Tregothnan, a great estate on the River Fal
The Boscawens acquired the estate in 1335 when John of Boscawen Ros in West Penwith married the Tregothnan heiress. The original manor house here, probably built by him, was severely slighted by Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War but had been rebuilt by 1652. What you see now is a result of an 1820s remodelling by William Wilkins. The upper part of the 100 acre garden is fairly level and geometrical. To see the very best, though, you need to head for the far corner to access the wilder sloping garden below. Throughout there are fine rhodos, camellias, azaleas and magnolias. You will also find a tree fern avenue, a series of ponds below a tea-house, a young Australian 'dinosaur tree', South American and South African collections, Cornish palms, hebes and masses of primroses. This is not a perfect place - restoration and replanting is under way - but it is sheer delight. We visited in April 2006.
The Dinosaur tree. Thought to have been extinct for 2 million years, Wollemia Nobilis was discovered in Australia in 1994. With less than 40 known adult specimens, it was then said to be the world's rarest tree. It may soon become common in Cornwall. Tregothnan acquired one and are now selling its progeny as Christmas trees.
Magnolias & rhodos by Tregothnan's middle pond
Group guided tours go to http://www.tregothnan.com/visits.htm
We revisited Tregothnan for their March 2009 charity opening. Since 2006 Tregothnan now has a large and well organised dedicated parking field, just as well since vast numbers turned up. A great deal of replanting has happened since our last visit, a good indication of a garden that its owners remain dedicated to. That's the good side. There was a bad side, too. Expecting another early spring, opening had been brought forward from April to March. 2009's late spring meant that less was in bloom - swathes of daffodils and some superb magnolias but few rhodos and no azaleas and many camellias had been frost damaged. The other disappointment was lunch, despite it being by the local WI. Cheese and tomato sandwiches were dreadful and �1.50 for a teabag in a paper cup is too much, even for charity. And the courtyard was crowded out by a vintage vehicle rally. So, on balance, a bit of a disappointment but we can hardly blame the Boscawens for the late spring.
More in Gardens
Tregrehan Garden
An under-rated and under-visited garden, close to St. Austell, Pine Lodge Garden and Heligan, Tregrehan is the ancestral home of the Carlyons. It is a garden of two main linked parts. A large formal walled garden has well-stocked Victorian glasshouses, lawns, trees, a central fountain and herbaceous borders. Beyond is a long yew walk which feels like the dark nave of a gothic cathedral. So far, so good, but then you come to Tregrehan's best beyond this, a twenty acre woodland garden with great specimen trees, an old pinetum, an abundance of superb camellias, rhodos and other exotic shrubs, a valley with bog plants and Dicksonias, a recently planted collection of southern hemisphere trees and a blanket of bluebells in May. We visited in late April 2004 and were astonished by the rhodos, many in tree rather than shrub form - we had never seen such a range of colours. It was a very dull day but we returned in 2007 and enjoyed better weather. We recommend Tregrehan as a delightful garden which deserves many more visitors than it gets. It is signed off the A390 at the western end of St. Austell. There is ample parking and simple refreshments.
Trelissick Garden
Developed by half-a-dozen families over 200 years, Trelissick is now in the care of the National Trust. Though best known for rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias and hydrangeas, it is also very much a summer garden. There is a fig garden, an aromatic garden, a dell with ferns, climbers, shrubs and exotic species, luxuriant herbaceous beds, a Cornish orchard and walks in the park and through woodland above the river and, since August 2004, you can arrive by ferry from Truro or Falmouth. As ever, National Trust maintenance is entirely immaculate. In the stable yard is a harness display and exhibition, nearby are an art and craft gallery, caf�, restaurant, plant centre and shop. Cottages on the estate (one is in a converted water-tower - on four floors!) are for holiday rental.
Trematon Castle - sadly was closed in 2019, probably closed 2020
This lovely garden is open three days a week during summer. We were lucky enough to be able to visit it on a lovely sunny day in early August 2017. Situated as it is in the far south-east corner of Cornwall, not far from Saltash, it was quite a journey for us but well worth the effort. On the way there was a small bonus, a Cornish Cross on a small triangular green at Trehan to add to my ever increasing collection. Parking for the garden was in a field up the hill from the castle; a pleasant walk led to a courtyard with a small cafe and ticket sales. This is an extensive and varied garden; we spent a full couple of hours going round it and could have spent longer. The garden is constructed around the considerable remains of the original castle, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1337. The motte and bailey and shell keep survive from the 12th century Norman castle and the gatehouse was added in the 13th century. Parts of the original curtain wall also survive. Within the garden is the present house, Georgian Trematon Hall. The garden is of many parts and is somewhat steep in places. By the house and along the bailey wall there are herbaceous borders ad some grand lace-cap and mop-head hydrangeas. From the higher parts of the garden, around the original keep, there are fine views over the River Lynher. Amongst the most interesting features are an Egyptian garden and a Pool garden. Simple refreshments are available. Parking is some way from the garden and there is no wheelchair access. The garden has an informative web site.