I can’t be the only person who drives by places and thinks, “I’ll nip in there one day.” For me, Trewithen Gardens is one of the those places. Tucked away on a back road, between Truro and Grampound, I drive past Trewithen Gardens at least twice a week and have done for over 10 years! There are lots of gardens worth visiting in Cornwall, and I’d imagine Trewithen is one that could easily be overlooked. However, it is worth your time and attention.
Thanks to my friend, Jane, suggesting we meet at Trewithen Garden’s Cafe, The Tea Shed for lunch, I finally made my way into the gardens and experienced it for myself.
The History of Trewithen Gardens and House
Amazingly, Trewithen has stayed in the same family, the Galworthy’s, since the early 18th Century. It’s way too big to cover and walk in one visit. With 30 acres of subtropical gardens and 200 acres of woodland, there’s no need to do the same walk twice. That said, I’m not sure if it’s all the woodland is accessible to visitors. Trewithen translates to “House of the Trees” so it’s quite fitting it has such extensive woodland.
The house is open to the public and guided tours available. For us, it was a lovely visit for food and a stroll, and we were blessed with good weather.
The Tea Shed – Trewithen’s homely cafe
Here, you have the option of sitting in the cafe, or out in the conservatory. The Tea Shed is small but it offers a good choice of lunches. From generously filled ciabattas, soups and quiches, it’s nourishing and satisfying.
I’d skipped breakfast so by the time I met Jane, I was starving. I opted for cheese and Branston filled ciabatta with salad, and a much needed pot of tea. I don’t have pics of Jane’s lunch but I’m pretty sure she had the quiche. Our food was delicious and filling. The cakes looked good too but there was no way I could manage it.
Heading into Trewithen Gardens
Our walk around Trewithen Gardens literally involved following our noses. There are paths to follow from The Tea Shed so we did that. While we followed a designed path we took a turn somewhere and ended up scaling a gate and walking across a field. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t one of the footpaths!
Either way, we came across some beautiful sights. The hydrangeas offering pops of colour and the modern Henheadhow Circle sculpture by James Wild is an interesting interpretation of the circle of life. Made from reclaimed wood found on the estate, henheadhow translates as “generation”.
My favourite bit of Trewithen Gardens was the walled garden near the house. Myself and Jane sat here for a while with only the company of the gardener, pottering around. Peaceful and somewhat aligning, and looking pretty good in the sunshine.
Obviously, Trewithen is beautiful. They’re quiet and unassuming. The grounds are extensive but they’re somewhat more demure compared to other gardens in Cornwall, like Trebah. Don’t let that deter you though. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves and let you know that Trewithen Gardens is worth your time and attention.
Trewithen Gardens and Estate has seasonal opening hours. You can find more information on their website.
A big thanks to my friend Jane for letting me use some of her lovely photos.