The Cornwall Blog

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 i...

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...

One of the best things about being in Cornwall is Spring, the flowers tend to open here first and the stunning gardens we have dotted around are full of rhododendrons and magnolia. A sight to behold!  It really is lovely after the destruction of the recent storms seeing these beautiful gardens recover. Pencarrow House and Gardens , just outside Wadebridge, lost a massive 50 mature trees in storm Eunice, so tragic as the gardens are wrapped in ancient woodland and a joy to explore. With a slightly delayed opening, 21st March, the team at Pencarrow are busily getting the gardens ready again for the public to enjoy. Pencarrow really is a Cornish gem, still family-owned the estate is full of ancient history and worthy of an explore. The gardens are a wonderful mix of woodland (where you can just make out an Iron Age fort), the Italian formal gardens which are so peaceful and there's even a secret grotto thought to be a romantic meeting spot! There is a garden trail for the kids and chi...

Godolphin's bluebell woods   One of the things I love about Cornwall is the fact that Spring comes here early and does so vibrantly. May is the best time to take a stroll through the bluebells and we have plenty of places you can enjoy the delicate blue haze of wild flowers. Lanhyrock House and Garden , owned by the National Trust has bluebells a plenty on their 1,000 acres of land. Formally Victorian gardens gives way to ancient woodland worthy of a wonder. Enys Gardens filled with bluebells Enys Gardens near Penryn are a popular spot to see floods of blue, the gardens include a meadow called Parc Lye which is a sight to behold. Heading Camborne way you will find Tehidy , 9 miles of paths and 250 acres of idyllic woodland and lakes. A café and picnic area make this an ideal spot to wile away some time. Another National Trust gem is Penrose Estate near Helston. Boasting the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall, the grounds are beautiful and this time of year the bl...