Caerhays Castle Gardens

Caerhays is one of the great Cornish spring gardens, and it is worth timing a trip around it. The garden covers over 140 acres of woodland on the slopes behind John Nash's castle, and in spring the magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons flower high above the paths, often against a bright sea sky over Porthluney Cove.

Signposted walks of different lengths lead up through the woods, so you can choose a short loop or spend hours exploring. The magnolias are the headline act and are recognised by Plant Heritage as a National Plant Collection, but the camellias and rhododendrons are just as important to the garden's story, many of them grown from seed brought back from China by plant hunters in the early twentieth century. There are also champion trees, and visitors often comment on how the paths use the steep ground to give views into the flowering canopy. Back near the castle you will find the Magnolia Tea Rooms and gift shop, open while the gardens are open, and guided castle tours run during the season. Porthluney Beach is a short stroll away, with a beach café, and dogs are welcome on the beach all year.

For gardeners this is a lesson in what a sheltered, mild valley can grow. Note how the tallest shrubs are given room to become trees and how paths are cut across slopes. The paths are steep in places, so wear good shoes.