Devon

Bluebell trail at Buckland Abbey

A clump of English Bluebell flowers close up, against a green background — Bluebells at Buckland Abbey | © Barry Mitchell

In late April to early May, the woodland at Buckland Abbey is carpeted with a sea of bluebells and wild garlic. It's a wonderful time to enjoy this 2.5 mile circular route and take in the sights, sounds and smells of spring in the Devon countryside.

Near to

Buckland Abbey

Start point

Begin at the gate next to the Great Barn, grid reference SX487667.

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)

Duration1.5 hours 90 mins

Dog friendly***

*An enjoyable trail with some uphill and uneven sections. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**There are some uneven and sloping sections and steps. We would not recommend taking pushchairs or wheelchairs on this route. Sturdy footwear is recommended. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs must be kept on leads in all areas please. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Please note

All trails are within the pay for entry area at Buckland Abbey, so normal admission charges apply (National Trust members free). This trail is signposted by red way markers. These all feature numbers - should you require assistance at any time, please contact the property on 01822 853607 and quote the nearest marker point to assist us in locating you.

Dogs
Dogs on leads are welcome. Please do not allow your dog off of the lead in any area of the estate.
Car park
Please use the main visitor car park for Buckland Abbey. Accessible parking spaces are available.
Toilet
Toilets are available in the main car park and opposite Visitor Welcome. An accessible toilet is located in the block opposite Visitor Welcome.
Café
The cafe serves hot and cold food daily during normal property opening times.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Begin at the gate next to the Great Barn, grid reference SX487667.
Stage 1
From the gate, follow the track directly ahead, keeping the pond on your right and the garden wall on your left. This will take you past the entrance to the orchard on the right, and a gateway offering views back towards the north side of the Abbey on the left.
Stage 2
After passing a bungalow on the right, you'll go through a gate into an avenue of beech trees. Do not follow the track which leads off to the left across the field, but continue straight up the hill, keeping between the line of trees.
Community Forest Project
As you explore the estate, you'll see evidence of tree planting on a huge scale: this is part of the Community Forest project, where we've worked with Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, with grant funding from Defra’s Trees for Climate fund, to plant over 30,000 trees. These include a variety of broadleaved trees such as sessile oak, elm, blackthorn, birch, rowan and wild cherry, with heritage fruit trees along with hazel and cobnuts in the orchards.
Community Forest tree planting at Buckland Abbey | © Kate Hillson
Stage 3
At the top of the hill, you will start to bear to the left, go through a gate, and the natural play area will be ahead of you. Follow the path through another gate into the woodland, and then take the track to the left, following the red way marker.
Stage 4
This track continues through the woodland for approximately 1 mile. Continue to follow red way markers which will lead you along the path, as a guide, you should remain close to the field boundary line on the left side. Between marker points 9 and 10 the path becomes narrow and uneven, with steps at each point.
Bluebells in the woods at Buckland Abbey | © Laura De'Ath
Stage 5
Leave the woodland via the steps and through a gate, and go across the sloping field to the opposite side. You'll go through another gate in the top corner of the hedge line, and then go straight across the second field, meeting the gate at the bottom where the three trails converge. Go through this gate, and then follow the yellow way markers from this point.
Stage 6
This section of the walk is uphill, and follows the stream through another area of woodland, before bringing you back to the path leading down to the Abbey or across to the great barn.
The carp pond and Cott Lane
The carp pond, which you will pass on this final section of the route, was once used for a supply of fresh fish for the Abbey household. This path forms part of Cott Lane, which was used by the Cistercian monks as the most direct route to the river. The trail takes you around the edge of the gardens today, but once would have led straight up through to the Cider House - another lovely display of bluebells and wild garlic now grow in the disused part of the path.
Cott lane in spring at Buckland Abbey in Devon | © National Trust Images/James Dobson
End point
Grid reference SX487667.
Trail map
Trail routes at Buckland Abbey | © Beci Boxall
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