Discover the idyllic landscape of Cornwall through its countryside, coastline and historic estates.
Discover the idyllic landscape of Cornwall through its countryside, coastline and historic estates.
Overlooking the Fowey Valley, Duchy of Cornwall Nursery stocks a variety of shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables. Take your time and stay for a locally inspired lunch or snack in the café, open every day. A nursery shop sells quality garden equipment and homeware, as well as gifts, traditional toys and cards.
Once lost to a patchwork of ivy and brambles, the gardens of Heligan were rediscovered by chance 25 years ago. Today, its 200 acres take in Victorian productive gardens, pleasure grounds and farmland. The Lost Valley and ancient woodland hold secrets of their own, while the Thunderbox Room stands as a living memorial to WW1.
The innovative Eden Project recreates the world’s gardens within the clay valleys of St Austell. Here, you can gaze down on a rainforest view or soak in the smells of a Mediterranean hillside. If you’re visiting with children, engage them with the discovery trail, adventure zip-wire and willow play garden.
With panoramic views of the countryside and River Fowey, Restormel Castle is an ideal picnic spot. Its 13th-century remains offer an intriguing glimpse of earlier times, with traces of rooms still visible from the castle steps. Today, the castle and grounds are managed by English Heritage and open all year.
An impressive late-Victorian mansion set in sprawling gardens and countryside, Lanhydrock has appeal for all ages. Formal and informal gardens extend out into vast parkland, with a second-hand bookshop, cafés and a restaurant also on-site. For families, there’s a multi-level cycle trail through the estate’s surrounding woodland.
Stretching along 18 miles of Cornish countryside, the Camel Trail is a virtually traffic-free route for walking, cycling and horse riding. The trail follows a historic railway line from Wenfordbridge to Padstow and passes through a Special Area of Conservation, with the chance to spot wildlife such as otters, kingfishers and little egrets.
Set into the clifftop at Porthcurno, the open-air Minack Theatre offers a wonderfully fresh perspective on performance. Throughout the warmer months, the theatre runs a full programme of events, including drama, musicals, opera and children’s shows. During the day, the auditorium and its sub-tropical gardens are open to visitors.
See what inspires you from our themed cottage collections.
Discover all the seasonal delights the country has to offer.
