Oasis of fun for families
EDGCUMBE PARK IS A BIG SURPRISE
QUEEN Victoria, Prince Albert, Captain Cook and Charles Darwin were all captivated by Mount Edgcumbe country park – and it’s easy to see why. Spread over 865 acres – the size of 576 football pitches – and along around 10 miles of rugged Cornish coastline, it’s an oasis of beautiful countryside, dramatic landscapes and glorious sea views. But it’s also packed with fun things to do for all the family, from learning Greatest Showman- style tricks to artists’ workshops. During summer you can even spot dolphins chasing boats out on the water. It’s certainly a place where you can spend some serious time without getting bored.
Mount Edgcumbe, one of England’s biggest public parks, is the family seat of the Earls of Edgcumbe and straddles the Rame Peninsula, across the River Tamar from Plymouth. Over the years both Devon and Cornwall have fought over it; the latter finally won. A great way to arrive is by boat – the Cremyll foot ferry from Plymouth takes less than 10 minutes.
As you walk up into the park you’ll see the 500- year- old Mount Edgcumbe house perched majestically atop a hill above a double avenue of trees, an imposing symbol of the estate’s grandeur and history.
I visited pre- lockdown with husband Tim and our two children, Rosie, 13, and Freddie, 10. To start with we hired bikes – electric, no less – from Edge Cycles in the Barrow Centre craft area next door to the house.
You can head off road or stick to miles of pretty paths and trails, and having electric bikes made light work of it ( e- bike hire £ 15/ hour or from £ 25 for three hours, edgecycles. co. uk).
Next up was disc golf, a novel way to explore further. The idea is to fling frisbees into baskets, 18 of which are discreetly dotted around the park.
There’s more than enough to keep you occupied for days and you can also stay overnight.
Feeling adventurous, we glamped it up in a shepherd’s