Gardens
Some gardens are not open to the general public or have limited access - however visiting cruise passengers are always welcome on exclusive tours.
| Garden | Information |
| Cornwall | |
 |
Privately managed gardens large and small; those maintained by The National Trust; and the massive biodomes of the unique Eden Project, all await you in Cornwall. |
| Devon | |
| Set amidst the glorious backdrop of Devon's green rolling landscapes and stunning seaside views, the county is home to some wonderful and inspiring gardens, from the stately and formal to the exotic with a sub-tropical flavour and the fragrant cottage garden. | |
| Falmouth | |
| Trebah | 26 acres of garden near the scenic Helford River, is considered to be one the top 80 gardens of the world. |
| Lost Gardens of Heligan | Cruise guests are invited to experience The Nation’s Favourite Garden in all its abundance: extensive productive gardens and pleasure grounds, a lush 22-acre subtropical Jungle, sustainably-managed farmland, wetlands and ancient woodlands, and a pioneering wildlife conservation project. |
| Glendurgan | This valley garden of great beauty was created in the 1820s and developed over many years by the Fox family. Running down to the tiny village of Durgan and its beach, the garden has many fine trees and rare and exotic plants, with outstanding spring displays of magnolias and camellias The laurel maze, dating from 1833, puzzles young and old. Guided tour with a member of the Fox family by prior appointment. |
| Trelissick | Beautifully positioned at the head of the Fal estuary, commanding panoramic views over the area with extensive park and woodland walks beside the river. year-round colour, The garden was given to the National Trust by the Copeland Family, who were the owners of Spode Copeland China, there is a collection of 2000 pieces at Trelissick, and guide tours can be arranged, with a member of the Copeland family. |
| Eden | A gateway into the fascinating world of plants. The worlds largest greenhouses nestle in a 50m deep crater the size of 30 football pitches, the centre piece of a spectacular global garden. |
| Trevarno Estate | 70 acres of enchanting gardens and grounds featuring one of Cornwall's largest and most diverse plant collections set within magnificent formal, informal and woodland areas. Numerous specimen shrubs and trees, a stunning bluebell valley, ornamental lake with picturesque Victorian Boathouse and formal cascade, Sunken Italian Garden, Serpentine Yew Tunnel, extensive Pinetum, Bamboo collection, atmospheric Rockery and Grotto, the Great Lawn and Summer Terrace - Also home to the National Museum of Gardening. |
| Trewithen | Beautiful woodland garden with camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and many rare trees and shrubs. |
| St Michaels Mount | Beautiful gardens, one of which contains many rare succulents, found growing out of doors nowhere else in Britain, Explore the terrace garden created as recently as 1987. |
| Japanese garden & Bonsai Nursery | Situated on the Roseland Peninsula with extensive views of St.Anthony's Head and lighthouse, the garden enjoys a favoured microclimate in an already favoured area, and frosts are very rare. Growth in the garden is virtually twelve months of the year and advantage has been taken of the benign climate to plant a very diverse range of plants from all over the world with considerable emphasis on Southern Hemisphere plants and sub-tropical vegetation. |
| Lamorran House Garden | |
| Fowey | |
| Lost Gardens of Heligan |
Cruise guests are invited to experience The Nation’s Favourite Garden in all its abundance: extensive productive gardens and pleasure grounds, a lush 22-acre subtropical Jungle, sustainably-managed farmland, wetlands and ancient woodlands, and a pioneering wildlife conservation project. |
| Lanhydrock | A stunning collection of magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias, and offers fine colours right through into autumn. All this is set in a glorious estate of 364 hectares (900 acres) of woods and parkland running down to the River Fowey, with numerous footpaths. |
| Pine Lodge Gardens | 30 acre garden with shrubs, herbaceous borders, many water features, pinetum, arboretum, lake with black swans and ducks and Japanese garden. Rare plants from seed and hunting expeditions - all plants labelled. |
| Plymouth | |
| The Garden House | Buckland Monachorum has been acclaimed internationally for its naturalistic style, which is now being copied elsewhere. A walk around the grounds is almost like a world tour, taking in gardens from around the globe. And then there's the fantastic views to enjoy as well. |
| Antony Gardens | The grounds were landscaped by Repton and include the formal garden with the National Collection of Day Lilies and fine summer borders. The woodland garden (owned privately by the Carew Pole Garden Trust) has an outstanding display of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias, and surrounding woods provide delightful walks. Also of note are the 18th-century dovecote and 1789 Bath Pond House. |
| Cotehele | Formal gardens overlook the richly planted valley garden below, with medieval dovecote, stew pond and Victorian summer house, and 18th-century tower above. |
| Buckland Abbey | An unusual herb garden, a new Elizabethan garden and delightful estate walks and a magnificent monastic barn. |
| Saltram | 18th century gardens, an orangery and several follies as well as beautiful shrubberies and specimen trees. |
| Mount Edgcumbe | 18th century garden overlooking Plymouth Sound. Classical garden houses, statues, exotic shell seat. |
| Portland / Poole | |
| Compton Acres |
Reputed to be among the best in Europe. 10 acres of themed gardens from around the world including Japanese, Italian, Water. Stunning views over Poole Harbour. |
| Minterne Gardens | Informal gardens below Minterne House, landscaped in the 18th century .Features lakes, cascades and streams with water plants and water lilies. Walks through the gardens and the 20 acres of woodlands. |
| Mapperton | This is the garden of a private 17th century manor house with a church. The garden features terraces, an upper Italianate garden, paths and fish ponds. A shrubbery and woodland have been established. Unusual statues are scattered around the gardens. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty with good views of the Dorset hills. |
| Kingston Maurward | The gardens, in 35 acres, surround a fine Georgian mansion. Features include a lake, a restored Edwardian garden and views. There is also a walled Elizabethan garden. The National Collections of Penstemons and Salvias are found here. |
| Horn Park | Large garden, with views, surrounding a house designed by a pupil of Lutyens. Terraces, with borders, lead to the lawn. Features a water garden with seats, grass paths leading to a bluebell wood, a rock garden and a woodland garden. |
| Deans Park | 13 acres of partly wild gardens, a haven near the town centre, all around an old house. Features trees, lawns, borders, a kitchen garden with vegetables and herbs. The gardens are chemical-free, and produce and herbaceous plants are usually on sale. |
| Athelhampton | One of the finest 15th century manor houses and is surrounded by one of the great architectural gardens of England. Enjoy the Tudor Great Hall, Great Chamber, Wine Cellar and the East Wing restored after the fire in Nov 1992. Wander through 20 acres of beautiful grounds dating from 1891, including the Great Court with 12 giant yew pyramids. The walled gardens include collections of tulips, magnolias, roses, clematis and lilies in season. This glorious garden of vistas is full of surprises and gains much from the fountains and River Piddle flowing through. |
| Abbotsbury Garden | The subtropical Gardens are now considered one of the best in the country. Established in 1765 these 20 acres are perfectly suited to "wet Mediterranean" plants and are famous for their Camellia, magnolia, rhododendron and hydrangea collections. A mixture of formal and informal, with charming walled garden walks and spectacular woodland valley views. |
| Bennetts Water Gardens | Grass paths meander between a series of ponds and lakes within this 8 acre site, with scenic places to sit and ‘unwind’. Blooming at their best throughout the summer months is one of the most outstanding displays of water lilies in Britain, surrounded by huge pond and moisture loving plants, native trees, palms, wild plants and flowers. A ‘Site of Nature Conservation Interest’, the gardens, ponds and reed beds are home to abundant wildlife. |
| Larmer Tree Gardens | Created by General Pitt Rivers in 1880 as pleasure grounds for "public enlightenment and entertainment" the Larmer Tree Gardens are an extraordinary example of Victorian extravagance and vision. The garden contains a wonderful collection of ornate buildings, majestic trees and intimate arbours, retained in an enchanted timeless atmosphere. |
| Mounts Bay | |
| Trengwainton |
Intimate and closely linked to the picturesque stream running the length of the garden, paths lead up to a terrace and summer houses with splendid views across Mount's Bay to The Lizard. The walled gardens contain many rare and unusual species which are difficult to grow in the open anywhere else in the country. |
| Trewidden | One of the largest and finest selections of camellias in the country. The chief architect of Trewidden Garden was Thomas Bedford Bolitho who started in 1880 to plant a unique collection of trees and shrubs, thus creating one of the finest informal gardens in south-west England with magnolias rhododendrons and camellias. |
| Ilfracombe | |
| Clovelly Court Garden |
Traditional walled garden, with splendid renovated lean to greenhouses sheltering apricots, peaches and melons in hammocks. Flower boarders thrive in the maritime microclimate and fruit trees line the walls. |
| Hartland Abbey | Extensive and beautifully restored 18th century walled and woodland gardens with many rare plants. |
| Arlington Court | Victorian garden complete with conservatory, ornamental pond and partially restored kitchen garden. |
| RHS Garden Rosemoor | Acclaimed throughout the world for its beauty and diversity. Whatever the season, this unique and enchanting garden will inspire you. |
| Torbay & Darmouth | |
| Greenway |
Glorious woodland garden on the banks of the river Dart, renowned for rare half-hardy plants and carpets of native wild flowers; a real-life "secret garden" and home of Agatha Christie. |
| Coleton Fishacre |
Built in a stream-fed valley on a beautiful stretch of the NT-protected South Devon coastline year-round interest with a wide variety of rare and exotic plants, water features and a gazebo with fine views. |
| Paignton Zoo | Zoological garden and botanical garden with plant collections of 5,000 specimens representing 1,500 different plants. Gardens include a Mexican oak species collection, medicinal and Mediterranean gardens. |
| Isles of Scilly | |
| Tresco Abbey Garden |
The only garden in Britain growing exotics outdoors from every Mediterranean climate zone in the world. South Africa, California, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Mexico, Canary Islands and South America are all strongly represented on the island paradise. Palm trees and succulents abound in this unique 25 acre collection found on a 2 mile long island fringed with white sandy beaches and a Caribbean like clear blue sea. |
