Six of the Best Gardens in Cornwall

Cornwall is best known for its beaches and dramatic coastal scenery. But the county also boasts some amazing gardens where visitors can explore beautiful landscapes packed with native Cornish flora as well as exotic plants from all over the world. These gardens are wonderful visitor attractions suitable for people of all ages.

To set you on your way with your botanical adventures, we’ve put together this list of six of the best gardens in Cornwall to visit while you’re on holiday.

1. Lost Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan were lost for decades before they were rescued from the weeds and returned to their former glory. Located near St Austell, Heligan makes a great family day out. As well as the historic productive garden with over 300 varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs, there are rhododendron glades, carp pools and a sundial garden bordered with summer flowers. But the main attraction is the jungle area complete with a 100ft Burmese rope bridge above ancient ferns, palms, giant rhubarb and banana trees.

2. Trebah Garden

Billed as a sub-tropical paradise, Trebah is a beautiful Cornish valley garden on the banks of the Helford river near Falmouth. There are over four miles of garden walkways to explore through the trees and foliage at Trebah. In the spring visitors can see a colourful array of 100-year-old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias; while in the summer and autumn it’s all about the beautiful blues and whites of the Hydrangea Valley.

3. Glendurgan Gardens

Just down the road is National Trust property Glendurgan Gardens. Deep ravines have been planted with exotic species from far-flung countries, interspersed with native wildflower meadows. Kids will love it here as there is a giant maze at the centre of the garden, plus the Giant’s Stride rotating rope swing. Footpaths lead all the way downhill to sandy Durgan beach overlooking the Helford river.

4. Lanhydrock

The Lanhydrock estate offers one of the biggest garden experiences in Cornwall. Nestled amid steep rolling hills near Bodmin, Lanhydrock has a dizzying array of trees, plants and flowers. Besides the formal gardens around the historic house, there are miles of marked trails through colourful gardens filled with camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons. Trails continue all the way down the valley through ancient woodlands to meet tranquil riverside paths. Visitors can also explore this grand estate by bike on the excellent mountain bike trails.

5. Trewithen Gardens

Trewithen means ‘house of the trees’. With 30 acres of woodland gardens and more than 200 acres of parkland, it’s a well-named estate. These beautifully landscaped gardens near Truro offer a spectacle of colour and splendour at any time of year, but are best viewed in March when the pink and red flowers of the Magnolia and Camellia trees are in full bloom.

6. Eden Project

This ecological tourism attraction is renowned the world over for its tropical and Mediterranean biomes which house plants from all over the world. The Eden Project’s iconic biomes are exciting places to explore and find out about the environmental threats and ecological efforts to protect endangered plant species. But there’s more to Eden than the biomes. Outdoors there are loads of themed gardens showing off the best of Cornish and British plants, flowers and produce. This garden makes for a fabulous day out for all the family.

Plan Your Visit – Book your Holiday Home Today!

Whether you’re coming to Cornwall for a tour of its gardens or just want to visit one or two during your trip, you can find some fantastic places to stay in beautiful Padstow and the surrounding villages. Search for properties and check availability on this site to find your perfect holiday home in Cornwall.