W

hen William Bickford-Smith, the inventor of the miners’ safety fuse, bought Trevarno House in 1874 and set about work on the grounds he would never have dreamt that a hundred years later it would be home to the National Museum of Gardening.

But it is the quirky extras like the museums (alongside the Gardening there is also a vintage Toy Museum for those wanting a healthy dose of nostalgia and a Soap Museum) that make Trevarno stand out from other stately homes and more than worth a day trip.

After admiring the house, you can in fact have hours of horticultural fun. First explore the Country's largest collection of garden tools, antiques and memorabilia across ten themed areas.

Then it’s time to head off into the gardens for inspiration and admire the diverse range of plant collections and specimen shrubs and trees. As well as the ornamental lake with a boat house, a sunken Italian garden, wandering peacocks and reindeers, and a yew tunnel.

And to round off the experience take your pick of Trevarno's handmade organic skincare and soap products made using the purest plant oils to nourish those hands ready for a spot of gardening back home.