Pinetum Gardens
ENTRY
from £9
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Saint Austell
What it’s like
Thirty acres of themed garden rooms to wander, from a waterfall in the Sun Garden to a proper Japanese Garden.
This is a garden for pottering rather than running about, which suits some visits better than others. Ten themed garden rooms spread across thirty acres, with champion trees, a Sun Garden with its own waterfall, a Winter Garden and a Japanese Garden that the site reckons is worth seeing whatever the season. It's Cornwall's largest modern garden and it shows, built up over 45 years, so there's a fair bit of ground to cover.
Paths are paved through most of it, which makes it an easy one for a buggy or a wheelchair, and dogs on leads are welcome too if you're bringing one along. Under 5s go free, which softens the £17.50 adult and £9 child prices a bit, though it's still a proper day-out price rather than a quick stop. Give it two to three hours if you want to see all ten garden rooms rather than skim the highlights.
There's a Courtyard Café for refreshments and light meals when everyone's had enough of plants, and free parking on site so that's one less thing to think about. Last entry is 4pm even though the gates stay open till 5, so don't turn up at quarter to four expecting a full wander.
It sits just two miles from the Eden Project, and plenty of people seem to fold the two into one Cornwall day, or stretch it further with Heligan or Charlestown down the road. If you fancy staying longer than an afternoon, there are garden lodges and touring caravan pitches on site with breakfast available for £10 a head.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 16:30
- Parking
- Free car parking on site
- How long to allow
- 2-3 hours
- Food
- Courtyard Café offering refreshments, light meals and locally-sourced products
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair accessible, paved paths throughout most areas
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome
- Worth knowing
- Under 5s free
- Under 5s get in free
- Last entry is 4pm even though it's open till 5
- Two miles from the Eden Project, so an easy pairing for one day
- Garden lodges and touring caravans on site if you want to stay over, with breakfast at £10pp
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£17.50 for an adult and £9 for a child, with under 5s going free.
Do we need to book ahead?
There's nothing on booking required, so it looks like a turn-up affair.
How long should we set aside?
The site suggests two to three hours to get round all ten garden rooms properly.
What time do the gardens close?
Open daily 10am to 5pm, but last entry is 4pm, so don't leave it too late in the afternoon.
Is it OK for a pushchair or wheelchair?
Most of the gardens have paved paths, so pushchairs and wheelchairs get around fine. Worth calling ahead if you've got specific access needs.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site.
Can we bring the dog?
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome around the gardens, and in the accommodation too for £25 per stay.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Courtyard Café does refreshments, light meals and locally-sourced products.
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