2026 marks a special anniversary for Cornwall's horticultural scene - celebrating 25 years since the Eden Project first opened to the public. During this five-day tour, you'll explore many of the county's famous gardens, as well as enjoy a full day visit to the Eden Project. Not only has the Eden Project become Cornwall's premier tourist attraction, it's also a leading authority on conservation and biodiversity.
Accompanying you for the duration of the tour is Cornwall's horticultural guru, Mike Nelhams. Mike is the curator of Tresco Abbey Garden in the Isles of Scilly and is best-placed for offering his insights and expertise throughout the tour, as well as giving a talk one evening at your hotel.
There's no better time to visit Cornwall's glorious gardens than in March, taking in the beautiful blooms of camellias and magnolias, with their pastel pinks and whites, as well as more vibrant hues of red, yellow and purple. During your tour, you'll also visit the cliffside Minack Theatre Gardens, the private Victorian garden of Trewidden and the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.
You'll be staying in Truro, at the four-star Alverton Hotel. The hotel boasts some gorgeous private gardens, which change during the seasons and in the spring, you'll see the daffodils in bloom. Take time to mosey around the lawns and ancient trees. The hotel also boasts a two AA rosette award-winning restaurant and you'll be staying on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis - so tuck into the finest local ingredients.
A Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture, he has written a book about his work at the garden, Tresco Abbey Garden: A Personal and Pictorial History.
Guests can make their own way to Truro. Please speak to reservations to arrange this.
Travel by rail from London Paddington to Truro (regional connections available at a supplement; alternatively, guests can make their own way to Truro). Upon arrival, transfer to the four-star Alverton Hotel for your four-night stay. Before dinner, Mike Nelhams will give a talk on his favourite Cornish gardens - including some that you'll visit in the coming days. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
After breakfast, travel to St Austell for a visit to the Eden Project, which since its opening in 2001 has become one of Cornwall's star attractions. The Eden Project is a 50 metre deep, 34 acre China clay pit which was reclaimed and transformed to house two controlled-environment plant conservatories - the larger of which recreates the climate of the Tropics and displays some of its plants such as cotton, rice, rubber, orchids, bamboo and rainforest flowers. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
After breakfast, visit the gardens at Trangwainton. Intimate and closely linked to the picturesque stream running through its valley, the garden leads up to a terrace and summer houses with splendid views across Mount's Bay to The Lizard. The walled gardens contain many rare and unusual species, which are difficult to grow in the open anywhere else in the country.
Later, visit the nearby private gardens of Trewidden. This historic Victorian garden boasts a collection of over 300 magnolias and camellias and one of the largest tree fern dells in Europe. A maze of paths leads round this peaceful garden which also features tender, rare and exotic plantings, water features and specimen trees. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
After breakfast, depart for The Minack Theatre which sits in a dramatic position on a granite outcrop in Porthcurno. You will need to walk up a hill to access the theatre, so a good level of mobility is required. The upper levels of the theatre include a remarkable sub-tropical garden, full of exotic species rarely found outdoors in mainland Britain. Spend some time wandering the terraces and enjoying panoramic sea views.
This afternoon, visit Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, near Penzance. Set in a beautiful sheltered valley, surrounded by woods, a stream, the dramatic vistas provide a perfect setting for this 22-acre sub-tropical and exotic garden. The garden is filled with high quality contemporary art installations from renowned artists such as David Nash RA and James Turrell RA. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Gallery to view paintings, ceramics and sculptures by renowned artists - all available to buy. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
After breakfast, visit Bonython, a courtyard garden with a collection of perennials and shrubs in colour themes which change with the seasons and a parterre which is filled with flowers and ornamental vegetables. The banks of Lake Joy have imaginative and bold displays of South African and Mediterranean plants and the shores of Lake Sue are equally bright with hot reds toned down by numerous grasses. The whole garden is surrounded by trees and shrubs and the stream leads down to a woodland dell filled with wild flowers.
Later, return to Truro station for your train back to London Paddington (or regional connection).
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* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £295. Deposit required. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Good level of mobility is required. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd and Brightwater Holidays (ATOL 4498) . Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.