RHS Garden Rosemoor

RHS Garden Rosemoor occupies a valley near Torrington in North Devon, covering 65 acres of formal gardens, informal plantings and woodland. The Royal Horticultural Society developed the site from a private garden donated in 1988, adding new areas while preserving the original garden’s character. Rosemoor combines horticultural excellence with accessibility, serving as both a display garden and a learning resource for gardeners.

Garden areas and collections

The garden divides into distinct areas, each with different character and planting. The formal Queen Mother’s Rose Garden displays around 2,000 roses in island beds, providing colour and scent through summer. Adjacent herbaceous borders show perennial planting schemes that change seasonally. A cottage garden demonstrates traditional mixed planting suitable for smaller gardens.

Specialist collections include a fruit and vegetable garden with trained fruit trees, vegetable beds and glasshouses; a colour-themed garden arranged in contrasting and harmonising sections; and a potager where ornamental and edible plants mix. These areas provide inspiration and practical guidance for gardeners alongside their display value.

The original woodland garden preserves mature trees and rhododendrons from before the RHS took ownership. This area has a different, more naturalistic feel than the formal gardens, with spring interest from flowering shrubs and autumn colour from deciduous trees. Paths wind through this section, with some gradients and uneven surfaces.

Educational and seasonal features

As an RHS garden, Rosemoor provides plant identification labels and information boards explaining horticultural techniques. Demonstration beds show different growing methods, plant combinations and design approaches. The RHS runs courses, workshops and events throughout the year, though these require separate booking beyond garden admission.

Seasonal displays ensure year-round interest. Spring brings bulbs, flowering cherries and magnolias. Summer sees roses peak alongside herbaceous borders. Autumn delivers tree colour and late-flowering perennials. Winter interest comes from evergreen structure, bark, berries and early bulbs. The garden’s design deliberately layers these seasonal elements so that every visit offers colour and interest.

Facilities and access

RHS Garden Rosemoor opens daily except Christmas Day. Check the website or phone 01805 624067 for current hours, which vary by season. RHS members enter free; non-members pay admission. The garden has a shop selling plants and gardening supplies, a restaurant serving lunch and refreshments, and toilets including accessible facilities.

Free parking is provided. Most paths are accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, though the woodland garden has steeper gradients and some rougher surfaces. The RHS provides wheelchairs and mobility scooters for loan; booking ahead is advisable. Dogs are allowed in the garden on short leads, except in the food-growing areas and restaurant.

Rosemoor lies about a mile south of Great Torrington, signposted from the A3124 and A386. The valley setting creates a sheltered environment, though visitors should prepare for typical Devon weather. The restaurant and shop offer indoor alternatives if rain interrupts garden exploration.