An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

TIA

Steve

On 9/1/07 22:50, in article , "shazzbat"
wrote:

An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

I'd like to suggest Heligan but don't think there will be much to see there
then. Could you go on down to Marazion and take a helicopter day trip to
the Abbey gardens on Tresco? Snowdrops at The Garden House, perhaps? But
on the whole, I'd favour the Tresco trip and perhaps an overnight stay at
the New Inn, if time allows for it.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...
An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

TIA

Steve

New Age bo**ocks IMO. Still, if you go in winter it won't be quite as
crowded with people from London as it usually is, though there'll be a
quarter hour queueing up waiting for a miniscule queue to get nearer to the
ticket booths because they ask everyone buying a ticket if they want to fill
out a form making it a covenant for tax purposes. There are outdoor areas
that'll be a bit dismal in winter but most of it is the biodomes.

Eden is near St. Austell, nearer the south coast, Bodmin, Fowey etc.

I thought Lanhydrock House and The Lost Gardens of Heligan better, though of
course they're better on a dry sunny day. Depends what interests you. There
are tin-mining museums, one in St. Austell, another in the north at Geevor
( I think ), other NT properties like Trerice, plus other gardens though
you'd be early even for the spring ones, though some daffs may be out. I
think there's a famous frost-free garden down at Falmouth/Helston, though
the name escapes me. There's the Minack theatre on the coast, nothing on I
should imagine but you can pay to have a wander around if it's open to
visitors.

The pub at Mylor ( nearer to Helston I think ) is supposed to be nice, never
been myself, Pandora's Box or something I think it's called. The drive from
the Redruth area down to St.Ives on the north coast ( the Atlantic Highway )
can be picturesque on a sunny day, and St.Ives itself is interesting though
it works better as a semi-mediterranean seaside town on a warm summer's
evening.

The Lizard is similarly picturesque. The Goonhilly satellite station is
there if you're into technology and dishes.

Andy.

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...
An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.
TIA
Steve

Hi Steve
There are two websites about Eden.
The official one : http://www.edenproject.com/
And the IMO far better unocifial one : http://www.eden-project.co.uk/
This has laods of wonderful pictures and a huge list of accommodation in the
area.
Jenny

On Tue, 9 Jan 2007 22:50:35 +0000, shazzbat wrote
(in article ):

An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

TIA

Steve




You will have less crowds in winter, even though it can be very busy there
winter or not. Other points of interest in the locality a
Lanhydrock House, at Bodmin
Lost Gardens of Heligan
The China Clay Museum at St Austell
The Model Train exhibition at Mevagissey
Mevagissey and Fowey are worth visiting at this time of the year.
Tremar Gardens, one of the best if not the best garden in Cornwall

As for places to stay, it depends on your pocket. The best accommodation
locally is the Carlyon bay Hotel, but at 5 star it will cost. There are lots
and lots of B & B in the area, and I don't think you will have any trouble
finding somewhere it stay.

You will find that St Austell itself is a tip and not worth visiting. The
only problem you will find it that due to Eden, the traffic in the immediate
St Austell area can be horrendous.

Enjoy your triip

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...
An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

TIA

Steve

Best advice in winter is avoid early and late in the day as the light levels
in the biomes are very low and you can not see. around mid day is best.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea

"Peter James" wrote in message
s.com...
On Tue, 9 Jan 2007 22:50:35 +0000, shazzbat wrote
(in article ):

You will have less crowds in winter, even though it can be very busy there
winter or not. Other points of interest in the locality a
Lanhydrock House, at Bodmin
Lost Gardens of Heligan
The China Clay Museum at St Austell
The Model Train exhibition at Mevagissey
Mevagissey and Fowey are worth visiting at this time of the year.
Tremar Gardens, one of the best if not the best garden in Cornwall

Tremar? do you mean Trebah, if so its hardly on the doorstep!

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea

On 10/1/07 09:41, in article , "Charlie
Pridham" wrote:


"Peter James" wrote in message
s.com...
On Tue, 9 Jan 2007 22:50:35 +0000, shazzbat wrote
(in article ):

You will have less crowds in winter, even though it can be very busy there
winter or not. Other points of interest in the locality a
Lanhydrock House, at Bodmin

Won't be open until 17th March, though the gardens will be. I doubt there
will be a great deal to see before spring, though.

Lost Gardens of Heligan
The China Clay Museum at St Austell
The Model Train exhibition at Mevagissey
Mevagissey and Fowey are worth visiting at this time of the year.
Tremar Gardens, one of the best if not the best garden in Cornwall

Tremar? do you mean Trebah, if so its hardly on the doorstep!

And I have to disagree with it being 'one of the best' gardens in Cornwall.
It's probably wonderful in spring but when I saw it in July, there was only
one area that was colourful and that wasn't very large.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

shazzbat wrote:
An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?
And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

In winter you'll only see the sculptures and immaginative installations
outside, but there's some interesting design. However, I s'pose
because the domes are all year round covered (doh!) the exotic dome
will be as beautiful in winter as it is in summer minus the crowd of
people you'd expect in summer. You won't see the californian meadows
though and that, in my opinion, is a miss ;o)

We've enjoyed the Lost Gardens of Heligan very much - the farm,
orchards, flowers and veg gardens were amazing. Again, winter will be a
bit empty and you must see it in use as it's a hard working environment
and therefore lots for the kids to see. I found the beginning of the
gardens very boring as there was far too many rhodos and bamboos for my
liking but then, when out of these it was wonderful. They have the most
amazing collection of onions )

A garden nobody mentioned which we also very much enjoyed when we went
down there was Minack Theatre in Porthcumo - we saw Macbeth by a full
moon and my kids were gobsmacked by the whole experience. The gardens
are superbe, all coastal plants with 90% being sempervivens and sub
tropical rockeries - all beautifully placed in carved containers or
against the cliff with breathtaking sea views. It was created by a guru
of mine, Rowena Cade, who started her gardens in 1929 and let the use
of it to the local dramatic society. Before you knew it, she was
carving the amphitheatre and miixing her own concrete! A remarkable
woman. HTH

shazzbat wrote:
An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

TIA

Steve

We went in winter and it was still quite busy. The domes are set in a
quarry so the outside parts are very sheltered. We spent a lovely hour
playing cards whilst eating our lunch at the outside tables. Mind you,
it was a beautiful, dry, sunny day.

We stayed at a B&B in Mevagissey. We'd taken pot-luck that we'd find
somewhere to stay. After trying several pubs advertising accomodation
(either not taking B&B customers as out of season or full) we were
paying for carparking at the sea front and mentioned our problem to the
carpark attendant. He pointed us to an excellent B&B a few yards up
the hill. So asking a local is a good idea.

HTH

shazzbat wrote:
: An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at
: the end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover
: it's pretty much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in
: winter?
:
: And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay
: would be appreciated.
:
: TIA
:
: Steve

You shouldn't miss Mt Edgcumbe Country Park, home of the national camellia
collection which is coming into flower now. It also has formal gardens and
the most spectacular scenery on the planet and you can stay or lunch at the
fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand
http://www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk/
http://www.crabpot.co.uk/

shazzbat wrote:
An opportunity has arisen for us to spend some time down that way at the
end of Jan/early Feb. I assume that being largely under cover it's pretty
much OK any time of year, any disadvantages to going in winter?

And any info about where else is good nearby, and places to stay would be
appreciated.

Then for your next break consider the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
It's far less plastic-dependent and media-schmoozing than Eden. It also
has what I think must be the most beautiful greenhouse on earth,
housing a fascinating collection from Mediterranean climates.
http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/en/51.html

--
Mike.