Unique wake venues in Cornwall

A wake is an informal event that traditionally takes place after a funeral service and cremation or burial. It’s usually an informal event that involves family and friends gathering to share memories and celebrate the life of their loved one

Traditionally, wakes would take place at someone’s home, or a community centre or pub, but they can take place anywhere. The people organizing the wake may want to honour their loved one by holding the wake at a place that was special to them, such as at the grounds of their favourite football team, for example. 

Also, although wakes usually take place directly after the funeral service, they can be held at any time. They can also be as structured or as informal as the organizer would like. Wake organizers have the freedom to host the event that’s right for them, their family and friends, and their loved one.

If you’re organizing a wake in Cornwall, there are plenty of unique venues where you can host the event in your own way, from a picnic at Kynance Cove to a tour around The Lost Gardens Heligan. 

Find your funeral director in Cornwall who will help you arrange a cremation or burial, and give you ideas for a wake, memorial or reception that's right for you.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, aptly named because these historic gardens were only rediscovered in the last thirty years. It was only following the discovery of a door in the garden's ruins did restoration begin. The Lost Gardens Heligan are now considered one of the finest gardens in the country and could be a gorgeous, magical place to celebrate the life of your loved one. 

The Pleasure Grounds were first laid out over 200 years ago, revealing a unique range of romantic structures and surprising features linked by a series of historic pathways and lined with similarly historic plantings. But the Pleasure Grounds do not just take you through history, but around the world. Here you will find ancient rhododendron boughs from Sikkim and can walk through the Italian Garden, inspired by a Mediterranean landscape.

Some plantings in the Pleasure Grounds are over 150 years old. The grounds are also home to the National Collection of Camellias and Rhododendrons introduced to Heligan over 100 years ago. Like other gardens in Cornwall, Heligan makes the most of its uniquely mild climate that allows more exotic, tropical plants to thrive.

It is a beautiful place and a lovely venue to host a wake. Gather your family and friends and take a stroll through the gardens while you share memories of your loved one.

Open from Saturday to Wednesday and closed on Thursday and Friday, Trebah Garden is another historical garden in Cornwall and a beautiful, unique location where you can celebrate the life of your loved one. 

Trebah was passed between many wealthy Cornish families, most notably the Killigrews and the Nicholls. The Georgian house that remains today at the head of the valley was in fact owned by the Nicholls’ in the 18th century and is older than the garden itself. An Ordnance Survey map in the 1800s showed Trebah was simply a wooded valley where they later developed the garden.

But in 1990, ownership of the house, garden, and cottages was passed to Trebah Garden Trust, who are committed to preserving the garden whilst also enhancing and maintaining the space. They also want to educate the public on this historic building and provide a welcoming space for visitors. They’ve certainly achieved this, as Trebah welcomes 100,000 visitors from all over the globe each year.

It would be a lovely place to gather those closest to you to spend an afternoon celebrating the life of your loved one.

Located on the west side of the Lizard peninsula, Kynance Cove is probably the most photographed area in Cornwall, featuring in its fair share of paintings. This is unsurprising, given the contrast of the sandy white beach with the dark red and green serpentine rock. This also makes for a scenic, beautiful location to remember the life of your loved one.

However, we must warn you that the walk down to the cove takes about 15 minutes and is rather steep, and crossing the beach at the bottom can be difficult due to the slippery and uneven rocks.

At low tide, you can explore the large rock stacks and caves with names such as The Drawing Room and The Parlour. There are refreshments available at the eco-friendly café above the beach, which sells baguettes, fresh sandwiches, homemade cakes and cream, as well as Cornish Pasties. There is also a brilliant 2-mile scenic walk from Kynance to Lizard Point.

Kynance Cove belongs to the National Trust, and if you’re a National Trust member, you can use the car park for free. Dogs are allowed on the beach, except during July and August. Because the beach and the car park can fill up quickly, we recommend you arrive early in the morning or early in the evening to avoid crowds.