Cornish Gardens

Cornwall is blessed with some spectacular gardens due to its beautifully mild climate, so if you are a lover of floral displays, the county is perfect for you.

If you crave iconic, then try the Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey, which have been restored to their former glory. What a tale they tell. Don’t forget the nearby Eden Project, too, with its massively impressive rainforest and Mediterranean biomes.

On the Roseland Peninsula, Caerhays Castle and Spring Gardens contain colourful specimens, such as rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas and camellias. The gardens are open from March to May, during the most beautiful flowering summer months.

Meanwhile, Trebah,which has been owned by some interesting people including the car designer and rally driver, Donald Healey, is listed as one of the top 80 gardens in the world. It descends through 200 ft to a private beach at the River Helford for a perfect day out.

If you enjoy art with your plants, then you cannot beat the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden which features large sculptures of bronze, tone and wood – more sculptures than plants, really, but the two combine well. There are more sculpture gardens where you can enjoy artwork in a natural setting, at Tremenheere, Penzance.

If you are a National Trust member, the charity offers beautiful gardens covered by your membership (or you can pay for entry). From splendid topiary at Antony, to wonderful houses and gardens like Lanhydrock, there is a wealth of nature to explore. If a sheltered valley garden is for you, then why not give the superb subtropical space, Glendurgan near Falmouth, a try?

For somewhere a little different, try Enys Garden at Penryn, which is a mysterious and hidden secret. It is at its most beautiful at bluebell time. More info on Enys here. Also, a little different is The Japanese Garden near St Mawgan, which is a lovely visit all year round.