It was very grey when we started the day. The forecast indicated that it would remain dry - but overcast. Once my ablutions were complete and our morning tea and coffee were ready, I sat and wrote up yesterday's blog. We met up with Jan and John for breakfast and decided on the day's plan of action. Jan wanted to visit Charlestown (which is only a mile from here) and then we had to find another destination. Over breakfast, we decided on Pencarrow House, the other side of Bodmin.
We drove to Charlestown (we knew from a previous visit that the footpath across the fields and cliffside was hard going). It became clear immediately that there was a lot of work underway in the dock and parts of the village were blocked off.
Frankly, Charlestown was a disappointment. It used to be so quaint with a large schooner nestled in the dock and a thriving village, but now it seemed a bit neglected. We walked down to the end of the dock and Diane and Jan went into the little souvenir booth. John and I watched the waves gently lap against the beach. It wasn't actually raining, but we seemed to be in some low cloud which reduced visibility and felt like a fine drizzle. We walked back towards the car park and stopped for a coffee.
Plan A (Pencarrow House) had changed. We were now working to Plan B which took us to the Pinetum Gardens on the outskirts of St Austell, about a mile from where we were. I must. have driven past these gardens many tens of times over the years, but never noticed them. That was a shame. They were an absolute joy. The gardens formerly known as Pine Lodge Gardens, is a 30-acre estate located in Holmbush, just outside St Austell. Established over 40 years ago by Ray and Shirley Clemo, the gardens were developed with a passion for plant collection and landscape design. Shirley Clemo, recognized for her expertise in horticulture, was awarded an MBE in 2011 for her contributions to the garden.
The gardens are divided into ten individually themed areas, including a Japanese garden, a cottage garden, and a winter garden. They house one of the largest plant collections in Cornwall, featuring a diverse array of species from around the world. We bought our tickets and started to roam.
We started in the arboretum which and then looped through the estate to the Winter Garden, where we zigged and zagged along the paths and through the planting.
Our next stop was the Japanese Garden. This was enchanting but would have benefitted from some dapple sunlight to lift some of the colours. We spent a long time there, drinking in the tranquillity.
We wandered onwards to the Cottage Garden which nestles in front of some holiday accommodation. Exploring the paths and walkways, we ended up in the Bridge Garden, where a low bridge coated in wisteria, spans a small pond. (Unfortunately, the wisteria was past its best). A small waterfall cascades into the pond, providing the gentle sound of running water.
It was time for a cup of tea. We stopped at the cafe and chatted over a pot. It was clear that we were all enchanted by the place.
After finishing our tea break, we moved on to the Courtyard Garden and then the Water Garden. We paused here. We seemed to be the only visitors in the whole garden and we took the opportunity to just sit and soak in the atmosphere.
Eventually, we stirred ourselves and returned to the car. We had been in the gardens for about 4 hours and loved every minute of it. It is an oasis of calm that I am sure we will return to in the future.
Back at the hotel, we sat out on the terrace with a drink, soaking in the afternoon sun (that had finally put in an appearance).
We met up for dinner and enjoyed the excellent fare for the last time, this holiday. Diane started with Prawns (no octopus), and I had Cornish crabcakes. We both chose the salmon for our main dish. When dinner was finished, we put on our jackets and went for a walk up the hill overlooking Charlestown.
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