Houses and Gardens in North Cornwall
There is a large number of Houses and Gardens in Cornwall, which are worth visiting. Most of the Houses are open from Easter until the end of September each year. The details are given below. The Gardens, some of which form part of a large estate, are normally open all year round.
Houses
Antony House, Torpoint. (National Trust) Tel: 01752 812191
Location: 2 miles north west of Torpoint on the A374.
A superb example of an early-18th-century house, home of the eminent Cornish family of Carew, Antony contains a wealth of paintings, tapestries, furniture and embroideries. Overlooking the Lynher River, the grounds landscaped by Repton include the formal garden with a national collection of day lilies, fine summer borders, water sculptures and knot garden. Also Antony Woodland Garden (not National Trust) features rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas.
Opening hours: 4th April - 26th October Tues, Wed, Thur & Bank Holiday; Mons plus Suns in June, July & August 1.30-5.30 (last admission 4.45) ; Tea room opens 12.30.
Woodland Garden (not NT) 1st March-31st October daily except Mon & Fri (but open Bank Holiday) 11.00-5.30 (Free admission to NT members on the days Anthony House is open).
Admission charged.
Cotehele, St Dominick, near Calstock. (National Trust) Tel: 01579 351346.
Location: 1 mile west of Calstock on the banks of the Tamar River.
Enchanted and remote, perched high above the wooded banks of the river Tamar, Cotehele was owned by the Edgcumbe family for nearly six centuries. One of the least-altered medieval houses in the country, it contains original furniture, armour and a remarkable set of tapestries. However there is much more to Cotehele than just the house. The large estate is criss-crossed with miles of riverside and woodland walks linking together the steeply terraced garden with pools, dovecote and the Prospect Tower, a working watermill and adjoining estate workshops, industrial ruins in the Danescombe Valley, and the Quay with a tea room, art and craft gallery and museum and the restored Tamar sailing barge 'Shamrock' moored alongside.
Opening hours: 1st April-31st October, House & Restaurant: daily except Fri but open Good Fri; 11.00-5.00 (4.30 in October)
Last admission half hour before closing.
Mill: daily except Fri, but open Good Fri ; daily in July & August 1.00-5.30 (6.00 in July & August ; 4.30 in October).
Gallery & tea room on quay: daily 11.00-5.00 (Gallery 12.00-5.00) or dusk if earlier.
Garden: all year round daily 11.00-dusk.
Admission charged.
Lanhydrock, near Bodmin. (National Trust) Tel: 01208 73320
Location: 3 miles S E of Bodmin of the A38. PL30 5AD
Details: The finest house in Cornwall, superbly set in wooded parkland of 450 acres and encircled by a garden of rare shrubs and trees, lovely in all seasons. Plenty of time is needed to fully view all 49 rooms, ranging from the richly furnished main rooms reflecting Victorian comfort to maids' bedrooms, the great kitchen and the evocative nursery wing. First built in the 17th century and largely rebuilt after a fire in 1881, the principal rooms all have beautifully worked plaster ceilings, including that of the Long Gallery magnificently illustrating Old Testament scenes. In the surrounding woodland and parkland there are some lovely walks; the idyllic one to the River Fowey at Respryn Bridge and back is one not to be missed.
Opening hours: House: 1st April-31st October daily except Mon
Open Bank Holiday Mons, 11.00-5.30 (5.00 in October).
Garden: 1st March-31st October daily 10.30-5.30; Nov-Feb daily during daylight hours.
Shop: 19th Feb-23rd Dec daily.
Restaurant: 19th Feb-31st Oct daily; Nov weekends only; 2nd-23rd Dec daily.
Plant Sales: 1st Mar-31st Oct daily.
Admission charged
Mount Edgcumbe House & Park, Cremyll, Torpoint.
Cornwall County Council & Plymouth City Council . Tel: 01752 822236
Location: 6 miles south east of Torpoint on B3247
Details: The house was built by the Edgcumbe family in 1550 on a spectacular site by the sea. The warm red stone walls survived a bombing raid in 1941. The 6th Earl rebuilt the interior in the 1960's and it is now beautifully furnished with family possessions which include pictures by Reynolds, Van de Velde and Condy; Cookworthy porcelain; tapestries and even Bronze Age horns. Marvellous coastal walks amongst rare trees give glimpses of wild deer and a wealth of bird life.
Opening hours: House & Earls Garden open: April - Sept. Daily Wednesdays to Sunday (and Bank Holidays). Admission charged Park & Formal Gardens open all year daily. Free admission.
Pencarrow, Bodmin - Molesworth / St. Aubyn Family – (4m NW of Bodmin; signed off A389 and B3266) - 01208 841369
Historic Georgian House, beautiful gardens and superb collection of pictures, furniture and porcelain.
Gardens
The milder conditions of the South West provides an ideal climate for the development of high quality gardens. The South West of England has earned a deserved reputation for its gardens. There are a wide variety of gardens of all types, ranging from the formal to the parkland and the extraordinary to the cottage. Some are all year round attractions and some are better seen at particular times of the year. All are worth a visit. The list below gives somes details of the main gardens in Cornwall, and some of them in Devon.
Lanhydrock, Bodmin - National Trust (2 1/2m SE of Bodmin on B3268) - 01726-870243
Large garden; formal garden laid out in 1857; shrub garden with good specimens of rhododendrons and magnolias and fine views. Light refreshment and teas.
Admission:- House and Garden Adults £7.50 Ch £3.75 Opening Times:- Gardens open all year (11.00-5.00)
lanhydrock@nationaltrust.org.uk
Pencarrow, Bodmin - Molesworth/St. Aubyn Family - (4m NW of Bodmin; signed off A389 and B3266) - 01208 841369
50 acres of formal and woodland gardens listed Grade II* laid out in the 1840s. Marked walks past Victorian rockery; Italian and American gardens; Lake and ice house. Over 650 different varieties of rhododendrons; internationally known conifer collection.
Admission:- House and Garden Adults £7.00 Ch £ 3.50 Garden only Adults £3.50 Ch free. Opening Hours:- 1 Mar – end Oct Closed Fri/Sat (11.00 – 4.30)
Cotehele, Saltash - National Trust - (2m E of St. Dominick - 4m from Gunnislake) - 01579-352346
Formal garden, orchard and meadow. Terraced garden falling to sheltered valley with ponds, stream and unusual shrubs. Light refreshments and teas.
Admission - House and Garden £7 Garden only £4 Ch £2 Opening Times - Gardens open daily.
Eden Project, Bodelva – (4 m E of St Austell. Signposted with brown signs from A30 and A390) - 01726-811900
The world's largest greenhouses nestle in a giant 50 metre deep crater the size of 30 football pitches, the centrepiece of a spectacular global garden. Eden is a gateway into a fascinating world of plants and people and a vibrant reminder of how we need each other for our mutual survival. Light refreshments and teas.
Admission:- Adult £10.00 Ch £4.00 Family £25.00. Opening hours:- Daily except 24/25 Dec Winter (10.00-4.30) Summer (10.00-6.00)
Rosemoor, Great Torrington, North Devon – Royal Horticultural Society – (3m S of Torrington – follow the brown signs) - 01805 624067
Set deep in the lovely North Devon countryside, RHS Garden Rosemoor has now come of age as a garden of national importance. Lady Anne Berry gifted Rosemoor to the RHS 11 years ago, since when the original eight acres have been greatly developed. To the huge range of plants collected by Lady Anne, the RHS has added features such as the Formal Garden, extensive herbaceous borders, herb and cottage gardens, a potager, the Foliage and Plantsman's Garden and extensive stream and lakeside plantings. Recent additions include the Mediterranean and semi-tropical plantings which have been thriving during the recent long hot summers and the newly planted Winter Garden. But what is perhaps the most popular feature of this delightful garden is the extensive rose garden, proving beyond doubt the lie that the West Country cannot produce beautiful roses.
Admission:- Adults £ Ch £ Opening Times:- April to September: (10.00-6.00) October to March: (10.00-5.00)
Glendurgan, Mawnan Smith – National Trust – 01872-862090 – (5m SW of Falmouth – take road to Helford Passage – follow NT sign posts)
Walled garden; laurel maze; giant's stride, valley with specimen trees, bluebells and primulas running down to Durgan fishing village on Helford River. Light refreshments and teas in Tea House.
Admission:- Adults £4.20 Ch £2.10 Opening Times:- Tues – Sats Mid Feb – End Oct (10:30-5:30)
glendurgan@nationaltrust.org.uk
Trebah, Mawnan Smith – Trebah Garden Trust – (4m from Falmouth – follow tourism signs from Hillhead Roundabout on A39 approach to Falmouth or Treliever Cross Roundabout on junction of A39 and A394) – 01326-250448
26 acre South facing ravine garden, planted in 1830s. Extensive collection of rare/mature shrubs including glades; huge tree ferns 100 yrs old, subtropical exotics. Hydrangea collection covers 2 ½ acres. Water garden, waterfalls, rock pool stocked with mature koi carp. Enchanted garden for plantsman/artist/family. Light refreshments and teas.
Admission:- Adults £5.00 Ch £3.00 Opening times:- Daily all year (10.30-5.00)
Trelissick, Feock – National Trust – (4m S of Truro. Nr King Harry ferry – on B3289) – 01872-862090
Planted with tender shrubs; magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons with many named species characteristic of Cornish gardens. Fine woodlands encircle the gardens through which a varied circular walk can be enjoyed. Superb views over Falmouth harbour. Light refreshments and teas.
Admission:- Adults £4.80 Ch £2.40 Opening times:- Feb-Oct (10.30-5.30)
trelissick@nationaltrust.org.uk
Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan – 0726-845100 (5m S of St Austell take B3277 signposted Mevagissey, follow signs)
The world famous garden restoration extends to over 200 acres of superb Victorian productive gardens and pleasure grounds, and is complemented by a new pioneering conservation project, centered on Heligan's Wider Estate. Home made teas.
Admission:- Adults £7.50 Ch £4.00 Opening Times:- All Year except 24/25 Dec Summer (10-6) Winter (10-5)
Headland, Polruan – 01726-870243 (1/2m S of Fowey, Passenger ferry from Fowey and 10 min walk along West Street and up Battery Lane)
1¼ acre cliff garden with magnificent sea, coastal and estuary views on 3 sides. Planted to withstand salty gales yet includes subtropical plants with intimate places to sit and savour the views. Paths wind through the garden past rocky outcrops down to a secluded swimming cove. Cream Teas.
Admission:- Adults £2.00 Ch £1.00 Opening Times:-May-Sep (10.00-5.00)
Prideaux Place, Padstow – 01841 532411 (1/2mW of Padstow – follow brown signs from A389 road)
Surrounding the Elizabethan house the present main grounds were laid out in the early 18th Century by Edmund Prideaux. Ancient deer park with stunning views over Camel estuary; newly planted lime avenue; Victorian woodland walks. Restored sunken formal garden. A garden of vistas. Light refreshments and cream teas.
Admission:- House and Garden £6.00 Ch £2.00 Opening Times:- Easter – Oct – Sun-Thurs (1.30-5.30)