CAERHAYS CASTLE

HX Suggested Reasons to Visit

Minerals Collection

Magnolia Gardens

Porthluney Cove

Caerhays has a wondrous setting: a fairytale castle in a wooded vallley adjacent to a large, sweeping lake and a quiet, sandy beach. Each of these features enhances the estate and its reputation, but it is best known for its gardens, which are home to the National Magnolia Collection, and in spring are truly beautiful.

About

Caerhays' magnolia trees flower profusely in Spring, and it is then that the garden is open. Holding the National Collection of magnolias means having at least 75% of all species listed of that particular plant, clearly labelled and displayed for the public to view. As part of their work, the gardeners at Caerhays constantly look for new cultivars, raising and adding to the collection of magnolias.

Gardening was not always the most significant aspect of Caerhays. The estate has a long history. It belonged to the Trevanion family from 1370 to 1840, and in the early nineteenth century John Bettesworth Trevanion employed the architect John Nash to redesign the house. Nash created an imposing castle - but at great cost, especially to Trevanion, who fell heavily into debt and eventually fled, leaving Caerhays to fall into disrepair.

The castle remained empty until 1853 when it was bought by the successful businessman Michael Williams, who began the transformation as we see it today. The estate is still owned by the Williams family, and it is they who have introduced the camellias, daffodils, rhodedendrons and magnolias which have cumulitavely become one of Britain's most significant botanical collections, drawing garden enthusiasts from across the globe.

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Castle & Gardens

These are organised tours of the main rooms on the ground floor of the Castle. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes (depending on the group size) and there are normally 3 tours a day 11.30am, 1.00pm …