The Gardens at Pengelly are an intriguing mix of ornamental and wild. Ponds and a ‘jungle garden’ of tree ferns and exotic plants greet you by the entrance and merge gradually with Cornish wildflowers, lakeside plants and meadow, beckoning you into your perfect country retreat.
From Jungle Garden
At the entrance to Pengelly Retreat you’ll find lush and exotic plants around a series of ponds. A glade of tree ferns fringes the path and a small stone bridge leads you into the gardens. Walk along the path by the babbling stream and you find a mix of wildflowers and Asian planting leading to a lagoon and our beautiful lakes.
Across the lagoon bridges you’ll spot our lovely Boat House log cabin. But continue along the path through the field with the lagoon to your right, go up a slight incline and the dramatic view across the lakes unfolds in front of you. To your right is the Boat House wood cabin and at the far end of the lake you’ll see the green canvas roofs of the Sail House luxury yurt just above the treeline.
To Wild Cornwall
As you walk around the lakes, you’ll see wild grasses and reeds, the pink flowers of Red Campion and the tiny purple blooms of Wild Mint. And on opposing sides of the lake are magnificent bulrushes and the dramatic umbrella-like leaves of Gunnera, a plant you may recognise from some of Cornwall’s Great Gardens like Heligan and Trebah.
Along our borders you’ll find newly planted native species of trees. In time these will grow more to create a lovely Cornish hedgerow and rich wildlife habitat.
Statues and Secret Gardens
Discover Buddha statues dotted around the land, from a serene statue by the stream to a stone Buddha who sits tranquilly in a pool, there’s often a surprise around the corner.
Take a stroll all the way along our land, past the lakes and meadow and you’ll discover a little brick pathway that leads you to a mysterious entrance. This is the entrance to our Secret Garden, an intriguing place of hidden walkways, streams, exotic plants and even a golden Buddha in a wooded glade.
Meadows & Sunsets
In the meadow beyondthe lakes, you’ll find a patchwork of wild grasses, two smaller pools with bridges and a little woodland glade perfect for a picnic lunch – it’s hard to believe this private paradise is only a short drive from West Cornwall’s popular seaside hubs of Hayle and St Ives! In amongst the luscious sprawl there are plenty of places where you can relax, reflect or read a book – if you can tear yourself away from your own private deck at the Boat House log cabin or Sail House luxury yurt that is. And, as the evening draws in, it’s an ideal sundowner spot where you can sit back and watch the colours of the sky reflected in the lakes. We’ve seen some magical sunsets here, topped off by the grey heron flying across the sun-streaked sky, a beautiful sight.
So, whether you are enjoying a romantic couples retreat or solo holiday in Cornwall, we hope you feel right at home and enjoy spending time amongst the gardens just as much as we do. Take a look at our sleep page to secure your stay.
For more garden inspiration, you can also visit the Godolphin Estate, Trebah Gardens, Glendurgan Gardens and Trengwainton Gardens nearby, and the famous Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan further afield.
