Glendurgan

Falmouth, Cornwall
Bed & Breakfast
+44 (0)1326 250326

Per night
£180
Bedroom

2 rooms

Sleeps

Rooms sleep 2

Wend your way down steep paths to Durgan beach, explore the magic of Charles’s wonderful garden and feast on Caroline’s super breakfasts

Per night
£180

Contact the owner directly to check date availability and secure your booking.

What part does Sawday’s play?

£180 per night

The Experience

Glendurgan has been in Charles Fox’s family for over 200 years. It’s a magical, exotic and wooded place, and there’s a sense of discovery as you set off down steep paths to Durgan beach. Come in spring for the mass of magnolias, bluebells and primroses. While summer, to quote Charles’s excellent book, “breaks in a wave of whiteness, with eucryphia, hoheria, myrtus and that ‘bombe Alaska’ of rhododendrons, ‘Polar Bear’, and autumn is awash with bulbs – amaryllis, colchicum, crinum and nerine.” In the winter this is still an important garden with its collection of fine trees, and, even in the wildest weather, it’s a deeply romantic place to be.

Charles’s paintings of plants and trees line the stairwell up to bedrooms with sensational Helford river views; Violet and Magenta are as your Edwardian aunt would have liked – no TV but a grand piano, harp, and books to browse. Caroline trained as a cook and her breakfasts are delicious with homemade bread, jams and marmalade and locally produced eggs and bacon.

Charles, garden designer and leader of tours, has lots of tips about what to visit and where to eat. Falmouth is just 15 minutes, so if you’re visiting the university it’s easy to come back to this gracious home.

Glendurgan - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • The abundance of character, history, books and art
  • Exploring the garden and visiting all the other interesting ones nearby
  • Caroline's generous home-cooked breakfasts
Glendurgan - Gallery

You should know

  • You'll need to wait till the children are older to bring them

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Oven
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Spa
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Bar
  • Barbecue
  • Licensed premises
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • Microwave oven
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Dishwasher
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Accommodation

Pricing

Nightly price
£180
Surcharges
Singles £115.
2 Twins
£180

Information

Booking information

Check in
Flexible
Check out
Flexible
Other details
Single occupancy, £115 per night.
Closed
Occasionally.
No smoking
Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Owner has pets
Animals living on the property
Meals
Restaurant within walking distance.

Reviews

Emma and Tom, London

Not your average b&b! We felt very lucky to visit this amazing house and garden, and so looked after by Caroline and Charles. We will especially remember the beautiful garden flowers in our bedroom, the story behind the historic doorbell and playing the Steinway grand. Loved everything and looking forward to the next trip.


John and Sara, Leamington Spa

We had the most delightful 10 days staying with Charles and Caroline at Glendurgon. The warmth of their welcome and hospitality knew no bounds. Nothing was too much trouble and our room was extremely comfortable with a lovely view. We were treated to wonderful breakfasts and because of the special circumstances of Covid, Caroline cooked the most delicious dinners for us every night. We had fascinating tours of Glendurgon and two other gardens with Charles. We could not recommend staying there more highly and even though it is a very long way from us we hope to go there again.


Diana, Leigh on Sea

Caroline & Charles welcomed us (with delicious homemade brownies & tea), into their beautiful, elegant home - a delightful treasure trove of historical artefacts. You had thought of our every comfort & we really appreciated the luxurious linen and beds! Being able to walk through the stunning gardens to the beach at the bottom for a swim, was glorious! Thank you for your kindness, interesting chats & wonderful breakfasts. We would love to come back!


Miranda, London

We arrived early evening and Caroline suggested a walk through her amazing garden to the sea for a swim. Absolutely nothing could have been nicer or more welcome. And so the weekend went on......it just got better and better - deliciously comfortable beds, deliciously delicious dinner and breakfasts (first class home-made bread and jam) glorious coastal walks with 100 swims a long the way, many a fun chat with Charles and Caroline and a farewell tea and cake on their sunny terrace. The house and garden are simply magical and we were looked after beautifully. Thank you so much.


Amanda, Northampton

What a gem! We took my parents to Cornwall shortly after 'sheilding' was over. We felt completely safe and cared for from the minute we first arrived. The house is spotless, as were our bedrooms, bathrooms, bed linen and towels. Plenty of sanitiser is provided. Protecting our parents whilst having a much needed break away was our foremost concern. We needn't have worried. Glendurgan is like a home away from home. Caroline gave us delicious tea and cake on the terrace as we arrived - the views are simply stunning, gazing down the valley to the river. Her breakfasts were fresh and varied.


Location

The neighbourhood

Glendurgan is a mile or so from Mawnan Smith village. You can walk east along the coast into Falmouth, where there is the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, or west to Helford Passage. These footpaths connect by foot ferry with the coastal path which runs around Cornwall. There are numerous circuitous routes from the house, and a local walk can be as short or as long as you want. There are gardens galore to visit in the area; nearby are Trebah and Penjerrick, which were created by members of the Fox family, and then further afield: Trelissick, Trewithen, Heligan and Caerhays; Bonython on the Lizard Peninsula; Trengwainton near Penzance, where you can visit all the art galleries too.

Local points of interest from Charles & Caroline Fox

  • Great walks nearby and along the coast - explore the footpaths and take in the views!
  • Visit the charming Trebah and Penjerrick gardens nearby
  • Plenty of shows and exhibitions to see for all at National Maritime Museum Cornwall
  • Head towards Penzance for St Michael's Mount, Tremenheere sculpture garden or Penzance Penlee House Art Gallery, which houses the Newlyn School paintings

Introducing

Charles & Caroline Fox

Your hosts Charles and Caroline Fox are hugely warm and welcoming, their sweet little dog is very friendly too, and B&B visitors are treated like house guests. Charles, having lived in Cornwall all his life and trained as a garden designer, has decades of experience taking visitors around Cornish gardens and as an artist he is always abreast of exhibitions and what is worth seeing in local galleries.