The 8 best places to see bluebells this spring, from Perthshire to Cornwall

The UK is home to up to half of all common bluebells in the world, according to the National Trust. A trail of delicate bluebells along a front garden path may even have been the deciding factor in the house I chose to buy. (Let’s say I took it as a sign.)  

But in the wild, their presence can also mean the woodland you’re walking through is likely to be an ancient one – a habitat now rare in Britain. 

Whether you’re a keen photographer or simply love sharing a peaceful moment with these iconic flowers, we’ve found the best places to see bluebells.  

One of the best places to see bluebells in the east of England is at the National Trust’s Blickling Estate.

Its Great Wood is sprinkled with winding paths, blanketed on either side by these delicate blue flowers, making it easy to be among the bluebells without harming them.

Incidentally, Blickling Estate also made it onto our list of great places to catch the cherry blossom each spring. If it’s not already on your springtime walking list, it should be.

Queen Victoria donated a parcel of her own land to Kew, with the caveat that it must remain wild. This less-tamed conservation area is on the border where Kew Gardens meets the Thames.

Its 300-year-old woodland is home to one of London’s most spellbinding bluebell woods. Head to Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, which looks like it has been plucked straight from a fairy tale in spring, surrounded by bluebells and wild garlic.

You will need an entrance ticket for Kew Gardens. Or to see London bluebells without splashing out, Beckenham Place Park, in Beckenham, and Oxleas Woods, Eltham, have pockets of ancient woodland with beautiful bluebells in late April and early May.

What could make walking through a forest’s bluebells even more ethereal? Spotting a red squirrel, that’s what.

If you head to Kinclaven Bluebell Wood in Perthshire, you might just get lucky. You may also glimpse a pine martin, which also call this forest home. The wood, which is managed by the Woodland Trust, has a one-hour circular walk called Oakwood Loop, which takes in its marvellous floral display. 

Imagine yourself walking among iconic 18th century figures at Godolphin in Cornwall. Parts of the BBC series Poldark were filmed at the estate’s main house, where you can book in for a tour.

But to get there from the car park you stroll through woodland, which is where you’ll spot the bluebells. They bloom fairly early at this National Trust property due to Cornwall’s mild climate.

There’s a small entrance fee to pay, but there’s a café on site, so you can stop for nibbles before wandering through the 16th century garden.  

Exceptional’s fitness channel editor Phillipa Cherryson, says: “I’m lucky enough to have a choice of places to see bluebells on my doorstep in Monmouthshire, but my favourite bluebell walk is at the Skirrid (Ysgyryd Fawr), near Abergavenny. 

“The hill is owned by the National Trust and although it’s a popular walk, you can always find peace and solitude. You head uphill through woodland and then around the side of the hill through bluebell woods and onto the ridge. There you will be greeted with views of the Black Mountains to the west, Abergavenny to your south and England to your east. 

“I make sure I do this walk every spring to see the bluebells and I haven’t missed it once yet in 26 years.” 

They might look quite similar at first, but you can tell these plants apart if you know how. You might also spot a hybrid, which is a mix between the two. 

If you’re visiting the Lake District, stop off at Muncaster Castle, which inspired the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Wander through dappled sunlight (or seek cover from an April shower) and drink up the blue haze of its enchanting spread of bluebells in ancient, coppiced woodlands high above the castle. Bluebells here are in flower from mid-April to mid-May.

Just bear in mind that the steep pathways to and through the bluebell woods can be a little tricky for people who are less mobile. There is an entrance fee to pay, but your ticket also grants access to the property’s Hawk & Owl Centre. There you can see birds of prey up close, and take in one of the regular flying displays. 

Eagle-eyed Game of Thrones fans might recognise the landscape at Tollymore Forest Park, as it was the setting of some early Winterfell scenes.

The woodland sits at the foot of the Mourne mountains and offers panoramic views out to sea from the Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There are huge areas of bluebells growing in the forest, though some visitors have noted the majority of plants tend to bloom on the upper slopes, rather than down by the river in the past. An abundance of follies populate the park, which charges an admission fee and is open until sunset each day.

This Site of Special Scientific Interest is located just north of Cobham village in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The ancient woodland has abundant wildlife so you won’t be far from dormice, rare bat species and, of course, the bluebells as you wander amid its venerable knotted trees. If you’re a fan of circular routes, the woodland is bordered by other green spaces that are linked by the 10km (6 mile) Darnley Trail.