Drone image of Mt Edgcumbe House & parkland © https://cornishdronephotography.co.uk/ 2026
Mount Edgcumbe Restoration and Information Trust - MERIT
The purpose of MERIT is to support the restoration of the spectacular historical landscape at Mount Edgcumbe while also supplying information and encouraging public access
Mount Edgcumbe overlooking Plymouth Sound has been celebrated for the magnificence of its situation since its earliest days.
The Edgcumbe family were custodians of the landscape for over 500 years. Under the influence of three generations in the 18th century the parkland was embellished with the addition of carefully positioned buildings, temples, seats and statues. Water features were created, views were framed and drives designed to afford one splendid vantage point after another.
“most highly praised 18th century parkland”
As a result, Mount Edgcumbe became one of the most highly praised 18th century parklands in Europe.
A succession of visitors recorded the wonders of Mount Edgcumbe and acknowledged its status as “perhaps the best known place in the Kingdom” (Cottage Gardener, 1858).
The parkland’s fortunes dramatically declined in the 20th century and in 1971 part of the historic estate was sold to Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council for use as a country park.
In the early years of public ownership the two councils provided significant financial support for the preservation of the many heritage assets but with increasing pressure on resources priorities have changed and regular maintenance payments to the Park ceased in 2022-23. Instead, the Park has been expected to become self-financing by means of increasing commercial activity.
“perhaps the best known place in the Kingdom”
The events that have shaped the Country Park over recent decades are discussed in more detail HERE.
The Mount Edgcumbe landscape is today considered a heritage asset of outstanding significance and national importance. It is designated a Grade I Park and Garden by Historic England - one of only two in mainland Cornwall and the only one regularly open to the public. The Mount Edgcumbe Country Park occupies the majority of the protected landscape and offers free public access.
Mount Edgcumbe House - the former home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe - is set in the Country Park, as are 55 listed structures and 5 Scheduled Monuments.
Mount Edgcumbe is a remarkable place, valued by people from near and far, and MERIT seeks to work with others to spread greater awareness of its extraordinary history, uphold its significance, and support the restoration of its unique landscape and heritage assets.
The 865 acre Grade I registered Mount Edgcumbe Country Park offers superb walks and glorious sea views within a much acclaimed 18th century landscape replete with historic buildings, seats and statues.
“I had the pleasure of being shown Mount Edgcomb by the lord of it and his sons. It is by far the finest situation I ever saw. . . (it) is one of the most beautiful landscapes that can be conceived.”
Boundary of Country Park © Baz Richardson 2016
Rame Head © T. Steenhagen 2025
Castellated wall at Empacombe © iwalkcornwall 2025
The Historic Landscape
The historic Mount Edgcumbe landscape spans the current Grade I registered area that includes most of the Country Park, but also heritage assets at Empacombe. The area from Penlee Point to Rame Head is not in the Grade I park listing but includes numerous historic listed structures. The Mount Edgcumbe historic landscape also forms an important part of the Cornwall National Landscape / Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A view of the Mount Edgcumbe landscape as it would have looked in the mid-18th century. By Thomas Lyde Hornbrook, c. 1830-1855. © Royal Museums Greenwich CC-BY-NC-ND
French Garden House © M. Corber 2023
Guided walks
Over the summer MERIT is offering a series of guided walks to explore some of the most important heritage assets Mount Edgcumbe has to offer. These are outside tours of approximately 2 hours duration.
Buildings & Structures
