Summer Vacation, Day 12: Heligan

July 22, 2026 · 2 min read · 4 visits

We spent the day at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. It was abandoned after World War I as many of the gardeners never returned from their deployment. The gardens were rediscovered in 1990 and are continuously restored. Local artists donate sculptures and next to the gardens various themed areas for kids have been introduced.

Nadine and Tilian shared the Sony Alpha 6400. The boys did very well for four of the five hours, at the end they went with me back to the campsite while Nadine explored The Kitchen Garden.

The Giant's Head, a mossy face with glass eyes in the undergrowth — Giant’s Head

The Mud Maid, a sleeping figure overgrown with ivy and moss — Mud Maid

Wire head sculpture overgrown with honeysuckle — Grey Lady

Song thrush on a lichen-covered branch — Song thrush

View through the trees onto a monkey puzzle tree — View from the woodland trail down the fields.

Wooden fox sculpture leaping off a tree trunk — *Lowarnes* sculpture

Coins hammered into a fallen log (photographed by Tilian).

Robin on the forest floor — Robin (photographed by Nadine).

Male chaffinch on the forest floor — Chaffinch (photographed by Nadine).

Young pied wagtail perched on a weathered stump — Young wagtail

Jackdaw sitting in an apple tree — Jackdaw

Potting shed window with an oil lamp and dried flowers — Window into the gardens (photographed by Nadine).

Topics: Travel, Photography