The Lost Gardens of Heligan

What a fantastic day out. Wear some decent walking boots/​shoes because you will need them.
You probably won’t see everything in one day. We will be going back to catch those things we did miss.
What hit me most? The Jungle. it was like returning to the Far East and the jungles I visited in Thailand.
Thank you to all those guys and gals that work in these fabulous gardens. You deserve all the praise for finding and keeping everything so beautiful.

Fantastic attraction, beautiful gardens. How do they grow Pineapples and giant rhubarb in England? Feels a lot more peaceful than it’s big brother The Eden Project down the road. Good value entrance fee only 11 pound and 6 quid for the nippers, the family ticket was even better at 29 quid for 2 adults and 3 kids. They could have done with opening more than one ticket office window when we visited as there was quite a queue. We walked round the grounds for three hours and still didn’t see all of it, we’ll have to visit again. Reading the history of the gardens and the project of returning them to their former glory is fascinating. The jungle garden and the mud maid were our person highlights. Now the one disappointment we had was that the garden tearooms stopped serving food at 3 o’clock. After a long walk round the park we were really looking forward to some of the home cooked food similar to what we saw that was on offer when arrived. It was the only black mark on lovely day at the lost gardens.

This place is amazing. Jurassic park meets modern day gardens. Great for the whole family

It is just amazing the size of the plant leaves, almost from a deep jungle or another world. Haven’t been more than once and that was a few years ago. I am sure they must have updated the café (I think there was one).
I would thoroughly recommend going to see these most beautiful lush gardens.

Beautiful gardens with enough areas left near to unrestored state to give you a flavour of the mammoth task that has been undertaken here. Friendly staff around seem happy to help. The restaurant is a particular treasure, far better than the run of the mill attraction eatery.

Super-​schöné und vor allem sehr abwechslungsreiche Gärten, die auf jeden Fall einen Ausflug wert sind. Mein persönliches Highlight war der Jungle, in dem exotische Pflanzen unter freiem Himmel wachsen dem milden Winter-​Wetter in Cornwall im Allgemeinen und in diesem Tal im Speziellen sei Dank.
Leider war ich etwas zu früh im Jahr (Ende März) dort, weshalb viele der Zier– und Nutzgärten noch nicht so schön waren.
Was man auf keinen Fall verpassen sollte: das leckere und frische Essen zum Lunch :)

A wonderful peaceful place to go, especially for gardeners. I loved the wide and unusual range of plants as well as the overall feel that your exploring a bygone age.

Can’t find them. Are they lost? Help!

ein absolutes MUSS für alle, die Landschaftgärten mögen…in einer etwas verlorenen Ecke von Cornwall, Nahe St. Mewes oder St. Austell, ein kleines Paradies für einen Tag. Schaut Euch die Bilder an und dann wisst Ihr, was ich meine! Ich war Ende August dort, die Sommerblumen in voller Pracht, ich denke, dass es auch im Mai mit den blühenden Rhododendrenwäldern schön sein muss.
Hinfahren, auch Umwege dafür fahren, lohnt sich unbedingt. Und: es ist gut, mit soliden Schuhen die Gärten zu erkunden, es geht bergauf-​bergab und auch über holperige Wege!
Für Kinder ein kleines Paradies zum entdecken. Schön ist es, dass man in kleinen Ausstellungen erfährt, wie der Garten früher aussah und wie er wieder «ausgegraben» wurde: das ist Garten-​Archäologie!
Noch ein Tipp: am bestens schon morgens um 10 Uhr dort sein, jedenfalls bei schönem Wetter — am Nachmittag wird es voller.

Ein wunderbarer Ort auf dieser Erde — ein Landschaftspark, der nach dem verherenden Hurrikan in Cornwall 1990 fast ruiniert war. Ein Ort für Gartenliebhaber, fur Naturliebhaber und für Menschen, die mittels Natur mal in sich selbst spazierengehen wollen. Augen und Herz auf, es wird Gutes geschehen!
Wie immer gibt es auch dort einen Coffee– und einen Giftshop — Tea time with Cornish Cream Tea oder Leinen Handtücher, deren Qualität jede Schwiegermutter entzücken! :-)

I wandered around these lovely, peaceful, totally enchanting gardens and could only wish that my late mother might have visited. She would have loved it.
We did too. Somehow they have retained an air of mystery and even though you meet other people on the numerous walks around, you still find hidden corners and spaces that allow you to sense what it might have been like when first completed. Others much more qualified than I have spoken of the different sculptures and types of garden, so my offering is much more about the feelings of the place!
I think the fact that they are still independent of any ‘corporate’ influence has a lot to do with it! Long may it continue and thus the entrance cost is fine!

Wow, this place is amazing. You can appreciate the beauty of the gardens after they have found, but you can still understand the history behind its past. It is suitable for all ages and is really enchanting. I would say these are definately one of the best gardens to visit in duchy. Admission prices are justified and well worth it. On site facilities are good and you could easily spend a whole day here time and time again.

I’ve been to Heligan a couple of times and it is gorgeous whatever time of year you go.
It is a lovely contrast to Eden and although some people do both attractions on the same day I would recommend taking a separate day for each as if you look round both of them properly there is an awful lot of walking involved!
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a bit like wandering around the private gardens of a manor house but as the house isn’t open for visitors an awful lot more care has been taken in making the gardens interesting.
The walk is at times a little steep but this is marked clearly on the map they give you when you buy your ticket. Particularly interesting is the wildlife centre, which was featured on Springwatch and the vegetable and flower gardens which are being grown using Victorian methods.
There is plenty of parking and the restaurant is really nice. The shop offers good value for money particularly for plants and is lovely for gifts.

This place is amazing. Jurassic park meets modern day gardens. Great for the whole family.

I loved this place. We went in March and the weather was lovely and the Gardens not too crowded. The Gardens are were discovered in the recent past in a derelict and overgrown state. Since restoration they are now a working example of gardens of yesteryear with former greehouses, outbuildings and formal and informal gardens laid out as they would have been pre-​WW1. There are examples of original messages and relics made and left behind at that time, which makes this a fascinating and historic day out. There are lovely walks around the grounds and I would recommend a day to see everything including bird hides, river walk and sub-​tropical gardens.

Rediscovered accidentally in 1990 the restoration of this remarkable Lost Garden is truly a sight to behold.
The most spectacular part for me was the newly created valley which is made up of a series of interconnected lakes and takes you from a rural British landscape on a journey to tropical jungles.
Also of particular interest are the restored horticultural structures such as the pineapple house which in it’s day was a true engineering feat.
Don’t be stingy allow yourself a full day here, and tuck in to some lovely lunch or delicious cream tea at the excellent café.
The good old British weather is the only thing that marred an otherwise perfect day here. Take a brolly with you just in case!

This place is absolutely amazing. I did not think going here would be my kind of thing but suprisingly its great!
There is loads to see, walking around. Its is truly something you must do.
There are some very steep routes to go round, the map tells you about them but belive me they are steep.
Its just a super day out where you need your camera. So much to photograph adn take in.
They also have a really nice café which sells lovely food.
I had bought for me the cola cake recipe. Which you can buy from them and it tastes amazing!

I fell in love with Heligan on my first visit. The Woodland walk with the superb tree sculptures is a treat on its own. The tranquil Italian Garden is a delight and a great stress reliever. Walking through the ferns an trees you expect to see
some prehistoric mammal hiding in the undergrowth. The walled garden and potting sheds give you an insight to the ingenuity of the Victorians, and we could use many of there brilliant ideas to advance our own green credentials. There is always something to see all year round. The Garden Centre offers some unusual plants and ideas to take home

Beautiful place to visit with so much to see. The grounds are huge, I think I will go back a second time to make sure I see it all. Be prepared for some steep climbs if you intend to walk the whole grounds.
Definately visit the tropical gardens and walk along the boardwalk, very interesting.
The tea rooms served delicious food and cakes. Many plants and other items for sale in the gift shop.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan were rediscovered and restored by the creator of the Eden Project — Tim Smit. If you’re down in Cornwall then both gardens are worth a visit.
The Lost Gardens are a large, open site. The garden is divided up into sections, and I certainly didn’t see all of it when I visited. There’s a lovely walled vegetable garden, planted up year round with heritage crops and managed as closely as possible as it would have been when this was a working estate.
There are also formal pleasure gardens, restored to their former glory with sympathetic planting and landscaping. And a tropical garden where you can get lost in a jungle that thrives in Cornwall’s mild climate.
Visitor features include ample car parking, a café and a gift shop — but make sure you take directions along with you, because it’s not the easiest place in the world to find!

Absolutely smashing day out. My wife had been there before but it was my first time a fe wmonths ago. What a place! Astounding gardens — highly recommended. the shop is very well stocked and quite reasonably priced and the café does a nice cream tea. I think you can even just go into the shop without entering the gardens if you like, to top up on honey etc. Word of warning to anyone (like me) who has allergies — pack some anti histamines, as there is a lot of green!

Having just got back from a weekend away and visiting here, we came away gobsmacked. It really is a lovely place, the gardens were beautiful and all well sign posted. We bought the guide book too which helped identify the different plants and trees and helped the children too as they had to work to find out what something was.
It was a bit chilly but there is so much to see that you’re constantly on the move so don’t seem to notice it so much.
There was adequate parking, disabled facilities and a lovely tea shop.

The part of the gardens known as the jungle was very impressive with loads of mature tree ferns (oh how I wish I could grow one in cold Derby!!) and other similar plants. The less exotic gardens made me realise just what Derby City Council could make of the gardens at Elvaston Castle if only they would spend some time and resources doing what the owners here have done in trying to uncover and restore a late 19^th century treasure.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan sind ein absolutes Muß — auch und gerade für Leute, die wie wir eigentlich keine expliziten Gartenfreaks sind.
Als große Cornwall-​Fans besuchen wir die verlorenen Gärten eigentlich jährlich, und immer gibt es Neues zu entdecken, auch im ausgedehnten Gift Shop-​Bereich
Die Lost Gardens sind auch für Kinder interessant, unsere Tochter (8) jedenfalls findet den Mix aus Landschaft, Garten, Wasser & Dschungel (ja, den gibt es auch) prima.
Die Gärten sind eigentlich immer (ja, auch bei Nieselregen) ganz gut besucht, ausgesprochenes Gedrängel haben wir aber noch nicht erlebt, auch keine Schlangen oder dergleichen. Festes Schuhwerk ist empfehlenswert — besser also keine Stöckelschuhe oder Flip Flops

Die «Lost Gardens of Heligan» zählen zu den schönsten Gartenanlagen Cornwalls. Nachdem sie für viele Jahre vergessen wurden, sorgte eine konsequente Restauration seit der Wiederentdeckung 1990 zu einer inzwischen auch von der Größe her beeindruckenden Anlage.
Die «Lost Gardens» sind hervorragend ausgeschildert und Parkplätze gibt es in Hülle und Fülle direkt vor dem Park. Allerdings könnte nach tagelangem Regen der Boden sehr aufweichen. Die Parkplätze sind nämlich eigentlich nichts anderes als eine große Wiese.
Am Eingang muss man etwas anstehen, d.h. man sollte sich etwas Zeit mitnehmen. Man bekommt neben dem Ticket außerdem noch einen Plan des Gartens und einen kleinen Kompass in die Hand gedrückt, den man aber letztlich nicht braucht… Der Lageplan ist auch ohne Kompass lesbar. Aber als Gimmick ganz nett.
Neben heimischen Pflanzen gibt es eine Menge exotischer zu sehen. Vom mediterranen Bereich bis in die Tropen. Ein kompletter Dschungel u. A. mit Bananenstauden wurde sogar in einem geschützten Tal angelegt, das so gut wie nie Frost sieht.
Weiterhin gibt es auch einen Obst– und Gemüse– sowie einen Blumengarten. Im angeschlossenen Café muss man wie am Eingang anstehen. Das Essen ist nichts besonderes. Lustig sind die freilaufenden Hühner, die einem teilweise sogar zwischen den Beinen hindurchlaufen.
Man sollte sich am besten einen ganzen Tag für die «Lost Gardens» nehmen. Von der Größe und den Sehenswürdigkeiten her lohnt es sich auf jeden Fall die Zeit einzuplanen. Wir waren im Herbst bei durchwachsenem Wetter dort, ich möchte aber nicht wissen, wie es zur Urlaubszeit bei schönem Wetter aussieht…