A 40 minute drive from St Ives takes you to what BBC Gardeners’ World viewers have voted the nation’s favourite garden.
It’s 20 years since the Lost Gardens of Heligan were rediscovered, and if you’ve not been, we’d highly recommend it.
At its peak at the end of the 19th Century, the thousand acre estate fell into disrepair soon after, but is gradually being lovingly restored – and the gardens themselves are deservedly winning international acclaim.
We took our two young boys there recently and found the place fascinating.
There are over 200 acres to explore, including Victorian productive gardens (which met the needs of the Tremayne family and their guests), vibrant pleasure grounds, lush sub-tropical jungle, and an evolving wildlife project.
Highlights include an alpine-inspired ravine, original rhododendrons and camellias, New Zealand tree ferns, walled flower garden, glasshouses and other atmospheric working buildings.
Although we didn’t get to see everything, because not all the paths are buggy-friendly, there was still easily enough to fill the best part of a day – rounded off by an obligatory Cornish cream tea in the tearoom and wander round the plant centre.
A bonus for foodies is the outstanding Lobbs Farm Shop adjacent to the entrance, (where we treated ourselves to a couple of bottles of Cornwall’s very own Polgoon Rosé!)
The gardens are open all year, except Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – and if you have time you might consider a flying visit to Mevagissey, an attractive fishing village just down the road.
