Lanhydrock

Lanhydrock is a National Trust estate in east Cornwall, just south of Bodmin, with a Victorian country house set in 900 acres of parkland and woodland above the River Fowey. The house was largely rebuilt after a fire in 1881 and is preserved as a working snapshot of late-Victorian domestic life. The estate also serves as one of Cornwall’s top mountain biking destinations, and the Camel Trail to Padstow starts nearby.

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.