Towards the end of the year, the Lost Gardens of Heligan are ablaze with fiery colours and wonderfully quiet. It’s a great time to visit, as autumn’s glory gives way to festive fun.

There are lovely wintery walks to take around the woodland pathways and Lost Valley. Here copper-coloured leaves carpet the floor and bare branches make dramatic outlines against the sky.

In the melon yard, pumpkins are piled high in a jolly display. The smell of seaweed being spread over the vegetable patches fills the air. There’s a sense of calm – of the year being put to bed – that is extremely restful.

Heligan’s shop is full of treats and is the perfect place to find gifts for gardeners and wildlife lovers. There’s a nursery too, and during November and December it hosts a pop-up Christmas shop full of pretty decorations.

Don’t miss neighbouring Lobbs Farm Shop, particularly if you are staying in self-catering accommodation, as we did in the nearby village of Pentewan with its quirky café, traditional pub and lovely sandy cove.

Images by Helen Duncan