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girl in white dress walks along road bordered by tall green trees

gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - day with tregothnan estate and gardens is a gifted collaboration 



Tregothnan’s beautiful and mysterious gardens are only open to the public once a year each spring, though you can book a private tour throughout the rest of the year – and it is absolutely worth a peek…

Not only are the Estate’s endless gardens home to some of England’s rarest plants, a private deer park, ponds, and bee hives, but it also houses England’s only tea plantation! My tour of the garden was so fascinating, every corner hid a snippet of thrilling history or plant-magic. I truly do love exploring hidden gems like Tregothnan, and learning as I wander.

girl in white dress walks along road bordered by tall green trees

People travel from all across Cornwall to purchase Christmas trees from Tregothnan in the winter time, but there are so many secrets tucked away behind the closed, white gates. You begin your journey by strolling along a winding road framed by impressively tall trees, before finding yourself at the welcome area and mini coffee shop/store (Christmas trees on the left!). Naturally, when visiting a tea plantation, you need to start the experience with a cuppa, and so I trialled a cup of Tregothnan’s home grown Early Grey. What really caught my attention about their blends is that they use no oils and no nasty tannings… these tend to leave that filmy residue on the top of your tea, like many major brand’s tea bags do! Tregothnan’s produce is all natural. The tea leaves are picked from various spots around the estate at dawn, dried, blended with other home grown herbs and florals, and boxed with their chic and classic packing. Perfect!

I have previously sampled their English Breakfast blend, and on the way back I tried their Afternoon blend. Their teas are so natural and fresh that you really don’t need to add sugar or milk to enhance the flavour. The reason we add sugar and/or milk to tea at home, is because the vastly commercial tea bag blends can be pretty bitter, in fact, I learnt that sugar and milk were introduced to tea many many moons ago when tea first became popular in England. It was such a luxury product that cheaper, faux, disgusting, concoctions were made and sold unknowingly to customers, and these not so nice ‘blends’ were mixed with milk and sugar to cover up the grim flavours. If you didn’t know, we pinched tea from China, and their blends are so pure, like Tregothnan’s, that no flavourings are needed to soften bitter vibes, and after travelling to many spots around the globe I very quickly realised that England seems to be the only place that adds milk to tea. Asking for milk has gifted me with some very, very odd looks in other countries, especially elsewhere in Europe.

a girl in a white dress stands in a bluebell field (without flowers), with tall, green trees on either side

From here, the guided tour of the gardens begins, and you’ll find yourself walking along just a fraction of Europe’s longest driveway, toward a grand, seemingly never-ending house… it was truly like stepping into a period drama. As I glanced right, some horses appeared from the adjacent stable garden – hello Hallmark romance movie! The house itself is home to the Boscawen family, and is entirely private… no photos allowed! The estate dates all the way back to 1334, and is located near the sea port of Falmouth.

Lots of ocean expeditions to other lands used to carry plant specimens back to Tregothnan via Falmouth, and the grounds house some of the world’s largest camellias and rhododendrons dating back to over 200 years ago. Tregothnan is also home to the world’s only camellia labyrinth, which you’ll find hidden away between sections of the garden. Apparently deer do love to wander into the labyrinth, so take care when exploring!

girl in red dress stands above still pond, surrounded by green trees, grass, and yellow and white flowers

So why is Tregothnan the only tea plantation in England, what’s the secret? Ok, so here’s where my inner nerd and outer tea lover can get super nerdy and excited together…

Tea is a type of Camellia, the Camellia Sinesis to be exact, and as we already know, Tregothnan is pretty well established in growing and caring for the ornamental variety. 200 years of practice comes in handy. In 1999 the head gardener at the time planted an experimental tea garden in a sheltered area of the estate. It took six years of love and care before the plants could be harvested… the longest ever wait for a cup of tea, surely?! But worth it! Tregothnan is now home to around 150 acres of tea plant. Now here’s the magical part…

As you explore the gardens you may notice a little shift in the atmosphere! I stepped from one section of the garden to another, and it genuinely felt a little warmer. The river Fal runs through the estate and gardens, and provides Tregothnan with some interesting, unique, pockets of atmosphere – they have their own micro climate! Whilst the ornamental variety of camellia are found across many English gardens, different varieties of the tea plant thrive in climates best suited to them… so as the climate varies from spot to spot, you have to plant tea that is best suited to each climate. Tregothnan’s team of clever, clever botanists and gardeners now care for a range of tea plants that can be found across the gardens. I’d love a little tea bush amongst my vegetable and herb garden!

But wait, it gets better… not only do they grow tea plants, but they also grow a wide range of plants, flowers, and herbs that are blended with their tea leaves, and can create bespoke blends on request. Some of the tea plants are even surrounded by Manuka bushes, and are also blended with the tea leaves, and the flowers for honey!

a girl in a red dress stands in the middle of a tea plantation, surrounded by tall, green trees

Tregothnan really is one incredible, self-sustaining, working estate.  If you have a plant lover or botanist in the family, or simply love roaming around pretty gardens in any season, Tregothnan is such a unique spot to explore. The estate allows bookings for private tours of the grounds, bee-keeping classes, flower arranging workshops, and in depth tea workshops. Thank you so much for having me!

Claudia xo

Tregothnan Estate & Gardens: tregothnan.co.uk



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girl in a yellow dress and beige hat walks up the steps to the white Cornwall hotel

gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - experience with the cornwall hotel & spa is a gifted collaboration 


The Cornwall Hotel is a beautiful Estate, hidden away in the little market town of St Austell…

You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for the turning, but the drive into the Estate is dreamy - greenery surrounds you, with a natural pond to the right and tall trees ahead. The Hotel itself is tucked away behind the views, and there are an array of large, self-catering lodges even further back (I love the outdoorsy modern chalet vibe of these!). There’s even a pet-friendly cottage!

a girl sits on the steps on the terrace, behind her is the white Cornwall Hotel

I visited the Hotel many years ago, but the community areas have recently had a very exciting revamp – with the launch of Cornwall’s first Laura Ashley ‘The Tea Room’. The vibe in these areas is now completely different, with beautiful open spaces, lots of light flowing in, easy access to the terrace and garden area, and a chic Laura Ashley design that winds its way from the dreamy Tea Room (once the ‘lounge’ area) through to the restaurant rooms.

The Tea Room itself is a great space, perfect for a girl’s lunch or brunch, birthday parties, hen do’s, baby showers, and more. You can even do as I did and start your experience with an afternoon tea before heading to the spa. The room has been redecorated from top to bottom, in a beautiful, chic Laura Ashley style. It’s modern but classic, with perfect finishing touches from geometric lights to china on the walls – everything is perfectly colour coordinated. The quiet and cosy bar is right next door, and follows in a similar vibe and colour scheme… there’s even a log fire tucked away in one corner!

the Laura Ashley decorated interior of The Tea Room at The Cornwall Hotel

The Team Room is open for brunch and for afternoon tea… and the menu really does cater for all. There are amazing vegan dishes, and a brilliant child-friendly afternoon tea option. Everything really is so yummy… I was lucky enough to taste a little of everything at the open event, and to try even more on my revisit! The best part? If you can’t finish it all, there are pretty Laura Ashley boxes available to take home your leftovers. There really is an array of wonderful food!

The tea is locally sourced from England’s one and only tea plantation, Tregothnan! I absolutely recommend the ‘afternoon tea’ blend – it’s wonderfully light, and pairs so well with the afternoon tea dishes. You can also swap the tea for Prosecco… or, far better idea, have both!

the tasty scones, jam, and cream from an afternoon tea   a cup of tea and dessert plate from an afternoon tea

The spa is just a short walk away, and has a beautiful entrance… with a lovely courtyard spot surrounded by stone buildings. The gym is to your left, with the spa entrance straight ahead. The spa itself is made up of an indoor pool and adjacent bubble pool, a steam room, a sauna, and an additional open shower area. The magical feature are the concertina windows that open the pool up to the outside garden area – for summer sun only! Upstairs you’ll find a little waiting area and the quiet treatment rooms.

Sadly the bubble pool wasn’t working on the day I visited, but having experienced it on a previous visit – it is relaxing! The pool isn’t overly warm, so quick dips into the sauna were definitely welcomed.

I was treated to the wonderful ‘Vino-Perfect Radiance’ Caudalie facial, which I highly recommend! It’s a sixty minute facial that utilises a variety of Caudalie products, cool mists, and both hot and cold basalt stones. My face was so soft, and it felt so refreshed and revitalised! The perfect way to end a lovely day.



The Cornwall’s spa has a wide variety of treatments, breaks, and spa days available – they also offer a local’s Spa package, which is available to those living in PL and TR post codes… it includes a forty-five minute massage, a spa lunch to share, and use of all the spa facilities.

A lovely little Hotel and Spa combo to have right on my doorstep, I can’t wait to see what else is to come! Laura Ashley’s addition of the ‘Tea Room’ really has begun a wonderful change to the hotel’s atmosphere, and is becoming a popular feature already! Thank you so much for having me for the day!


Claudia xo

The Cornwall Hotel & Spa: thecornwall.com




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gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - day with saint michael's mount is a gifted collaboration 



I love a little mythology and folklore, a little unusual history, and St Michael’s Mount has it all…

Twinned (though smaller) with Mont Saint-Michel in France, St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall is surrounded by mysterious tales… and lots of beautiful ocean waves. There is so much history to this incredible tidal island, it has worn many faces throughout the years, and I’m excited to share a few of my favourite tales with you. Let’s jump right into it!

It’s said that the Mount is named in honour of Saint Michael, the patron Saint of fishermen. Tales that date as far back as 495 AD mention hypnotic mermaids luring sailors toward treacherous rocks around the Mount, but that these sailors were guided safely away by a vision of Saint Michael himself. Four miracles are also noted to have happened at the Mount in the years 1262 and 1263. These events and visions of course drew religious attention, and people began to make the pilgrimage to Saint Michael’s Mount. If you time your visit right, you can walk along the impressive man-made causeway and follow in the footsteps of the many, many pilgrims that once, and still do, walk the causeway.

Another exciting draw to this tidal island is the energy! The Mount is said to be built above ancient ley lines, which are lines of energy running beneath the land, or in this case - the sea bed. These ley lines cross at the heart of the Mount, and if you sit patiently enough in one perfectly positioned seat within the church (that can be found at the highest point of the Mount), you may feel an energy circling your legs. I of course had to take a seat and feel the energy for myself. I wasn’t told where or what I’d feel before sitting down, but after a few moments you can feel a warm pull around your legs, almost like pins and needles (and no, it wasn’t poor circulation!). There is usually a guide in the church, and his tales of the ley lines, and the religious ties to them, are so captivating! They also say that where ley lines cross, you can often receive messages from the other side. Ooooooh!

Saint Michael, mentioned above, is also known as the archangel Michael. Places of worship devoted to the archangel Michael were built across ley lines all around the world, hence another reason for the Mount's biblical name. The castle on the Mount was once a monastery from the 8th to the early 11th century, and if you take peek on an external door on your right before you enter the castle, you'll see the date 29 September inscribed on it - the date of Michaelmas!

A girl stands on an empty beach, with a view of St Michael's Mount ahead of her.

The Mount’s next little tale for you is a great one, and a fairly well-known local legend. The legend of Jack the Giant Killer! The tale tells that an enormous, eighteen-foot tall, giant named Cormoran once made the Mount his home. He used to terrorise the land, and at night would wade across the waters and steal cattle from the local farms. One moonlit night, a local boy named Jack made his way across the infamous cobbled causeway to lay a trap for Cormoran. He dug a pit big enough to engulf the giant, covered it with sticks and foliage, and waited, hidden from sight, for dawn. As dawn broke, Jack blew his horn and woke the giant, who, as planned, came chasing after him! Jack lured Cormoran to the pit, where he fell! Success! The tale ends in many different ways, the nicest end being that Jack covers the trapped giant in debris, and he becomes a part of the Mount itself!

Shortly after you begin your walk up the cobbled path of the Mount, you may be lucky enough to spot Cormoran’s stone heart beneath your feet – I always miss this sneaky little stone! Clearly I’m not ready to hear his heart beating away just yet.

a girl stands on the cobbled pathway, with a view of St Michael's Mount ahead of her.

There is so much history to be found at Saint Michael’s Mount… once a Monastery, it has also seen its fair share of military thanks to Napoleon and the Spanish Armada, and is still home to the St Aubyn family who live in the magnificent castle on the Mount (you can read all about the St Aubyn family history here). Many parts of the castle are open to the public, including some beautiful rooms and a small armoury, and the views from the very top are mesmerising. On a sunny day, you can see that beautiful blue of the ocean stretching for miles and miles. You can see the causeway beneath the waves too! The island itself is also home to a few residents, so do take care to be considerate when exploring the mini harbour area.

The walk up to the Mount can be a little taxing, especially on a hot day, but there are a few spots to stop and take in the view. It really is worth making it to the top. You’ll even spot an array of small cannons lining the outer defence walls. As you wander the one-way route around the public parts of the castle, you’ll see the history of the people who once lived here, with photographs and furniture and tapestries – the library is pretty impressive too! Beside the church you’ll find the highest point of the Mount, and if you make a little wish for romance whilst touching it, the legend states that your wish for love will be granted!

Back at the bottom of the Mount is the garden. It is a separate fee to enter, but it is a beautiful spot to explore, and you’ll also be gifted with some unique views of the castle. Did you know that to reach and tend to part of the garden, the gardeners have to abseil the walls?! Not for the fainthearted!

a view of a pinky sunset over the ocean, and sea-weed covered rocks.   a girl walks across a cobbled causeway, wrapped in a blanket and carrying a lantern. St Michael's Mount and a castle is ahead of her.

It is utterly enchanting to walk across the causeway at low tide. I once found myself wading ankle-deep across the cobbled path, with fish swimming amongst my feet! What magic! The tide does change from day to day, and it’s such an experience to visit at low tide, even if you have to take a boat in one direction and walk on the return. It's pretty magical at sunset too, with pink hues framing the castle itself. 

Claudia xo

St Michael's Mount: www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk
You can check the tide times on the Saint Michael’s Mount website.




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c l a u d i a

a travel and tourism creative, creating beautiful content as she sees the world

" ...a small girl with big dreams"

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