Spring flowers: 10 of the best places in the UK to see them bloom

26.02.2024 - 12:05 / theguardian.com

The gardening team of this estate near Totnes takes the first few months of the year seriously: spidery yellow witch hazel flowers and snowdrops are the precursor to daffodils and bluebells. Trails allow everyone to explore the 800 acres (Tramper mobility scooters can be arranged). There’s accommodation at different price levels, too, including hostel rooms and those in the original 14th-century building. Dartington does things a bit differently. When most gardens do light shows in winter, Dartington has one based on Alice in Wonderland, running from 8 March to 3 April. Food choices range from pub grub to bagels baked on the estate.
B&B doubles from £129; dartington.org

Few gardens in East Anglia do spring as well as Chippenham Park near Newmarket, with 40 acres of gardens open until 29 March. Starting with snowdrops and aconites before hellebores and daffodils take over in a series of landscapes that include lakes, canals and woodland walks, it all rounds off with an Easter egg hunt. The former potting sheds have just become rather nice accommodation, while there’s a tea room when the gardens are open, with soups, cakes and – should the weather warm up – chilled rosé wine.
Room-only doubles from £150; chippenhamparkgardens.info

Over the past two years, hundreds of volunteers have planted snowdrops at Wallington, including the Northumbrian Sandersii snowdrops with yellow rather than green markings. This National Trust estate near Morpeth now has a sea of around 900,000 snowdrops to enjoy as they carpet woodland, while later in the spring the grounds will be transformed by crocuses and daffodils. In nearby Whalton, the Beresford Arms is a nice pub with rooms, which is also near Bolam Lake Country Park.
B&B doubles from £110; theberesfordarmswhalton.co.uk; and nationaltrust.org.uk

Generations of the Erskine family have planted snowdrops here, just outside St Andrews. The annual show lasts well into March, and some of the walking trails are suitable for the mobility-impaired. There’s live music on some evenings, as well as night walks and warming food. Include a visit when walking the coastal trail from either St Andrews or Crail – other spring flowers are visible en route. In the nearby village, the Inn at Kingsbarns has five bedrooms and, in the Scranhoose, a restaurant with cheery home-made food.
B&B doubles from £120; theinnatkingsbarns.co.uk and cambogardens.org.uk

Twelve miles from Glasgow in the Kilpatrick Hills, Lang Craigs offers bulb-appreciation for purists, with no cafés or shops for distraction (although there are a few benches where you can sit and bring out your Thermos of tea). There are four walking trails and the snowdrops and bluebells are augmented by (if you’re lucky enough to spot