Breathtaking Bicton Park Botanical Gardens

On our way back from Budleigh Salterton to our base in Sidmouth, we passed by Bicton Park Botanical Gardens. It’s featured in many “must-visit” lists in South Devon, we just had to check it out! After all, the gardens date back to the early 18th century.

Italian Garden

As soon as I emerged from the shop just past the entrance my eyes popped open at the magnificent sight of the Italian Garden, the centrepiece of Bicton Park. The striking floral displays is a joy to behold!

Water features

The Shell House

This Grade 2 listed Shell House was built in 1845  with irregular lumps of flint which gives its distinctive look. It houses many different types of shells collected from all over the world. 

Mediterranean Garden

The rest of the best (for now)

After a while, I lost track of where I was in the gardens! I just wandered where my eyes took me.

I just could not resist taking a photo of this deep pink beauty standing proud on the lush green lawn. I believe it’s called Japanese Flowering Crabapple.

When I consulted the sitemap after 2 hours I realised that I covered only about one-thirds of the 64 acres! With The Great Lake and Acer Glade and other gardens still to see, I think a return trip some time in the autumn is a distinct possibility!

Meanwhile, here’s me blending in with the surrounding!