I live fairly close to Saltram House which is a property owned by the National Trust. It is great being so near as it is possible to visit fairly frequently for a short period, or spend longer depending on mood. The house is impressive, the gardens are beautiful and there are lots of walks ... Read review
Advantages: Lovely parkland and gardens, house. Disadvantages: None.
I live fairly close to Saltram House which is a property owned by the National Trust. It is great being so near as it is possible to visit fairly frequently for a short period, or spend longer depending on mood. The house is impressive, the gardens are beautiful and there are lots of walks around the grounds.
Location
Saltram is situated in Plympton which is in Devon. It is high above the River Plym, surrounded ... ...still within the grounds of Saltram but not as far as the House. You can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings without going as far as the House. It seems to take ages to get to the House parking. The drive is long but you can enjoy the scenery on the way down to the car park. Sometimes when people are leaving Saltram, those entering have to wait as some of it is a single lane. This doesn`t matter though as there are no hedges and you can see them ... more
I live fairly close to Saltram House which is a property owned by the National Trust. It is great being so near as it is possible to visit fairly frequently for a short period, or spend longer depending on mood. The house is impressive, the gardens are beautiful and there are lots of walks around the grounds.
Location
Saltram is situated in Plympton which is in Devon. It is high above the River Plym, surrounded by woodland. The address is Saltram, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 1UH. I would use a route planner if unfamiliar with the area as it is not on a main route. It is not far from Plymouth itself though being just on the outskirts, it is 3 and a half miles East of Plymouth City Centre. The entrance is in Plympton and there are brown National Trust signs as a guide and the entrance has magnificent pillars.
Parking.
Parking is free whether a National Trust member or not. There is a long drive down to the parking. On the way there are other places to park in the woodland itself where people go to walk their dogs. This is still within the grounds of Saltram but not as far as the House. You can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings without going as far as the House. It seems to take ages to get to the House parking. The drive is long but you can enjoy the scenery on the way down to the car park. Sometimes when people are leaving Saltram, those entering have to wait as some of it is a single lane. This doesn`t matter though as there are no hedges and you can see them coming. The parking itself is along another little track and some of it is on grass. It gets quite full so sometimes it is necessary to park quite a long way off to find a space. It is a nice walk down though so again, not a problem. There is a large tree by the car park that children like to play in. There is also a childrens play area.
Dogs.
Dogs are not allowed in the gardens but many people walk them around the vast grounds. The bit that I have already mentioned is popular and probably quieter for dog walking. There are walks that start from the car park. There are a multitude of paths that can be taken. They are through the wooded area and can lead to the small beach if you follow that particular route or close to the river Plym. There are so many people walking, cycling and dog walking along these paths. You can make it a really long walk or a short walk. When you decide to enter the Grounds, if you do, there is a space to tie up your dog for free. I probably wouldn`t trust mine as he is a mischievous Dalmatian, but lots of people do and the dogs seem happy there.
Admission.
It is important to realise that the walks that I have already mentioned are completely free of charge. The admission costs are for the gardens and the House.
House and gardens:- £8.40 adult £4.20 child £21 family £12.60 family with one adult
Gardens:- £4.20 adult £2.10 child
There are reduced rates on the House admission when arriving by cycle or public transport.
Opening Times.
The Park is open all year from dawn to dusk.
The House is open 28th March to 28th October from 12 to 4.30, every day except Friday. There will be extensive rewiring undertaken in the House during winter which may over run into 2008 so times may be altered. A telephone call may be necessary 01752 333500.
The Garden is open from 1st March to 28th October 11 to 4.30. From 29th October to 28th February it is open from 11 to 4 except Fridays.
The Gallery is open from 1st March to 21st Decmember every day except Friday and 7th January to 27th January just at weekends.
The Shop is open from the 1st of March to the 28th January.
The restaurant is open from the 28th March to the 29th February.
Most are closed on Friday, except the park. 50 Years
The National Trust are pleased to celebrate 50 years of ownership. There are special events in 2007 to celebrate (though we are nearly at the end of 2007). The special series of events can be corporate or private with the restaurant providing hot and cold food.
There has always been lots to do at Saltram. There are seasonal trails, Halloween and Easter and workshops. For an up to date guide of what is on look on the internet under Saltram on www.nationaltrust.org.uk .
The Gardens.
I love the gardens. They have beautiful flowers and trees as well as an orangery and follies. You can follow the paths and they go through trees as well as tidy gardens. It really is peaceful and relaxing. It is fairly flat and accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs through most of it. The gardens are predominantly 19th Century. There is a pond and shrubberies. It doesn`t take ages to walk around the gardens but they are a nice size.
The House
The House belonged to the Parker family and was created between the 1740`s and 1820`s by 3 generations. The house still has most of its original contents. The ceilings have magnificent plasterwork and Chinese wallpaper. The rooms are just impressive for their excellent condition of the original features. Like all National Trust properties there is a quiz for children to learn more about the property. There is also information on the walls in places. A volunteer is in each room to answer questions. There are also activity rooms for children in the house with themes of the era. They can dress up dolls in period costume, do jigsaws and drawings. There are activities suitable for most ages.
Do I recommend Saltram?
I enjoy Saltram, it has so much to offer. The House and Gardens are worth paying for, though I am able to gain free access due to being a National Trust member. I would recommend visiting the House and Gardens. The Park and the surrounding area is fantastic and as an added bonus is completely free. Repeated visits are great as there is so much to see. Obviously as I live near by that is another added bonus but it worth travelling to. The seasonal activities are good, we have been a few times to Halloween and my son has loved it. It is a night time trail and the garden is illuminated. It is good fun but National Trust members are required to pay. There are other seasonal activities to look out for throughout the year.
