Glendurgan Garden

Garden

Explorer Tom

Glendurgan Garden drops through three green Cornish valleys towards the Helford River, with a cherry laurel maze waiting to embarrass anyone who announces they have an excellent sense of direction. Alfred and Sarah Fox built this place for plants, learning and family adventures; I reckon the maze was their clever way of getting twelve children briefly out of sight. The Foxes began making the garden in the 1820s, filling its sheltered slopes with plants from far beyond Cornwall. In 1833 they planted the maze, borrowing its design from Sydney Gardens in Bath. Most original laurel survives around a thatched summerhouse. Climb to the viewing spot if you would rather watch other people's confident wrong turns. The small schoolroom recalls the one Alfred and Sarah opened in 1829 for local children and their own family. Four original windows survive. Follow the valley towards the orchard, past the Apple Shed, then look for the enormous tulip tree on the climb back. Downhill, the garden leads to Durgan, a former fishing community beside the river; the water makes a fine reward for anyone whose legs survived the return slope. The National Trust charges admission; check seasonal opening days before travelling. Its car park is at Mawnan Smith, and the gates towards Durgan close before the garden itself. Dogs on short fixed leads are welcome in much of the garden, but only assistance dogs can enter the maze, orchard or schoolroom. One path on Manderson's Hill is temporarily shut after storm damage, so follow the open routes. Find your way to the summerhouse, then try explaining to the hedges how easy that was.