Paul Bradley ventures into the land that time forgot at two of Cornwall's top visitor attractions.

For many of us in the Midlands, Cornwall is synonymous with the coast, ice creams on the beach and fish and chips by the sea.

But if you venture just a few miles inland there is a very different side to the county.

For in the Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall has two stunning attractions that open a whole new world to many of us urbanites based in Birmingham.

The Eden Project, which celebrated its 10th birthday this year, is located 60 metres deep into an old clay pit a few miles outside St Austell.

Its huge Mediterranean and rainforest biomes are the star attraction and it is no surprise that more than 13 million visitors ventured into their depths since Eden opened in 2001.

The rainforest biome is a jungle that will spark the imagination of any youngster.

Ranging from 18C to 35C, and with an average daytime humidity of 90 per cent, the biome is not only an assault on your senses, but also a test of endurance.

The sights and smells, coupled with the glorious heat, make for a fantastic experience that transports you to the tropics of our planet.

Underneath the marauding canopy are palms, coffee, sugar, mangoes, bamboo, pineapples and bananas.

If you look closely, you will find some plants that have hallucinogenic qualities.

But the best part of the biome is the new viewing platform that is suspended just a few metres below its roof.

The 50 metre walk up a small, swinging gantry of steps is only for the brave – and only the foolish look down before they reach the summit.

Outside the biomes there is plenty more to explore.

Dotted around the exterior are exhibits that remind visitors of the Eden Project’s mantra – “Remember our connection to nature and our dependence on it for all we need.”

Just six miles down the road from Eden are the equally fabulous Lost Gardens of Heligan.

The mysterious gardens and 200-acre Heligan estate is a gem that, like the Eden Project, needs to be explored in detail to be fully appreciated.

Unveiled in 1992 from under decades of overgrowth, the gardens were restored on a shoestring budget.