Grandly located at the head of the Fal estuary, 4 miles south of Truro, Trelissick is one of Cornwall's most beautiful aristocratic estates. Its formal garden, which is filled with magnolias and hydrangeas, is surrounded by fields and parkland that is criss-crossed by walking trails. The prettiest route is to head to the estate's pebble beach and then wander upriver along the Fal's wooded banks.
The estate has been owned by several of Cornwall's grandest families since the original neo-Palladian house was built in the 19th century. Most recently it belonged to the Copeland family (of Copeland china fame) before being gifted to the National Trust in 1955. It's worth checking whether the house has reopened to visitors (extra charges will apply). It's home to a lavish drawing room, solarium and world-class collection of antique china.
The gardens are signed from the A39 between Falmouth and Truro. Just beyond the gardens, the minor B3289 road runs all the way to the river, where the King Harry Ferry shuttles across to the Roseland.