Port Eliot Gardens - Saltash

Bee C.

Really great talk from Coco about the history of the house and the Eliots! V knowledgable and interesting tour, however very limited rooms on show. I appreciate the family still live there, but it would be nice to be able to view a little more at the prices offered for such a large estate vs being kept mostly downstairs in the servants’ quarters.

Beautiful scenery for the walk around, but there is a lack of interesting plants in the walled gardens. For the cost of a tour and garden, it is expensive I.e. £25/pp. Just the garden walk is £8/pp and some people may be a little disappointed if expecting National Trust standards.

More signage about purchasing tickets would be helpful, and more upkeep of the gardens would help better justify the prices.

davina S.

1st time coming here .was shocked to be charged £8 per person no discount for disabled or carer .this is just for the gardens. It looked like it was a lovely place years ago .but now most thing are beyond repair. And just left .also very overgrown with cherry laurel definitely will not be coming again .waste of money

Chris D.

The Stable Cafe - the Beyond Paradise location for the Shipton Abbott cafe. One snooty staff member who proclaimed 'We're shut!' as I requested a pot of tea. However, other staff were very accommodating and provided the necessary. Worth a quick visit - free parking, no entrance fee (apart from the main house). Quirky.

Heather C.

The expression ‘hidden gem’ was made for this place…

We visited Port Eliot in the first few days of the New Year, stopping on our way back to Somerset after a lovely weekend in Cornwall. It was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip.

While my husband kindly walked our dogs around the estate, I joined a house tour with Coco. The experience was absolutely fascinating. Port Eliot’s rich and varied history was brought to life in a way that felt truly authentic - something you don’t often get when visiting a National Trust property.

The Eliot family has lived here for over 500 years, and their eclectic collection of personal items is impeccably curated. What makes the house so unique is how it blends grandeur with lived-in charm. You’ll see grand candelabras alongside Jo Malone candles, and classic Gainsborough portraits next to framed family photos. It’s an extraordinary and personal glimpse into history.

Coco’s tour was a real highlight. Her engaging and knowledgeable storytelling brought the house and its past to life. It was probably the best tour I’ve had of a home like this, and she is a true asset to Port Eliot.

If you’re in Cornwall, make time for this remarkable place. You won’t regret it.

jeff R.

An unusually warm sunny day in October 2023 and a lovely visit to the gardens, surrounding woodland, and riverside. Cheap as chips entry and sooo very peaceful, easy to spend a couple of hours ambling along the many footpaths throughout the gardens, superb for lone dog walkers (didn't see anyone at all other than one staff member) some great photo opportunities and finished off with a lovely cup of tea and slice of cake at the Stables cafe. Lovely friendly staff and cakes to die for!

Keith W.

We didn't visit the gardens but attended a festival being held there - the festival was excellent, despite the rain. The only gripes were with the marshals, who were utter jobsworths and the festival attendees who left their rubbish and detritus everywhere - disgusting!! The youngsters who are right-on, PC, woke and allegedly care about the environment, don't give a toss about leaving mountains of garbage, for others to clean up. In the hook-up camper van field, the grown-ups left the place spotless... Go the oldies - respect!!

Neville C.

A Winter visit is always harder in a tourist area. The wet and the cold are not the fault of the venue. We had a nice coffee and looked at what was on offer but nothing appealed to justify paying to explore at this time. Clearly lots of effort is going on to make it lovely. General feeling of poor signage, lack of welcome and under-staffed IMO. Two of three outdoor shack toilets out of order and no drying options. Real disappointment as we travelled a good distance. By the summer 2025 it might be great.

Bryan W.

Nice quiet walks.Old village to explore shops and cafe in stable yard good river views.