Days out in Cornwall

Near Torpoint, the garden at Antony is home to playful topiary, intriguing sculptures, fountains and sweeping views over the water. In summer, the garden is blooming with roses and impressive displays of wisteria.

The 18th-Century house of silver grey stone is a beguiling mixture of the formal and informal. It's believed to be one of the finest surviving Queen Anne buildings in the West Country.

Glorious Cornish garden with valley views and an expansive estate to explore. The garden features terraces, ponds and orchards with 150 local apple varieties.

The Tudor house, perched high above the River Tamar, is decorated with tapestries, arms and armour, pewter, brass and old oak furniture. The house has now re-opened with a limited number of rooms.

An ancient and atmospheric estate with a medieval garden rich in archaeology and wildlife. In the walled King's Garden, cloud-like box hedges follow neat paths where you can wander and breathe in the perfume of highly scented roses and lavender.

Peaceful and playful valley garden near Falmouth, where big leaves and exotic flowers thrive in the jungle-like lower valley and sun-loving specimens enjoy the upper banks. Colourful wild flowers are currently covering the grassy banks above the maze and bring vibrant colour to the garden for visitors to enjoy.

Sheltered garden bursting with exotic trees and shrubs where you can follow in the footsteps of the 1920s plant hunters to see plants that flowered in Britain for the first time. Winding wooded paths lead to sea views across Mount's Bay.

This Victorian watermill and workshops nestled in a wooded valley is an atmospheric reminder of the recent past when corn was ground here for the local community. We're welcoming visitors back to the ground floor of the mill, including the shop, bakery and water wheel.

At the very heart of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site sits the great beam engine in Taylor's engine house, originally powered by high-pressure steam boilers introduced by local hero Richard Trevithick. On a guided tour you'll discover the whole dramatic story of Cornish mining.

A working beam engine running on steam where mining history comes to life: learn of Levant's industry and tragedy. You can visit the buildings at Levant by booking a guided tour. Levant Mine sits on the cliffs of the industrial and dramatic 'Tin Coast', part of the Cornish World Heritage site.

An estate with maritime views and woodland walks, near Truro. Explore the meandering paths through the garden, leading to exotic plants and herbaceous borders.

A tranquil small but varied garden complete with Elizabethan knot garden, wild meadow and orchard.

The Elizabethan manor house with fine interiors remains little changed by the advances in building fashions over the centuries, thanks to long periods under absentee owners.

Cornwall is not only home to far stretching dramatic coastline and countryside, but also a number of beautiful and historic gardens. Across this ancient land are gardens rooted in history.

The National Trust conserves and cares for miles of coast and foot paths for walking around Cornwall. With so many types of walks for all abilities, you can find the right trail for you.

The summer months and warmer weather have taken hold of the places we care for in Cornwall, which makes it an ideal time to head out exploring. Where will your next family outing take you?

See the full list places we care for in the South West by county.

Whether you’re looking for fuel to kick-start a ramble on the coast, or are returning from a gentle stroll in the woods, you’ll find these kiosks, cafés and tea-rooms are great places to stop for a treat. What's more, every visit you make and piece of cake you buy helps us carry on looking after special places for everyone to enjoy, for ever.

Some of the places we care for in the South West need to be booked in advance, with several offering guided tours or introductory talks. Read on to find out more.

Thanks to supporters like you, second-hand bookshops at the places we care for usually take thousands of pounds annually, and every penny is invested to keep the property special for everyone, for ever. Read on to find out about the bookshops which help to raise funds to support vital conservation work, and the different bookshops you can visit.