| Great escapes: Cornwall 3 |
| Floral forays |
| Follow in our flower-strewn footsteps from a 12th-century monastery garden to the modern-day, spectacularly impressive, Eden Project |
Cornwall's climate is ideal for its many glorious and fragrant gardens. Because this land reaches out into the Gulf Stream, typically mild and moist conditions allow sub-tropical species to take hold and thrive. Here, we take a peek at some of our favourite gardens, including the visionary Eden Project. So, follow our flowery route and let your senses be dazzled.
1. 17th-century Lanhydrock House
Zero your car'strip meter and leave Trevella Park campsite. Turn left at theT-junction with the A3075. At the roundabout take the second exit for the A392(signposted Bodmin A30). At the Halloon Roundabout (7 miles) take the third exit; A39, signposted Bodmin, Redruth A3O.at the Highgate Hill Junction roundabout (8 miles) take the second exit (towards Bodmin) to join the A30. At 20.2 miles, at the Junction with the A38/A389, branch left (towards Liskeard) and at the roundabout take the third exit (A38) to the crossroad bridge. At 20.5 miles, at the junction for Lanhydrock House, turn right onto an unclassified toad (signposted Lostwithiel, Fowey). The entrance to Lanhydrock ison the left (22.6 miles).
Lanhydrock dates back to the 17th century and is set in 450 acres of superb woods and parkland. The house is open from the end of March to the start of November, but its garden, park and woodlands are open all year round. There are formal Victorian parterres, and higher up there's a wooded garden where displays of rhododendrons, magnolias and camelias climb the hillside to meet the surrounding oak and beech woods. Take a stroll down the avenue of ancient beech and sycamore trees, which mark the original entrance to the house which runs from the gatehouse down to the bridge (dating back to medieval times) which crosses the River Foweyat Respryn. May is a good time to visit, when the bluebells are out, but there's colour all year round to dazzle the senses.
2. The garden of Eden
Zero your car's trip meter and leave Lanhydrock the way you came. At 1.1 miles, at the junction, turn left onto the A38 (Bodmin). At 1.4 miles, at the junction with the A30/A389, branch left (signposted Redruth) to join the A30. At the lnnis Downs junction with the A389/A391 (5.9 miles) take the first exit at the roundabout for the A39l (St Austell). At 11.5 miles, at the junction with the B3374, turn right then left to the Eden Project (13.7 miles).
Since its opening in March last year, the Eden Project has claimed the crown as Britain's most spectacular garden experience. In that time, it has already climbed to number four in the list of Britain's top paid-for visitor attractions. Being sited at the foot of a quarry, it looks like a science fiction movie-maker's vision of a colony in a vast crater on another planet. Actually, the Eden Project is a huge, global garden housed within 'biomes' - domed conservatories.
The first thing that strikes you is the scale of the Project. The largest biome is 240m long, 55m high and hOrn wide (there are no intemal supports) and we're told that it is large enough to house the Tower of London.
Inside the biomes, the main climate systems of the world have been replicated to great effect, so be prepared to strip off the layers as you set foot inside. You can wander among the tropical vegetation beneath a majestic rainforest
Walkthe causewayto visitthe Walled and Monastery gardens at St Michael's Mount canopy, or stroll among the fruits of the Mediterranean, South African and Californian climates, including grapevines and olive groves. But how are these different climates replicated? Jets of warn air around the base of the biomes are released before it gets too cold inside. Humidity is increased by fine mist sprays located beneath the tree canopy. If it gets too hot, or too humid, openings release warm air from the top of the biome, which draws in cool air from the bottom. The Project is deservedly Cornwall's most visited attraction.
3. St Michael's Mount
Zero your cards trip meter as you leave the Eden project, and follow the signs for 'all other routes'. At 2.2 miles (A391/B3374 junction) at the mini-roundabouts, turn right then left (towards Bodmin A30). At 3.2 miles at the roundabout, take the second exit forthe B3274 (Padstow). At 6.8 miles, at the crossroads, turn left onto the A30 (Redruth), and follow the road. At the roundabout at 43.6 miles, take the second exit, to Marazion. Park as your enter Marazion.
Mount's Bay is, along with St Ives one of only two British bays to be included in an exclusive club known as The Most Beautiful Bays in the World.
St Michael's Mount is an island linked to this curving expanse of sandy bay only by means of a causeway - so at high tide in can only be reached by ferry boats from Marazion. It looks for all the world like a castle from a children's fairy tale. Ancient legends have it that the Mount was the lair of the Cornish giant, Cormoran who spent his days hurling huge rocks at his rival, the Giant of Trencrom Hill. This magical island has a church, a medieval castle and a superb, exotic garden clinging to the island's steep flanks. Being surrounded by salt water and exposed to winter gales, salt spray and winds, it's difficult to maintain a garden on St Michael's Mount- which only makes its terraced and walled gardens all the more spectacular. Large Escallonia Hedge and several species of pine tree act as wind breaks and help to protect the flowers and other plants.
The first garden at St Michael's Mount was the Monastery Garden created by monks in the 12th-century. Nowadays the main floral features here are the tall, red-tipped Red Hot Pokers (at their best in the early autumn), along with the Agaves, Aeoniums, Pelargoniums, and Aloes which populate the steep slopes. There are several rare shrubs, too, in the Walled Gardens.
If you want to visit the gardens during the week, you must to go during April orMay. Otherwise, you can only visit at the weekends.
• Return toTrevella Park Zero your trip meter and return to the A30. Exit the A30 onto the A3975 at 23 miles. At 29.8 miles turn off the A3075 onto the unclassified road, signposted Crantock, and return to the park.
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Dislance 120 miles
Time 9 hours
Start/finish Trevella Park
caravan site
Suitable for all the family
Information
Cornwall Tourist Board
Tel 01872 322900
Website
Refreshments
The Godolphin Arms, Marazion,
Tel 01736 731566.
Here, you can enjoy good pub food
Attractions
Lanhydrock House
Tel 01208 73320
The Eden Project
Tel 01726 811911
Website www.edenproject.com
St Michael's Mount
Tel 01736 710507
Tip
The Cornwall Festival of Gardens runs from 10 March to 31 May. For details, tel 01872 322900.
Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5EW
Tel 01637 930308
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