Devon

<p>Anyone know the best time to go to Beckland Woods for the bluebells?</p>


<p>The walk through the woods in the Exe valley from Tiverton towards Bickleigh is usually a great location for bluebells</p>


<p>Hi Glen, me too. I popped to Hembury Hill Fort over the weekend and it&#8217;s going  to be stunning in about three weeks&#8217; time. If you&#8217;ve not been don&#8217;t miss &#8211; amazing views too.</p>


<p>thank you for this &#8211; I love a bluebell wood and last year I left it too late and was so disappointed to have missed it in its full glory.</p>


<p>Buckland Abbey bluebells are stunning!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://thedeerwoodtrust.org.uk/event/bluebell-open-weekend-deer-wood-29th-30th-april-2023/">The Deer Wood Trust Bluebell Weekend</a>, Loddiswell</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/deer.jpg" alt="The Deer Wood Trust Bluebell Weekend " class="wp-image-64811" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/deer.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/deer-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/deer-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/deer-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/deer-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Enjoy a wonderful walk in this peaceful haven and find out about the conservation-minded Deer Wood Trust wellbeing retreats &#8211; part of their brilliant Bluebell Weekend on Sat 4 May. No dogs due to the sensitive nature of the landscape, please, and pay-what-you-can donations welcome.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-holwell-bluebell-lawn-walk-dartmoor"><a href="https://holidayindartmoor.co.uk/widecombe-in-the-moor/holwell-lawn-bluebell-circular-walk-36780.html">Holwell Bluebell Lawn Walk</a>, Dartmoor</h2>



<p>You can&#8217;t beat Dartmoor on a clement spring day, when everything is warm and still and you know there is a cream tea around the corner (hello Café on the Green). This easily accessible tor, with car parking nearby, has the added bonus of links with The Hound of Baskervilles too. Park near Hound Tor and follow the very good directions in the link.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scanniclift-copse-doddiscombleigh"><a aria-label="Scanniclift Copse (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/scanniclift-copse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scanniclift Copse</a>, Doddiscombleigh</h2>



<p>The Teign Valley is a stunner all year-round but this steeply wooded 8-acre patch of Devon Wildlife Trust is awash with bluebells, wild garlic and wood anemone now. Stop for a cosy lunch or a pint at Doddy&#8217;s ye-olde village pub, <a aria-label="The Nobody Inn (opens in a new tab)" href="https://nobodyinn.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The NoBody Inn</a>, known for its collection of cheeses and whiskies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-holyford-woods-seaton"><a href="https://www.eastdevon-nl.org.uk/ambassador/holyford-woods-local-nature-reserve">Holyford Woods</a>, Seaton</h2>



<p>This beautiful valley woodland is a harbinger of spring for locals, and a veritable cornucopia, as it&#8217;s not just bluebells you&#8217;ll also find swathes of snow-white wild garlic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beckland-woods-hartland-peninsula"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Beckland Woods (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bideford-bay-and-hartland/trails/-beckland-woods-bluebell-walk" target="_blank">Beckland Woods</a>, Hartland Peninsula</h2>



<p>The whole of the Hartland Peninsula is a bluebell bonanza in springtime, but if you prefer yours with a clifftop stomp and off-the-scale coastal views across Bideford Bay, then here&#8217;s your go-to. It&#8217;s dog friendly &#8211; a two-mile circular stomp with the remains of an ancient hill fort to see at a blowy 330ft above sea level. Alternatively, park at the nearby National Trust car park at Brownsham and take the windy path through equally bluebell-filled Brownsham Woods.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-national-trust-greenway-galmpton"><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="National Trust Greenway (opens in a new tab)">National Trust Greenway</a>, Galmpton</h2>



<p>The woodland paths at Agatha Christie&#8217;s former holiday home, which lead down to the River Dart, are brimful of bluebells in spring. It&#8217;s an evocative day trip &#8211; stop in the cafe, look inside and see the house laid out, with a straw hat here, and a book laid open there, just as the crime novelist might have left it. Dogs are welcome, and it&#8217;s <a aria-label="essential to book your parking (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust-tickets.org.uk/event-tickets/33310?catID=32964&amp;branches.branchID=2344" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">essential to book your parking</a>. Unless you arrive by river &#8211; it&#8217;s a short but sweet bob across from Dittisham. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hembury-fort-payhembury-nr-honiton"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Hembury Fort (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.hemburyfort.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Hembury Fort</a>, Payhembury, nr Honiton</h2>



<p>A Neolithic Iron Age hill fort in the Blackdown Hills, only recently rediscovered and now a scheduled monument and cared for by a special management team. It&#8217;s also bluebell heaven now, offering an easy circular walk with heaps of interesting historical interpretation thrown in. Access is via the public footpath off the A373.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://holidayindartmoor.co.uk/okehampton/meldon-woods-bluebell-circular-walk-36778.html">Meldon Woods</a>, nr Okehampton</h2>



<p>Head under the viaduct for paths weaving through a sea of blue, moss-covered trees and unfurling ferns. Springtime at its dreamiest.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lady-s-wood-south-brent"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Lady's Wood (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/ladys-wood" target="_blank">Lady&#8217;s Wood</a>, South Brent</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="801" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebellcloseup_Fotor.jpg" alt="bluebells at Lady's Wood South Brent" class="wp-image-31255" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebellcloseup_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebellcloseup_Fotor-300x240.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebellcloseup_Fotor-624x500.jpg 624w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebellcloseup_Fotor-768x615.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebellcloseup_Fotor-655x525.jpg 655w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A happy half-hour ramble up the gentle slopes of a Wildlife Trust reserve, on the edge of Dartmoor. If you can bear to peel your eyes off the little blue fellas and look up, you might be lucky enough to spy a dormouse in the tree branches, which being nocturnal spend their days snoozing. Apparently, they spend three-quarters of the year asleep. Maybe the Wildlife Trust would like to adopt my teens? They&#8217;d fit right in.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/blackbury-camp/">Blackbury Camp</a>, Colton</h2>



<p>Take an atmospheric trip back in time to a 4th century Iron Age hill fort, filled with cheeping birds, pheasants and bunnies. Swathes of blue, plus cow parsley and ferns. The perfect picnic spot.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-national-trust-buckland-abbey-yelverton">National Trust <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey/features/the-buckland-bluebells-are-here" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Buckland Abbey (opens in a new tab)">Buckland Abbey</a>, Yelverton</h2>



<p>Head to Sir Francis Drake&#8217;s former home, or more specifically the Great North Wood, for a sea of bluebells in late April and May, dating back to when the Cistercian monks lived here in Medieval times.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rhs-rosemoor-great-torrington"><a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor/garden-highlights/woodland">RHS Rosemoor</a>, Great Torrington </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/rhs-bluebells.jpg" alt="bluebell wood at RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington " class="wp-image-55594" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/rhs-bluebells.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/rhs-bluebells-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/rhs-bluebells-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/rhs-bluebells-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/rhs-bluebells-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>No intro needed for the Royal Horticultural Society&#8217;s Devon outpost, but did you know it has a bluebell wood as one of its numerous charms? All thanks to the RHS cleverly persuading the local school children to plant a whopping 70,000 bluebells under the beech trees at Torrington Wood. Impressive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-borough-woods-ilfracombe">Borough Woods, Ilfracombe</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="562" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebells.jpg" alt="bluebells at Borough Wood in Devon" class="wp-image-31254" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebells.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebells-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebells-720x405.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebells-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/bluebells-900x506.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Jammy North Devon has more blue carpets than Axminster at this time of year and this ancient wood is bursting at the seams &#8211; not just with bluebells but native orchids, wood anemone and ferns and wildlife. It&#8217;s practically an Utterly Butterly ad. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://eastdevon.gov.uk/wildeastdevon/wild-east-devon-nature-reserves/fire-beacon-hill-local-nature-reserve/">Fire Beacon Hill Nature Reserve</a>, Sidmouth</h2>



<p>Head to the heathland for bluebells as far as the eye can see. For the botanical geeks, this is a maritime heath full of gorse, lizards and nesting nightjars.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wembury-woods-wembury"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wembury Woods (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wembury/trails/wembury-woods-walk" target="_blank">Wembury Woods</a>, Wembury </h2>



<p>Another one with great watery views &#8211; of the stunning River Yealm &#8211; so a brilliant National Trust stomp all year round but with the extra reward of getting to weave your way though swathes of blue beauties in the spring. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emsworthy-mire-dartmoor"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Emsworthy Mire (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/emsworthy-mire" target="_blank">Emsworthy Mire</a>, Dartmoor</h2>



<p>Swerve the crowds at Haytor and head for the hills towards Widecombe in the Moor to find this gently sloping valley and your bluebell fix, along with the atmospheric ruins of a moorland farm dating back to the 19th century. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lydford-gorge-dartmoor"><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Lydford Gorge (opens in a new tab)">Lydford Gorge</a>, Dartmoor</h2>



<p>Left it too late to see them? Growing on the edge of Dartmoor in the south west&#8217;s deepest river gorge, and 150m above sea level, they come into flower late and last longest here, and still in flower into late May or early June, depending on the weather. A great trail for adventurers with a 30m waterfall, a suspension bridge and raging torrents after rain &#8211; and a National Trust tea room &#8211; but wear your boots, it can very slippy!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-national-trust-knightshayes-tiverton">National Trust <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Knightshayes (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes" target="_blank">Knightshayes</a>, Tiverton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/IMG_5976.jpg" alt="bluebells at National Trust Knightshayes" class="wp-image-42231" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/IMG_5976.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/IMG_5976-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/IMG_5976-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/IMG_5976-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Mooch beyond the formal gardens with its hedge-top topiary to the wilder areas and woods for the bluebell action. It&#8217;s magical. And there&#8217;s a great little nursery where you can pick up unusual plants, including heritage tomatoes.</p>



<p><em><strong>Updated April 2024.</strong></em></p>



<p> </p>


Bluebell time! 17 local walks to do now

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