Cornwall is famous for its dramatic coastline and dog-friendly beaches, but if you’re looking for a change from sandy paws and salty swims, you’ll find some truly spectacular gardens that welcome four-legged visitors too. From grand historic estates to subtropical valleys, dog-friendly gardens in Cornwall provide a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the county’s rich horticultural heritage alongside your canine companion.
Over the years, cockapoo Winnie and I have explored quite a few of Cornwall’s most beautiful gardens, from exotic valleys bursting with giant leaves and bamboo to peaceful woodland walks leading down to secluded beaches. These gardens offer a lovely mix of history, colourful planting and scenic spots to stop for coffee (or an ice cream). Here are four of our favourite dog-friendly gardens in Cornwall that are well worth adding to your summer itinerary.
Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5JZ.
Glendurgan Garden was created in the 1820s by Alfred and Sarah Fox, who gradually transformed the wooded valley into a garden filled with rare and exotic plants. Undoubtedly the garden’s most photographed feature is its maze. Alfred and Sarah Fox planted it in 1833, using a design inspired by the maze at Sydney Gardens in Bath. Remarkably, most of the original cherry laurel hedges still survive today.
Admission costs £14, or is free for members of the National Trust.
Dogs are welcome throughout the garden provided they are kept on a short fixed lead. Only assistance dogs are permitted in the maze.
Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG.
The Eden Project is one of Cornwall’s most popular attractions, best known for its two vast domes housing thousands of plant species from around the world. The larger Biome recreates a tropical rainforest environment and is one of the largest indoor rainforests in the world, while the second Biome showcases plants from Mediterranean climates. Beyond the Biomes, visitors can explore extensive outdoor gardens filled with plants native to Cornwall and the UK, alongside species with fascinating stories, including some with prehistoric origins. There are also contemporary artworks, performances, storytelling events, places to relax and eat, and plenty of ideas to inspire more sustainable living.
Summer admission costs £31.06 when booked in advance or £34.56 on the day.
Dogs are welcome in the outdoor gardens at no extra charge. However, apart from assistance dogs, they are not permitted inside the Biomes, the Link Building walkway between the Biomes, or the children’s play areas.
St. Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6EN.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan were created by the Tremayne family between the mid-18th and early 20th centuries. Following the First World War, the 200-acre estate gradually fell into neglect and remained largely abandoned until it was rescued and restored in 1990 by John Willis, a descendant of the Tremayne family, and horticulturalist Tim Smit.
Today, visitors can explore magnificent rhododendrons and camellias, productive flower and vegetable gardens, an Italian garden, and a series of lakes fed by a ram pump that is more than 100 years old. One of the garden’s most striking features is The Jungle, a lush valley planted with towering subtropical tree ferns and exotic species.
Summer admission costs £25.20.
Dogs accompanied by well-behaved owners are welcome in the gardens throughout the year.
Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5JZ.
Trebah Garden, near Falmouth, is a spectacular subtropical garden and a wonderful destination to explore with your four-legged companion. In fact, 9,057 dogs were welcomed here last year.
The garden has strong links to the Fox family. Charles Fox and his wife Sarah purchased Trebah in 1838 for £4,375 with the vision of creating pleasure gardens filled with exotic plants. The influential Falmouth family owned Trebah for 40 years and made an enormous contribution to the landscape visitors enjoy today. In 1990, ownership of the garden was transferred to the Trebah Garden Trust.
Trebah is renowned for its outstanding plant collections, including enormous Elephant’s Rhubarb, century-old rhododendrons, the colourful Hydrangea Valley reminiscent of a painting by Claude Monet, and more than 50 varieties of bamboo. One of the garden’s most iconic spots is the Mallard Pond, crossed by a charming blue bridge. Following the paths downhill leads to a secluded beach, where visitors can relax, take in the views and enjoy a coffee or an ice cream.
Admission costs £17.50.
Dogs are welcome throughout the garden and on the beach all year round. However, they are not permitted at performances.
Dog-friendly gardens in Cornwall prove that a day out with your pup can be about much more than beaches and coastal paths. Whether Winnie was sniffing his way through subtropical planting, posing beside a blue bridge or simply enjoying a well-earned treat by the sea, each garden offered something a little different for both of us to enjoy.