Breathtaking scenery, perfectly pruned borders, and captivating castles. Every National Trust property is unique, but each offers a fantastic day out. We are spoilt for choice with National Trust properties in Cornwall. From cliff top cafes to historic houses and glorious gardens, there’s plenty to explore on your Cornish getaway. Here are some of our favourites:
Trerice House
Near Newquay, Cornwall
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 12 minute drive
Best for: Elizabethan architecture
Cost: Adult - £12, Child - £6 (Included in National Trust membership)
Dog friendly: Assistance dogs only
One of the most special National Trust properties in Cornwall this is a small Elizabethan Manor House with grand style. Discover the ornate interiors, decorative plasterwork and enjoy a family game of ‘kayles’ on the lawn and spot the historic graffiti on the Great Hall window.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trerice
Carnewas at Bedruthan
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 22 minute drive
Best for: Cream tea with a sea views
Dog friendly: Yes
Cost: Free
Now this isn’t technically one of the wonderful National Trust properties in Cornwall, but a stretch of the south west coast path taking in Park Head and Porth Mear Cove. Plus the incredible, giant rock stacks, which make this stretch of the North Cornwall coast so popular. After an invigorating walk, we recommend making a beeline for the charming independently run cliff top tea room to enjoy a delicious cream tea - choose to sit inside the cosy cafe, or in the garden to make the most of the sweeping coastal views.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/carnewas-at-bedruthan
Lanhydrock
Near Bodmin, Cornwall
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 32 minute drive
Best for: Families
Dog friendly: Dogs are allowed in the parkland, gardens and cafes, but not in the house
Cost: Adult - £18, Child - £9 (Included in National Trust membership)
Uncover layers of history at this impressive manor country house. Renovated in the Victorian era after a fire in 1881, explore the magnificent ‘upstairs’ decorated in high Victorian style, and the state of the art kitchen ‘downstairs’, before walking the extensive 1,000 acres of gardens and parkland. With cycle routes along the River Fowey and tailored dog walking routes, it’s one of the most family friendly National Trust properties in Cornwall.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/lanhydrock
Trelissick Gardens
Near Truro, Cornwall
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 35 minute drive
Best for: Summer entertainment
Dog friendly: Dogs welcome in parkland, on woodland walks and in shops and cafes, but not in the house or garden
Cost: Adults - £14, Child - £7 (Included in National Trust membership)
Situated on its own peninsula overlooking the Fal river, this stunning estate features an 18th century house, gorgeous gardens and beautiful waterside and woodland walks. Throughout the summer catch open air performances in the grounds including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sense and Sensibility and The Wind in the Willows. Or you can take part in the estate’s summer of play - gather your family and friends to enjoy a nature trail, or try your hand at a selection of traditional garden games.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trelissick
St Michael’s Mount
Marazion, Cornwall
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 42 minute drive
Best for: Spectacular views across Mount’s Bay
Dog friendly: Assistance dogs only
Cost: Adult - £26, Child - £14, Under 5 - Free (Included in National Trust membership)
A 12th century castle and medieval church perched on its very own island, this is truly one of the most of the most unique National Trust properties in Cornwall. Joint managed by the National Trust and the St Aubyn family, who still reside on the rocky island along with a small community of islander, it has its own subtropical terraced garden built into the granite rock face. The gardeners even scale the rocky cliff to maintain the vertical garden.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/st-michaels-mount
Godolphin
Helston, Cornwall
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 47 minute drive
Best for: Historic gardens and wonderful views
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed on leads in the gardens and under close control in the wider estate, but not in the house
Cost: Adult - £11, Child - £5.50
One of the only National Trust properties in Cornwall to be set within a UNESCO world heritage site, Godolphin is made up of 500 acres of countryside, woodland, river banks and Godolphin Hill - where you can take in some of the best views in Cornwall. The gardens are Grade II listed - making them some of the most important historic gardens in Europe - in addition to Grade II listed farm buildings and a Grade I listed Godolphin House, built in the late 1400s. If you’re feeling energetic you can take part in the free monthly 10k run across the estate. After a day exploring (or taking part in a trail run), you can refuel with a cream tea in the Piggery tea room.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/godolphin
Cotehele
Near Saltash, Cornwall
Distance from Pentire Hotel: 1 hour drive
Best for: Colourful gardens, all year round
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome in the wider estate and the restaurant, but not in the house or gardens
Cost: Adult - £14, Child - £7
The Cotehele Estate is made up of 1,300 acres of woodland, fields and footpaths. Making it one of the largest National Trust Properties in Cornwall. At its heart is a Tudor House, a Victorian watermill, industrial ruins and working farms so there’s plenty to explore. The house itself is situated high above the River Tamar - wander the Valley Garden to reach the river and the quay, which once bustled with vessels collecting and carrying goods to sell at the Devonport market. Take a pit stop with coffee and cake overlooking the water from the Edgcumbe, located on the quay, or enjoy a delicious lunch at the Barn Restaurant.
Plan your visit > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/cotehele
From sprawling estates to your sea view hotel
You’ll need somewhere to put your feet up after a day exploring the best National Trust Properties in Cornwall. The Pentire Hotel in Newquay is just moments from some of the best beaches in the UK, with cosy and comfortable bedrooms, stunning sea views and a fantastic food and drink offering. Not to mention, the hotel is just moments from The National Trust’s Pentire Headland, where you can enjoy a coastal walk taking in spectacular views of Stepper Point and Tintagel Castle. Your Cornish getaway awaits; book your break online today.