It is magical – I was so pleased to return to Cornwall’s Cotehele, especially while the grand Christmas Garland was still festooning the great hall. The house has just closed until March for refurbishment, so it was a blessing Mr Word Loft and I made the visit beforehand. It was on our list of places to go leading up to Christmas, but something else always seemed to crop up.
Crafting the dried flower garland is an annual tradition that started in the 1950s. Gazing up at the floral sensation, it was easy to see all the hard work and creativity required to make the beautiful adornment. Planning for the following garland has already started, as flowerbeds have been prepared for planting to produce flowers for next winter.
Some of the property’s rooms were out of bounds. I’ve written about a few in previous blog posts, Cotehele in the Spring, and Cotehele in the Autumn. However, I don’t remember going into the Victorian library before, and it is enchanting. An open fire, comfy armchairs, muted lighting and a multitude of books. Idyllic. I could have stayed there for the rest of the day and evening, but I don’t think the Edgcumbe family or staff would have been amused.
It was a chilly drizzly day, but I hadn’t seen the grounds in winter before, and they didn’t disappoint. From the back entrance, the ornate doorway framed part of the shrubbery and lawns perfectly. And the snowdrops shooting from Tudor-style pots edging pathways are the first I’ve seen this year.
From terraces, we branched off down through a short stone underpass into a valley with plenty to explore. A round domed building looks out over a pond, and a trickling stream tumbling over rocks through evergreens and ferns makes a peaceful setting.
Further down, the trail is steep and it was muddy. The terrain was unexpected and we weren’t wearing suitable footwear. So we took a short walk to a viewpoint overlooking the River Tamar towards the village of Calstock. Its impressive twelve-arched viaduct glowed in a short sharp burst of sun.
After lunch at a café on the quayside, we took a circular route back up to see the rest of the estate, including the orchards. The trees’ unclad branches were dramatic as they wavered in the wind. Since then, I’ve read about a ‘grafting your own apple tree workshop’ on the Cotehele website. I must check my diary to see what I’m doing at the beginning of February. I have to admit, I’m not at all green-fingered, but it sounds immense fun!
Until next time,
Sue. X
Wishing everyone peace and joy in 2025.