Hill House, originally the vicarage to St Matthew's Church, Landscove, is a true country house garden nursery set in the glorious South Hams countryside.

The gardens were originally designed by Edward Hyams, doyen of garden writers and plantsman in the 1950s and 60s.

It has since been renovated and improved by the Hubbard family, but is still faithful too much of Hyams' original planting.

The nursery is now run by Raymond Hubbard with his son Matthew, and is very much an old-fashioned family enterprise.

Ray's passion for the more unusual, half hardy subjects ensures that there is always a magnificent selection of fascinating and often seldom seen plants, grown to perfection and offered at affordable prices.

The garden boats many trees and shrubs, including a large Cedras atlanticus, a rare Pinus Montezumae, a wildlife pond, two fish ponds, a small classically designed temple and many flowers.

The Hill House bred Crocosmia 'Krakatoa' and the Nemesia 'Bluebird' which has featured in the local and national press grow in the gardens, of which over 10 million have been bred and sold, under licence, throughout Europe, North America and Asia.

In 1993, the Hill House tea room was first opened and now produces a fine array of home made cakes and savouries, Devonshire cream teas and light lunches for visitors from March through to October.

The tea room seats up to 40 people and there is now a team room lawn which allows visitors to make the most of those hot summer days.

The friendly staff at Hill House are happy to advise customers on the suitability of both hardy and more tender plants for their own gardens.

Contact details: Landscove, near Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7LY. Tel: 01803 762273.

How to find Hill House Nursery and Gardens:

From Exeter on the A38 take the second Ashburton exit and follow the signs to Landscove (about 2.5 miles).

From Plymouth on the A38, at Buckfastleigh, take the A38 Totnes, taking the first left ¼ mile past the Dartbridge Inn signed Hill House Nursery and Gardens. Follow the brown signs.

From Totnes on the A384 heading towards Buckfastleigh 0.5 miles past the Dartington Cider Press at Huxhams Cross, turn right and follow the brown signs.

Please note: Coaches are by appointment only, but very large modern coaches are not able to navigate the narrow lanes.