Ethy Woods, Lerryn: A Spring Walk Among the Bluebells
One very soggy May bank holiday, I took my mum to Ethy House near Lerryn to explore its beautiful gardens and bluebell woods. The weather was rather hit and miss, but we weren't going to let a bit of Cornish rain put us off.
A soggy spring day at Ethy
Ethy House sits between Lostwithiel and Lerryn, with lovely views across the rolling hills and valley below – at least on a non-mizzely day. The house itself is Georgian, with an almost Italian feel, a romantic balcony and beautiful vistas.
When we visited in May 2023, the house and gardens were open to visitors for the day. Ethy House is privately owned and isn't normally open to the public, but the surrounding Ethy Woods can be explored on foot from Lerryn and St Winnow.
My mum and I donned boots and cagoules, popped Bren the border terrier on his lead and set off. We wound our way through a little maze and entered Ethy Woods.
What a sight! Bluebells as far as the eye could see. Their scent hung in the air accompanied by birdsong, while carpets of wild garlic appeared between them.
Rhododendrons displayed their vivid colour and magnolias were flowering too. There was such stillness and delight everywhere you looked. We quietly explored, disappearing into the mist. There were other people there, but it felt as though we were in our own little world.
Walking in Ethy Woods today
Ethy House itself is private and isn't normally open to visitors, but Ethy Woods can still be enjoyed on foot. Paths through this peaceful part of the Fowey Estuary can be reached from Lerryn and St Winnow, making Lerryn a particularly good starting point if you would like to explore the area.
Spring is a wonderful time to visit, especially when the bluebells and wild garlic are out, but the woodland and estuary make this a lovely place for a quiet walk at other times of year too. There isn't a dedicated car park at Ethy Woods, so it's best to plan your walk from one of the surrounding villages.
After our lovely wander, and really quite sodden, we huddled under the shelter of a stone room in the courtyard to enjoy tea and cake. Quite a charming way to spend a bank holiday. After drying off at home it was time for Scrabble wrapped in fluffy blankets, grateful that we'd made the most of a truly soggy day.
The bluebells that year were remarkable, delicately placed next to seas of the forager's favourite, wild garlic. Other lovely places to see bluebells include Luxulyan Valley, Enys Gardens near Penryn, Trewithen Gardens and Lanhydrock.
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