Polzeath landscape
Polzeath has transformed over the past two decades from a quiet family surf beach into one of the most desirable addresses on the North Cornwall coast. The demand for holiday homes and permanent residences has brought with it a wave of ambitious new builds and substantial renovations. Architects working with the drama of the Atlantic headland setting create contemporary houses that face directly into the prevailing wind and the extraordinary views across the Camel Estuary to Padstow and Rock. These are bold, confident houses, and their gardens need to match that ambition.
Designing for the Atlantic Coast
Polzeath sits on one of the most exposed stretches of the Cornish coastline. The prevailing south-westerlies come in hard off the Atlantic, salt-laden and relentless for much of the year, and any garden design that doesn’t account for that from the outset will struggle. But exposure and drama are two sides of the same coin here. The views from the clifftops and valley sides above the beach are among the finest in Cornwall, and the best gardens are designed to frame and hold those views rather than hide from the conditions that create them.
Our approach on this stretch of coast begins with establishing shelter — whether through landform, structural planting, or carefully positioned built elements, before layering in the more ornamental and detailed planting that gives a garden its character through the seasons. Windbreak species that can take the full force of an Atlantic gale give way to more sheltered internal spaces where tender and decorative planting can genuinely thrive.
The Wider Area
We work across the stretch of North Cornwall that takes in Polzeath, Rock, Port Isaac, Trebetherick and the villages of the Camel Estuary, as well as south towards Mawgan Porth and Newquay. The combination of Atlantic exposure, stunning views and high-quality contemporary architecture makes this one of the most rewarding stretches of coastline to work on.