Garden Visits from Railway Holiday Carriages Accessible by Train in Cornwall. Historic Coaches Beautifully Restored.

Things to Do in Cornwall and SW Devon - Houses and Gardens

Gardens within easy reach of St Germans in South East Cornwall and Devon

Take a look at things to do in Cornwall and South East Devon on our Railholiday Pinterest page.

Close to St Germans

Port Eliot House and Gardens - is a beautiful garden only a few hundred metres from our carriages in St Germans and hosts the magnificent Port Eliot Festival. It opens ocassionally through the year for events.
Antony House - Torpoint (F2) - Tel: 01752 812191 - 18th Century National Trust house in Repton gardens overlooking Tamar estuary, which recently found fame as the backdrop to Tim Burton's fantastical Alice in Wonderland.
Mount Edgcumbe - Torpoint (G2) - Tel: 01752 822236 - House set in 900 acre grounds which are free and open all year.

Cotehele - St Dominick (F3) - Tel: 01579 351346 - open all year - We would highly recommend a visit to this ancient National Trust house, gardens, quay and working mill. A lovely walk from Calstock station which if you are feeling energetic could also include a jaunt around the fascinating mining heritage of the Danescombe valley. Beautiful in spring with large daffodil collections. There is an extensive orchard of selected Cornish apples and in December the great hall is draped with a huge garland that visitors have the chance to create throughout November. Change at Plymouth and take a ride on the impressive Gunnislake line. We suggest following the line to Gunnislake, then staying on the train and returning to Calstock. The Tamar Inn on the river at Calstock is also excellent.

Within easy walking distance of Bodmin Parkway station is the impressive Lanhydrock House "The finest house in Cornwall".
Another garden that is easy to access by train is Pendennis Castle - Falmouth (D2) - Tel: 01326 316594 - This is one of the finest of the mighty fortresses built by Henry VIII to defend the country against invasion. The castle has seen action in many conflicts and was one of the last royalist strongholds to fall during the English Civil War.
From Falmouth there is a ferry over the estuary to St Mawes Castle - St Mawes (D2) - Tel: 01326 270526 - Among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery fortresses.

South Devon

Buckfast Abbey - Buckfastleigh (H3) - Tel: 01364 645500 - "a living benedictine Monastery".
The Garden House - Yelverton (G3) - Tel: 01822 854769 - "8 acres of glorious gardens". Excellent snowdrop collection. Highly recommended.
Buckland Abbey - Yelverton (G3) - Tel: 01822 853607 - Peaceful setting belies its past as the home of Sir Francis Drake.
Saltram - Plymouth (G3) - Tel: 01752 333503 - Perfectly proportioned mansion with Palladian facades around a Tudor core.

Mid Cornwall

Pinsla Garden - Bodmin (E3) - Tel: 01208 821339 - a pretty cottage garden overflowing with flowers and sculptures. Their working nursery is full of traditional and unusual plants, and they stock a wide range of garden ornaments. Delicious home made cake is also much enjoyed. Open daily from 9 to 5.30 till 31st October.
The Eden Project - St Austell (E2) - Tel: 01726 811911 - Giant biospheres set in an old china clay pit recreating climates of the world.
Trebah - Falmouth (C2) - Tel: 01326 250448 - Steeply wooded ravine garden sloping to the Helford river.
Heligan - Pentewan (E2) - Tel: 01726 845100 - Fantastically impressive garden restoration project, often featured on television.
Pencarrow House and Gardens - Bodmin (E3) - Tel: 01208 841369 - Georgian house and grade II listed garden.

Close to Hayle in West Cornwall Tremenheere Gardens - A beautiful sheltered valley in west Cornwall, surrounded by woods, streams and dramatic vista provides the perfect setting for this 22-acre exotic and sub-tropical garden. International renowned artists such as James Turrell and David Nash RA have interacted with the garden to create site-specific permanent works, all harmonising with their garden setting.
St Michaels Mount - Penzance (B2) - Tel: 01736 710507 - A magical island surmounted by a medieval castle.
Trengwainton - Penzance (B2) - Tel: 01736 363148 - A garden closely linked to the stream running through its valley.
Godolphin House and Gardens - one of the most fashionable houses in Cornwall in the 17th century

Further Afield - Mid and North Cornwall

Trewithen - Truro (D2) - Tel: 01726 883647) - 30 acres of woodland garden.
Tresco Abbey Gardens - Isles of Scilly (A1) - Tel: 01720 422849 - Island climate allows cultivation of exotic species.
Lamorran House Gardens - St Mawes (D2) - Tel: 01326 270800 - Home to a vast array of palms and sub-tropical plants.
Glendurgan Garden - Falmouth (C2) - Tel: 01326 250906 - Sub-tropical valley garden with maze and Giants Stride.
Trelissick - Feock (D2) - Tel: 01872 862090 - A garden renowned for its maritime views over Carrick Roads.
Trerice - Newquay (D3) - Tel: 01637 875404 - Architectural gem of an Elizabethan manor house.

For more ideas, we suggest visiting Visit Cornwall Garden Guide

More ideas for holiday planning can be found on The St Germans Local Area Page and The Hayle Local Area Page

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