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.
Trematon House from Bailey Wall Garden
View to River Lynher from near the Keep
Photographs
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Tremenheere Sculpture Garden
We visited Tremenheere (the name means Longstone Farm) on a mid-week day in August 2013. After the build-up it had received in Cornwall's Gardens and elsewhere, and its self-promotion as a 'major new visitor attraction', we were not a little disappointed. We had expected to find a reasonably mature garden and a good selection of sculpture. Instead we found an somewhat sparse feeling immature garden and no more than a moderate amount of sculpture. The garden is the creation of Dr. Neil Armstrong who acquired Tremenheere in 1997. Clearly a lot of work has been done in the garden's 20 acres but equally clearly a lot more needs to be done. At present all we could find to enjoy was the woodland which leads you - sometimes fairly steeply - up to the top of the garden and the views of St. Michael's Mount. The only sculpture that really appealed to us was a do-it-yourself with bricks available to make your own construct; kids enjoyed that. We can't offer an opinion on the Lime Tree Caf�; after queuing for 20 minutes we discovered there was then a 30 minute wait for a sandwich. So we had excellent sandwiches and two-for-the-price-of-one cream teas (thanks to Western Morning News vouchers) in the excellent Mad Hatter on Fore Street in Hayle.
Trengwainton Garden
Although situated some 400 feet above sea level in a part of Cornwall exposed to Atlantic gales, the garden is happily well sheltered. Created by Sir Edward Bolitho, Cornish banker and mine owner, it lies below the Bolitho family home. Trengwainton is essentially four gardens in one - a linear stream garden, with lilies, candelabra primulas and bog plants beside a long drive to the house; a Cornish garden with tree ferns, magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas; a terraced garden with pavilions and long views to St. Michael's Mount; and an unusual walled garden of ten compartments, most of them restored by 2006, one with a giant magnolia. Since we love Trengwainton, partly because it is so different from most other Cornish gardens, we revisited with sister Mary in April 2006. We found more of the walled garden restoration completed - one section we saw was filled with daffodils. The stream garden had been lengthened and was more luxuriant but not at its best yet; we re-visited at the end of May and it was. As always, the National Trust's maintenance is excellent. There is the usual shop and a small self-service restaurant with outside tables.
Trevarno Garden - 2020: unsure whether Trevarno open again to public
You learn eventually that you should not rely on first impressions, sometimes not on second impressions. We had visited Trevarno in 2003, not long after it opened and were distinctly unimpressed. I had taken visitors in 2004 and their view was much the same. Then we went back in April 2006 and changed our minds. In 2003 little had been restored bar the lake. Now, although the walled gardens were still under restoration, all was immaculate - lake, Victorian boathouse, cascade, sunken Italian garden, lawns, serpentine yew tunnel, walled garden, bog garden and rockery. Trevarno is hardly Cornish, even a camellia we spotted was an unusual rich creamy colour. Nor indeed is it a garden in the conventional sense, rather it is an ornamental park - and a thoroughly delightful one at that.