Antony House

yellow hemerocallis flower

Antony House is an early 18th-century National Trust property set on a rather remote peninsula between the rivers Tamar and Lyner in Torpoint. It was built between 1711 and 1721 for Sir William Carew. The grounds, landscaped by Repton, include a formal garden with modern sculptures and the National Collection of Day lilies (Hemerocallis). The adjoining Woodland Garden contains rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and camellias.

In 2010, Antony House was used as the set for Walt Disney's magical new film "Alice in Wonderland", directed by Tim Burton. The house and grounds are open to the public during the summer. Run by National Trust*.

Opening times: times vary see website for details Admission Charge*
Location: Torpoint, PL11 2QA - Tel: 01752 812191 Website
Facilities: free parking, gift shop, tea-room, wheelchair access.


Carwinion Bamboo Garden

Bamboo at Carwinion Garden

A tranquil, peaceful garden set in a sheltered valley just south of Falmouth. Contains one of the most magnificent collections of bamboo in Britain, with over 200 varieties on show. The garden is spread over 12 acres, with a rambling natural feel; full of winding pathways through tall trees, with wild flowers, camellias, azaleas, rhododendron, hydrangeas, ferns, ancient tree ferns and giant Gunnera.

Opening times: all year (exc Xmas), daily, 9.30am to 5.30/pm Admission Charge
Location: Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5JA
Tel: 01326 250258 Website
Facilities: free parking, plant sales, refreshments, guided tours (by prior arrangement), bed and breakfast accommodation.

Cotehele

Cotehele Gardens

One of the finest medieval and Tudor manor houses in England, dating from 1485-1539. Cotehele was the ancestral home of the Edgcumbe family for over 600 years and its rooms are filled with the family's furniture, artworks and fine tapestries, passed down through the generations. The banqueting hall, where in medieval times the whole household dined, is one of the most splendid interiors in Cornwall. Run by National Trust*

Opening times: times vary, see website for details Admission Charge*
Location: St Dominick, Cornwall, PL12 6TA - Tel: 01579 351346 Website
Facilities: free parking, art gallery, gift shop, restaurants, picnic area.

Eden Project

Tropical Biomes at Eden Project

Built in the disused quarry of an old china clay workings, it contains one of the largest greenhouses in the world. Its three hexagonal domes (or tropical biomes) are now famous worldwide, filled with exotic species from all over the globe. There is lots to see and explore, with hundreds of plant species inside and outside the biomes, plus a variety of children's events and workshops, in a play and learn environment.

The attraction has become a great success and is immensely popular, so be sure to arrive early (or off peak) if you want to avoid queuing. The site has a large car park and shuttle buses run regularly from most of the main towns in south Cornwall.

The Eden Project biomes appeared in the James Bond film, Die Another Day, in 2002 (starring Pierce Brosnan).

Opening times: every day (exc. Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Bodelva, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG - Tel: 01726 811911 Website
Facilities: parking, restaurants, shop, garden centre, wheelchair access. Note: entrance fees are quite expensive so try and find two-for-one or group deals, if possible, before visiting.

Enys Gardens

Believed to be one of the oldest gardens in Cornwall, dating back to the early 18th-century. It is a mix of formal and informal spaces and ponds, with many interesting tender plants, trees and shrubs brought back by plant hunters from the southern hemisphere. In particular, the garden's Maidenhair Tree is one of the largest specimens growing in the UK. The bluebell woods, which have lain undisturbed for centuries are a real treat in spring.

Opening times: time vary, see website for details - Admission Charge
Location: Penryn TR10 9LB (near Falmouth)
Tel: 01326 377621
Website: enysgardens.org.uk

The Japanese Garden

A garden for every season, with emerging colourful maples in spring, azaleas, bamboo and abundant flowers in summer and spectacular foliage displays in autumn, with mixed hues of gold, orange and red. Includes a traditional Japanese Moss Garden, Bamboo Grove, Mountain Garden, lake with waterfall and Zen Garden.

Opening times: daily, 10am to 6pm - Admission Charge
Location: St Mawgan, Nr Newquay TR8 4ET
Tel: 01637 860116
Website: japanesegarden.co.uk

Lanhydrock

Lanhydrock Garden

This lovely late Victorian country house, overlooking the River Fowey, was built in a most grandiose style by Lord Robartes during the 17th C. The main house was largely rebuilt following a devastating fire in 1881 but still retains its original 17th C. gatehouse and north wing. The numerous 'upstairs and downstairs' rooms are open to the public, including the kitchen, main bedrooms and the magnificent North Wing Gallery, with its marvelous painted plaster ceiling showing scenes from the Old Testament.

The house stands amid beautiful landscaped and formal gardens, from which extensive parkland runs down to the river valley, providing many splendid woodland walks. Run by the National Trust*

Opening times: times vary, see website for details Admission Charge*
Location: Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 5AD - Tel: 01208 265950 Website
Facilities: parking (nearby), plant stall, gift shop, restaurants, picnic area.

Lost Gardens of Heligan

Sleeping figure at the Lost Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are today no longer lost but can be found just 2.4 km outside of Mevagissey. These popular botanical gardens were created by the Tremayne family from the mid 18th to the early 20th century. Due to so many of the gardeners being killed during WWI, the gardens were neglected following the war and not restored until the 1990s. The restoration was well publicised by books and TV programs. The gardens contain many mature rhododendrons and camellias and have a series of lakes fed by a pumping system over a century old. The flower and vegetable gardens, the Italian garden and a wild area of sub-tropical tree ferns draw gardening enthusiasts from many parts.

Opening times: daily (exc Xmas) 10am to 5/6pm Admission Charge
Location: Heligan, Pentewan. St.Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6EN - Tel: 01726 845100 Website
Facilities: free parking, gift shop, plant sales and tearoom.


Mount Edgcombe House and Country Park

Mount Edgcombe

Mount Edgcombe House is a stately home impressively positioned on the Rame Peninsula overlooking Plymouth Sound. It is set within 865 acres of Country Park, the entrance being in Cremell village, which can be reached by ferry from Plymouth. The estate is one of the region's most popular tourist destinations and houses the National Camellia Collection. Public access to the park area is free. Admission is charged for entrance to the House and the Earl's Garden (open from Mar ~ Sep).

Opening times: park open daily from 8am to dusk Free entry to park area only
Location: Cremyll, Torpoint, Cornwall, PL10 1HZ - Tel: 01752 822236 Website
Facilities: parking, refreshments, shop.

Prideaux Place

Prideaux Place is an Elizabethan manor house perched on a hill above Padstow. It has been the home of the Prideaux-Brune family for over 400 years and is now open to the public. The house is a mixture of Elizabethan, Georgian and Regency Gothic and contains magnificent rooms and fine furnishings .The surrounding gardens and wooded grounds overlook a deer park.

Opening times: Sun to Thur, House 1.30 - 4pm, Grounds 12.30 - 5pm Admission Charge
Location: Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8RP - Tel: 01841 532411 Website
Facilities: parking, shop, tea room.

Pencarrow House

A lovely Georgian country mansion full of 18th-C. treasures, surrounded by beautiful Italian gardens. This elegant mansion contains many outstanding period rooms, including a library, music room with rococo ceiling, paneled entrance hall and magnificent dining room. The property also houses one of the finest collections of paintings, furniture and china in the West Country. Outside there are 50 acres of woodland gardens to explore, with a Palm House, ice house and children's play area.

Opening times: Garden: Mar ~ Oct, daily 10am to 5.30pm
House: Mar ~ Sep, Sun to Thur (guided tours only) Admission Charge
Location: Pencarrow, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 3AG - Tel: 01208 841369 Website
Facilities: parking, cafe, gift and plant shop.

Trebah Gardens

Trebah Gardens at Mawnan Smith (near Falmouth) sweep down through a tree-lined valley to the Helford River. The gardens, which are open to the public, are a colourful delight of sub-tropical plants and flowers. A tranquil beach down by the river has not always been as peaceful. In the June of 1944 thousands of American troops were loaded into landing craft at this beach in preparation for the D-Day landings. Today, the area is known as "American Beach" and has a memorial stone inscribed:

American Beach
To the officers and men of the U.S. 29th Infantry Division, who embarked from Trebah in June 1944 for the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach. We will remember them.

Visitors from the USA still come to remember these brave young men, many of whom never returned to their native land.

Opening times: daily, from 10am to 6.30pm. Admission Charge
Location: Mawnan Smith, Cornwall, TR11 5JZ
Tel: 01326 252200 Website
Facilities: parking, cafe, gallery, shop, plant sales.

Trerice

An Elizabethan manor house built by John Arundell in 1571. The property lies deep in a quiet wooded river valley and has changed very little over the centuries. Among its most prevalent features is the great mullioned window with 576 panes of glass (mostly original) and a facade with highly decorative scrolled gables. The most outstanding internal features are its original plaster ceilings and fire-places. Run by the National Trust*

Opening times: times vary, see website for details Admission Charge*
Location: Kestle Mill, Cornwall, TR8 4PG - Tel: 01637 875404 Website
Facilities: parking, gift shop, tea room.


Please note that the above information was accurate at the time this page was last updated. This information is subject to change at any time (opening times in particular), therefore if you plan on visiting any of the above attractions, please check the owner's website first or phone them for the latest details.

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