Cornwall's mild, sea-warmed climate has always made Falmouth and the Roseland Peninsula a haven for garden lovers, and that hasn't changed. Whether you're planning a spring visit to catch the camellias and magnolias in full flower, or a summer wander through subtropical valleys down to the water, these gardens remain some of the most rewarding places to explore on the Fal River. Here's an updated look at some of the best.

Enys Gardens

Just outside Falmouth in Penryn, Enys Gardens sits on what was once a working estate, and much of its 19th-century character survives - the old mansion, cottages, courtyard and outbuildings are all still there, with one cottage now housing a small café and history room.

The gardens themselves are quiet and unpolished in the best way: bluebell-carpeted meadows in spring, a waterwheel and ponds, formal flower beds, an orchard of rare Cornish apple varieties, and a play areas for children.

   Find out more enysgardens.org.uk

National Trust Glendurgan Garden

Glendurgan spills through three valleys down to a sheltered beach on the Helford River and is a genuinely restorative spot to slow down and take in the scenery. Camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias open the spring show, followed by drifts of bluebells, and by summer the garden hums with butterflies and bees around the apple orchard.

It's also a great family day out, with stone-skimming on the beach and the chance to get pleasantly lost in the maze.

   Find out more nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/glendurgan-garden

Gyllyngdune Gardens at the Princess Pavilion

Completed in 1907, these Edwardian gardens pair history with a genuinely lovely setting. Look out for the original bandstand, a rose garden, a secret grotto, a natural play area and a striking stone arch, all with views out to Pendennis Castle and Gyllyngvase Beach. Entry is free.

   Find out more falmouth.co.uk/see-and-do/parks/gyllyngdune-gardens

St Just in Roseland Church and Gardens

Often called one of the most beautiful churchyards in England, St Just in Roseland pairs a 13th-century church with gardens that tumble down to the edge of a tidal creek off the Carrick Roads. The setting has drawn admirers for generations, including Sir John Betjeman, who famously described it as the most beautiful churchyard on earth.

Sheltered by the creek, the grounds support a surprisingly exotic mix of planting - camellias, rhododendrons, bamboo and other subtropical shrubs line the winding paths, many first introduced by 19th-century Cornish gardener John Treseder. A stream runs down through the churchyard to the water, and there's a holy well to pause at along the way. It's best visited at high tide, when the creek is full rather than mudflat, and makes a lovely stop for anyone walking or cycling between St Mawes and the King Harry Ferry.

   Find out more  stjustandstmawes.org.uk

Lamorran House Gardens

On the Roseland Peninsula, with sweeping views towards St Anthony's Head, Lamorran benefits from a particularly favourable microclimate that lets it lean into Mediterranean-style planting drawn from all over the world. Running water threads through the garden's pools and streams, and the four-acre, south-facing hillside site with the sea and St Anthony Head's lighthouse as a backdrop, rewards slow exploration. Archways and curving gravel paths keep revealing new corners even on a second or third visit.

   Find out more lamorrangardens.co.uk

Trebah Garden

Trebah tumbles down a steep valley to its own private beach on the Helford River, and four miles of footpath make it easy to lose yourself among exotic planting, towering palms, and rhododendrons and camellias that put on a real show each spring. Hidden paths, a natural spring, and koi-filled ponds add to the sense of escape, while an outdoor theatre and plenty of open space make it equally good for family days out or quieter solo visits, dogs included.

   Find out more trebahgarden.co.uk

Tregothnan

Tregothnan holds the distinction of being the UK's first tea garden, its unique microclimate, shaped by the deep sea creek of the River Fal, allowing banana trees, tropical fern avenues and eucalyptus groves to thrive somewhat improbably in England. The estate has also long cultivated the Wollemi Pine, a species once thought extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 and whose fossil record stretches back around 200 million years. A record-breaking Camellia Maze and a Chinese pagoda surrounded by some of the world's largest rhododendrons round out a genuinely unusual garden experience.

   Find out more tregothnan.co.uk

National Trust Trelissick Garden

Occupying its own peninsula on the Fal River, Trelissick combines tender and exotic planting with wooded valley views and glimpses of blue water below. The garden begins among former farm buildings and old garden walls before opening out into elevated, informally planted grounds. Four summerhouses dotted around make good picnic spots, and the riverside woodland walks - plus a notable Cryptomeria tree - are worth the detour. The Cornwall Crafts gallery and an on-site café round things off nicely.

   Find out more nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/trelissick

    From subtropical valley gardens to historic estates, Falmouth and the Roseland pack an extraordinary range of horticulture into a small stretch of Cornish coastline. Many of these gardens are easily combined with a Fal River ferry crossing - the King Harry Ferry, St Mawes Ferry and Enterprise Boats make handy links between several of them.