The Lost Gardens of Heligan

by coach & on foot

All gardens, to some degree, owe their character to accidents of climate, geography and soil conditions; yet in Cornwall, fate has equally played a part, creating an Eden for the plantsman. Cornwall has a head-start, in that it comes under the benign influence of the Gulf Stream. Extremes of temperature are relatively unknown, and the soil acidity has encouraged a high degree of cultivation of camellia, magnolia, azalea and rhododendron.

The tale of Heligan is extraordinary. Literally locked up in 1918, it attracted international attention when rediscovered in 1990. Volunteers from throughout Europe worked to catalogue and clear gardens and ravines that yielded all manner of botanical surprises.

Heligan is beautifully situated at the head of a valley overlooking the lovely and historic fishing harbour of Mevagissey. It is at the heart of an estate comprising approximately 1,000 acres stretching from Gorran to Mevagissey. In its heyday, the estate was completely self-contained, having a number of farms, quarries, woods, brickworks (the earliest in Cornwall in 1680), a flour mill, a sawmill, a brewery, productive orchards and kitchen gardens.

No major alterations have been carried out this century and all the vernacular and garden buildings remain untouched. This is why Heligan is so valuable: there are very few examples of gardens which haven’t been modernised, and Heligan provides a unique time capsule.

Having made your way ashore using the ship’s tenders, a short walk including some steps will bring you to the coach parking area. Your journey to Heligan will take approximately 45-minutes. Upon arrival, your guide will provide you with a short introduction, following which you will be able to experience ‘The Lost Gardens’ at leisure, gaining an insight into what has been the largest garden restoration project in Europe. In the northern garden are 4km (2.5 miles) of footpaths, an Elizabethan mount, rockeries, summer houses, a crystal grotto, an Italian garden, a fine set of bee boles, a wishing well and a superb collection of walled gardens.

Before rejoining your coach for the return drive to Fowey, you may wish to purchase some refreshments or browse the Heligan Shop for a souvenir of your visit.