The Cornwall Blog

Summer in Cornwall seems made for outdoor events, especially when the setting is as lovely as Pencarrow House and Gardens. Tucked between Bodmin and Wadebridge, the historic estate hosts a changing programme of live music, theatre, fairs and family activities throughout the year. The calendar changes from season to season, but the setting is always part of the experience. Performances take place against the backdrop of the house and gardens, with plenty of space to settle in and enjoy an evening outdoors. Outdoor entertainment at Pencarrow Previous summer programmes have included tribute concerts, outdoor theatre and musical performances. The Live Queen Experience and The Upbeat Beatles brought familiar songs to the gardens, while productions such as Beauty and the Beast made the most of the atmospheric surroundings. That mixture is one of the things I like about Pencarrow. One visit might involve live music and a picnic, while another...

There is something about the first snowdrops that makes me ridiculously happy. They are such a welcome sight in February, popping up while winter is still very much with us but bringing that first little promise of spring. One of my favourite places to see them is Pencarrow House and Gardens , tucked away between Bodmin and Wadebridge. Pencarrow traditionally celebrates snowdrop season with special garden openings during February. The dates and arrangements can vary from year to year, and winter weather sometimes has other ideas, so it is definitely worth checking Pencarrow's website before setting off. Snowdrops at Pencarrow Snowdrop season makes a lovely excuse to wander through Pencarrow's sprawling grounds and woodland. The gardens cover around 50 acres and move between formal landscaping and ancient woodland, so there is plenty to explore beyond the flowers themselves. February can be a funny old month in Cornwall. One minute there is ...

One of the best things about being in Cornwall is Spring, the flowers tend to open here first and the stunning gardens we have dotted around are full of rhododendrons and magnolia. A sight to behold!  It really is lovely after the destruction of the recent storms seeing these beautiful gardens recover. Pencarrow House and Gardens , just outside Wadebridge, lost a massive 50 mature trees in storm Eunice, so tragic as the gardens are wrapped in ancient woodland and a joy to explore. With a slightly delayed opening, 21st March, the team at Pencarrow are busily getting the gardens ready again for the public to enjoy. Pencarrow really is a Cornish gem, still family-owned the estate is full of ancient history and worthy of an explore. The gardens are a wonderful mix of woodland (where you can just make out an Iron Age fort), the Italian formal gardens which are so peaceful and there's even a secret grotto thought to be a romantic meeting spot! There is a garden trail for the kids and chi...

February in Cornwall is full of surprises. From snow days to balmy sunshine and our famous Cornish mizzle, February can have it all. I feel it is a month filled with hope, with Spring just round the corner, Cornwall wakes up from its wintery sleep first. Here are a few events to encourage you out of hibernation this Winter season: Rick Stein's Charity Lunches - Padstow's most famous resident offers great deals at the end of January and the beginning of February. In aid of the brilliant Cornwall Air Ambulance charity, from Monday 20th January to Thursday 13th February you can enjoy a delicious 3 course set menu at The Seafood Restaurant. Eden Project Ice Skating - Always popular with families, the ice rink finishes its winter run on the 23rd of February. The biomes are a brilliant place to go whatever the weather, I especially enjoy the tropical warmth on a cold day! February Half Term Rockpool Ramble at Hannifore Beach, Looe - Sunday the 23rd at 11am sees their ...

September is here and its your last chance to make the most of a visit to  Pencarrow House and Gardens . This stunning Cornish Georgian house is open for tours until the 27th of September 2018, the gardens are a little longer, until the end of October. If you haven't visited Pencarrow yet you are in for a treat. It was only recently I took the guided house tour and it really is worth it. This is an ancient family home, still lived in and maintained by the  Molesworth-St Aubyns family and it is full of quirky objects and interesting tales. The guides are great, packing lots of history into a fresh and funny tour. You get to find out about where the Monkey Puzzle tree got its name, scout out secrets doors and see the oil paintings that watch you back! The house has been used for film locations as well over the years, and you can understand why. Every room feels rich with life and layered with stories. Of course Pencarrow is not only about the hou...