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Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park covers over 865 acres of parkland and open grazing and was the earliest landscaped park in Cornwall. The park land provides many outstanding walks with breath taking views around the entire peninsular. The abundance of flora and wild life will not disappoint you with deer roaming freely in the managed park land.
The walks range from a circular jaunt taking in most of Mount Edgcumbe’s many fascinating attractions to a three-hour trek from Cremyll to Maker Heights, which rewards those who tackle the steep footpath with spectacular panoramic views of the Tamar, from Saltash across Plymouth Sound to the open sea. There are some great view points for ship spotting as they aproach the safety of Plymouth beyond the breakwater.
The first walk is the easiest way to explore the park and discover herds of wild deer, formal gardens, landscaped woodlands and historic buildings including forts, a temple, a folly and an orangery. It is easy to appreciate why this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – exposed heath-covered headlands and cliffs contrast with wooded slopes leading down to sheltered tidal lakes. Coppies of the map of the park can be found in the living room sideboard at Ancarva.
The second walk focuses on the multi-use trail; designed for cyclists, walkers and riders to share the trail is also accessible for wheelchair users. There’s a tarmac road and hard-surfaced tracks alongside generally flat grass. This walk heads from the Park towards Kingsand past ancient forts and farms as well as Maker Church.
For the third outing, be guided along the cliff tops from Cawsand and around Penlee Point to Rame Head as a maritime history unfolds in front of you. This is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest so keep an eye open for thrift, sea campion, ox-eye daisies, wild thyme, wild carrot and foxgloves.
On the fourth walk from Cawsand to Polhawn Cove and the deliciously named Wiggle, there are panoramic views across Whitsand Bay, punctuated along the way by Picklecombe Fort, Polhawn Battery and other Palmerston follies.
The final choice follows the river from Cremyll to Millbrook and returns through the woods. It’s described as an ‘extremely steep’ footpath in places and will take two to three hours but is well worth the effort.
Coppies of the map of the park can be found in the living room sideboard at Ancarva. If you would like to read up then Five walks around Mount Edgcumbe and the Rame Peninsula is a ‘green’ publication. The routes are circular and the places to eat and drink on the way are included in the directions. If you are driving from Ancarva you can choose to park on the estate itself or in the lower carpark next to the Edgecumbe Arms at Cremyl. There is a small charge for parking but entry to the estate is completely free of charge.
Take a walk through history as you explore the ancestral home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe, perhaps dressed as a Tudor as you take advantage of our dressing up collection.
Decorated in a classical style and home to some of the treasures collected by the family over the centuries, the house is a haven of calm for visitors to explore the past.
The House was built between 1547 and 1550 to a revolutionary design for that period, built to look outwards for the views rather than be inward facing. Local Staddon Grit with its distinctive red colour was used for the walls whilst carved granite was used for the facings. The stylish ogival (curved to a point) leaded windows used throughout give the House a very distinctive look.
Mount Edgcumbe is home to many notable works of art by famous artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, Willem van de Velde and Gerard Edema. The property has been the inspiration for many stunning paintings.
Among the many highlights to be found on display in the House are: three large 16th century tapestries, two beautiful examples of Bouille furniture, a pair of extremely rare Irish Bronze Age horns, various clocks, sculptures, silverware and some examples of Plymouth Porcelain (manufactured by William Cookworthy.
The house is not always open to visitors and a small charge applies, entrance to the gardens and parkland is completely free of charge.
A stunning mature garden that has expanded over hundreds of years but has retained each generations work and influences. The gardens at Mount Edgcumbe are possibly unique in this. Explore the gardens moving through layers of gardening history from the 16th century to our modern Black Bee Reserve and find something new to engage you at each turn in the path.
Through generations of the Edgcumbe family, and as their wealth and prosperity increased, they added to the House and also created a landscaped park and new pleasure gardens. The area of these more formal gardens covers around 8 acres stretching from the lower park at Cremyll to the area of the Earls Garden which surrounds the House.
In the lower gardens you will find:– The Italian Garden, The French Garden, The English Garden, The Fern Dell, The Jubilee Garden The New Zealand Garden, The American Garden, The Rose Garden, The Relic Garden, The Bee Garden. The Earls Garden surrounds the House. The Deer Garden can be found opposite the Barrow Centre with The Knot Garden overlooking the Avenue. At the lower reaches of the garden is a beatiful orangery now run as a cafe in seasn and also used for private partys and functions.
If your looking for a more leisurely trip around the park then why not try Adventure Segway for a truly unique view of the estate and peninsular.
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