Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park — Attraction in Maker-with-Rame

Visited Mount Edgcumbe via motorbike however care should be taken when entering car park as loose gravel & large stones make it hazardous when turning, particularly for heavier bikes. Parking is free for motorbike users.

Came here for lunch at the "Stables" (via top entrance by gate) & a walk around estate grounds. The Stables provide an outdoor area with canopied picnic tables for food & beverages served at nearby cafe. A good choice of food & snacks are served in eco-friendly cartons which customers are encouraged to dispose of appropriately in bins provided. Crab sandwiches, hot cheesey nachos, toasted sandwiches & rustic chips are just a few of the many things on offer. Whilst eating, enjoy beautiful & traditional architecture surrounding area, including artisanal shop serving handmade items, arts & crafts; "museum" displays showing 16th century artefacts used on estate years ago, including a horse drawn "hooded-bath chair", (which was used to take ladies around estate grounds) & a fire engine. In another darkened stable, bats are protected by estate & if respectfully quiet, one may get chance to see via viewing area. The grounds are extensive & beautifully kept, boasting many flora & wildlife. By lower entrance, a play park provides fun for young children, with shop offering toys, snacks, ice creams & beverages. Further in, on left of entrance, the Orangery offers everything from snacks, hot /cold meals, ice creams to beverages etc. Choose to eat inside or outside, with picturesque fountain, flowerbeds & magnificent dual stairway, providing access to upper gardens. (Toilets also situated just outside Orangery). Many other surprises can be found within grounds, such as old fort & cannons overlooking sound, fountains, ponds & monuments. Mini rail track will offer customers a chance to take a pleasant train ride around part of grounds (seasonal). Mt Edgcumbe House well worth a visit, although grounds & gardens provide plenty to see & the latter is free. (Parking available with pay & display machines in operation.) Venue (not house) can also be hired for weddings. Plenty of areas to have a picnic (if bringing own food) & long walks to tire out our 4 legged companions, however please pick up your rubbish & dispose of appropriately. (Note some areas within grounds request dogs to be kept on leads). Can catch ferry from Stonehouse, Devonport to Mt Edgcumb for an extra adventure! Ferry available at bottom main entrance. Bus route also available, stopping just outside bottom entrance near main gate. A great place to visit,...

Visited: 8/5/2017

(Partial review as the visit did not include the house). This is a large country park so allow enough time to have a good look around. Even then at least one return visit will still be needed! It is in Cornwall but is also easily accessible by car from Plymouth. You can see the grounds (with over 4 miles of coastline) easily from Plymouth but will need to take the ferry or go via the Tamar bridge.

Situated on a hillside with extensive and varied grounds and an array of features - a very large house, small lakes, statues, a maze, fountains and even a folly (not a full list by any means). Don't be put off by the size, distance or hill to climb as there is a small golf buggy service (run by volunteers) that you can use to get to key points (a small donation is expected for the charity). The volunteer we had driving us around the circuit was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful.

A small shop at the gate plus a couple of places to get food and refreshments make relaxing breaks in your tour. We ate in the converted stables. A typical on-site cafe for these sorts of places these days. A fair sized menu menu of dishes ranging from crisps and drinks through light snacks to meals like fish and chips. The environment was clean, the food was good quality and the staff very polite and helpful. Alternatively, visit the Orangery Cafe. In a glorious building it is a place to eat, looking out onto a stunning part of the gardens. We had ice cream there - fabulous quality.

As you travel around the site and as you gain height, you get some spectacular views of Plymouth and its surrounding area.

There is so much to see, do and experience here that a repeat visit is a must. You can even ride a segway. They also have lots of different events so worth checking...

If you are lucky enough to have grown up in and around the Antony / Rame peninsula or have ever visited, you will know what a special place this is.

I have managed to include photos from some 20 years of visits. Whilst I have maybe only been in the house once or twice that I remember, I have been to the country park and grounds dozens of times. It may even be in the triple figures with multiple visits some years when I have been living at home.

As a child, this was a favourite drive out and walk for us and our Grandparents. I have recently put up a review for the Farriers eatery which is now up the top by the house. Even if you are watching the pennies and just taking a walk, feeding the ducks in the ponds, swimming off the beaches or even having a picnic on one of the lawns or gardens it is a lovely spot. Parking is reasonable but it is Cornwall council and so, like everywhere now 7 days a week. If you do have a blue bath though, there are a handful of free spaces up by the house. If you are fit and fancy the hike then you can park at Maker and there is an honesty box and you can take in some wildlife and views as you walk down. So you have options.

At the bottom by the Cremyll you can usually find the Edgcumbe arms. This tends to do nice food, depending on whether it is open due to the season or if current owners are making a go of it. Amid the gardens is The Orangery eatery. A pleasant if slightly pricey venue that is an old listed building.

There is so much choice here in this country park it is worth a visit any time...