A Trip to Tresco

Back in May on our annual holiday to Cornwall we included a day trip to the Scilly Isles, and in particular a visit to the world famous Tresco Abbey Gardens, a delightful subtropical garden just off the coast. As we have done in the past we took the helicopter from Penzance heliport. Sadly this will be the last time we are able to make the trip via this particular route as the site has been sold off to be turned into yet another supermarket. There appears to be no replacement service in the pipeline from the southern end of Cornwall so in future we may have to take the ferry (several hours each way) or a helicopter from Newquay if a direct service is established. Perhaps next time we will have to stay in the Scilly Isles itself for a few days to make it worth while.

So as we were aware the helicopter service would be ending, we decided to make sure we didn't miss the opportunity to visit. We were joined by our gardening friends Chad and John for a great plant day to Tresco.

View of Tresco from the Helicopter

Read More

Garden Visit: Tresco Abbey Gardens, Scilly Isles

We had a fantastic day spent at Tresco Abbey Gardens located in the Scilly Isles just off the coast of West Cornwall. Despite its northerly latitude, Tresco, and indeed Cornwall benefits greatly from the warming sea currents of the gulf stream. There are a number of ways to get to Tresco, but once again we opted for the quickest way, a twenty minute helicopter ride from Penzance.

This was our third visit to the garden, sort of a tradition that we do every other year since we started our annual holidays to Cornwall. And I'm glad the weather has been cooperative every time, with the sun shining brightly and the air feeling warm.

Twenty minute helicopter ride from Penzance to Tresco via St. Mary's

View from the helicopter



The garden is open from 10am till 4pm, only six hours, which in theory seems sufficient enough time to see all of its parts. We took the first flight to Tresco and arrived there just before it opened, and took the last one out which was half an hour after it closed, and still found that the time we spent there wasn't enough. Every time we go there we leave still wanting more.

Tresco's signature blue bridge leading into the garden

There is so much to take in, from the sheer grandeur and size of the garden; the fantastic design and layout of the place; the glorious vista on top of the gardens overlooking the sea and bay; and of course the wonderful and exotic plants growing so well like nowhere else in the UK (courtesy of its mild microclimate). Depending on which section you are you can easily feel like you're either in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, or the Canary Islands.

You leave the garden feeling exhilarated and inspired by it's beauty. Despite having been several times we never get tired of visiting the place. For anyone into exotic gardening in the UK, it is an absolute 'must' to visit this garden even if just once. But even if you're not, anyone visiting will enjoy this garden. A truly stunning garden, it is probably the most beautiful and spectacular exotic garden in the UK, and up there as one of the best in the world.

Tresco Abbey Gardens homepage

Read More