Overbeck's Garden

About the museum

Overbeck's was built as a house called Sharpitor on the hillside above the Salcombe estuary in Devon. Its garden is a 20th-century creation: Edric Hopkins laid out much of the structure, and after George Medlicott Vereker bought the property in 1913 he and his wife, both keen gardeners, extended the garden to its present size. The Verekers lost their second son in the first weeks of the First World War and in his memory lent the house to the Red Cross as a voluntary aid hospital for convalescent British and Allied soldiers. It opened in 1915 and closed in January 1919, after treating 1,010 men without a single death.

In 1928 the property was sold to Otto Overbeck, an inventor, linguist and art collector, who had made money from an electrical device he marketed as a rejuvenator. He added rare and tender plants to the garden and left the house to the National Trust for public enjoyment, asking that it be renamed Overbeck's. The house holds a collection of objects and has been shown to visitors as a house museum.

The house is currently closed to the public so that major repairs can be carried out, including work on the Belvedere Tower, the roof and the chimneys. The National Trust says it will stay closed for the foreseeable future, with works continuing through 2026 and 2027, while the collection remains inside and specialists research it. The sheltered seaside garden stays open and holds subtropical and Mediterranean plants from many parts of the world.

Highlights

• Terraced subtropical garden with palms, tree ferns and plants from many climate zones
• Views over the Salcombe estuary from the Gazebo Garden and the Olive Grove
• Statue Garden with the bronze sculpture First Flight
• Cactus Conservatory and Orange Store glasshouse
• Banana Garden, a quiet Silent Space
• House and museum collection closed for repairs until at least 2027

Permanent exhibition

• Subtropical garden – Terraced garden with exotic plants from many climate zones, the Statue Garden, the Cactus Conservatory and views over the Salcombe estuary.

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the adult ticket is 13.20, the child ticket 6.60 and the family ticket 33.00. Entry is free for National Trust members. On-site parking is free for members and paid for by non-members through the JustPark app.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Paths are gravelled, steep and uneven, with steps in places, but a step-free route through the garden is available; ask at the visitor welcome hut for details or download the step-free route map. Designated parking and a drop-off point are at the welcome hut. Wheelchairs can be borrowed, and an induction loop is available on request at the welcome hut. Seating is provided around the garden. A Braille history of the garden is at the visitor reception hut. Accessible toilets are in the Coach House café and in the garden, and the café has level access. An AccessAble access guide is available. Assistance dogs are the only dogs allowed on the lawns and in the Banana Garden.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities

Seasonal spotter trails and activity sheets, an outdoor telescope for spotting boats, and the Nature Nook with bird's nests, fossils and bones to investigate. Children's menu options and highchairs are available at the kiosk. The paths are steep and uneven, so the garden is unsuitable for buggies and bikes.

Getting there & parking

From Malborough, follow the brown signs via North Sands and South Sands; from Salcombe take Cliff Road to South Sands. The roads through Salcombe are narrow and the final approach is steep with sharp turns, so drive slowly. On foot, the South West Coast Path at Sharpitor is about half a mile away by a lane uphill.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available

The Coach House Kiosk (Gastrobox) at the entrance serves light refreshments; picnics are welcome in the courtyard, and picnic baskets and blankets can be borrowed. Toilets and baby changing facilities are in the garden.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit