Exotic plants and fabulous views:
At Trelissick Garden, in Feock, Cornwall, tender subtropical plants thrive in sheltered glades. That otherwise everyday plant, the hydrangea, is cultivated here in some of its rarest varieties. Located at the head of the Fal Estuary, the tiered garden takes full advantage of stunning views of Falmouth Harbor and the wide waterway known as the Carrick Road.
Trelissick Garden Essentials:
- Address
- Trelissick Garden
- Feock nr Truro,
- Cornwall TR3 6QL, England
- Telephone:+44 (0)1872 862090
- Opening hours:
- October 29 to February 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day
- February 10 to 28 October, 10:30 to 5:30
- Woodland walks until dusk, year round
- Last admission, 30 minutes before closing
- See their website for holiday season hours and closings
- Prices: Adults £5.80, children £2.90, family £14.50, reduced rates when arriving by cycle or public transportation.
Getting to Trelissick Gardens:
- by car: The gardens are 4 miles south of Truro on the B3289. If you use a satnav system, the OS map reference is 204:SW837396.
- by train: The regular London to Penzance service from Paddington stops at Truro, five miles away. The journey takes about 4.5 hours. Substantial savings can be had by buying in advance so check National Rail Enquiries.
- by bus: The Truronian T16 passes close to Truro Rail Station,
- by ferry: There are ferry links from Falmouth, Truro and St. Mawes. The King Harry Ferry, a chain ferry, was recently named one of the world's top 10 ferries, alongside the Staten Island and Hong Kong Star ferries.
Why Visit Trelissick Garden:
There are two good reasons for visiting Trelissick Garden in Cornwall. First, it is known for it's collection of rare, tender and exotic plants. The garden was created in the 1930s by the Copeland family - she had inherited the land, he was the scion of the family business, Spode.
The Copelands concentrated on the kinds of plants that flourish in Cornwall's mild climate - tender asian shrubs, magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons. And the garden is noted for its rare and unusual varieties of hydrangea.
The garden's wide lawns are bordered by colorful flowering shrubs. There is an impressive Japanese cedar and a tropical dell with palm trees, banana plants, tree ferns and large leafed rhododendrons.
And then there are those views!
The garden, high over the head of Falmouth Harbor, is tiered to take full advantage of sensational views, along the wide waterway known as The Carrick Road all the way to the sea. As visitors stroll the 500 acres of woodland paths, they come across quiet, sheltered gardens and panoramic vistas of the Fal Estuary and Falmouth Harbor, said to be the third largest natural harbor in the world.After a visit, consider crossing the head of the estuary on King Harry's Ferry, one of the last few chain ferries left in the UK. The ferry, named in a national newspaper as one of the 10 best ferry trips in the world, docks just beside the garden.
What else is there to see
Trelissick House is not open to the public but, in addition to the gardens and woodland walks, a visit to Trelissick offers:- Riverside walks around Roundwood Iron Age Fort
- A Georgian stableblock
- The national collection of photinias and azaras
- A gallery of work by Cornish artists
- Cornwall Crafts Association gallery
- Plants for sale
- A restaurant and cafe.
The Copeland China Collection can be seen by guided tour, courtesy of the owners Mr. and Mrs. William Copeland, on Thursdays at 2 p.m. from April through September. The Copeland family is associated with Spode China. To book the tour, telephone +44 (0)1872 864452. Tickets for the garden and china tour cost £9.20.
