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Compton Castle
Dramatic fortified manor house and small formal garden
Marldon, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 1TA
Important notice
Please be aware that following prolonged wet weather, there is limited parking, so we may be busy. Thank you for your understanding.
Opening times for 3 May 2024
Asset Opening time Compton Castle Closed MTWTFSS29301234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303112OpenPartially openClosedWhole property
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £10.50 £9.50 Child £5.30 £4.75 Family £26.20 £23.75 Family 1 adult + 2 children £15.70 £14.25 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs only in the castle and gardens.
Toilet
Car park
Free visitor parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). Accessible and overflow parking on grass at front of Castle, 30 yards. If you wish to visit by motorhome, please contact us before your arrival.
Blue Badge parking and drop-off point. Ground floor accessible. Uneven pathways and steps. Poor phone reception. Manual wheelchair available.
Accessible route and/or map
Grounds are partly accessible, steep slopes, steps and narrow paths.
Ramped access/slopes
Accessible toilet
Seating available
Designated parking
Free accessible parking on grass entrance in front of castle gates. Free visitor parking available opposite at Castle Barton Tearoom.
Steps/uneven terrain
By road
1½ miles north of Marldon. Signposted off A380 to Marldon or turn south from A381 Totnes road at Ipplepen - 2 miles in country lanes (with passing places) to Compton
Parking: free parking at Castle Barton tea room (opposite the castle). Accessible and overflow parking on grass at front of Castle, 30 yards.
Sat Nav: please be aware that you may need to update your SatNav to find Compton Castle, as older versions do not recognise the new South Devon Link Road
By train
Torquay approximately 4 miles. Newton Abbot 6 miles
By bus
125 community bus from Paignton bus station: alight at Marldon. From bus stop, 1½ mile walk through narrow country lanes, steep in places
By bicycle
Highlights
Castle
Dramatic fortified manor house with towers and portcullis, home to the Gilbert family for nearly 600 years. Open April-October.
Garden
Formal medieval-style knot garden and rose garden with pergolas, kitchen herb garden and informal lawns with orchard. Open April-October.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do in Compton Castle
Step inside this fortified medieval manor, complete with a Great Hall, Solar and sub solar, and learn about the lives of people that once called it home.
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Things to see in Compton Castle garden
The garden at Compton Castle is small but perfectly formed, its character and appearance changing with the seasons. Discover the variety of plants, sights and smells to be found, including a rose garden and medieval knot garden.
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Family-friendly things to do at Compton Castle
You'll find plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained at Compton Castle, with a nature trail, garden games and costumes to try on. What adventures will you have next?
About Compton Castle
A rare survivor, this medieval fortress with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis, is set in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards. Compton Castle is a bewitching mixture of romance and history. It has been home to the Gilbert family for nearly 600 years, including Sir Humphrey Gilbert - half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
You can wander round this charming small castle's gardens, great hall and sub solar, and peer into the Chapel and medieval kitchen.
History
Article
History of Compton Castle
Follow the changing fortunes of this medieval castle, home to the Gilbert family for over 600 years, though its periods of disrepair and restoration.
Art and collections
Compton Castle’s objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Compton Castle on the National Trust Collections website.
Support us
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Volunteering at Compton Castle
Learn about volunteering at Compton Castle and other properties on the English Riviera in Devon, including the opportunities available and how to get involved.