Days Out

Exploring The Lost Gardens of Heligan

June 22, 2015

The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of HeliganShane and I took a little long weekend trip down to Cornwall last weekend in our caravan, and one of the first places we visited was The Lost Gardens of Heligan. We actually stayed in the campsite across the road from it so we took a little walk over after breakfast and had a nice wander around in the rain – good old English weather!

The gardens were neglected for over 75 years after the first world war broke out until the 1990’s when they were transformed to their former glory! It’s amazing seeing the huge rhododendron trees and how they’ve just grown everywhere. There’s a few sections to the gardens – the north garden, where the italian and vegetable gardens are, the jungle – covered in ferns, palms and banana trees which has it’s own microclimate, the ancient woodland – where the famous mudmaid and giants head are hidden in the woodland and the lost valley – with ancient trees, bluebells and lakes.

There was so much to explore but my favourite areas were the northern gardens which were covered in bright pink rhododendrons and azaeleas and included a massive walled kitchen garden, and the jungle area with streams, mini waterfalls and ferns covering boardwalks leading up to a massive rope bridge spanning across the treetops! And the field of bright red poppies was amazing too! If it wasn’t for the rain, I’d have felt like I was standing in a field in Tuscany haha! Oh and we can’t forget about the little baby pigs! Shane had to drag me away – then I found some lambs!

I totally recommend a visit if you’re anywhere near St Austell – and they’re currently offering a discounted ticket price for entry to the lost gardens and the eden project (which is one of my favourite places in the UK) if you buy a joint ticket!

  • Reply
    Kate
    June 23, 2015 at 2:26 am

    What beautiful pictures. Looks a stunning place! x

  • Reply
    Jane
    June 23, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    I love the idea of this place! I almost didn’t notice the giant heads, did a double take haha.

    • Reply
      April
      June 24, 2015 at 6:54 am

      It was absolutely amazing there! I actually walked straight past the giant’s head then saw that we’d missed it on the map and turned back to find it haha!

  • Reply
    Katie B
    June 28, 2015 at 7:53 pm

    wow, what amazing photographs, it was a wonderful tour of a very special place! It’s on my wish list to visit very soon, it looks quite magical! Katie x

    http://long-may-she-rain.blogspot.co.uk

  • Reply
    Lauren | Love Lola
    June 29, 2015 at 9:36 pm

    wow, so beautiful!

  • Reply
    Katya @Atstarfish
    June 29, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    Beautiful place! Poppy flower fields are dreamy and the pigs are so cute 🙂

    http://atstarfish.blogspot.com

  • Reply
    Sara
    July 17, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    Oh! This place has been on my ‘to visit’ list for so long – somehow we always seem to end up in the ‘wrong end’ of Cornwall to go, & facing a four hour journey to get there!
    Thanks for the vicarious tour. I have to admit it looks a bit less wild than it did in my imagination, but no less beautiful – some really lovely shots x

    • Reply
      April
      July 18, 2015 at 7:20 pm

      I know what you mean about it not looking as wild as you’d imagine – I was a little suprised too. The only thing that really made it feel wide were the huge rhododendron trees everywhere. It’s definitely worth a visit though, so hopefully you make it there one day! 🙂
      xo April

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