Headland Garden at Polruan (July 2020 - House for sale, garden closed)
We had intended to visit the remarkable Headland Garden at Polruan for a long time. It was only when we learned that the garden at Readymoney Cove would be open during Fowey's 2006 Daphne du Maurier Festival that we saw the chance to combine the two. We parked above Readymoney Cove (expensive), walked down to the garden there, then took the little passenger ferry across to Polruan to see Headland Garden. There has been a garden of sorts here since the house was built around 1900. However, what you see now was very much the creation of Jean and John Hill from 1974. How anyone could create a garden on so precipitous, rocky and exposed a site is almost beyond belief. But the result is quite remarkable, narrow paths - and it is said 500 steps - wind up and down the site, through surprisingly lush plantings, protected by Monterey pine, mountain ash, escallonia and euonymous. Exotics like mesembryanthemum, agave, aeonium, and aloe sprout from rock crevices. Red hot poker, osteospermum, hebe and the baby sun-rose all flourish. In spring primroses, foxgloves and bluebells grow wild. Views are ravishing - up the River Fowey, across the estuary to Fowey, Readymoney and St. Catherine's Castle.
Battery Lane, Polruan. Car parking at top of Battery Lane.
View to Readymoney Cove from the garden
CLOSURE: Jean Hill died in August 2015. The house was sold and Headland Garden is no longer open to the public.
The 'Lost Gardens' of
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Heligan Re-visited September 2014
We were lucky enough to have vouchers for free entry to Heligan and used them in mid-Septemer 2014. In a way we were glad that we didn't have to pay for entry as we were disappointed in several ways. We started with lunch in the restaurant before entering the garden. Ham and leek pie was cold and featured stringy ham. Salad was mostly thinly sliced, unidentifiable, tasteless raw vegetables. Only the potatoes were enjoyed. So to the gardens. We did the whole 200 acres, starting in the Northern Garden; with rhodos long finished, there was little colour except in the Sundial Garden, the Northern Summerhouse Garden and the Italian Garden. Little of the Flower Garden was worth seeing and only half the Vegetable Garden impressed. On to the Lost Valley; we were disappointed at how overgrown things were, for instance the water lilies in the above photo were hidden by spreading reeds. The charcoal burners camp was still well done as was a charcoal sculpture. We made our way back up through the Jungle, badly overgrown in places but with a nice rope bridge we hadn't seen before. Then, after tea in the Steward's House - over �7 for 2 tea bags in paper cups and a single scone - we returned to the Northern Garden for the Ravine. Here growth was rather scruffy and the path was very rough after the winter storms. Perhaps it was our mistake to visit in September; we shall return next Spring.
Hidden Valley at Treesmill near Tywardreath
We first visted Hidden Valley Garden in July 2006 and were disappointed in what we saw. We had really visited too early in the garden's history as the Howards had only moved here from Yorkshire in 1999 and had spent most of the intervening period clearing and preparing the scrubby and water-logged site. In 2011 our friend Nicole visited with her garden club and enthused about Hidden Valley. So, on August bank holiday weekend we decided to see for ourselves. We were delighted that we did because this time we enthused, too. It is not a large garden but its four acres are full of colour and interest. We particularly enjoyed the hot border and oval bed (see photo) and the banks of massed dahlias. We were too late for the iris garden but liked its new well house. The garden is open on three August days for the NGS. Then and during the Du Maurier Festival in nearby Fowey in May they serve cream teas; otherwise it's make your own tea. Plants for sale are good and have been raised by Tricia Howard in their own nursery. In season there are blackcurrants and raspberries to self-pick. The moderate entry charge allows free return during the rest of the year. There are two well-rated self catering holiday apartments. We enjoyed Hidden Valley this time and again in April 2012.
Ince Castle at Trematon
In mid March 2009 we were heading for St. Mellion to visit the garden at Pentillie Castle which had featured in Channel 4's Country House Rescue and we were keen to see what had been done to the landscape garden. On the way we heard on the car radio that nearby Ince Castle garden was open for the NGS so, after lunch, we visited Ince as well. We were delighted that we did as, unlike Pentillie's party restored landscape, this was a proper garden. Ince Castle - not really a castle - was built around 1650 by Henry Killigrew and is now the home of Lord and Lady Boyd. Their garden, overlooking the River Lynher, is approached by a long drive, lined by daffodils when we visited. It is generally level and easy to get around (unlike Pentillie). The garden surrounds the house, with lovely woodland to its south-west. At our visit, outstanding features were the magnolias, hellebores, camellias and daffs. To the south side is a formal garden with shrubs. From here you can see Antony Woodland Garden across the river. In 2009 the garden was open one day a month, for the NGS, from March to July and should be worth seeing in each month. Simple teas are done by the local WI, there is ample parking but the toilets are a little difficult to find.