Carbis Bay Holidays :: Visiting Gardens
Cornwall is blessed with a mild climate and some of the most beautiful gardens in England. The majority are open all year round and within easy reach of Carbis Bay. Trevarno Gardens is near Helston and also houses the National Museum of Gardening. The Lost Gardens of Heligan is near St Austell and well worth a visit with its 22 acre subtropical jungle, exotic trees and shrubs.
Trebah, near Helston, is a garden for all seasons, with year round colour and scent. It has something for everyone with children's activities, special events, a Gallery hosting exhibitions, a Garden Café, and a gift and garden shop. A spectacular 26 acre Cornish ravine garden, rated among the 80 finest gardens in the world. This sub-tropical paradise is home to a unique collection of rare and exotic plants, trees and shrubs winding down to a private and secluded beach on the Helford River.
Trevarno Gardens
Nestled in a valley just three miles from Helston, the historical Trevarno Gardens is home to a beautiful Victorian boathouse that sits on the tranquil lake, but it also boasts many more features from the past such as a century-old Yew tunnel. However, the jewel in its historical crown is its fascinating National Museum of Gardening. Those of you with a nose for history and horticulture can build up on your knowledge of all things green, whilst finding some incredible relics and antiques from centuries spanning the culture of gardening.
Trebah Gardens
Trebah Garden - steeply wooded, sub-tropical 25 acre ravine garden, falls 200 feet from 18th Century house to private beach on the Helford River. A stream cascading over waterfalls through ponds full of Koi Carp and exotic water plants, winds through two acres of blue and white hydrangeas and spills out over the beach. Glades of huge sub-tropical tree ferns and palms mingle with a multitude of trees and shrubs of ever-changing colours and scent, beneath an over-arching canopy of 100 year old rhododendrons.
Abbey Gardens Tresco Estate - Isles of Scilly
For those visiting the Isles of Scilly either by ferry, helicopter or plane, The Abbey Gardens at Tresco are a must visit. A 17 acre tropical garden with exotics from over 80 countires including Brazil, New Zealand and Burma. By building tall wind-breaks, these incredible species are protected from the weather by a network of walled enclosures built around the Priory ruins. The hotter, drier terraces at the top suit South African and Australian plants, those at the bottom provide the humidity that favours flora from New Zealand and South America. Fringing the lush grid of lower paths criss-crossing the tropical gardens are cacti, date-palms and giant, lipstick-red flame trees and other rare species.
Trelissick Gardens
Trelissick is literally at the water's edge where you can catch the ferry from Truro, Falmouth or the Roseland Peninsula to land at this waterside garden and exotic wonderland. At its heart, the 20-acre garden itself is a year-round display of colourful blooms, noted for its camellias, rhododendrons and a collection of photinia and azaleas. Nestled in 375-acres of parkland and woodland, this is most definitely one of the finest gardens for walkers. Extensive trails meander through the woodland, traverse the parkland and follow the riverside.
Hardy Exotics - Penzance
Visit this local specialist garden centre on the main road from St Ives to Penzance, two acres of garden exotica, the very helpful staff will advise you on the hardyness of your chosen variety. Clive and Julie - the proprietors have developed this nursery over the last twenty years from seeds and cutting, now over 1500 vareties.
Trewidden Gardens
Enjoy the peaceful beauty of the intimate woodland Trewiddenn Gardens near Penzance, that is home to one of the largest camellia collections in the country. Part of the garden is set in a medieval open-cast tin mine, and in addition to a magnificent array of over 300 varieties of camellias there is also an abundance of magnolias. One of the most superior collections of tree ferns in the Northern Hemisphere now grows from one of the old mining pits, including some species that are over 150 years old. Step out into this idyllic garden for walkers and meander along a maze of paths amongst the magnificently rich reds, blues, purples, oranges, dusky pinks and yellows.
Trengwainton
Experience stunning views and an abundance of exotic trees and shrubs at Trengwainton Gardens just inland from Marazion, Mounts Bay. Magnificent walled gardens growing species not seen anywhere else on mainland Britain. Follow the stream garden through the valley, which was planted with skunk cabbage, meconopsis, primulas and other bog plants. Escape to the intimate tranquillity of this woodland garden, and from the rich collection of rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias, meander up to a terrace boasting beautiful views of Mount's Bay to The Lizard.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
With more than 200-acres to explore, you really can lose yourself for a day at The Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell. The 22-acre 'jungle' hosts some of the most lush vegetation in the country in the steep-sided valley garden, including the largest collection of tree ferns in Europe, thickets of bamboo and a banana plantation. The Lost Valley is the hotspot of this historical garden, its ancient woodlands, water meadows and lakes dating back to a medieval past as a working valley. Make sure you take the kids to experience the vast beauty of this family friendly garden that is guaranteed to keep small and curious minds captivated. Meander along the boardwalk through the jungle valley and take the children on a horticultural journey far from our temperate shores.
Michaels Mount - Marazion
Cross the rocky causeway to reach the fairytale castle of Michaels Mount and the extraordinary maritime garden nestled on its own rugged island. Many visitors come to see the fortress that dominates the view from all around Penzance, but few realise the beautiful gardens that await discovery when you lean over the castle walls. The gardens rise from the sea to the foot of the castle, taking steps up the terraces and climbing steep slopes to the grand fortress looming above. Tender and beautiful plants from the southern hemisphere flourish here in the face of the harsh conditions, and the plethora of species are to be found.
Lanhydrock
One of the most beautiful National Trust properties in Cornwall, Lanhydrock House near Bodmin is set in wooded parkland of 1,000 acres and encircled by a garden of rare shrubs and trees. Explore formal dazzling bedding plants and wander along paths that wind through a woodland landscape planted in a semi-formal Cornish fashion - rhododendrons and Himalayan magnolias lurching to their full-size in the fresh Cornish air. Because the grounds lie inland and rise up to 130-metres above sea level, the plants have to cope with harsher climates than the lush valley gardens of the south coast. Take-in the sweeping views over the gardens and the valley landscape, not only is there 30-acres of formal and informal woodland to explore, but the garden opens onto an extensive network of footpaths zig-zagging through beautiful countryside.
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