Start House and Watergate Cottage

Two beautiful open gardens comprising of wonderful views, lawn borders, woodland and water features.

25 June 2023

Slapton

Entrance fee:: £8 per adult, children go free
Time:: 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Garden owners:: Start House: Mr Justin Haque and Ms Katy Bowen; Watergate Cottage: Mrs Catherine Palmer

For all enquiries, please get in touch with us by email: opengardens@redcross.org.uk

We hope this garden will re-open in the future. Please keep checking this page for more details.

Start House is situated just outside Slapton. It is a hillside garden that enjoys wonderful views over Start Valley, and Slapton Ley with the sea beyond. Extending over approximately 3 acres, comprising of terraces, lawns borders, and a number of paths to explore woodland and water gardens below, bounded by Start stream.

Watergate Cottage started in 2017 with three fantastic Chinese birch trees, two streams and a pond. This has since been developed into a Hartley Botanic greenhouse, raised vegetable and fruit gardens. A spring has been harnessed for watering. The planting is hellebores, bearded iris, old roses and clipped box.