Lanhydrock

Lanhydrock is best known for the magnificent National Trust estate that shares its name — a grand Victorian country house set in 900 acres of parkland and woods above the River Fowey, just south of Bodmin. The house itself is fascinating, largely rebuilt after a fire in 1881 and preserved as a snapshot of how a wealthy Cornish family lived in the late Victorian era. The kitchens alone are worth the visit, immaculately fitted out with every gadget of the age.

Beyond the house, the estate grounds are exceptional. The formal gardens include an exceptional collection of magnolias and rhododendrons, at their best from March to May. The parkland stretches along the river valley and is criss-crossed with walking trails through ancient beech and oak woodland. In recent years, Lanhydrock has also become one of Cornwall’s top mountain biking destinations — the Cardinham Woods trail centre is nearby, and the estate’s own trails cater to various abilities.

The area around Lanhydrock is a good base for exploring mid-Cornwall without being on the coast. Bodmin is just up the road, the Eden Project and the south coast are within easy reach, and the Camel Trail — the popular cycling and walking route from Bodmin to Padstow — starts nearby. It’s an inland Cornwall experience that has a completely different feel to the beach towns, and is well worth seeking out.