrait confirmed as a genuine Rembrandt, while the medieval Great Barn stands virtually unchanged. Outside are the Elizabethan garden, walled kitchen garden and wild garden, three colour-coded woodland walks with bluebells in spring, and a natural play area built from estate timber. Dogs on short leads are welcome everywhere except the house and kitchen garden, including the Ox Yard coffee shop. Reviewers praise the knowledgeable volunteers, the well-kept gardens and the cafe lunches. One tip from visitors: parking is free, but the walk down to the Abbey is steep with steps; a volunteer buggy usually runs from the car park.