Caerhays Castle & Gardens
World-class exotic gardens with a Nash mansion at their heart.
Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6LY
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Charged parking
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Easily accessible without car
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EV charging options
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Free parking
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Shop
- Accessible parking
- Access statement available
- Accessible toilets
It is difficult not to be stunned when you visit Caerhays Castle and its 140 acre Gardens which are the home of the Williams family.
The natural beauty of the coastline and its steep valleys, the architectural surprises, the inescapable sense of history and the range of activities and facilities that the estate offers, all set the scene for a wonderful day of discovery and exploration.
Free entry to Caerhays Castle & Garden (Mid Feb – Mid June). Castle tour subject to availability on arrival, cannot be booked in advance.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Caerhays Castle & Gardens Opening Times
Gardens
The gardens are open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm, with last entry at 4:00pm. The season runs from 2nd March to 14th June 2026.
Castle Guided Tours
Guided tours of the castle are available from 2nd March to 13th June 2026, weekdays only (including bank holidays). Three tours are offered each day at the following times:
- 11:30am
- 1:00pm
- 2:30pm
Special Events
Lecture and Garden Tour – National Collection of Magnolias with Charles Williams
Friday 6th March 2026
Easter Weekend at Caerhays
Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th, and Sunday 5th April 2026
The gardens and castle are free to Historic Houses members. Please note the castle does not permit advance booking of free member visits and does not guarantee entry, but instead offers to admit members for free only if, at the time they happen to turn up, there is spare capacity available.
Members will have to pay for parking at Porthluney Beach, but will be refunded if they bring their parking ticket to the gardens entrance.
Admission:
Garden Adult – £13.50
Castle Adult – £15.00
Combined – £25.00
Group visits are welcome and refreshments are provided. Find out more on their website.
Contact: Charlotte Cox at [email protected] or 01872 501 310.
Primary and Secondary schools are welcome for visits and schools make regular trips to study local wildlife and fauna.
- Accessible parking
- Access statement available
- Accessible toilets
Getting here
Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6LY
Situated on the south coast of Cornwall. Off the A39 between St. Austell and Truro. Close to Mevagissey on the coast.
Caerhays isn’t accessible by public transport but cyclists can use the South West coast path.
Gardens with an international reputation
The gardens originated from the work of plant hunters in China at the start of the 20th-century. Caerhays bred the very first x williamsii camellias and is today the home of a Plant Heritage National Collection of Magnolias containing over 600 species and named hybrids from around the world.
The gardens have an international reputation and have been described as ‘world class’. The castle itself was designed by the famous Regency architect John Nash around 200 years ago and both the building and the two families who have lived and worked at Caerhays have played significant roles in the history of Cornwall and its former tin mining industry.
Caerhays won the Historic Houses/Christie’s Garden of the Year Award in 2016.
Become a Historic Houses member
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