Bluebells in the South West

A walk through the countryside we look after in Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset is rewarded with carpets of bluebells in April and May. During these uncertain times, while the places we care for are closed, let us bring the bluebells to you.

Adults and two children taking an autumn walk amongst the trees — Enjoy the fresh air on an autumn walk

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit

More than 100 gardens and parks and hundreds of coast and countryside places are open in England and Northern Ireland. Many historic houses are open in England. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at weekends and school holidays. In line with Welsh Government legislation, all places in Wales will close from 24 October to 9 November. Please check the property webpage of the place you wish to visit before you travel. Read this article to find out how to book and what to expect from your visit.

Plan your visit

A snapshot of bluebells across the South West

Bluebells at Abbott Street Copse on the Kingston Lacy estate

Kingston Lacy, Dorset

Abbott Street Copse at Kingston Lacy is full of veteran and ancient trees which are the perfect habitat for bluebells. The team have created a new plantation next to the original copse, where 2,500 trees and 1,500 hedgerow trees will help to conserve this important woodland.

Godolphin, Cornwall

Godolphin is rich in archaeology and wildlife. The sixteenth-century garden is one of the most important historic gardens in Europe. The tranquil and mysterious woodland, where the years of mining have left an unnatural undulating landscape, is carpeted in bluebells.

North Devon

In North Devon, bluebells bloom in Beckland Woods, near Brownsham, along the coast path from Peppercombe to Bucks Mills, and in Barton Wood, near Watersmeet.

Cotehele, Cornwall

The Chapel-in-the-Woods near Cotehele Quay marks the spot where Richard Edgcumbe I made a narrow escape from King Richard III's men in 1483, and is surrounded by woodland filled with bluebells in spring.

Stourhead, Wiltshire

Bonham Wood on the Stourhead estate is transformed with swathes of bluebells in May, complemented by views across the lake from behind the Temple of Apollo.

English bluebell, Hyacinthus non-scriptus, in the garden in May at Killerton, Devon — Admire the delicate English bluebells

Can you tell your English bluebells from your Spanish?

The English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is striking, deep violet-blue, with tiny bell-shaped flowers which hang to one side of the stem (known as an influorescence). Spanish bluebells are very similar but their flowers hang around the stem, which grows straight upright.

" ...sweet are the bluebells that hide in the valley..."

A pathway through a bluebell wood — Go for a spring wander

Did you know?

Bluebells are delicate and easily damaged, especially if they’re trodden on. Damage can prevent the leaves from photosynthesizing, causing the plant to die back. Bluebells take between five and seven years to get established, so minor damage can have long-lasting impact. Help to look after the bluebells by watching where you tread, and sticking to marked pathways.

Bluebell woodlands — Bluebells in bloom in a mystery location, taken on Garden Adviser Ian's daily walk

High energy bulbs that will light up your spring

Garden Adviser Ian Wright extols the magic of bluebells. 'To me bluebells are 'the' iconic flowers late spring. Watching our hedgerows and woodlands turn blue lifts the soul... and perhaps not surprisingly bluebells are also steeped in mystical folklore. Are fairies really summoned by the ringing of its bells? If you hear the bell does that mean your sudden demise? Or does wearing a wreath of flowers means you can only speak the truth?'

" Even the nineteenth-century Romantic poets Tennyson and Keats were under the spell of the bluebell, believing it symbolised regret and solitude. I say nonsense - this bulb is a true symbol of the fantastic beauty of nature. "