It never feels like spring until we visit the Caerhays Estate, which opens with the first buds of the year and closes in the colder months. Bursting with rhododendrons, camellias and wisteria, the sweet scent of blossom and the gentle buzzing of bees transport you to the secret garden you dreamed of as a child.
The magic of Caerhays in spring comes from its stunning national collection of magnolias. Each tree is distinct in colour, shape, perfume and character and not to be missed before their bloom fades. Against the majestic neo-gothic backdrop of Caerhays Castle, they create a harmonising palette that feels straight from the pages of a fairytale.
With its unique microclimate, the 140-acre garden near St Austell teems with life and cannot be explored in just one or two visits. Every year we enjoy coming across new plants and seeing how the trees we saw last time have matured.
Four routes make up the garden walk and are well marked throughout, but not all routes are equal when it comes to accessibility. There are parts of the garden that we have not explored for this reason. It is best to seek advice from staff when checking in about the most suitable route for your accessibility needs. There is limited disabled parking available at the castle.