Boscawen Park is situated in the Malpas direction from Truro. It has several football fields and…read moreTruro Cricket club also have their field next to the park. There are also plenty of children's play equipment such as slides and climbing frames. This park is County Council maintained so is kept to a high standard. There are around 10 hard tennis courts which you can rent for an hour a time in the summer. However these courts can be quite expensive and are often in use around May time. There are toilets in the park which are generally clean and to a decent standard.

This is a large park, the north and south grassy areas separated by a vast expanse of tarmac road…read morethat cuts into the middle of the park, with the Royal Citadel and disabled parking at one end, and the other end leading to West Hoe Park. This tarmac expanse is often used for military parades, concerts and funfairs. Notable landmarks are the War Memorials, Sir Francis Drake statute and Smeaton's Tower Lighthouse, which is open to the public, and has it's own twitter account @smeatonstower

When I was a child I would regularly visit Hendra Park, and occasionally still do. On one side of…read morethe road there is the childrens part which has climbing frames and slides, while on the other side there is a football pitch and small skate park. Both parts are maintained by the County Council and there are also toilets on the childrens side. However these toilets are not great. There are fences stopping children from running onto the road on the children's side. In the day there are usually quite a few children and parents in Hendra park but it is rarely very busy. In the summer the County Council sometimes put on entertainment such as 'Punch and Judy' shows so keep your eyes peeled for these.

great fun when I was little - how brilliant!read more

During my stay in Devon and Cornwall, my most memorable visits were to several grand estates. This…read moreone was special because my family lives just down the road and it has some of the loveliest views of Plymouth across the River Tamar. You can visit the grounds (865 acres) for free, so my review is limited to that experience. For a fee you can visit the Mount Edgcumbe House and Earl's Garden. There is no garden like an English garden. This one was absolutely lovely since there were so many different and distinct areas as you rambled through the large estate. The manicured Italian and French Gardens led to the more rambling American Garden with a geyser in the middle. But really the most interesting for my son were the battery, with cannons, pointing out over the river. There is a Block House nearby that helps a child imagine defending the estate against all intruders.

One of the nicest places for a walk in the area with some great views. It's worth seeing the…read moreinteresting buildings within the park including the 18th century Folly, the Doric Thomson's Seat and the circular Milton's Temple. There are some lovely woodland trails to follow, many of which are suitable for everyone including wheelchair users. There are formal gardens too and the lovely Orangery and restaurant is well worth a visit.

When we arrived at Bicton Park, the staff member told my two year old and five year old that they…read morewere not allowed to bring in the dolly push chairs that they were pushing. My children were very upset. I asked the staff member what the purpose of that rule was and she said it was "on the sign". I asked her why it was on the sign and she said "insurance won't cover it" with no explanation of what it was that insurance wouldn't cover or how dolly push chairs could be deemed more dangerous than full-sized pushchairs. I then had to choose between forcing the children to leave the push chairs behind, upsetting them further, or leaving Bicton Park. We left and we will not be going back. This was my children's first experience of the small-minded enforcement of rules that serve no purpose. I hope they won't have to come across such a ridiculous situation again.

Agreed a really brilliant place to visit, and go on the train ,and survey the Motor museum.read more

This is my all-time favourite National Trust garden! It is located on the banks of the River Fal…read moreand numerous paths meander throughout the steep garden. In Spring there is a riot of colour from the daffodils, camellias, primroses, bluebells and cherry blossom. A bit later come the foxgloves and later still the changing colours of autumn - but there is a 'wildness' about it all, with wild flowers mingling with the cultivated, making the garden an absolute delight at any time of year. And, always, there is the sound of bird song and the distant clanking of the King Harry Ferry, which crosses the Fal from Feock to Philleigh. Of course, a visit to the garden is never complete without a visit to the superb tea room, shop and gallery. The garden is open throughout the year, although not every day in winter - so best to check the website before you visit. The house is privately owned and not open to the public but, if time allows, it is possible to walk through the parkland of Trelissick Estate, which again stretches right down to the shores of the River Fal. There is ample space for parking but, if you prefer, in summer, plan to arrive and depart by ferry via Falmouth, St Mawes or Truro.

I visited the gardens at Trelissick in the summer of 2008 and they really are quite beautiful. I…read moretook a gentle walk through the grounds looking at the large variety of plants in the gardens. Luckily, many were labelled as my botanical knowledge is not great. Despite the poor weather, it was a really relaxing experience meandering through the tranquil gardens. There are fantastic views across to Falmouth and the sea. The restaurant is nice, although a bit pricey (the money does contribute towards the upkeep of the National Trust properties though). There is also a shop which sells the usual National Trust goodies, some local produce, and plants that were seen in the gardens. Well worth a visit.

This estate has it all: beautiful gardens with a variety of unusual flowers and plants, lovely…read moreviews of the sea, and an interesting art deco style house. As it is run by the National Trust, the entry fee is quite high, but the money does go towards the proper upkeep of the house and grounds. Wander around the gardens, and you will also see a range of different bird species, which are resident here. The house is interesting, with the most spectacular room being the green salon at the front of the house, and there are volunteers about, who will be happy to tell you about its history. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take your camera inside. There is also a reasonably priced café near the entrance, which serve good lunch and afternoon tea.

Victoria Gardens are on the other side of the viaduct to Hendra Park, and quite close to Truro city…read morecentre. The gardens are well maintained by the County council. Victoria Gardens are usually quite quiet and it is a nice peaceful place to visit. Towards the top of the gardens there is a fishpond and there are toilets within the gardens. There is also a bandstand which during the Summer is used for musical events. In the past I have visited Victoria Gardens to eat my lunch, and found it a peaceful place to be. It is a beautiful garden which I would recommend visiting.

This artificial ruin was built in 1747 and it replaced an obelisk which had stood there before. It…read morewas built using medieval stones which were salvaged from the churches of St George and St Lawrence in Stonehouse. An artist in the 1800s wrote that the Earl of Edgcumbe had his workers build one folly, blew it up, didn't like how it looked so had it rebuilt and blown up again. This time he was satisfied with the result!! It's possible to climb to the top to appreciate the views of Drake's Island, Plymouth Sound, Breakwater and Embryo Point. I used to go over to Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park quite often and have climbed the folly two or three times. That part of the park is free to ramble around (you need to pay to enter the House and Earl's Garden).