Anthony Woodland Garden - Much more than a mere garden . . .
The Carew-Poles still live in Anthony House, though it’s now a National Trust property. It’s renowned for its modern statuary as well as a nice enclosed garden and a well-kept estate. Drive a mile out of Torpoint to find the entrance to the driveway.
The splendid Woodland Garden is retained as a family trust. Carry on down the drive and park on your right, 50 metres short of Broomhill Cottage Vintage Tearoom on the left. The Garden stretches along the banks of the River Lynher either way; on the west side it curls up along the side of the more formal estate. It offers vistas between the house, river and so much more. A good map with pictures of some important features and an account of many of the plantations may be had in a folder from by the gate or from the cottage.
I visited several times in late March and early April and explored the whole garden with interest and frankly, joy. I recommend first going right round the section across the drive from the Cottage; it contains much original woodland as opposed to deliberate recent plantation. It is only on this side that you may walk your dog. Take the descending fork to parallel the Lynher. At the end, the large pond on your right was originally sea water for fish. Keep along the track beyond up the hill, following along the edge of the garden until you cross a causeway at the head of the valley. The track now goes back on the other side of the valley to pass a ruined dovecote. Just beyond, take the upper path that leads you back to the starting point. All the way round enjoy many ancient trees. You have had a good walk already, now prepare yourself for the main course.
Start by going up Jupiter Point, the peak immediately beyond the cottage. Just below the top, note a classic split stone sculpture by Peter Randall-Page in a side dell. The crowning monolith is carved with ‘And still a garden by the water blows’. Enjoy the views from here. You now need to take the track below the point down to the waterside. Note a pair of magnificent sweet chestnut trees as you start the descent. The overall plan is to follow the track along the Lynher bank and up a side valley as far as you can, keeping to the right hand edge of the garden.
Before you leave the Lynher, look left as you pass a ponded valley, originally salt pans. It’s worth a small detour here, going up the near side of the valley to inspect the late 18th century bathhouse building, returning down the other side of the valley. On the way up, look left into a small quarry and inspect the Green Man. Having crossed and on your way back down, look left again into a small quarry and read the extracts from Thomas Hardy’s poem about Lyonesse engraved on slate slabs.
As you leave the Lynher and go uphill, you pass a large modern, metal sculpture. Keep on to the top of the valley, only turning round to come back down after glancing at the overgrown ruin. This area, Higher Westdown, has recently been cleared and made accessible. You finish the walk by following the track along the inside of the broad sweep you have just completed, passing along the side of the more formal Anthony Estate. Immediately before the exit, note a multi-stemmed and branching wing-nut tree, most interesting in autumn with its wing-nut seeds.
What else have you seen? Multiple plantings of all sorts of trees, flowering and non-flowering. Quite a few are young, recently planted; many are mature. The leaflet is exhaustive in its listing; you are unlikely to have spotted them all. The spring-flowering ones like magnolia, camellia and rhododendron were splendid for my visits. You will have walked past swards covered in flowers; for my visits the daffodils were going over, the bluebells just starting; but how lovely were violets, lesser celandines and my favourite, carpets of primroses.
I walked around the Woodland Garden with the blessing of the Warden as part of an eight mile walk from the Torpoint Ferry with a group of Ramblers. A family season ticket (£25) is available allowing you to visit any time. For varied longer or shorter walks, do find Plymouth Ramblers online or contact Ron Smith on 07780 913546 or ronaldfwsmith@gmail.com for the Dartmoor Ramblers Club. The DRC invariably uses public transport.
By Ron Smith, Dartmoor Ramblers Club