The house and gardens at Enys, near Penryn are a hidden gem and well worth a visit, especially at this time of year when the famed bluebells of Enys Gardens are in full bloom.
One of the oldest estates in the county, it has been home to the Enys family since the 1300’s.
The house is the third one on the site and the gardens remind me of Heligan, with exotic plants from all over the world being unearthed from the rhododendron takeover. There are hidden walled gardens, a pinetum, two beautiful ponds, used in the past to drive waterwheels and hydraulic rams to lift the water up to the farmyard to drive machinery. The star of the show at this time of year, Park Lye, a field so densely packed with bluebells that it presents you with a purple haze that takes your breath away.
The house is in a sorry state, having been used as a Dutch Navy training establishment in the Second World War and a Preparatory school in the 1950’s.
The current restoration plans have been hampered by consideration for the vast numbers of bats who decided to call it home.
Events are staged all through the year, the end of April, beginning of May is the bluebell celebration and the house is used for an Art Exhibition. The gardens are generally open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2 – 5pm but from Monday May 1 to Sunday 7th May, 2017 they are open from 11-5pm every day for the Bluebell Festival.
There is a lovely craft fair in May and Food Jam in July. You can even get married there!
Parking is close by, with toilets and a cafe and dogs are welcome on leads.
Despite its neglected appearance, it is full of architectural gems and bursting with character.A beautiful, haunting place. Try to see the bluebells, the best place in Cornwall for sheer volume of plants. You’ll be glad you did!
If you would like to enjoy a break in Cornwall, we’ve got a range of cottages which sleep 4-12 people – find out more and check availability.
Which are your favourite Cornish gardens? Share your thoughts below, post on our Facebook page, or tweet @ActionNan
