The National Trust manages much of the Cornish coastline and offers many attractions for families. The nearest are Trerice (
18 minutes), Lanhydrock ( 25 minutes) and Trelissick ( 33 minutes). All offer opportunities to visit historic buildings, walk in parks and gardens, engage in children’s activities and eat in cafés and restaurants.
There is also a Tea Room and Shop at Carnewas ( 16 minutes), which is an excellent start point for walks along the SW Coast Path towards Newquay or Padstow.
English Heritage does not have such a presence in the local area, but there are still a good few sites worth visiting in Cornwall. The nearest are Restormel Castle ( 32 minutes), Tintagel Castle ( 41 minutes) and the ‘twin’ fortifications of Pendennis Castle ( 46 minutes) and St Mawes Castle ( 45 minutes), which guard the entrance to the Carrick Roads at Falmouth. Many English Heritage sites host special events of particular interest to families from time to time.
Historic Houses is a cooperative, not-for-profit, association, comprising well over a thousand independently owned and operated houses, castles, and gardens of major historical importance. Not far from Retallack, you can find Prideaux Place (house and gardens), Padstow ( 14 minutes), Pencarrow House and Gardens ( 17 minutes), Trewithen (house and gardens), Grampound Road ( 25 minutes), Tregrehan (gardens), St Austell ( 27 minutes) and Caerhays Castle & Gardens ( 40 minutes)
In addition to the gardens listed in other sections, there are many fine gardens within a short drive of Retallack. The best-known are certainly the Eden Project near St Austell ( 24 minutes) and The Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey ( 36 minutes). However, there are many other beautiful gardens in the neighbourhood, including the Japanese Garden at St Mawgan ( 12 minutes), Bosvigo Gardens near Truro ( 28 minutes) and Hidden Valley Gardens near Par ( 32 minutes).
