Glendurgan Garden

Glendurgan Garden lies above the hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River in Cornwall. The garden sits in a deep valley where otters once lived, giving the place its Cornish name. Alfred Fox designed the garden in the 1820s and 1830s, shaping paths and planting trees. In 1962 his descendants Cuthbert and Philip Fox donated the garden to the National Trust. A cherry laurel maze made in 1833 remains one of its oldest features. The garden’s history is tied to the Fox family, who lived nearby at Penjerrick. Charles Fox, a great-grandson of Alfred, later wrote a memoir about the garden and its past. Visitors can still walk the same slopes and see the original plantings. The maze offers a playful challenge, its winding paths hidden among glossy leaves. The Helford River below adds calm reflections to the scene. Paths wind through lawns, shrubberies and a sheltered valley garden. A small thatched bothy stands near the maze, adding rustic charm. Mature trees frame distant views of the river and Falmouth Bay. The garden changes with the seasons, from spring blossoms to autumn colour. Benches let visitors pause and enjoy the quiet atmosphere.