Welcome to the green heart of Cornwall
The Eden Project and Heligan Gardens
The Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan are both within very easy reach of Bankside. It takes about 10 minutes to drive to each of them, and there are also regular bus services. You are welcome to leave your car at Bankside and use the bus for a change.
Mid Cornwall is a garden lovers' paradise - Pine Lodge Gardens, Trewithen Gardens, Caerhayes, Trebah, and many, many more are all within easy reach. Whilst there is always something of interest in these gardens, the spring is undoubtedly the best time to visit, and certainly the most colourful. The sight of the magnificent magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas in full bloom, is unforgettable.
The National Trust owns much of the beautiful coastline in Cornwall, but there are also several historic houses and gardens, such as Lanhydrock, nearby which is definitely worth a visit. It is possible to visit Lanhydrock by taking the train to Bodmin Parkway from St Austell, and then walking the last mile along a lovely footpath.
Further Afield
St Austell is situated on the South Coast of Cornwall, midway between Plymouth and Penzance. It is only 16 miles across the county to Newquay on the North Coast, and everywhere within Cornwall is accessible for a day trip by car.
Local Transport
It is easy to get to most places by bus or train. St Austell is on the main railway line from Paddington to Penzance, and within Cornwall there are several picturesque branch lines which connect in to this. Regular bus services run from St Austell to the Eden Project and Heligan Gardens, as well as to many other local attractions. Add in a ferry or two, Mevagissey or Fal River, and you have an interesting combination of modes of transport for a really different day out. Why not consider leaving your car at home and give yourselves a real break? We are only too happy to help you in planning these trips.
St Austell is the ideal base for visiting these well known attractions but the area offers so much more - fine sandy beaches, spectacular cliffs, historic sites, windswept moorland and hidden, ancient woodlands.
There are many footpaths, trails and cycle routes which take you through beautiful, lesser known and often wilder, parts of Cornwall. Access is easy - for more details see:
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