The Lost Gardens of Heligan 7 Day Weather Forecast

Attractions in St Austell, Cornwall.

Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years, is one of the most mysterious estates in England. At the end of the nineteenth century its thousand acres were at their zenith, but only a few years after the Great War of 1914 bramble and ivy were already drawing a green veil over this 'Sleeping Beauty'. After decades of neglect, the devastating hurricane of 1990 should have consigned the Lost Gardens of Heligan to a footnote ...

Pentewan
St Austell
Cornwall
PL26 6EN

01726 845100

Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years, is one of the most mysterious estates in England. At the end of the nineteenth century its thousand acres were at their zenith, but only a few years after the Great War of 1914 bramble and ivy were already drawing a green veil over this 'Sleeping Beauty'. After decades of neglect, the devastating hurricane of 1990 should have consigned the Lost Gardens of Heligan to a footnote in history. Instead, fired by a magnificent obsession to bring these once glorious gardens back to life, a small band of enthusiasts, which has grown into a large working team, have restored the gardens and estate, creating a destination with a breadth of interest around the year.

Today ‘Britain’s Finest Garden’ BBC Countryfile Magazine poll has over 200 acres just waiting to be discovered, with a wide variety of landscapes open for exploration. In the Northern Gardens the award-winning restoration of Heligan's working Productive Gardens combine with Victorian Pleasure Gardens including a secluded Italian Garden connected to the rocky alpine Ravine, the secret Crystal Grotto and Wishing Well and the formal Northern Summerhouse and Sundial Gardens. The Wider Estate incorporates longer walks through beautiful Cornish countryside and ancient broadleaved woodlands, whilst the pioneering Wildlife Project offers an intimate view of native wildlife.

Heligan's iconic Jungle sits in a steep-sided valley, which creates a microclimate at least 5 degrees warmer than the Northern Gardens and provides a home for a wide array of sub-tropical plantings. This exuberant garden hosting a riot of luxuriant foliage and outstanding trees, exotic plantings and inspiring views, draws the imagination on a journey far from our temperate shores. Lose yourself amongst towering bamboo tunnels and banana plantations, travel along the snaking boardwalk past ‘giant rhubarb’ and palm-lined avenues and discover a world of adventure.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are so much more than a garden restored; its own special atmosphere encourages exploration and contemplation, satisfying the broadest range of horticultural and wildlife interest.