Discover a secret garden tucked away near the banks of the River Fal….
Tregothnan is the largest historic garden in Cornwall, and open to the public for just one weekend a year. Itโs the UKโs largest charity garden opening, timed to coincide with the height of spring when the garden is in full bloom. We were lucky enough to be able to visit this year to find out more.
With sweeping vistas, magnificent trees and a beautiful, tranquil setting, this is a very special garden indeed. There are over 100 acres to explore with camellias, magnolias and huge rhododendrons all vying for attention.
There are some lovely features throughout the garden, including the quirky Edwardian summerhouse and a challenging camellia maze.
When youโve worked up an appetite, head to the tea room for a cup of Tregothnanโs finest and choose from a variety of hot and cold lunch options and a vast range of homemade cakes. Alternatively you could opt for a traditional Cornish cream tea with Kea plum jam. Delicious!
As the gardenโs only open for two days a year, it naturally attracts a lot of visitors. However, everything is superbly organised and seems to run like clockwork. Tregothnan is well signposted (both to and from the estate) and there are several people manning the car park and welcoming visitors at the gate.
Thereโs plenty of space to roam, so it never feels overcrowded. You can buy a map when you arrive, or simply stroll and discover the gardenโs secrets at your own pace โ you could easily spend a day here wandering and relaxing in the sunshine.
Useful information
- The open weekend is usually around the second weekend in April (11-12 April 2015)
- Tickets cost ยฃ10 per person and can be booked in advance online
- Dogs on leads are welcome
- If you canโt make it during the open weekend, you can visit Tregothnan by booking a place on one of the monthly group tours. For keen gardeners, itโs also possible to book a private tour with the head gardener โ take a look at the website for more details.
Tea at Tregothnan
Tregothnan is the home of tea in the UK. Like many of the exotic trees and plants youโll see in the gardens, tea grows well in the mild Cornish climate. You can buy a range of teas and herbal infusions which are all grown on the Tregothnan estate, online.
Getting there
Tregothnan is just off the A390 between St Austell and Truro and is approximately 20 minutesโ drive from Bosinver. Postcode for SatNavs: TR2 4AJ.
Have you visited to Tregothnan? What did you enjoy most about your visit? Leave a message below, tweet @bosinver or post on our Facebook page โ weโd love to hear your thoughts.
