I try not to get overly excited when I hear great things about places to visit, just in case it doesn’t fit in with my idea of magic. Lets face it, a lost garden conjures up images of overgrown hedges, hidden gnomes and stinging nettles. But, staying literally around the corner from the Lost Gardens of Heligan on a spring holiday, I decided it would be crazy not to explore this mid-18^th century botanical garden.

On entering I was presented with a map, which displayed a number of different pathways into the gardens. Feeling like I had been thrown straight into a ‘choose your own adventure’ storybook, I decided to approach the gardens through the woods.

Boy oh boy did I choose the right path! Among the clearings were the most fantastical sculptures I had ever seen; a giant gnome cheekily poking his head above the surface and a lady sleeping gently in a sun-kissed wooded glade.

With my feet, eyes, ears and nose leading the way, I discovered a whole host of gardens; from a Secret Garden-esque vegetable patch to an oriental themed garden, jungle and more. It is a truly epic, impressive and magical place and I cannot wait to go back. Next time, however, I’ll go in the summer instead of spring, take a better camera for those close-up shots, my binoculars to spy on all the wildlife and try a different slice of cake or two at the scrumptious restaurant. Even then I’m sure I’ll need a third visit.

Images by Joanna Payne