Winter at Stowe

A lake winds across the scene, with reds and banks on both sides with trees dotted along pathways. The trees are bare with no leaves and its a cold winters day. — A winters day looking across the Octagon Lake at Stowe

View over the lake at Stowe in winter — View over the lake in winter at Stowe

Join us at Stowe this winter to blow away the cobwebs on a crisp winter walk as you take a moment to pause and reconnect with nature and look out for the arrival of our snowdrops.

Stowe is the perfect place to enjoy crisp winter walks on your daily exercise, with views opening up while the trees are bare. Take a moment to pause and reconnect with nature and look out for the arrival of our snowdrops. If you are looking for a more peaceful walk, try a mid-week visit when we are usually quieter.

In line with government guidance, outdoor spaces only at Stowe are open for local visitors to access for walks. Please stay local and book your visit in advance.

Frost covers the ground with the sunrising across a lake with a large temple on the opposite side of the bank. — The Temple of Friendship is lit by the sun across a frosty view of the Octagon Lake

Stowe Buckinghamshire

The garden undressed

Blow away the cobwebs on a crisp winter walk as you take a moment to pause and reconnect with nature. Download the walk and look out for different sights and sounds as you explore the garden undressed for winter.

Show me the walk

" A great thing about Stowe at this time of year is there is so much to see. With the sun setting over the Eleven Acre Lake, and views to nearby temples. As you walk round you will find the cornus shining amongst the laurels which glisten in the winter sunlight. The reflection of a distant monument over the lake can be an experience to behold along with stormy clouds and the atmospheric conditions during January. The stars at this time of year are the cyclamen and snowdrops, and our winter route through Lamport can be magical as you walk through the rock work."

A green sloping field with a view above a lake running through a garden — The lakes were purposely designed to be seen from above to give the illusion of one river continuously flowing through the garden at Stowe

Stowe Buckinghamshire

Drifts of delicate flowers

Take a new route while visiting for your daily exercise this winter. Looking closely at the ground you'll see the first signs of the snowdrops arriving and as the season progresses there will be sweeping blankets of these delicate white flowers covering the garden.

Download the map

Child playing with winter leaves in the gardens

50 things top activities to do in winter

Winter is the perfect time for playing in the snow, stargazing, bird watching, cooking on a campfire and lots more.

Spring is upon us - something to look forward to

Following closely behind our snowdrops and their winter neighbours, a variety of spring flowers will start shooting through the undergrowth. We look forward to bright days reflecting rays across the glittering lakes, the chatter of birdsong filling the air and crisp breezes that take your breath away on refreshing walks in the gardens.

A golden arch sits in the background with bright yellow buttercups in spring at Stowe — Buttercups bloom in late spring at Stowe

Captured on camera

Small light blue to purple flowers in the grass.

At the top of tall green stems are large orange flowers called Crown Imperials

Tight pink buds open up to a white old English rose, named the Stowe rose.

Yellow daffodils, little white snowdrops

A baby bird with stippled colouring of grey and yellow is a little gosling

Sheep and lambs are in their hundreds across the hillside at Stowe on a sunny spring day

Purple lilies face downwards with their petals unfurling upwards to create a delicate bell shape on Martagon lilies at Stowe

Little purple flowers sit in a flower bed.

Memories of childhood

Forget-me-nots have had so many meanings through time, from Greek legends to a medieval representation of faithfulness.

Regal flowers

Look out for the mighty impressive Crown Imperial flowers as you walk from the Elysian Fields up towards the Temple of Concord and Victory.

A new variety

The Stowe Rose is a unique variety found at the front of the New Inn visitor centre. Tight pink buds open up to a white old English rose, it blooms late spring to early summer.

Blooming across the Elysian Fields

The Daffodils will start to pop up amongst the 'Stowedrops' in the Elysian Fields between Grenville's Column and Stowe House.

Something to melt your heart

Spot many goslings along the lake sides in the gardens. Did you know less than 24 hours after hatching, they'll be led to water by their parents to learn how to swim. The goslings can dive 30-40 feet underwater by the time they are one day old.

Warmer weather

Snakeshead fritilaries are delicate drop flowers. Look out for these mostly lonesome fellows in May.

Birdsong

Keep your eyes peeled for birds at Stowe, particularly Blue tits around the New Inn.

Bountiful lambs

Watch newborn lambs bounce and spring across the Hawkwell Field by the Palladian Bridge and Gothic Temple. They'll head down to the side of the Eleven Acre Lake for a drink too.

Pretty as a picture

Martagon lilies create a bell shape with their petals curling in on themselves.

Petite petals

Bright purple crocuses litter the Sleeping Wood at Stowe.