Location: Near Bodmin, mid-Cornwall (National Trust)
Distance from West Kellow Yurts: Around 45 minutes by road
Allow: A full day
Lanhydrock is the kind of National Trust property that justifies the membership fee on its own. A late Victorian country house with a 12-acre formal garden, a 900-acre estate of ancient woodland and parkland, riverside walks along the River Fowey, dedicated cycle trails, and one of the best below-stairs kitchen tours in the country. There's enough here for a proper day out.
What to expect
The house itself is mostly late Victorian (a serious fire in 1881 took out much of the original Jacobean interior), and has been carefully kept to give a sense of how the Agar-Robartes family actually lived. Two routes guide you through: one upstairs through the family rooms, the other below stairs through the kitchens, sculleries, dairy and servants' quarters. The kitchens in particular are fascinating: a complete time capsule of how a Victorian country house actually fed itself.
The Long Gallery on the upper floor survived the fire and contains a Jacobean plasterwork ceiling that's been the subject of a major restoration. New for 2026 is a presentation of the books from the family library.
Outside, the formal garden is full of magnolias (the estate is famous for them in spring), parterres, herbaceous borders and seasonal colour. The wider estate is where Lanhydrock really opens up: the long double avenue of beech trees leading away from the gatehouse (originally a single sycamore avenue commemorating the Parliamentarian victory in the Civil War), Great Wood with its veteran oaks, and the Respryn Ramble along the River Fowey where you might spot kingfishers, dippers, and (with luck) otters.
For families, there's a natural play area near the car park, off-road cycle trails (gentle family routes through to mountain bike descents), and seasonal cycle hire on site.
Getting there from West Kellow
Take the A38 west towards Bodmin (around 45 minutes from West Kellow). Lanhydrock is signposted off the A30 and A38, plus the A390 near Lostwithiel. Main car park postcode: PL30 4AB. There's also a minor entrance at Respryn Bridge for the woodland and riverside walks.
By train, Bodmin Parkway is 1.75 miles from the house via the original carriage drive (a lovely walk in itself, signposted from the station car park).
Practical info
National Trust pay-and-display car parking (free for members). The wider parkland and cycle trails are free to access; you only pay if you want to enter the house and formal garden.
The house, gardens and cafes have current opening times on the National Trust website (typically open daily, with the house often shutting earlier than the gardens). Cattle graze the parkland from April to October, sheep in November and December, so dogs need to be on leads when livestock is present.
Is Lanhydrock dog-friendly? Yes, very. It's a three pawprint National Trust place. Dogs are welcome in the gardens (from 10.30am daily, on short leads), the parkland, the wider estate, the courtyard, the cafes and the second-hand bookshop. They're not allowed in the house. There are five designated dog bathing areas along the River Fowey.
Do I need to book Lanhydrock tickets in advance? No. You can buy tickets on arrival.
Is Lanhydrock accessible? Most of the gardens and the visitor reception are paved and accessible. The house has stairs and tighter spaces. Pushchairs are not allowed inside the house but can be stored at the bag drop. The full access statement is on the National Trust website.
While you're there
Lanhydrock is comfortably a full day on its own. If you want to extend the trip, Cotehele (also National Trust) is around 40 minutes east in the Tamar Valley, and Golitha Falls is 30 minutes east towards Bodmin Moor.
Find out more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/lanhydrock
