Pencarrow Gardens
Pencarrow, near Bodmin, Cornwall
Fifty acres of dog-friendly Cornish gardens and woodland around a Georgian family home near Bodmin, with hundreds of rhododendrons, an Italian garden, granite rockery and an Iron Age fort.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Pencarrow Gardens?
Pencarrow is a family-run house and garden on the edge of Bodmin Moor, three miles from both Wadebridge and Bodmin. The gardens and woodland cover about 50 acres, and the place has a relaxed, friendly feel. It is not part of the National Trust, and the Molesworth-St Aubyn family still live in the largely Georgian house.
The gardens were laid out by Sir William Molesworth in the 1830s and are now Grade II listed. They hold 160 species of specimen conifers, 700 species of rhododendrons and 60 species of camellias, so spring is the big season. Closer to the house you will find an Italian garden, a granite rockery and a lake, and further out there are woods and an Iron Age fort to explore. Pencarrow has a special place in the history of one tree: the monkey puzzle got its popular name here, when a guest looking at a young specimen remarked that it would puzzle a monkey to climb it.
For gardeners, the rhododendron and camellia collection is the main lesson, showing how these shrubs perform in a mild, moist climate and how many forms there are to choose from. A plant shop in the old stables sells herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees, and the garden works with a local Cornish nursery. Dogs are welcome in the gardens, on a lead around the house and café where free-range chickens and peacocks roam. The Peacock Café serves light lunches and cream teas, and there is a children's play area with a slate-roofed Wendy house.
What to see
- See a collection of 700 species of rhododendrons and 60 species of camellias.
- Walk through the Italian garden and past the granite rockery and lake.
- Explore the woods and the Iron Age fort within the 50-acre grounds.
- Look for specimen conifers, including monkey puzzles, from a collection of 160 species.
- Browse the plant shop in the old stables and carriage yard.
Pencarrow Gardens through the year
- spring
- The peak season, when rhododendrons and camellias flower through the gardens and woodland.
- summer
- The Italian garden and lake are pleasant for a summer stroll, and the walled garden hosts a summer craft fair.
- autumn
- Woodland walks and specimen conifers carry the garden into autumn, and the season runs until the end of October.
- winter
- The house, café and shop close for the winter, so check the official site for the next season's dates.
The story behind the garden
The Molesworth family, now Molesworth-St Aubyn, have lived at Pencarrow since the 1500s. Sir John Molesworth, the 4th baronet, began building the present house in the 1760s by extending an older house on the site, and it was completed after his death in 1766 by his son, the 5th baronet. The architect was probably Robert Allanson.
The gardens and woodlands were laid out by Sir William Molesworth, the 8th baronet, between 1831 and 1835, including the Italian garden, granite rockery and lake. The collection grew to include hundreds of rhododendron species, and Pencarrow gave the monkey puzzle tree its common name. A stone cross head found on the estate around 1870 was set up in the grounds. The house and gardens are still family-run and open to visitors in season.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Rhododendron and camellia lovers, dog owners, and families looking for a relaxed Cornish garden with a café and play area.
- Getting there
- Pencarrow is in north Cornwall on the edge of Bodmin Moor, about three miles east-south-east of Wadebridge and three miles north-north-west of Bodmin.
- Before you go
- All visitors need to register in the shop on arrival, and house tours are booked on the day. Check the official Pencarrow website for current opening times, tour times and prices.
Source: Pencarrow House and Gardens: opening times and helpful information
Questions about visiting Pencarrow Gardens
Is Pencarrow dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome to explore the gardens and grounds. They should be on a lead around the house and café, where free-range chickens and peacocks roam, and only guide and assistance dogs are allowed inside the house.
Is Pencarrow National Trust?
No. Pencarrow is not part of the National Trust. It is the family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns, who have lived there for almost 500 years and run the house and gardens themselves.
When is the best time to visit Pencarrow Gardens?
Spring is the best time, when the large collections of rhododendrons and camellias are in flower. The gardens open seasonally until the end of October, so check the official site for dates.
How did the monkey puzzle tree get its name at Pencarrow?
A young Araucaria araucana at Pencarrow was shown to a group of the owner's friends, and one remarked that it would puzzle a monkey to climb it. The name monkey puzzler, then monkey puzzle, stuck.
Is there a café at Pencarrow?
Yes. The Peacock Café serves light lunches, homemade cakes with gluten-free options and cream teas, using local Cornish produce. There is no charge to visit the café, but call into the shop on arrival.
Garden features
Location
Pencarrow, near Bodmin, Cornwall
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