Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ing in an abandoned clay pit in 2001, they've become one of Cornwall's most iconic - and
most visited - sights.
The three giant greenhouses - the largest on earth - were dreamt up by former record
producer Tim Smit, and recreate a stunning array of global habitats. Giant ferns, palms,
banana trees, and delicate orchids fill the Humid Tropics Biome, while temperate plants
such as cacti, lemon trees, vines, olive groves and aloes inhabit the Mediterranean Biome.
Beyond the domes, 13 hectares of herbaceous borders, kitchen gardens and wild flower
beds radiate out from the Core, Eden's inspiring education centre (constructed according
to the Fibonacci sequence, one of nature's most fundamental building blocks).
The latest addition is a treetop walkway that allows you to stroll up amongst the can-
opy, right at the top of the biomes. It provides an exciting new perspective that allows you
to see the trees literally from a bird's-eye perspective.
It's an amazing and hugely ambitious project that for once lives up to the hype. It's also
a model of environmental sustainability - packaging is reused or recycled, power comes
from sustainable sources or microgenerators, and rainwater is used to flush the loos. It's
also worth visiting year-round: in summer, the biomes provide the backdrop for outdoor
gigs at the
Eden Sessions
(
www.edensessions.com
)
; and in winter a full-size ice-rink springs up for
the
Time of Gifts
.
Eden gets very busy; booking online allows you to dodge the queues and get a 10% dis-
count, or 15% if you buy seven days in advance and stick to a specific day.
It's three miles by road from St Austell near Bodelva. You can catch buses from St Aus-
tell, Newquay, Helston, Falmouth and Truro, but arriving on foot or by bike snags you £4
off the admission price (and lets the kids in free).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Lostwithiel
High on a hilltop above Lostwithiel, 9 miles from St Austell on the A390, the ruined
castle of
Restormel
(EH; adult/child £3.60/2.20; 10am-6pm Jul & Aug, 10am-5pm Apr-Jun & Sep, 10am-4pm
Oct)
was built by Edward the Black Prince (the first Duke of Cornwall), although he only
stayed there twice during his life. It's one of the best-preserved circular keeps in the coun-
try, and affords brilliant views across the river and fields from its crenellated battlements.
