With one of the most wet, grey, dull windswept winters way behind us, now is the time to get out and about to explore and indulge yourself in exploring Cornwall’s gardens as they are now well into their annual spring bloom, such a sight to savour for all the family! As we enter summer, Cornwall has sprung back into life, hedgerows and gardens are bursting with colour once again, birds are singing as they welcome the seasons change and long summer days which are making Cornwall a wonderful place to be again and the perfect time to get out and visit the county’s amazing gardens. Each garden has its own unique identity to offer visitors the common purpose of celebrating the beautiful worlds of horticulture, botany, and landscapes and with many having hidden coves to explore, children’s play areas , and delightful cafes on tap, its surely the ideal way to spend a day out with friends and family alike and enjoy the fresh Cornish air!
Gardens close to St Ives
Trengwainton Garden – 25 mins drive – TR20 8RZ – Pet friendly

Trengwainton is a garden of real contrasts with winding woodland paths that open up to wide gassy lawns and beautiful sea views once you have reached the top of the path near the main house, widely celebrated for its collection of award winning rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias all set within 25 acres of stunning landscape and scenery, many of which flowered at the garden for the first time ever in Britain! Forever changing seasons see the flora and fauna forever changing and summer sees the pretty stream gardens in full bloom with the cut flower border in the walled garden putting on a fine display alongside the succulents on the south-facing wall of the orchard burst into bloom and the line of the spectacular purple agapanthus at the top of the garden on the terrace provide a striking backdrop to the sea views beyond . The garden is half a mile from the entrance a brisk walk up the hill can be enjoyed and bring your 4 legged friends too where dogs on leads are very welcome. If you bring your own lunch then picnic in the orchard a large grassy area dappled with shade from the apple tress with superb views across to St Michaels Mount and kids will love the range of family events and activities throughout the tear including seasonal trails, easter egg hunts, summer of play, autumn leafy adventures and the Christmas lights festival . Small café/shop/plant sales.
Trewidden House & Gardens – 30 mins drive – TR20 8TT – Pet friendly

Situated a short drive from St Ives over on the south coast close to Penzance lies a lovely old manor house set in 15 acres of gorgeous Cornish gardens o explore. A magnificent garden originally planted in the 19th century by Thomas Bolitho, its main attraction is incorporating a fabulous collection of more then 300 camellias and magnolias alongside one of the largest tree fern dells in Europe. A clever maze of paths takes visitors to different areas of the grounds adorned with shrubs and champion trees, some well over 100 years old. Ideal for the children to explore too with the Trewidden trail being a real favourite, and the whole family can also enjoy the tea rooms offering light lunches, Cornish cream teas and fresh local produce appearing on every dish!
Trewithen Gardens – 60 mins by car – TR2 4DD – Pet friendly

Trewithen meaning ‘ house of the trees’ is home to 30 acres of beautiful woodland and subtropical gardens and more than 200 acres of parkland. A huge array of different areas and species to discover, it’s a place that intrigues and enchants at every turn, where two days are never the same and gardens where the seasons play a real part in shaping the gardens and landscape. Spring welcomes exotic bursts of colour, with whites, reds, yellows, and every shade of pink dazzle your eyes and the onset of summer welcomes a spectacular bloom of beautiful roses and fabulous hydrangeas throughout the gardens. The kids will love to explore the wildlife and water gardens and admire the historic plantings that thrive here and explore the historic manor house too with tours running between April & July. The Tea Shed café is close to the entrance serving light lunches and cream teas again using fresh seasonal food in the natural surroundings
Gardens over an hour away
Trebah Gardens – 65 mins by car – TR11 5JZ – Pet friendly
One of the most favourite and famous subtropical gardens in Cornwall well worth the journey over to the south coast of Cornwall not too far from Falmouth, Trebah garden set in 26 acres, has the most fabulous location close to the sailing waters of the Helford river. Enter the gardens and follow the meandering trails through the subtropical gardens winding their way down through the heart of the pretty sheltered valley to arrive at its very own private beach in a stunning cove overlooking the river where in the main season you can be rewarded by spectacular views over to the headland and see the river teaming with wildlife and boats in abundance. Grab a coffee or ice-cream from the little kiosk, all makes the walk down worth while and prepares you for the return walk back up the valley. Trebah was originally planted as a pleasure garden in the 19th century and during the second world war served as a staging place for American troops prior to the Normandy invasion. Trebah offers visitors an all year round experience, in Spring, Trebah comes alive with a colourful array of 100 year old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias and in summer the giant gunnera is a must see for young and old alike and then into autumn, Hydrangea valley casts clouds of blues and whites across the millpond with champion trees dominating the landscape in winter .
Plenty of fun to be had for the kids too at Tarzans camp adventure play area, a super wooden play area with climbing frame, ropes, a slide, nets and a trim trail all enclosed within a tree canopy is a treat for kids over 5 and the little ones can enjoy Fort Stuart, a small wooden fort a great space to have fun with slides, rocking horses and sand pit. Teres also a fabulous café at Trebah kitchen with fresh, nutritious and sustainable food being the order of the day .Gift shop and plant sales make this destination ideal for a family day out
Further away, but well worth the trip & experience!
Tresco Abbey Garden – Park/ fly from Penzance Heliport – TR24 0QQ – Pet friendly on leads

For the adventurous with more time on your hands then why not take a flight over to some beautiful gardens on the Isles of Scilly ! Drive over to Penzance heliport, leave the car and travel in style on the Isles of Scilly helicopter service, where you can enjoy an incredibly scenic flight over in just 15 minutes to Tresco a small but very pretty island in the small archipelago just off the Cornish mainland. There’s something very special flying over to far away shores where white/golden sands and crystal-clear waters great you, you could be mistaken for being in the Caribbean. Tresco is considered ‘the jewel in the crown’ of these beautiful islands. Tresco Abbey has been hailed as an all year round ‘Kew gardens’ just without the glass! The garden is home to over 2000 species from across the southern hemisphere and sub-tropics all of which thrive just 28 miles off the Cornish mainland.
The gardens are ever changing through the seasons and bloom weeks ahead of the mainland Cornish gardens. Spring and summer welcome vibrant colours after the dreary harshness of winter and even long into autumn there’s a fabulous display of autumnal golds, reds and amber throughout alongside an abundance of pretty camellias. Winter still sees 300 species in bloom and if you are lucky you will see plenty of island wildlife including Squirrels , Golden pheasants and seabirds frequenting the shores. Enjoy magnificent sculptures in shady glades and browse haunting echoes of island shipwrecks in the enchanting Valhalla Figurehead museum. There’s a small café at the Abbey and shop and after lunch why not take a stroll around the island . Definitely plan your trip to Tresco Abbey Gardens including checking/booking flights and car park in Penzance.
If you are planning to get out and about and explore the many beautiful Cornish gardens this summer season and want a cosy cottage, sea view apartment, romantic studio for 2 or a large family house to stay in while in holiday then we have them all! Check out our lovely collection of properties at www.cherishedcottages.co.uk and for last minute deals check out our late availability section, and don’t forget to bring your 4 legged friends as they are all very welcome at these gardens …just check out our pet friendly property section on our website.
Author
Tim Petersen