Surrounding Lower Coombe Royal are eight acres of historic gardens,
which contain a fine collection of trees, including a number of native species and a silver fir, a Japanese elm and a Judas tree and an enormous Thuja. There are over one hundred varieties of camellias and some of the original rhododendrons planted in 1840 are over fifty foot high. A series of paths take you on an ever changing journey around the grounds - you never know what you might find. Ideal for garden and wild life enthusiasts as well as children of all ages! To find out more...

Lower Coombe Royal is particularly noted for its American Garden which is first mentioned in an article in the Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardening. From this it appears that it was laid out soon after 1840 by John Luscombe as an addition to the garden of his house, Coombe Royal. He was an enthusiastic gardener who corresponded with Sir William Hooker at Kew and received seeds of the first sikkim rhododendrons, brought from India by Sir William's son Joseph. John Luscombe was one of the first hybridisers of rhododendrons, and raised hybrids such as 'Luscombei' , ' Coombe Royal' and 'Luscombes Scarlet' . Rhododendron Fortunei , introduced in 1859, first flowered in this garden in 1866 and was illustrated in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in that year.

The Victorian greenhouse houses home grown plants and vegetables and this is where you will often find Rose Wood, (yes, this really is her name!) the head gardener, propagating or tending to the vegetables.  Rose is a qualified organic gardener and relishes the opportunity to talk to anyone about plant origins and Latin names! If there is a particular plant you admire you are likely to walk away with a tender cutting grown with her own green hands. Rose has a number of natural fertiliser potions on the bubble: local seaweed, comfry and nettle are all used to encourage the plants and vegetables to flourish. We only use ecologically sound garden additives from the slug pellets to the compost - which has been generated entirely from Lower Coombe Royal garden and kitchen waste.  Manure from our local farmer helps to keep the weeds at bay and the worms busy!

The 'rain forest' is a natural adventure playground for children... and adults! Ladders, a home-made tree house, rope and tire swings adorn various trees for extra fun and amusement.  The water gardens offer peace and bird life to the background of running water. Rest on one of our many wooden benches and soak in the views and garden colours. Listen for the buzzard calling to her young, the wood pecker hammering at a tree or a frog jumping into the pond!