Buckland Abbey

Buckland Abbey began as a Cistercian monastery in 1278. After the Dissolution, it passed through various owners before Sir Francis Drake purchased it in 1581, converting the abbey church into his family home. The building retains its monastic structure - you can still read the abbey layout in the current rooms. Drake lived here between voyages until his death in 1596.

The abbey and Drake collections

The Great Barn, one of the largest medieval barns in Devon, stands separate from the main house. Inside the abbey itself, rooms display Drake-related items including the famous drum, Tudor navigational instruments and documents from his circumnavigation voyage. The conversion from monastery to residence left unusual room proportions - high ceilings and thick walls that remember their religious origins.

The National Trust and Plymouth City Council jointly manage the site, which explains the mix of Drake material with broader Elizabethan maritime history. Recent displays examine Drake’s role in the slave trade alongside his navigational achievements - a more complex reading of his legacy than earlier interpretations allowed.

The estate and gardens

The estate covers 300 acres of Tavy Valley farmland and woodland. Marked paths leave from near the Great Barn, including routes to the orchards and meadows. The formal garden includes a Victorian fernery and herb garden. These spaces reflect different periods of the house’s history - monastic herb cultivation, Drake-era formal layouts and Victorian garden fashions all leave traces.

Spring shows snowdrops and daffodils across the estate. Summer brings the walled garden into full display. The orchard contains local Devon apple varieties, continuing the site’s long history of fruit cultivation.

Planning your visit

Buckland Abbey sits 6 miles south of Tavistock and 11 miles north of Plymouth. Junction 31 of the A38 puts you on the A386 - turn off and follow brown signs. The approach lane is single-track in places with passing points. Allow extra time if arriving during school pick-up hours when local traffic uses this route.

Parking is free for National Trust members and ticket holders. The path from the car park to the abbey is 150 yards on level ground. Most of the abbey ground floor is accessible by wheelchair, though some rooms involve steps. The estate paths vary in surface and gradient - check the estate map at the ticket office for accessible routes.

The property offers a cafe and National Trust shop. Dogs are welcome in the grounds on leads but not inside the abbey buildings.