Caerhays Castle Garden
This is Cornwall's most specialised - and probably best - spring garden. Open only mid-Feb to May it boasts the finest imaginable collection of camellias, azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons. The problem is to hit it when at least two of these are in full bloom. We visited in February 2004 when camellias were at their best, magnolias just opening and Highland cattle grazing in the park. We returned in late March: magnolias were magnificent, rhodos and azaleas out. The castle also opens for guided tours but is very Victorian and not important. Two criticisms: a detailed plan may have good descriptions but numbering doesn't relate to plant labels - and the garden tearoom and the excellent beach caf� were closed on both visits! There is ample car parking by Porthluney Cove.
April 2009 We usually visit in February or March. In 2009 it was April and we have never seen it looking better. The unusual winter and early spring meant almost everything was in bloom at the same time. Camellias may have been past their best - you would expect that in April - but rhodos, magnolias, pieris and azaleas were looking superb. But, to our surprise and great pleasure, daffodils were still going strong and yet bluebells were now carpeting the ground. And this time the caf� by the beach was serving good egg and bacon baps.
Off the Mevagissey-Veryan road but a bit difficult to find
A perfect camellia in Caerhays Garden
March 2015: We chose a lovely sunny warm day when magnolias were superb and camellias, though some past their best, also good. A few rhodos were in flower and some azaleas were looking good. Primroses in abundance and some daffls still blooming.
More in Gardens
Carwinion Garden
In April 2008 we took advantage of a Western Morning News '2 for the price of 1' offer to visit a couple of spring gardens near Mawnan Smith in the general area between Falmouth and the Helford River. Neither Carwinion nor Penjerrick could be said to rate anywhere compared to nearby Glendurgan and Trebah. Carwinion is perhaps an acceptable 1� hour visit for its �4 entry charge. Penjerrick is very poor value even at its lower �2.50; more of that elsewhere. Carwinion was the creation of the cadet branch of the Rogers family of Penrose near Helston, now a lovely estate owned by the National Trust, and was laid out in the late 19th century. As is usual in these parts, the 12 acre garden runs down a valley from the house. Unusually, if you exit at the bottom, you can (as we did) follow a footpath down through woodland to the Helford River at Porth Saxon. As you might expect of a garden with a bamboo nursery, that plant rather dominates. There are, however, also some good rhodos, azaleas and pieris and, early in the year, swathes of bluebells, primrose and anemones. Ponds are fairly well maintained but feature gardens - Quarry and Japanese - are disappointing; the Secret garden is better. Keep an eye out for some impressive trees, good tree ferns and vast gunneras.
Chygurno at Lamorna
In May 2008 we had a busy gardens day. There are three gardens in the Lamorna Valley - Chygurno, Trewoofe House and Trewoofe Orchard - and, since we would be passing it on the way to Lamorna, we decided to include Trereife as well. Of the four, Trewoofe Orchard was the undoubted star, Chygurno the most remarkable, Trewoofe House pleasant but not outstanding, and Trereife a waste of time (with one honourable exception, the cafe)). A great bonus was that bluebells were everywhere.
Cotehele Garden
The garden of Cotehele House is really two. Behind the house, on the west, is a relatively formal compartmented garden within the old walled garden, recently restored. Here is a pool, herbaceous borders, orchard and annuals for cutting. Linking this to the valley garden on the east side is a sloping meadow, ablaze with hundreds of varieties of daffodils in spring and dotted with crocuses, anemones and fritillaries. The Tamar Valley was once prime daffodil growing territory, the early crop exported to London by water from Cotehele Quay. A grove of acers finally links meadow and terrace. Below the formal eastern rose terrace lies the ten-acre valley garden, a delight when its magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas are in flower. Later come impressive hydrangeas and superb dogwoods. At any time you can enjoy the view of an ancient dovecote across a lily pond, the palms, ferns, tree ferns, bamboos and gunnera. Views continue eastwards to take in the Calstock railroad viaduct over the River Tamar. A stream runs down the valley, through a series of small pools bordered by king cups, irises and candelabra primulas. Leaving the garden at the bottom end, a path leads left along the Tamar to Calstock, right heads down to Cotehele Quay with its small maritime museum, tearooms and visitor centre.