Saltram East trails signpost © National Trust Images Steve Sayers

National Trust opens up 32-hectares of green space in Plymouth

People in Plymouth can now explore a new area of green space as 32-hectares of former agricultural land at Saltram East Country Park opens to the public for the first time, significantly increasing the size of the National Trust’s free-to-access parkland at Saltram.

Opening to the public on Wednesday 5 August 2026, the new country park will provide much-needed free-to-access green space for Plymouth's growing population, with thousands of new homes being built within five miles of Saltram.

A new 2.5km multi-use trail, funded by Sport England through National Lottery and the National Trust, provides a route through the new country park and is designed to be welcoming and inclusive. The trail features a wide, smooth surface and gentle gradients suitable for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, families with pushchairs and anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. A series of rest stops along the route offer stunning views across Plymouth and the historic landscape and Saltram House itself.

The trail links seamlessly with Saltram’s existing network of paths, including the popular Dell walk that connects to Saltram East via a new boardwalk, creating a route of around 10 kilometres across the estate. Popular sections, including The Dell, have also been resurfaced to improve accessibility and enjoyment for visitors.

Alongside the new visitor routes, significant work is underway to boost the diversity of nature and wildlife. New wildflower hay meadows are being established across the site, creating homes for wildlife, including insects, butterflies and birds such as skylarks - a red-listed conservation priority species. To help establish and maintain these species-rich meadows, livestock will graze carefully managed areas of Saltram East between September and March each year.

The establishment of the meadows will take time but after just one year since the seeds were sown, National Trust rangers found that the number of plant species had more than doubled compared to baseline surveys, including 90% coverage of yellow rattle, known as the ‘meadow maker’ in all survey sites. The first breeding pair of skylarks have also been recorded.

The meadows form part of the National Trust’s first Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) bank, which is expected to increase biodiversity across the site by at least 10 per cent over the next 30 years through habitat creation, woodland planting and restoration of historic hedgerows. This is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Jez McDermott, General Manager for the National Trust at Saltram, said:

"The opening of Saltram East Country Park is a landmark moment for Plymouth and for Saltram. We're giving people access to beautiful green space that had never been open to the public before, while also creating new habitats where nature can flourish.

"This investment in access, wellbeing and nature means more people can enjoy everything Saltram has to offer. Whether you're walking, wheeling, cycling, spending time with family or simply taking a moment to enjoy the views, we hope Saltram East becomes a place that people return to for generations to come."

Saltram’s existing country park attracts an estimated one million visits each year, and the new free-to-access green space is expected to deliver significant health and wellbeing benefits for local communities as Plymouth continues to grow.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director, Partnerships and Place, Sport England, said: "Access to nature shouldn't be a luxury. In a growing city like Plymouth, these new trails will make it easier for more people to build active travel into everyday life, get outdoors and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of green spaces close to home. As one of Sport England's Place Partnerships, Plymouth is helping tackle inequalities through physical activity so that everyone has the opportunity to be active."

Visitors can explore four interconnected routes – Meadow Path, Turnpike Trail, Wixenford Way and The Dell – taking in wildflower meadows, historic landscapes and far-reaching views across Plymouth. Looking ahead, Saltram East will continue to evolve with the creation of a community forest, where up to 12,000 trees will be planted this winter thanks to support from Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest. It will also become one of 20 Green Corridors created by the National Trust across the country.

The opening of Saltram East is a major milestone in the National Trust's wider Future Saltram programme in Plymouth, helping to improve access, restore habitats and strengthen people's connection with nature and heritage.

Visitor information

Visitors can access Saltram East via several pedestrian entrances or from Saltram's main visitor car park, where existing paths connect directly with the new trail. The route also links with National Cycle Network Route 27, making it easy to arrive on foot or by bike. There is no dedicated parking at Saltram East and visitors arriving by car should use Saltram's main visitor car park.

Dogs are welcome throughout Saltram East. To help protect grazing livestock, dogs should be kept on a lead in signed grazing areas between September and March. Elsewhere within Saltram East, dogs are welcome off lead all year round, provided they remain under close control.

A section of Wixenford Way is currently closed while the new path surface beds in. The recent prolonged dry weather has delayed this process, and restricting access will help protect the surface while it settles. The route will reopen as soon as conditions allow, and visitors are encouraged to check the Saltram website for the latest access information before travelling

To find out more visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/future-saltram