The Lost Gardens of Heligan & Charlestown
Charlie visits a garden with a jungle
Sometimes, you don’t have to travel far to go far. There are places that have something very special and make you feel as if you’re in a far away country. Charlie didn’t have to leave the UK to visit an Italian Garden and a tropical rainforest (amongst others): The Lost Gardens of Heligan brought it to her!
Travelling around Cornwall
Charlie spent a whole week in Newquay to test a digital nomad lifestyle with some surf breaks. She also went out on some day trips in Cornwall, for example Tintagel Castle and St. Nectan’s Glen. One destination had been on her list for quite some time: The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
You’re better off in Cornwall by renting a car, but Charlie always takes public transport. The bus it was! It requires thorough planning to travel by bus through Cornwall and you need to be prepared that it all takes a little longer.
It started well for Charlie: The first bus didn’t come. Luckily, she could take another one which even arrived early. However, the narrow lanes in Cornwall caused some delays so that Charlie had almost missed the connection bus. Almost! She was lucky that this bus was also delayed. The driver was very friendly, like everybody in Cornwall, and gave Charlie a tip where to change. There was a better bus connection from St. Austell than what Google Maps was showing. Bus number 24 went straight from the station to The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
One other thing to be aware of are the bus fares. There are two separate bus companies operating in Cornwall: First and Transport for Cornwall. You could buy a day ticket or return tickets, but you would have to use the same bus company throughout the day. If you buy single tickets every time, it can get quite pricey…Charlie spent more than £25 in bus fares in just one day. The next trip Charlie did, she bought return tickets. However, the bus connection on the way back ended up being slightly different and she ended up in the other bus. The driver was very nice though and allowed Charlie to use the ticket she had bought in the morning with the other company. They probably know how difficult it can be to get around by bus in Cornwall…
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Fortunately, they’re no longer lost, but it is a place to get lost in – lost in beautiful flowers, exotic trees and pure nature. It’s more than a garden: The 200-acre Heligan Estate entails the gardens, a jungle and a vast woodland. It holds a treasure for explorers, wildlife and plant lovers, and garden romantics. Apparently, it would take 4 days to see it all.
The gardens were lost to the brambles of time after WWI and have only been rediscovered in 1990. They have since become Europe’s largest garden restoration project.
Parts of it are to this day productive gardens. Not only do they show beautiful flowers, but also apple trees, salads and herbs. You can see the gardeners at work as you stroll along the paths. Charlie’s favourite part was the Italian Garden. You access it through a house and enter a quiet corner with green benches and a fountain. The only thing missing was the smell of Italian cuisine.
The gardens and the estate are open daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (subject to change) and the prices are as follows (as of October 2021):
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £ 17.50 |
| Child (5-17 Years) | £ 8.50 |
| Child (Under 5) | Free |
| Family Garden Admission (1 Adult & up to 3 Children) | £ 30 |
| Family Garden Admission – (2 adults & up to 3 children) | £ 48 |
| Student | £ 11.00 |
| Carer/Personal Assistant | Free |
Welcome to The Jungle
After she had visited the gardens, Charlie had a coffee break at The Steward’s House and sat a while outside in the sunshine before she continued to follow the path. According to the signs and the map, she had two options: The Lost Valley and The Jungle. Where should she go? The jungle sounded more interesting. What could that be? It was a real jungle! Ferns, bamboo, palm trees, and banana leaves. There was even a rope bridge. Charlie had no idea this existed in the UK. She only had to travel to Cornwall to discover a tropical rainforest.
Charlie also passed by the woodland sculptures on her way back towards the exit. It was time for lunch. The selection of sandwiches at the café didn’t appeal to Charlie and she decided to take the bus back to St. Austell. Maybe she would find a nice place with a sea view.
Charlestown
As it turned out, the return bus to St. Austell didn’t finish at the station but continued down towards Charlestown. It is a little harbour village by the sea. Charlie was sure to get lunch there with some views and she was right. The harbour still shows architecture and ships from times gone by and provides a nice walk. There’s also a shipwreck museum if you’re interested in that.
Charlie walked around the harbour and decided to take a seat in one of the restaurants. On her way back towards the bus stop, she couldn’t help but had to have a coffee at Charlie’s Coffee House.
