Geonev

I haven't seen anything about Greenway on the UK forum, and my voluminous guidebooks and relevant websites are remarkably unhelpful. So, anyone who's visited Agatha Christie's (relatively recently opened) house Greenway, near Dartmouth (Devon), can you help?

• What is a good strategy for a June visit? We will have a car and will be in Dartmouth overnight, visiting Greenway on a Wednesday. Choices include a boat plus walk up to the house (our preferred favorite), train, drive and park (with reservation). Which is the least hassle and time-consuming? And what is the timing (how long for the boat, the walk, the visit, the return)?

• Boat website doesn't say how long the trip takes. Anyone?

• How much of a slog is it from the boat dock to the house? (They also say a jitney is operating, not sure how that works.)

From Greenway, we drive off to Plymouth. Better to drive and brave the restricted parking? Dartmouth is on the west bank of the river, Greenway on the east bank, and road to Plymouth on the west again, and there are ferries but no bridges nearby.

All advice on visit practicalities welcomed.

flanneruk

The short answer (the National Trust site gives you an infinity of long answers: I can't for the life of me see what's unhelpful about it) is to book your parking space the night before, get into your car and drive there. If your time then allows you to walk around, there's a reasonable range of footpaths from the house itself.

Or walk there and back: it's only a 12 mile round-trip, and Greenway's just an ordinary house: unless you're interested in archaeology, it's hard to see how you could spend much more than an hour there

The river Dart is pretty, and there are other ways to get to the house, like the ferry. With a fortnight in Dartmouth, you might well want to sample using a vintage bus or getting into a boat.

But this isn't some Greatest View In The World place. With a few hours in the area, your life really won't be significantly the poorer for taking the straightforward option.

Geonev

Thank you, flanneruk. The "infinity of long answers" is the very problem. I was hoping for practical, real-world advice as to what is the most efficient way. The problem with driving to Greenway from Dartmouth is getting across the river (no bridges), then having to recross the river to continue to Plymouth. Still, helpful advice, so thanks.

annhig

Have you thought about going to Coleton Fishacre? the home of the D'Oyley Carte family, it has an interesting house, lovely garden, and a nice walk down to the beach. And no problems with access. it's very close to Dartmouth so probably as close to where you are staying as Greenaways.

En route to Plymouth I can recommend the lovely Garden House just north of Plymouth at Yelverton:

http://www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

Geonev

Ann, many thanks. We are putting your suggestions on our itinerary. They look great!

annhig

glad to be of help, Geonev.

Have a great trip.