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Best Days Out Cornwall

Cothele

Fall into autumn with the National Trust in Cornwall 

Posted in National Trust, News by cata on 15th August 2024

Across Cornwall, National Trust places are full of warmth as the trees slowly turn to red, orange and gold, enjoy crisp walks with family and friends and steaming cups of hot chocolate. There’s lots on offer this season, from Apple Day celebrations to spooky Halloween trails, and Heritage Open Days to guided autumn walks. 

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 autumn, please check property website for opening days and times:   

Cotehele  

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/cotehele 

‘This is Me’ by Wildworks 

Daily from 6 to 28 Sep. 11am-4pm 

Explore this gilded reliquary that houses memories of the past, precious objects of belonging, and dreams of far-away places. Artists, Melanie and Caroline, worked with members of the Women’s Institute to explore their connections to place, to Cornwall and the lands far beyond its borders and beaches. 

‘This is Me’ is one of seventeen artworks produced for Hello Stranger, a Cornwall-wide community engagement programme created by Wildworks and supported by National Trust properties in Cornwall and the communities they serve. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Clare Law: Impressions of a Garden 

Daily from 7 to 22 Sep. 11am-4pm 

Clare Law is a full time Landscape artist working from her studio in the heart of the beautiful Tamar Valley. 

The richness of impressionism has been an inspiration throughout her life, which is interpreted through her unique sculptural process involving a method of working with oils and only a small painting knife. Each painting is a celebration of all the hard work that goes into creating stunning gardens such as those at Cotehele, as well as the beauty of nature. 

Clare has exhibited extensively for many years from Pall Mall to Cornwall and is delighted to be sharing her work inspired by the landscape that surrounds her. Clare will be present each day and would be delighted to talk through her inspiration and process. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

PondLife! at Cotehele Quay    

Sat 7 Sep and Sat 5 Oct. 10am–1pm   

Join us as we hunt for the creatures which live in (and on!) the pond. Watch the water closely, or have a go at pond dipping, and identify any insects, fish, or amphibians you may find.   

First come first served as limited space on the pond platform.   

Subject to cancellation in event of poor weather. Please check our social media feeds and website nearer each event.   

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Heritage Open Days: Architectural Tour of Cotehele 

9 and 12 Sep. 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm 

Join our volunteers for an in-depth focus on the external architectural development of Cotehele over time. 

The tour lasts up to two hours, at the end you’ll be invited to climb the 55 steps up the North West Tower to see Cotehele for a different angle. If it is very wet or windy, it won’t be possible for us to enjoy the views from the North West Tour. 

Price: Free. Booking essential 0344 249 1895, or via the website.  

Dear Future: I Leave This Place For You – Cotehele 

Thu 12 Sep. 10.30am-2pm 

Learn more about how a gift in your will could help us carry out crucial conservation work at Cotehele. Without gifts in wills, we simply wouldn’t be able to look after the extraordinary places in our care. This special event will take you behind the scenes to see first-hand how your support is helping us carry out crucial conservation work every day, and how a gift in your own will could help to safeguard the future of our special places. 

Join members of our expert team as they take you on a short tour of Cothele Quay including insight into future projects by the riverside. They’ll explain how conservation work is reviving and protecting habitats for nature and the long-term vision for the landscape. Over light refreshments, you’ll have the opportunity to chat further to members of the team and learn more about why gifts in wills are so important to our work. 

Price: Free. Booking essential 01793 817699, or via the website.  

Apple Weekend 

13 and 14 Sep. 10am-5pm 

Celebrate Cotehele’s rare and special orchards with a weekend of apple festivities. 

Join an orchard tour, enjoy some tasters, see the amazing cider press in action, taste some delicious apples and pick your own straight from the trees to take home with you. Oh, and watch out for something special making an appearance on the grass circle! 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Apple picking 

Daily 13 to 22 Sep. 10am-5pm 

This autumn we’re inviting our visitors to take part in our annual apple harvest. 

The Mother Orchard is home to more than 300 trees and 125 different heritage varieties of dessert, culinary and cider apples. 

By taking part, you’ll be able to take a selection of these special varieties home with you, while helping us look after the orchards for generations to come. Bags will be available from visitor reception for a suggested donation of £3 for a small bag. We will also have sacks available for £5.  

Price: Suggested donation of £3 for a small bag / £5 for a sack (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Harvest at the Mill 

Daily 19 Sep to 4 Oct. 11am-4.30pm 

Join us this October half term for a Harvest feast at Cotehele Mill! 

Soak in the delights of autumn beneath fluttering bunting and enjoy seasonal decorations and a harvest table in the Bakery. 

Try your hand at seasonal crafts and see local craft makers in action at the workshops. 

As a special harvest touch (and reminding us of those school assembly days!) we would love to invite you to bring a non perishable item with you for us to donate on your behalf to Callington Food Bank at the end of the celebration. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Spooky Scarecrows  

Daily 24 Sep to 11 Oct. 10am-5pm 

Pick up your free trail sheet from Visitor Reception and then explore the gardens at Cotehele to see how many spooky scarecrows you can spot. Each scarecrow has their own folklore story. Will you be able to crack the riddle to solve the mystery? 

This year, our scarecrows have been made by a number of local schools and community groups. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Nature Walks 

Sun 29 Sep and Sun 27 Oct. 11am-1pm 

Join our Nature Walks volunteer Andy on free monthly walks to learn about the ecology of the beautiful and varied Cotehele estate. Discover seasonal highlights, what the Rangers have been doing to care of the estate and learn about all the flora and fauna which can be found on our patch of the Tamar Valley. Please note: walks are subject to cancellation based on inclement weather conditions. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking essential 0344 249 1895, or via the website.  

Field of Flowers – a contemporary take on painting flowers 

Wed 23 Oct. 10.30am-1.30pm 

Painting in a loose style, looking at colour and shape, we will take inspiration from the beautiful gardens at Cotehele and the wild flowers that bloom in our Devon/Cornwall countryside. 

Through direct observation we will sketch flowers, experiment with colour and design a picture to paint. Then the fun begins as paint and brush and paper collide (in a good way!) 

This workshop is suitable for everyone, from complete beginner to experienced artist. Each individual will be encouraged to unleash their creativity (whether you believe you have any or not!) Loose yourself in the moment – it’s fabulously relaxing and therapeutic – and be amazed at what you can create. 

All materials will be provided. 

Price: £45 per adult. Booking essential 0344 249 1895, or via the website. 

Life on the Tamar   

Daily. 10am-4pm  

Discover more about the life on the banks of the River Tamar at our exhibition ‘Life on the Tamar’, which will be on display in the Breakfast Room of Cotehele House.  

This exhibition will explore our local patch of this remarkable river, which ebbs and flows through time. We will take a closer look at the wars the valley’s occupants experienced, the industries which helped the area thrive, the wildlife that live in the winding waters and on its varied banks, and the impact the river has had on our culture.  

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Lanhydrock 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/lanhydrock 

October half term: Cornish Pixie Trail 

Daily Sat 26 Oct to Sat 2 Nov. 10.30am-4pm 

This October half-term, have an adventure at Lanhydrock as you search for the Cornish Pixies hiding in the gardens. Some cheeky Cornish Pixies have stolen some items from the house at Lanhydrock. Can you find them all and get what they’ve taken back to where it belongs? 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Trelissick  

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trelissick 

‘This is Me’ by Wildworks 

Daily to 5 Sep. 11am-4pm 

Explore this gilded reliquary that houses memories of the past, precious objects of belonging, and dreams of far-away places. Artists, Melanie and Caroline, worked with members of the Women’s Institute to explore their connections to place, to Cornwall and the lands far beyond its borders and beaches. 

‘This is Me’ is one of seventeen artworks produced for Hello Stranger, a Cornwall-wide community engagement programme created by Wildworks and supported by National Trust properties in Cornwall and the communities they serve. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Trelissick Apple Weekend 

5 and 6 Oct. 10am-4.30pm  
Join us for an apple-themed weekend of activities in the garden at Trelissick including displays, identification and archery in the orchard. 

In the stables you’ll find a small press, an apple display, the garden team will be on hand to help with identifying heritage apples and there’ll be plenty of traditional games for the family to play. 

Over in the orchard there’ll be pruning advice with the garden team, musical performances and archery sessions with Anchor Archery.  

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

October half term  

Daily 26 Oct to 2 Nov. 10am-4.30pm 
This October half term take part in an autumnal trail around the garden at Trelissick. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Trengwainton  

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trengwainton-garden 

Wednesday walk and talk  

4 and 11 Sep. 11am-12.30pm  

Are you looking for some company while you explore Trengwainton? On the first Wednesday of every month we’re offering you the chance to ‘walk and talk’ with one of our volunteers and perhaps make some new friends along the way. Meet in the plant centre at 11.00am and then spend an hour or so wandering Trengwainton’s paths, taking in the changing seasons and hopefully chatting with other like-minded souls. This isn’t a formal guided walk, but an informal way of exploring Trengwainton with others.  

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Free entry for Heritage Open Days 

Sun 8 to Thu 12 Sep and Sun 15 Sep. 10am–5pm 

Explore winding wooded paths, award-winning plants, sea views and plants from across the globe.  Experience the garden with your senses and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this special place through touch, audio and visual prompts while discovering the connections between people and these plants. 

Price: Free. Booking not required.  

Trerice 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trerice 

Archaeological tour of Trerice  

6 and 20 Sep, and 4 and 18 Oct. 2–3pm  

You can learn about the archaeological and architectural history of Trerice on an hour long guided tour of the gardens. Find out about key features of the property and how they have changed over time, as well as archaeological digs and finds across the whole site.  

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required.  

Free entry for Heritage Open Day 

Sat 14 Sep. 10.30am-4.30pm 

Spend the day exploring Trerice with free entry to the house and gardens. Learn about our history in the house, take a stroll around the gardens, and have a go at some traditional outdoor games. There will also be live Cornish and Celtic music from local folk group Ryp an Mor (meaning ‘by the sea’) at 2:00pm. 

Price: Free. Booking not required. 

Folk music performances 

Sat 14 Sep and Sun 10 Nov. 2-3pm 

Enjoy live Cornish and Celtic music performed by local folk group Ryp an Mor in the barn. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required. 

Halloween half term fun 

Daily Mon 28 Oct to Fri 1 Nov. 10.30am-4.30pm 

For the whole week of half term, come dressed up in your favourite Halloween costume and explore Trerice! We will have dragon themed activities, including storytelling and ‘Trerice dragon school’, where you can learn how to train your dragon. 

Price: Free (normal admission prices apply). Booking not required. P

Photo Credit: ©National Trust Images, Mel Peters