Things to see & do
Places to see
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Heavenly Hidcote
Heavenly Hidcote
A treat for the senses: divine scents perfume the air in the tropical plant house, and the pink clouds of magnolia flowers are a joy to behold. Early narcissus bulbs provide further colour.
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Spectacular Killerton
Spectacular Killerton
Killerton's glorious garden was created by John Veitch and is one of the highlights of a visit here. The beautiful collection of mature rhododendrons are at their best at this time of year and majestic trees surround sloping lawns (great for rolling down).
© M. Jarvis
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Sensational Stourhead
Sensational Stourhead
You're spoilt for choice here, with ravishing rhododendrons and azaleas aplenty. Admire beautiful bluebell displays, and discover the new Temple of Flora, home to the goddess of flowers and springtime.
© Stourhead images
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Exotic Trengwainton
Exotic Trengwainton
Discover a garden where the spirit of the plant hunters lives on in its exotic collection of plants from arround the world. Don't miss the colourful display of candelabra primulas along the stream garden or the magnificent rhododendrons.
© National Trust
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Spring on Brownsea
Spring on Brownsea
Nature is springing into action here: terns have started to return to the island is teeming with wildlife.
© Perkins
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Glorious Greenway
Glorious Greenway
Enjoy the large and romantic woodland garden, with restored vinery and peach house, wild edges and rare plantings, which drift down the hillside towards the sparkling Dart estuary.
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Somerset's showpieces
Somerset's showpieces
Spring's in the air in South Somerset. The tulip borders at Montacute House are currently in bud, and the orchards at Lytes Cary Manor and Barrington Court will be in blossom soon. Here, and at Tintinhull Garden, you'll find beautiful bulb displays.
© Montacute Staff
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Lovely Lanhydrock's
Lovely Lanhydrock's
At this time of year the brilliant colours of the planing in the fomal garden really start to shine. If you want to go further afield then there is an extensive network of woodland, park and riverside walks.
© National Trust
Heavenly Hidcote
Spectacular Killerton
Sensational Stourhead
Exotic Trengwainton
Spring on Brownsea
Glorious Greenway
Somerset's showpieces
Lovely Lanhydrock's
Wallace and Gromit join us for a very special summer of celebration
© Aardman Animation Ltd 2012
Wallace and Gromit - summer of celebration
Join us at Tyntesfield on 4 June for a big tea party where there'll be a special viewing of the loveable duo's new mini-animation - A Jubilee Bunt-a-thon.
We'll have a giant tea party table set up at Home Farm, with a special Jubilee menu, and a brass band to get you in the party mood. Join in the fun, including Gromit cookie making, quizzes, trail sheets and colour-in bunting.
On your bike
From family bike rides to miles of technically demanding bridleways, we have more for cyclists than many realise and exciting new cycle hubs planned.
Spring walks
What better time of the year to throw off the gloom of winter and get outside, fill you lungs with fresh air and explore some wonderful places.
Surfing
Even if the water is still a bit chilly, you can don your wetsuit and hit the waves. We look after some of the best surfing beaches in the country.
What's on?
Tourist information in West Cornwall
Visitors and residents alike can now pop into our new Welcome to West Cornwall Centre to gather information about the local area. The Centre, in Penzance, is open daily, except Thursday and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.