Garden Tour Two

Starting from Truro ... but we can start at your hotel/B&B from anywhere in Cornwall... we proceed to the King Harry Ferry, cross to the Roseland Peninsular, visit St Just-in-Roseland Church... wonderful garden... take a look at St Mawes and St Mawes Castle, and head for Mevagissey and The Lost Gardens of Heligan in time for their 10am opening.

Lost Gardens of Heligan

Covering 57 acres and a further 100 acres of ornamental woodland, at Heligan there is an impressive range of plant breeds and features, including, an Italian garden, a crystal grotto, summerhouses and the Flora Green Lawn surrounded by giant rhododendrons. Originally dating back to 1780, the gardens fell 'asleep' throughout the two World Wars when little time was allowed for the pleasures of gardening... and men were away fighting 'the war to end wars'. In 1991, a restoration team ploughed through the mountains of bramble and creeping ivy to discover the forgotten orchid houses, vineries, peach houses and even a pineapple pit... the story continues...

Visit the website of Heligan Gardens

Allow between 1.5 and 3 hours at Heligan.

We continue east and then north towards Bodmin and Bodmin Moor. We sight-see at Polkerris, Fowey and the Luxulyan Valley; travelling through the area where Daphne du Maurier lived and set her famous stories, passing close to Menabilly (Manderley)... her house... and a house with a history! We stop for lunch (if appropriate)... your choice... and at Bodmin we visit Lanhydrock House and Garden.

Lanhydrock

The grandest and most welcoming house in Cornwall, Lanhydrock is superbly set in 450 acres of woods and parkland running down to the Fowey river and is lovely in all seasons.Twenty two acres of spectacular gardens at Lanhydrock contain herbaceous borders and formal parterres. The parterres have bronze urns brought from the Chateau de Bagatelle in Paris and taken to Lanhydrock in 1857. The gardens still maintain the 19th century plan. The wooded higher gardens contain rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias, subtly blended into the indigenous oak and beech woods and there is a complete a network of footpaths.

Visit the National Trust website for Lanhydrock House and Garden

Allow 1.5 to 3 hours at Lanhydrock.

If time, energy and enthusiasm allow, return to Truro (or where you are staying) via Lostwithiel and Fowey... both ancient towns, one at the head of the tidal part of the Fowey river and the other a picturesque port at its estuary... and passing through the area which Daphne d Maurier made famous in so many of her books.

Transport

If other Cornish Gardens have more appeal, just let us know and these will be the ones we visit.

And if you'd just like to go to just one Cornish Garden - say The Eden project - we'll provide a PRICE QUOTATION FOR TRANSPORT FROM AND BACK TO YOUR HOTEL/B&B
- ON REQUEST.