Where to see spectacular displays of spring bluebells
By Pentewan Sands on the May 01st, 2019 in Camping, Caravan, Cornwall, Activities, Holidays
A magical blaze of colour strikes Cornwall’s ancient woodlands in May. Carpets of bluebells pop up in spectacular style creating breath-taking views and a sensory explosion. Cameras at the ready, this way to the best places in Cornwall to see bluebells.
Enys Garden, Penryn
A head-turning spring show of bluebells sweeps across the open meadow of Parc Lye in the grounds of Enys Gardens. Dense and bursting with intense colour, they are so stunning there’s even an annual Bluebell Festival in their honour (4th – 12th May 2019) and have become an icon of the estate which is one of oldest in Cornwall. Beyond the visions of blue, there’s also a wider 30 acre garden and on special weekends, a tantalising chance to glimpse inside Enys House which is at the centre of a beautiful restoration project.
Lanhydrock Estate, Bodmin
Just 30 minutes from us an indigo dream awaits. At Lanhydrock nearly every inch of woodland floor turns blue, from the entrance to the estate right down to the Fowey River at Respryn Bridge. Combine your walk with a visit to National Trust Lanhydrock House and its formal gardens.
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, near Torpoint
On the very edge of Cornwall on the hidden Rame Peninsula with fantastic views across the Tamar River to Plymouth, the Mount Edgcumbe Estate is home to a 16th Century house and historic gardens. But in May it’s the park, a pristine, unspoilt Grade I listed landscape, that steals the spotlight. Stalks of nodding blue flowers jostle for space under the canopy of trees putting on a five-star performance best watched from the trails that weave around them.
Penrose Estate, near Helston
Set around Loe Pool, the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall, the National Trust Penrose Estate boasts a myriad of trails which are brought to live by a border of blue blooms in May. Running through farmland and woodland, the estate attracts everyone from cyclists to runners and families with strollers who mingle in the Stables Café, a favoured spot for post bluebell crooning.
Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin
Really popular with families, Cardinham Woods is one big playground – and lucky for us, it’s just a quick 35 minute car journey from our front gates. There’s a pick of cycling and walking trails which boast a year-round adventurous spirit but it’s late April to the end of May when they really come alive under a blanket of blue. Swing by the idyllic café and don’t leave without snapping a pic under the towering trees.
Godolphin Estate, Helston
Every year a sea of violet and blue washes over the National Trust owned Godolphin Estate. Native bluebells thrive here not just in the woodland but also in the garden where wooded paths meander through the colourful and scent rich display. Call into the garden’s potting shed to fill up on info about the native bluebell species and its threat from the dominant Spanish variety commonly seen across Cornwall.
Tehidy Country Park, near Portreath
Another walk famed for its dappled woodlands and valleys of blue can be found in Tehidy Country Park which stretches for over 250 acres. Pick up one of the many paths and explore the tranquil setting which has been linked to Cornwall’s famous Basset family since the 11th century. The café here is also worth a mention and if you’ve got kids, keep an eye out for the friendly ducks at the pond in the middle of the park.
Pencarrow House and Gardens, near Bodmin
With its very own Bluebell Sunday (5th May 2019), you know you’re in for a treat when visiting Pencarrow House and Gardens in May. The ancient woodland in this 50 acre gem provide perfect conditions for a stunning blue carpet of blooms which reach for the sky alongside pungent wild garlic. And away from the flora, the house is equally impressive with over 500 years of stories to tell as the family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns. There’s also a Grade II listed garden and Iron Age fort to boost the intrigue even further.
Experience Cornwall’s bluebell season in all its glory by joining us for a spring garden break starting from only £42 a night. See our tariffs for full options.