Our 6 Favourite Spring Gardens in Cornwall

The unbelievable joy of seeing spring blooms after a rather grey winter is almost indescribable! Here in Cornwall, we have always been a little bit smug that spring seems to arrive first. Our budding gardens are a triumph, so this month I thought I would share six of my favourites for a full array of colourful blooms.

1. Caerhays Castle Gardens

I mean, it’s a castle, so it’s exciting already. Caerhays Castle Gardens is a spring favourite, with more than 140 acres of woodland garden and an enviable position by the sea. Its impressive magnolia collection includes around 90 species and more than 500 hybrids! You’ll find it near St Austell, and it is a real treasure at this time of year.

2. Trelissick

Perched above the Fal estuary, Trelissick is a riot of colour come spring. Magnolias, daffodils and rhododendrons all proudly put on their fine displays, with some beautiful maritime views thrown in too.

3. Trebah Garden

Trebah Garden is a true Cornish gem. Its rhododendrons are more than 100 years old, and the garden feels magical as you wind your way through the valley to the secluded beach at the bottom. Ideal in the spring sunshine.

4. Trewithen Gardens

Between Truro and St Austell, Trewithen Gardens has 30 acres of woodland garden ready to explore. It is particularly renowned for its magnificent collection of more than 200 varieties of camellia and is recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence.

5. Lanhydrock

The gardens surrounding the magnificent late Victorian house at Lanhydrock are beautiful, but it is the woodland where you see some of the loveliest signs of spring. When the bluebells appear in Great Wood, it becomes a haze of azure as far as the eye can see.

6. Cotehele

This ancient National Trust property goes all out for daffodils. Different varieties at Cotehele flower from around mid-February into May, usually reaching their colourful peak in March. I love this place. It is so peaceful, and seeing it all happy and yellow is a great antidote to a long winter.

One more for the list...

It is very hard to pick just six! I would squeeze in Pencarrow House and Gardens too. Its 50 acres range from formal gardens to ancient woodland, with camellias and rhododendrons bringing plenty of colour from March. Later in spring, bluebells and wild garlic carpet the woods.

I hope this inspires you to get out and explore some of Cornwall’s spring gardens. We really are rather spoilt for choice!

Opening times and seasonal displays can vary, so it is worth checking each garden’s website before travelling.