FALMOUTH, CORNWALL

The tale of Heligan is extraordinary. Literally locked up in 1918, it attracted international attention when rediscovered in 1990. Volunteers from throughout Europe worked to catalogue and clear gardens and ravines, which yielded all manner of botanical surprises. We have the opportunity to visit this unique time capsule.

 The tale of Heligan is extraordinary. Literally locked up in 1918, it attracted international attention when rediscovered in 1990. Volunteers from throughout Europe worked to catalogue and clear gardens and ravines, which yielded all manner of botanical surprises. We have the opportunity to visit this unique time capsule.

All gardens, to some degree, owe their character to accidents of climate, geography and soil conditions. Cornwall has a head start in that it comes under the benign influence of the Gulf Stream. Extremes of temperature are relatively unknown and the soil acidity has encouraged a high degree of cultivation of camellia, magnolia, azalea and rhododendron. Gardens range from the dizzy terraces of St Michael’s Mount to charmed clefts and river valleys along the south coast, which have created microclimates.

Heligan is beautifully situated at the head of a valley overlooking the lovely and historic fishing harbour of Mevagissey. It is at the heart of an estate comprising roughly 1,000 acres. This estate, in its heyday, was completely self contained having a number of farms, quarries, woods, a brickwork, a flour mill, a sawmill, a brewery and productive orchards and kitchen gardens.

The war years saw much decay but the amazing thing is that the gardens just gently went to sleep. No major alterations have been carried out this century and all the garden buildings remain untouched. This is why Heligan is so valuable. There are very few examples of gardens that have not been modernised.

We are able to tour The Lost Gardens at our leisure – seeing one of the largest garden restoration projects in Europe, and share in the excitement and achievements of the restoration team. In the northern garden there are four kilometres (two and a half miles) of footpaths, an Elizabethan mount, rockeries, summer houses, a crystal grotto, an Italian garden, a wishing well and a superb collection of walled gardens. Remarkably much of the original plant collection has survived. To the south lies The Jungle – a sub tropical valley overlooking the picturesque fishing harbour of Mevagissey – and overflowing with palms, tree ferns, bamboo, gunnera and numerous exotic trees and shrubs. The magical Heligan will not disappoint.

TOUR NOTES: Walking at Heligan is at passengers’ own discretion over the varying terrain. Lunch is not included in this tour – there is a tea room/restaurant from which to purchase food if required. For information, the journey to/from Heligan will take approximately one hour.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR THE 2009 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC SEASON

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TOUR MAY NOT BE OPERATING FOR ALL CALLS