gardens

Top 5 reasons to visit Cornwall this January and February

Charlie — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 17:11:45 +0000

Top 5 reasons to visit Cornwall this January and February Charlie Tue, 01/09/2018 - 17:11

Think Cornwall is only a summer destination? Think again!

At this time of year the scenery is just as stunning, the beaches and restaurants uncrowded and the atmosphere laid back and welcoming. Cornwall is the nation’s favourite staycation destination, so witling the reasons to visit down to only 5 was tough, but here’s my selection:

1. Well it had to be the walks, didn’t it!

There’s nowhere quite like Cornwall for breath-taking scenery. In winter, the dramatic cliffs steal the show with awesome waves pounding the rocks revealing the raw power of nature. With few visitors during these months, you are free to explore the paths and trails of the county, immersing yourself in the rugged beauty, from bracing, windswept bays and magnificent moors to the gentler, picturesque countryside walks. Another thing Cornwall excels at is great pubs and eateries – the perfect place to warm up after your adventures!

2. Surfing.

An interesting entry in the top 5 you might think! Whilst admittedly not for everyone, the winter months are an extremely popular time for this Cornish favourite. The advances in wetsuit technology mean that catching a few waves in winter can be a thrilling rather than chilling experience. With few other surfers about and some impressive waves, you can enjoy an exhilarating and invigorating ride in the most spectacular surroundings.

3. The Lost Gardens of Heligan (and Cornwall’s many other glorious gardens).

I hold my hands up completely to my Heligan-bias! It has always been my favourite garden in Cornwall and never fails to delight, even in the winter months. The acres of winding paths, beautifully kept gardens and magnificent array of plant species make it the gem in Cornwall’s garden crown (did I mention it’s my favourite!). With an ever-popular café too, it’s the perfect day out. Cornwall’s many other gardens are also worth a visit at this time of year (trying to be a bit more impartial!). Trebah, Lanhydrock, Caerhays and Trelissick are some of over 40 gardens in Cornwall, all with their own appeal.

4. Rick Stein’s charity lunches – this is a real gem!

For a few weeks at the end of January and beginning of February, the Seafood Restaurant in Padstow offers charity lunches for an incredible price. The cover charge is donated to the amazing work done by the Children’s Hospice South West. With a hattrick of reasons to give it a go; amazing food, amazing price and it’s for a great cause - it’s not to be missed!

5. Cornish culture.

Cornwall has always been known for its history, heritage and arts scene. Myth and history intermingle at Tintagel Castle with its eventful past and tales of the legendary King Arthur. There are several forts and castles to explore in Cornwall and the brooding weather at this time of year can make a visit to one of these sites even more magical. Cornwall is also an incredible source of inspiration for artists, with an abundance of studios, galleries and craft shops, found up and down the county. St Ives is a real hot spot with the Tate St Ives gallery and innumerable local artists showcasing their work around the town.

Experience all Cornwall has to offer at this special time of year – book your holiday today

Stay for a week or more or most of our properties allow short breaks at this time of year, so what are you waiting for?

Cathy's fun-filled week!

Becky — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Cathy's fun-filled week! Becky Thu, 06/25/2015 - 00:00

Peter and I have had a bit of a fun-packed week. It all started last Wednesday when we went to the Eden Project to see Elton John perform. The whole evening was a sensation enhanced by the awesome setting of the biomes and foliage bedecked terraces in the dappled evening sunlight. Elton came on stage at about 8.10 p.m. and sang non-stop for nigh on two and a half hours! And what a performance! All those wonderful familiar songs are just taken to a whole new level when you hear them performed live with an amazing production and awesome lightshow. We were bowled over.

Of course, it was Father’s Day on Sunday so we went with the girls to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. The sun shone, the gardens are so beautiful and Heligan had laid on a barbecue specially. The Steward’s House lawn was festooned with bunting and they even provided picnic rugs for people to sit on. We love Heligan and have visited four times already this year, making our annual membership very good value! Each area of the garden is a joy, so well tended, and every time you visit there is something new to see. We find the whole place really uplifting.

Tuesday we went to see Mr Holmes at the cinema in Truro and had a meal at Ask Italian which is a few yards down the road (go on to their website for offers!). I enjoyed Mr Holmes, possibly slightly more than Peter did; there was no murder mystery to unravel but it was charming with subtle humour.

Then Thursday we went to visit Trevibban Mill Vineyard which is just outside Padstow. We had known that our neighbours Liz and Engin had bought some land a few years back and had planted a vineyard, but recently they opened to the public and this was the first time we had been to visit. Liz and Engin made us very welcome and, before you knew it we were sitting at the bar having a full-blown wine tasting session! They have organic and non-organic wines and have only recently started to sell them. There were 7 to chose from although we also got a sneak pre-taste of their 2014 Pinot Noir. They were all delicious and full of flavour. Afterwards Engin showed us around the estate; dessert apple and cider apple trees, chestnut trees and a small flock of sheep complement the vines, I was glad I had brought my flip flops as we wended our way down to the small lake at the bottom of the estate. Engin was telling us that they have see otters, kingfishers, heron and dragon flies down here when they just sit quietly on the picnic bench and wait. It was a truly idyllic setting.

But then we had to rush away as we had booked at table at Rafferty’s in St Merryn. Ed Rafferty was his usual genial self and we had a perfect meal of steak and chips followed by lemon posset. Beautifully cooked; the chips were perfect (it’s funny how so many restaurants can’t get chips right, isn’t it?), button mushrooms really tasty, tender flavoursome steaks, zingy lemon posset.So that’s the end of our week. No, wait! Off to a birthday party tonight. What a couple of old gadabouts we are!

Cornish Horizons News

Gardens to visit in Cornwall - Top 5

Becky — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Gardens to visit in Cornwall - Top 5 Becky Mon, 03/09/2015 - 00:00

Gardens in Cornwall are impacted by the Gulf Stream which plays an important part in the weather we get in the region. It’s warming influence means that rare and unusual plants can thrive here where they can’t in the rest of the British Isles. There are many interesting gardens in Cornwall to visit but here’s a list of our top five, chosen because they all offer something very different:

Trebah GardenTrebah Garden, a glorious place to explore and enjoy.

The beautiful garden near Falmouth runs down a lush valley to a private beach. It has a stunning coastal backdrop and is open all year round. It is a family and dog-friendly, sub-tropical garden that has about four miles of footpaths including special children’s trails. It is home to the Chusan Palm and at 50 foot is recognised as the tallest in the UK. Its award winning café serves a range of home cooked, seasonal food. Three motorised buggies are available free of charge which can cover about 80 per cent of the garden.

Bonython Estate GardensBonython Manor Gardens are perfect for exploring

Bonython Estate is open Monday to Friday from April through to September (closed on bank holidays) this garden has a South African twist to it. The estate on the Lizard Peninsula and the 20 acres of garden includes an orchard, woodland, a lake, a tree fern and rhododendron dell as well as a herb garden. The whole garden is accessible by wheelchairs and a thatched summerhouse overlooks the lake where tea and homemade cakes are the order of the day.

Eden ProjectThe Eden Biomes are world famous

Probably the best known garden in the South West, the Eden Project is open all year round and is located near St Austell. It includes the rainforest and the Mediterranean Biomes, the world’s largest greenhouses. It explores how people can work with nature and make changes to preserve our planet. There is always lots to do for the children and the site is easily accessible for all. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas and there are plenty of food and drink options around the site.

TregothnanA look around the private Tregothnan estate, near Truro, will be a day to remember as it is home to England’s only tea plantation. It’s micro-climate, on the banks of the River Fal, has enable many extraordinary fruit trees and rare plants to thrive including Camelllia sinensis, the tea bushes. Private garden visits can be arranged or book onto one of the monthly tours through the website www.tregothnan.co.uk

The Lost Gardens of HeliganA fern filled grotto in The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

After decades of neglect the Lost Gardens of Heligan were unveiled in 1992. See the towering bamboo, giant rhubarb, ancient woodlands, sub-tropical jungle and banana plantations. Heligan is open all year round and to see everything would take up to two days! Dogs on short leads are welcome and there is disabled access. Produce grown at Heligan is delivered to the Heligan Kitchen where it is used in the daily lunchtime menu.

Whatever the season there are gardens to visit in Cornwall. Please share your favourites with us and help other people have a great day out in one of Cornwall’s gardens.

Things To Do in Cornwall