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Glendurgan Garden
A historic and exotic wooded valley garden leading down to the Helford River.
Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5JZ
Important notice
Glendurgan Garden is now closed for winter. We look forward to welcoming you back 15 February 2025.
Opening times for 23 December 2024
Asset Opening time Garden Closed Car Park Closed Tea-house Closed Second-hand bookshop Closed Last entry into the garden is 16:00pm Last orders in the tea-house is 16:30pm
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £13.20 £12.00 Child £6.60 £6.00 Family £33.00 £30.00 1 adult £19.80 £18.00 Group Adult £11.40 Group Child £5.70 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Tea-room
Bookshop
We have a second-hand bookshop.
Toilet
Car park
Steep slopes with steps, cobbled sections and loose gravel. Please note, the maze has steps.
Accessible route and/or map
Purple route is step free with some steep sections.
Level access to food outlet
Accessible toilet
Powered mobility vehicle available
We have one Tramper available to hire through Countryside Mobility. Please call ahead to book or email glendurgan@nationaltrust.org.uk
Designated parking
Seating available
Benches are scattered throughout the garden.
Induction loop
Available at visitor reception.
Steps/uneven terrain
By road
From Truro/East Take the A39 to Falmouth as far as junction with A394 at Treliever Cross Roundabout, and then follow brown and white tourism signs to Glendurgan Garden. From Helston/West Take the A394 to Falmouth as far as junction with A39 at Treliever Cross Roundabout. Turn right and follow brown and white tourism signs to Glendurgan Garden. Please note if using Sat nav from Helston it may take you on scenic back roads via Gweek, Constantine and Port Navas. These roads are very narrow so check the settings on your sat nav if you’d like to avoid this type of driving.
Parking: Our car park will be locked at 5pm every day. All-day parking is £4 per vehicle or £2 for two hours. Parking free for National Trust members.
Sat Nav: Sat nav postcode TR11 5JZ. If follwing sat nav directions please use the National Trust main entrance, not the entrance to the private house.
On foot
Take the Southwest coastal footpath from Falmouth (starting at the seafront at Gyllyngvase beach) to Durgan village. You can enter the bottom of the garden from the village. Total Distance 5.9 miles (9.5 kilometres). Time: 2 hours 30 minutes approximately.
By train
The nearest stations are Penmere and Falmouth Town on the Maritime Branch Line from Truro. Trains run every 30 minutes on weekdays, the journey from Truro taking about 20 minutes. Buses 35 and 63 run from Falmouth Moor to Glendurgan Garden. Together, the bus routes provide an hourly service Monday to Saturday, with some variations to the timetable on school days. Sorry, no buses on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Buses stop at Glendurgan Garden's entrance.
By bus
Buses 35 and 63 run from Falmouth Moor to Glendurgan Garden. Together, the bus routes provide an hourly service Monday to Saturday, with some variations to the timetable on school days. Sorry, no buses on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Buses stop at Glendurgan Garden's entrance. The bus service is operated by OTS as part of the Go Cornwall Transport for Cornwall Network.
By bicycle
Glendurgan is 1/2 mile south-west of Mawnan Smith, on the road to Helford Passage and is about a 10 mile diversion from the nearest point on Sustrans National Cycling Route '3'.
By ferry
There are no ferry services from Falmouth to Glendurgan. Access is possible from the Lizard Peninsula by the summer only passenger ferry that links Helford Village and Helford Passage. Follow the South West Coast Path from Helford Passage to Durgan village. You can enter the bottom of the garden from the village. Total Distance: 0.8 miles (1.3 kms). Walking time: 20 minutes.
Planning your visit
Upcoming Events at Glendurgan Garden
Find out more about all the events we have planned this season at Glendurgan.
Article
Visiting Glendurgan and North Helford countryside with your dog
Find out more about walking your dog around Glendurgan and the North Helford countryside, where waymarked walks take in woodland, the South West Coast Path, secluded stony paths and dog-friendly beaches.
Article
Group visits to Glendurgan Garden
If you’re planning a group visit to Glendurgan Garden, here’s everything you need to know to organise your visit.
Article
Tramper hire at Glendurgan Garden
Visitors to Glendurgan Garden can hire an all-terrain tramper vehicle. The tramper is available through a partnership with Countryside Mobility, a charity initiative to make countryside sites more accessible to all.
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Highlights
Garden
A beautiful, distinctive and intriguing collection of horticultural specimens interspersed with wildflower meadows.
Maze
The cherry laurel maze is based on a design taken from the Sydney Gardens in Bath by Alfred Fox and planted in 1833.
Durgan Beach
A small pebbly sheltered beach on the banks of the Helford River connected to the South West Coast Path.
Giant's Stride
With many children to entertain, the Fox family installed a simple yet enjoyable rotating rope swing.
School Room
This is a recreation of the first school opened by Alfred and Sarah Fox in 1829 and where, for more than 15 years, local children including some of the couple’s 12 sons and daughters attended lessons.
Apple Shed
Tucked away en route to the school room sits the Olive Grove, Apple Orchard and Apple Shed, full of nature-based activities.
Things to see and do
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Things to see at Glendurgan Garden
Glendurgan Garden is now closed for winter. We look forward to welcoming you back 15 February 2025.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Glendurgan Garden
Discover what family-friendly activities are on offer at Glendurgan Garden, from getting lost in the maze to sketching in the orchard.
Eating and shopping
Find out where to eat at Glendurgan and shop for second-hand books
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Eating and shopping at Glendurgan Garden
After exploring the garden, take a well-earned break at the Glendurgan Tea-House, tuck into an ice cream at the Durgan Fish Cellar, or find a good book at the Second-hand Bookshop.
Places to stay
Durgan Wood Cottage
A timber-built thatched cottage nestling amongst the trees with views over the Helford River.
Durgan Old School House
Victorian school turned beachside retreat, full of original features and sea-view windows.
Durgan Quay Cottage
Just metres from the water’s edge, you’ll be guaranteed a room with a view in this stone cottage.
Durgan Beach Cottage
A traditional stone cottage just a few metres from the shores of the Helford Estuary.
Chatham
The west wing of a large country house, with views across the Helford River.
Bosveal
Part of a large country house, brimming with original features and views over the Helford River.
Court
Stay in the east wing of this country house for views over the Helford River and fine interiors.
The Apple Store
A tiny but well-equipped cottage nestling in a large country estate, above the Helford River.
Upcoming events
Event
February half term at Glendurgan Garden
Join us this February half term for Glendurgan’s reawakening! Discover the magic of the garden as it begins to stir from its winter slumber.
About Glendurgan Garden
Glendurgan Garden was described by its creators, the Quakers Alfred and Sarah Fox, as a 'small peace [sic] of heaven on earth'.
There are three valleys of Glendurgan to lose yourself in - full of amazing plants. Sun-loving specimens enjoy the upper banks, and plants with big leaves and exotic flowers thrive in the subtropical lower valley. In Spring, an abundance of wildflowers fill the sloping sides of the valley.
Wandering through the garden leads you down to the unspoilt hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River.
Walking up from Durgan you can find a boat seat, a gigantic tulip tree and ponds teeming with wildlife. You can also learn about the Fox family who created this valley of adventure.
The maze has been foxing people for nearly 200 years. Who will be first to reach the middle of the living puzzle?
Keep up to date with what's going on at Glendurgan on our Facebook page or read previous visitors' reviews on TripAdvisor.
Our work
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Our work in the garden at Glendurgan
Learn about the seasonal conservation efforts undertaken by the garden team to protect and preserve Glendurgan Garden.
History
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History of Glendurgan Garden
Family fun has been at centre of Glendurgan since the 1820s when it was created by the Fox family, who developed an exotic garden and a mighty hedge maze for their 12 children to explore.
Support us
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Volunteering at Glendurgan Garden
There’s a variety of volunteer roles at Glendurgan Garden, from gardening to helping in the Fish Cellar and assisting with family-friendly events. Find a volunteer role that’s right for you.
Donate to Glendurgan Garden
We need your help to raise £1,500 to buy over 5,000 snowdrop and crocus bulbs. These will help to improve our meadows for early spring colour.
OR
£
£50 could purchase 165 bulbs.