2018 6-Day Guided Gardens of Cornwall, Active Tour Itinerary Cornwall Duration Start Finish 6 days / 5 nights Cornwall (Bodmin Parkway Railway Station) Cornwall (Bodmin Parkway Railway Station) Price From $US 2699 From the famous Eden Project, showcasing the largest indoor rainforest in the world and pioneering horticultural research, to formal walled gardens and intimate woodlands surrounding beautiful estates all set within the wider expanse of Cornwall s designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ; this tour is packed with jaw-dropping views and loved by horticulturalists and enthusiasts alike. Along with stunning views around every corner, excellent accommodation, wonderful pubs and beautiful cuisine, Active England will give you an experience you won t forget.
Accommodation Prestige - 4* hotel Country - 3* hotel Itinerary Day 1 The tour starts at Bodmin Parkway Railway Station, which is a four hour direct train from London Paddington. On arrival we walk to the first garden, the National Trust owned Lanhydrock. We take a stroll around the extensive gardens and enjoy their year-round colour. There are beautiful herbaceous borders, a fabulous formal parterre and colourful higher gardens filled with camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons. Guests can also visit the stunning late-victorian House, restored to its Jacobean glory after a terrible fire in 1881. We then head to the first night s accommodation which is in the stunning village of Port Isaac, and the wonderful, Port Gaverne Hotel. 3 miles Day 2. We walk or bike down the magnificent Camel Trail, journeying to the foody heaven and quaint town of Padstow for lunch at the famous Rick Stein s fish and chip shop. We have time to visit the beautiful gardens at Prideaux Place, and maybe catch a glimpse of Ross Poldark (!) as some of the series was shot on land owned by the Prideaux family. After catching the ferry over the Camel estuary to Rock we will visit the archetypal Cornish villages of Port Isaac and Boscastle before heading back to Port Gaverne and our accommodation for the night.
4-8 miles 10-20 miles Day 3. We visit the wonderful Caerhays Castle and gardens overlooking the ocean. Caerhays is home to the Camellia x williamsii hybrids but is perhaps best known for its huge, Asiatic magnolias. There are also over 80 UK record sized trees in the gardens as measured by height and girth. We then walk (or go via the support vehicle) along the coast to the wonderful seaside village of Mevagissey - one of Cornwall s jewels and the onto the magnificent Lost Gardens of Heligan - restored on a shoestring budget and hailed by The Times as the garden restoration of the century. Today the mysterious gardens and estate offer over 200 acres for exploration. Heligan is so much more than a garden restored; its own special atmosphere encourages contemplation and inspiration, satisfying the broadest range of horticultural and wildlife interest. Biking can be organised in the early morning to Caerhays Castle and again in the afternoon back to the hotel, the Rose in Vale. 4-8 miles 10-20 miles Rolling Rolling Day 4. In the morning we walk or ride through the intricate tramways of Cornwall s tin mines, and onto the jewel of Cornwall that is St Ives. Best known for its spectacular light and as a haven for painters over the last few hundred years, it is now home to the renowned Tate Modern. St Ives truly is magnificent. We lunch at one of the wonderful seafood cafes and have plenty of time to walk around the town and visit the Tate Modern gallery before arriving at our hotel, the Rose in Vale for the evening. 4-8 miles 10-30 miles Gently Rolling Day 5. We first visit the gardens at Trelissick, with the estate surrounded on three sides by the River Fal, it commands an impressive position looking down Carrick Roads to Falmouth. We then head onto Lamorran, in St Mawes, an intimate garden very much in the mould of Mediterranean gardens with water ever-present both as a backdrop to the garden and with running water featured in the many pools and streams. After lunch we cross the Fal Estuary on the ferry and visit the sub-tropical gardens at Trebah, with an amazing coastal backdrop. 4 miles Gently Rolling
Day 6. We walk along the stunning coastal path past the old tin mines around the St Agnes area before either biking or in the support vehicle to the famous Eden project, often described at the 8th Wonder of the World. The Eden Project is a huge biosphere, hued out of the ground of a china clay mine. It is truly enormous and home to all manner of native and tropical plants. A modern garden for which there is nothing to compare. We also offer a ½ day off should guests just want to relax and unwind. We often bike from the hotel to the Eden Project which is a relaxing ride through stunning countryside. We then transport guests to Bodmin Parkway station for pre-booked travel all the way to London (4.5 hours). Guests are welcome to travel back in the support vehicle but the train is the preferred and more comfortable option. 4 miles 20 miles Gently Rolling Gently Rolling The Details Duration Start Finish Price From 6 days / 5 nights Bodmin Parkway, Cornwall Bodmin Parkway, Cornwall $US Level of Activity This tour is rated 2/5 for difficulty meaning it s appropriate for guests going for a good ride and can handle an incline or two. The terrain we cover is varied. We ll enjoy some gently rolling hills, with wonderful downhills and a few climbs which will be a bit more demanding. Your holiday, however, will be tailored by your guide to suit your individual preferences. Rewarding views are guaranteed. Daily distances for cycling range from 10-30 miles and for walking between 4 and 8, with options for shorter or longer rides are available on all days.
WHAT S INCLUDED 5 nights accommodation All breakfasts & dinners (in the brasserie / bar) Entry into all iconic points of interest; Eden Project, all gardens, castles and estates Transport throughout Professional local guide Bikes & equipment WHAT S NOT INCLUDED International flights Cancellation insurance Items of a personal nature Dinner drinks Dinner in the a-la-carte restaurants (the difference between the bar / brasserie option) Gratuity for your local guide To Book, go to https://activeenglandtours.com/tours/gardens-cornwall-6-days/ For more information please call +44 1865 513007 or contact