Trewithen Garden
This is one of Cornwall's most admired gardens. The government grants it official Historic Garden Grade II status; Good Gardens Guide awards it a top-ranking two stars; the Michelin Green Guide gives it a top three stars; and the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden Finder offers a rave review. We first visited in early March 2003, at a time when little was out except a few spring shrubs - it was beautiful then. In 2004 we were there in early April and were overwhelmed by the beauty and sheer amount of colour. Trewithen is essentially a spring garden but is quite unlike many others in Cornwall, not in a coastal valley or ravine but on a well sheltered level inland site of some 35 acres, planted by George Johnstone in the early 20th century and now immaculately maintained by the Galsworthys, who have added a number of features including a viewing platform and a magnolia fountain. Since our 2003 visit a valley with a series of ponds has been opened up, cherries and heathers have been planted and new herbaceous borders are planned. There is an informative half-hour video and the tea room serves delicious fresh cakes and pastries. Because the house tour is so interesting and so well done, we recommend that the best time to visit is on a Monday or Tuesday in April or May to enjoy both the house and the spring garden at its best.
Rhodos and azaleas border the long lawn
Signed off A390 at Probus, 7 miles E of Truro
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Trewoofe House in the Lamorna Valley
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 two honourable exception - the cafe and a cornish cross). A great bonus was bluebells everywhere.
Trewoofe Orchard in the Lamorna Valley
Orchard in the Lamorna Valley
Trist House Garden at Veryan
Trist House was built around 1830 by Samuel Trist, vicar of Veryan and son of the man who built the village's famed 'round houses'. Much of Samuel's garden had been lost when Graham and Brenda Salmon bought the house in 1994. They have restored some features - including Italianate terraces and a giant rockery - and added many more. For a garden that, at the time of our visit, was mostly only ten years old it seemed remarkably mature. Amongst the delights are a rose pergola, a hydrangea walk, wisteria beds, a dell garden, a wild rose garden - and the view from the house over the Italianate terraces to a luxuriantly planted border. Do be sure to include the part of the garden across the drive or you will miss some of these features and the large rockeries which were under restoration at the time of our visit in June 2004. Excellent cream teas are served in a charming courtyard behind the house. There is only a small amount of parking but it rarely gets busy and, if it does, there is space to park in the village and walk up.