https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/christmas
Across Cornwall, National Trust places are full of warmth, magic and sparkle as the festive season approaches. Wrap up and embrace the chilly days with a family walk around a country estate, or get into the Christmas spirit with carols, open fires, and mince pies. There’s lots on offer this season, from a 60-foot Christmas garland to Father Christmas stopping by and festive family trails to wreath-making workshops.
What’s more, every time you experience a National Trust day out, you help care for these special places for future generations.
Here is what’s happening near you this season, please check property website for opening days and times, especially over the Christmas period:
Cotehele
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/cotehele
Creating the Garland
Daily 11 to 21 Nov. 10.30am-4pm
Take a look behind the scenes and meet our team of gardeners as they create this year’s garland, inserting over 30,000 dried flowers into the pittosporum base.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.
Christmas Garland
23 Nov to 5 Jan (closed 25 and 26 Dec). 10.30am-4pm
Celebrate the festive season with a trip to Cotehele to see the annual Christmas Garland in the Great Hall. For over 65 years our garden team has continued the tradition to create a 60-ft long Christmas garland using thousands of flowers grown on the estate. The Kitchen, Breakfast Room, and Victorian Library within the house will also be open.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.
A Victorian family Christmas at Cotehele Mill
Fri/Sat/Sun from 23 Nov. Daily from 20 Dec to 5 Jan (closed 25 and 26 Dec). 11am-4pm.
Follow the festive lights along the stream to find Cotehele Mill tucked within the Morden Valley. The mill will be decorated in traditional Victorian style and you’ll be able to discover how families, like the Langsfords, who lived at Cotehele Mill, celebrated Christmas in those times. Head to the first floor for toys to play with, costumes to adorn yourselves in, and craft activities to complete.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.
Introduction to wreath making
28 Nov, 10.30am-1.30pm.
Make your own door wreath, guided by 2 of Cotehele’s Garden Volunteers and using all natural materials direct from the Cotehele Estate. You are welcome to bring any of your own items, (i.e. ribbon, buttons, baubles etc.), to incorporate into your wreath to personalise it. Everything you need is provided to create a wreath to take home or give to someone as a lovely gift. The course is suitable for beginners and requires no specialist knowledge.
Price: £30 per person. Booking essential via website or call 0344 249 1895.
Carols by the tree
30 Nov, 7 Dec and 14 Dec. 1-1.45pm.
Wrap up warm and get into the festive spirit with sing-a-long carols by the tree with various local groups performing. 30 November – Tavistock Warblers. 7 December – GraceNotes Acapella. 14 December – Callington Town Band. These sessions are held outside by the Bowling Green next to the house. Due to being hosted outside, the weather may scupper our plans and may be cancelled in the event of heavy rain or winds.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.
Trelissick
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trelissick
Christmas at Trelissick
Daily 7 Dec to 5 Jan (closed 25 and 26 Dec). 11am-4pm
Trelissick is celebrating a Cornish Christmas, with the house richly decorated with the black and gold of Cornish tartan. A tipi will cover the stable yard providing a cosy space for choir performances, and a pop-up cafe will be serving hot drinks and mince pies.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.
An audience with Father Christmas
7 and 8 Dec, 14 and 15 Dec, 19-23 Dec. Multiple time slots during the day, see website.
Father Christmas returns to the stable yard this December where he’ll tell a special story of a Cornish Christmas at Trelissick. Once the storytelling has finished he’ll hand out a small gift at the end to each child. The story is aimed at children 3 years and older.
Price: £6 per child and £2 per adult. Booking essential via the website.
Relaxed sessions with Father Christmas
7 and 8 Dec, 14 and 15 Dec, 21-22 Dec. 4.15-4.45pm
This is an accessible session aimed at providing Trelissick’s ‘An Audience with Father Christmas’ with a more relaxed and calmer Father Christmas experience. With reduced noise levels and crowds, we hope to create a less stressful environment with Father Christmas. The festive story of a Cornish Christmas at Trelissick will last approximately 20-30 minutes with time at the end to receive a small gift from Father Christmas. A limited number of ear defenders and sensory toys will be available for use in the quiet sessions on the day and an access statement is available from our website.
Price: £6 per child and £2 per adult. Booking essential via the website.
Trengwainton
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trengwainton-garden
Trengwainton’s Winter Lights
29 Nov-1 Dec, 5-8 Dec, 12-15 Dec. Timed entry slots every 15 mins from 4.30-7pm.
Stroll through the walled gardens and orchard lit by hundreds of fairy lights and creative lanterns made by local schools, community groups and local artists. Make a Christmas wish by hanging a bauble on the wishing tree and gather your family and friends there for a picture. Pop into the bookshop for some winter reading, where children can make a Christmas craft.
Price: Adult £8, child £4 (under 5s go free). Booking essential via the website.
Trerice
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trerice
Craft fair
16 and 17 Nov, 11am-4pm.
Visit Trerice for a weekend craft fair and start your Christmas shopping early. The small fair will be held in the Elton room at the back of the barn and make sure you bring cash for the stalls.
Price: Free. Booking not required.
Christmas wreath-making workshops
23 and 24 Nov, 30 Nov and 1 Dec. 11am-1pm and 2-4pm
Embrace the spirit of the season and unwrap your creativity with our Christmas wreath-making workshop. Guided by our experienced wreath-maker Laura, you will learn how to make your own wreath to take home and hang on your door, with lots of natural Christmas themed decorations. To put you in the festive spirit, you will be greeted with a free welcome drink of mulled wine or a non-alcoholic alternative, followed by mince pies and tea or coffee throughout the workshop. All materials will be provided.
Price: £40 per adult. Booking essential via the website.
Father Christmas at Trerice
7 and 8 Dec, 14 and 15 Dec, 19-23 Dec. Multiple time slots during the day, see website.
This festive season, Father Christmas will be stopping by Trerice to share tales and traditions of Christmases past. Join him in the Drawing Room, where you will find him in his familiar robes of red, for 30-minute sessions throughout the day. All children will go home with a small gift.
Price: £5 per child and £4 per adult. Booking essential via the website.
Choir performances
7 and 8 Dec, 14 and 15 Dec, 17, 19, 21 and 23 Dec. 2-3pm
This Christmas, Trerice will host a selection of choirs in the barn, as they spread some Christmas cheer by performing a variety of Christmas carols. The local choirs are Trerice volunteer choir, Halwyn a Gan choir, Perraners choir and inTune choir, see website for which dates they’re each performing.
Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.
Credit National Trust Images, Sophie Bolesworth.jpg
