On a bright and beautiful almost springlike day last week we drove over to Lanhydrock gardens which is not far from Bodmin. Takes about an hour, but it is an easy drive along the A30 pretty much the entire way. From the car park where there is an impressive café, plus toilets, bike hire shop and plant stall it is a 10 minute walk down through the estate to the formal gardens which surround the house. Entrance is through an imposing 18th century Gatehouse.
This leads to the house and the Parterre which is planted in spring with thousands of tulips under-planted with forget-me-nots. Too early at the moment. Between the Parterre and the beds in front of the raised church border a total of 5,000 tulip bulbs are planted and lifted every year. But we were there to see the Camellias and Magnolias, some of which were in perfect bloom.
Passing by the Parterre, we made our way to the Higher Garden where herbaceous borders can be seen in the summer months. There are several magnolia trees here as well as many camellia bushes of all colours and types.
Near the circular herbaceous borders, rather empty at this time of year, is a bench in the sun that we have yet to find empty! In the wall behind the bench is a wonderful door and what appears to be some kind of chapel.
We carried on wandering through the many paths that wind through a woodland landscape planted in a semi-formal Cornish fashion – rhododendrons and Himalayan magnolias lurching to their full-size in the fresh Cornish air
and where lawned areas are planted with narcissus and crocuses which looked like brilliant coloured light-bulbs in the sunshine.
We climbed high above the house and grounds giving us sweeping views over the estate and the surrounding countryside.
And there were plenty of unoccupied benches dotted around to allow us to take the weight off our feet.
On reaching a Celtic cross, we swung round and returned to the stable yard below, noticing a thatched shelter on the way.
Fully satiated with magnificent flowers we headed back uphill to the car park, passing many lovely trees. Mostly deciduous with their bare winter limbs reaching for the sky. This is a bit of an incline and I have often thought that they should position a few benches along this pathway. Not only to rest, but also to be able to sit and admire the beautiful trees. There is a buggy to transport the elderly and disabled back to the entrance, but as long as we can walk we will continue to do so.
This is a prime garden for walkers. Not only is there 30-acres of formal and informal woodland to explore, but the garden opens onto an extensive network of footpaths zigzagging through 900-acres of beautiful countryside. One day we will explore further.
If you like a stroll, long or short, you might enjoy joining Restless Jo, who always walks on a Monday.
Cornwall in Colours 
Holy smoke, what a walk! If reality is half what your photos show, this is one beauty of a village 🙂 -Susan
It’s a large estate, not a village, but the grounds are lovely. The house isn’t too bad either!
Gorgeous header shot Jude – really lovely. Bet you drooled over that lovely door too 🙂
I drool a lot Karen, must be an age thing 😉
Bwaaahaaaaaaaaa You crack me up Jude xx