Twenty-five years ago, Heligan’s historic gardens were unknown and unseen; lost under a tangle of weeds. It was only the chance discovery of a door in the ruins that led to the restoration of this once great estate. Today, The Lost Gardens have been put back where they belong: in pride of place among the finest gardens in Cornwall.

You could easily spend a day here if you walk all the trails and paths, nooks and crannies. But not to be missed is the ‘Jungle’ which sits in a steep-sided valley, creating a microclimate at least five degrees warmer than the Northern Gardens. Passing along a raised boardwalk, snaking around four ponds, past giant rhubarb, banana plantations, ferns, towering bamboo and avenues of palms. The exotic plants brought back from across the world by the intrepid Victorian plant hunters and more recent collectors have an almost Jurassic feel about them.

Plenty of refreshments are available around the site, there are children’s activities in the summer (dare them to cross the 100ft long Burmese rope bridge!), rare breed pigs, cattle, goats and sheep.

A bit of a trek heading down past St Austell, but highly recommended for all ages, doggies too. Note that much of the site has steep paths so not great for those with wobbly legs or wheeled conveyances.

Link to Heligan website