Enjoy an autumn spectacular in East Devon’s best gardens

We love this time of year in East Devon, when the heat of high summer has melted away, the light shifts to gold, and gardens put on a soft, fiery show with foliage, late flowers and textures you don’t see at any other time.

It’s why autumn can be the best time for garden‑lovers to visit this beautiful part of the world, with The Old Bakehouse an ideal base to explore some amazing gardens right on our doorstep. The closest and one of our favourites is Burrow Farm Gardens in Dalwood.

Known as East Devon’s secret garden, Burrow Farm is situated in idyllic, peaceful countryside between Axminster and Honiton and really seems designed to shine in autumn. Spread across 13 acres of land, its highlights include sweeping lawns, colour‑themed borders, unusual trees and shrubs, ancient oak woodland, ornamental grasses and perennials. The grasses and late perennials in the Anniversary Garden are particularly good in this season, when their seed heads and structure catch the light and move with autumn breezes.

First established in 1959, the gardens were named The Nation’s Favourite Public Garden in 2021 in a competition run by The English Garden and The National Garden Scheme. The gardens remain open to the public until October 31.

There are plenty of other gardens and green spaces just a short distance from us.

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens (East Budleigh)

This spectacular 60-acre park contains a palm house and four glass houses, as well as grounds with more than 1,200 trees, many of which provide a riot of autumn colour. The gardens are mostly open all year round.

Blackbury Honey Farm (near Colyton)

While known locally for the fabulous honey produced by its 120 bee hives, the gardens include pollinator-friendly wildflowers, orchards, shrubs and fruit trees providing a delicious range of colour.

Cliff Field Gardens (Seaton)

Our nearest seaside town contains some modest gardens, the best of which is this one perched close to the shoreline. As well as seasonal planting along its paths, there are good vantage points for watching coastal light with autumn foliage framing the vistas.

Forde Abbey Gardens (just over the border in Somerset / Dorset side of the Axe valley)

Ok, so it’s not in Devon, but it’s not too far from us and features 30 acres of grounds with award-winning gardens, a large arboretum and the highest powered fountain in the country! The herbaceous borders and long pond also glow with autumn colour as summer plants fade.

Don’t forget the National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to about 100 private gardens in Devon. To find gardens open in the next month, visit ngs.org.uk

Meanwhile, enjoy these scenes from an October afternoon at Burrow Farm Gardens..