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Cornwall

Discover the best things to do in Cornwall; from visiting exotic gardens or ancient houses, to exploring the mining history, all encircled by a much-loved coastline.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit in Cornwall

View across mown lawns to Lanhydrock’s gatehouse, shrouded in mist and low autumn sun
Place
Place

Lanhydrock 

As well as the magnificent late Victorian country house and garden there is 1,000 acres of parkland, woodland and heath to discover at Lanhydrock. Explore two miles of the River Fowey, plus adventurous woodland cycle trails.

Bodmin, Cornwall

Fully open today
The white pyramid entrance at the front of Trelissick, in the autumn, with the orangery at the right of the picture
Place
Place

Trelissick 

A welcoming house and garden set in an estate with surrounding maritime views and woodland walks.

near Truro, Cornwall

Fully open today
Front of the house in early morning light in November at Cotehele, Cornwall
Place
Place

Cotehele 

An atmospheric Tudor house with Medieval roots, a mill on a historic quay and a glorious garden with valley views. Visit the wider estate for miles of colourful autumn walks.

near Saltash, Cornwall

Fully open today
Autumn at the maze
Place
Place

Glendurgan Garden 

A historic and exotic wooded valley garden leading down to the Helford River.

Falmouth, Cornwall

Fully open today
Visitors in the distance walking on a path beside autumnal trees in Trengwainton Garden
Place
Place

Trengwainton Garden 

Sheltered garden bursting with exotic trees and shrubs

near Penzance, Cornwall

Fully open today
The North facing front of Godolphin House, Cornwall with autumn leaves in the foreground.
Place
Place

Godolphin 

An ancient and atmospheric estate with a medieval garden and historic house

Helston, Cornwall

Partially open today
A view of the house at Trerice in summertime
Place
Place

Trerice 

Elizabethan manor house with fine interiors and delightful garden

near Newquay, Cornwall

Fully open today
A view out to sea of a curving headland, the Rumps, at Pentire, Cornwall
Place
Place

Pentire 

Pentire is an exceptionally beautiful headland with far reaching views and managed for wildlife. The café at Pentire Café offers undercover and indoor seating throughout the year.

near Wadebridge, Cornwall

Fully open today
The engine house at East Pool Mine at Pool, near Redruth, Cornwall
Place
Place

East Pool Mine 

Impressive Cornish Beam Engine and industrial heritage discovery centre. Open by pre-booked tours.

near Redruth, Cornwall

Fully open today
Visitors at the Levant Mine and Beam Engine, Cornwall
Place
Place

Levant Mine and Beam Engine 

High-up on the exposed cliffs on the 'Tin Coast' and part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Levant Mine and Beam Engine is open by pre-booked tours.

near St Just, Cornwall

Fully open today
Autumnal view of the house at Antony
Place
Place

Antony 

18th-Century house set within a magnificent landscape garden, still home to the Carew Pole family

Torpoint, Cornwall

Fully open today

Castles and forts in Cornwall

With a rocky island crowned by a castle and an Iron Age hillfort with a wartime bunker, there is a lot of history and beautiful views to admire from these castles and forts in Cornwall.

A view across the water at low tide at St Michael's Mount in the distance
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Article

St Michael's Mount 

The Mount is managed by both the National Trust and the St Aubyn family, working together. This unique partnership supports the Mount's vibrant island community, continuing a remarkable legacy. St Michael's Mount is open throughout the year however, dates and times vary during winter months. Click here to find out more and book your tickets online.

A child stands in the earth ditch of an Iron Age fort, which has green moss and ivy covering its banks
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The Iron Age fort at Trelissick 

Travel back through thousands of years of Cornish history to the very impressive Iron Age promontory fort and 18th-century quay. The fort is the only one of its kind in Europe and its well defined ditches and embankments are still clearly visible.

The open hatch to the ROC Veryan bunker on Nare Head in Cornwall
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The wartime bunker on Nare Head 

Nare Head, next to Carne and Pendower, is home to an underground bunker, which started life as a Royal Observer Corps post spotting aircraft during the Second World War.

October half term and Christmas

children exploring the carved pumpkins on Halloween at Northumberland's Seaton Delaval Hall

October half term in Cornwall and Plymouth 

There are tricks and treats galore at our places in Cornwall and Plymouth for spooky season. From pumpkin trails to apple folklore and even Cornish Piskie parties, discover spine-shivering family fun for October half term.

Final flowers added to the Christmas garland in the Great Hall at Cotehele, Cornwall

Plan ahead for Christmas in Cornwall and Plymouth 

Find out how the ancient houses and exotic gardens around Cornwall and Plymouth are being transformed for Christmas and plan a festive day out for all the family.

Our work

Project
Project

C:UP Lanhydrock Long Gallery ceiling conservation project 

The Long Gallery ceiling at Lanhydrock is a masterpiece of Jacobean plasterwork. One of the few part of the house that survived the great fire at Lanhydrock in 1881, the ceiling is now undergoing a major conservation project to clean and restore it. Climb the scaffold to get up close to the ceiling, see the conservation specialists at work and find out what it takes to care for this delicate piece of art.

Coastal landscape near Kynance with rocks & thrift in the foreground and the sea in the background.
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Article

Looking after the Lizard's rare habitats and species 

Find out more about how a National Trust recovery project is focusing on unique and vital “microhabitats” found on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.

Project
Project

Cornish coastal meadows project 

We are working to create 250 hectares of new species rich grassland at National Trust sites across Cornwall. The project, due to be completed by 2026, will help us rise to the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Nine performers in long skirts walking out of the sea onto a sandy beach
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Article

National Trust collaboration with Wildworks in Cornwall 

National Trust will host multiple new artworks commissioned for the Hello Stranger community engagement programme led by Wildworks, the UK’s leading landscape theatre company, in an exciting new collaboration.  The programme will run across multiple National Trust places from July 2024 until March 2025, featuring works by Cornish artists and co-produced by communities across Cornwall.

Holidays in Cornwall

Stay at a National Trust holiday cottage in Cornwall this year and discover some of the most dramatic scenery in the UK.

The exterior of Hayloft, Roseland, Cornwall

Hayloft 

With sea views for miles and a 10-minute walk to family-friendly beaches, this cottage is in a clifftop cluster of restored farm buildings.

The exterior of Durgan Quay and Beach Cottages, Cornwall

Durgan Beach Cottage 

A traditional stone cottage just a few metres from the shores of the Helford Estuary.

The exterior of Cotehele Dairy Cottage, Cornwall

Cotehele Dairy Cottage 

A quiet and luxurious cottage, with access to Cotehele's house and garden.

Places to visit in Cornwall car-free

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places in Cornwall you can visit without a car.

Family exploring the cycle trails at Lanhydrock, Cornwall
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Places you can visit in Cornwall without a car 

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places that we care for in Cornwall that you can visit without a car. Here’s a little more information that can help you plan your a car-free day out.

Upcoming events

Event

This is Me by Wildworks 

Pentire, near Wadebridge, Cornwall

POSTPONED TO NOW BEGIN FROM SUN 13 OCT A new visual artwork by Melanie Young and Caroline Schanche.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 2 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 2 other dates or times
Event

October half term trail 

Trelissick, near Truro, Cornwall

This October half term head to Trelissick and embrace your creativity in the garden as part of a free half term trail.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 16:30
+ 3 other dates or times
Event

Trengwainton's October half-term family fun 

Trengwainton Garden, near Penzance, Cornwall

Get welly-ready this October half term with our autumn-themed family activities.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 17:00
+ 1 other date or time
Event

October Half-Term at Godolphin 

Godolphin, Helston, Cornwall

This October half-term celebrate the apple harvest with us at Godolphin with crafts, games and apple pressing in the Cider House.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 17:00
+ 3 other dates or times
Event

Spooky Scarecrows at Cotehele 

Cotehele, near Saltash, Cornwall

This October half-term, head to Cotehele to see how many spooky scarecrows you can find hiding in the garden. Spot the scarecrows and read their stories from local folklore to solve the mystery.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 11 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 17:00
+ 11 other dates or times
Event

Marina Rule art exhibition 

Botallack, near St Just, Cornwall

Be the first to see paintings by emerging local artist Marina Rule, many of which have been produced specially for this exhibition.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 29 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 17:00
+ 29 other dates or times
Event

Spooky Storytime 

Cotehele, near Saltash, Cornwall

Join us this Half Term for a spooky story, performed by a rather spooky scarecrow storyteller.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 2 Nov 2024
at
10:15 to 10:45
+ 5 other dates or times
Event

Story Shelter at Lanhydrock 

Lanhydrock, Bodmin, Cornwall

Story Shelter is a work of art produced for Hello Stranger, a Cornwall-wide community engagement programme created by Wildworks and supported by National Trust places in Cornwall and the communities they serve.

Event summary

on
31 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
10:30 to 16:00
+ 3 other dates or times
A group of four women along a path, in the background, down a hill is a reservoir

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.