Hampshire Bluebell Season Is Coming
It's one of our favourite times of year in Hampshire, bluebell season! Every woodland walk becomes that little bit more magical with ferny floors replaced with a sea of blue. Just stunning, and something Hampshire does particularly well, if we do say so ourselves!
So where do you find the best bluebell woods in the county? From Micheldever just outside of Winchester, to Mottisfont and the New Forest; the best locations are gems in the heart of Hampshire. Scroll below to discover them all.
1. Micheldever Woods
Just to the north of Winchester if Micheldever Woods, perhaps the most well known bluebell spot this end of the county! This beautiful woodland is home to the most beautiful wildflowers but Spring is when it really shines; taken over by a dense carpet of bluebells. This is a must visit for us every year!
2. Mottisfont
The woodlands on the Mottisfont estate come alive every Spring with beautiful bluebells! One of our favourite National Trust sites, this is a great place to take the kids for a Springtime wander outside, plenty and nature and flower spotting to be had. Definitely pre-book if you can though, it does get busy!
3. Hinton Ampner
Another of our National Trust favourites, tempted to do a whole series on the gardens now! Hinton Ampner woodlands are at their best in the Spring, and perfect for those impromptu bluebell photoshoots. The whole estate is wonderful to wander around in the sunshine, with some of the most beautiful flower gardens!
4. The Vyne
Another National Trust bluebell gem! It's worth noting as well that all the National Trust houses we've mentioned have Easter activities running every year! So whether you're going for a wander with a friend, or taking the whole family, there something for everyone to do. From playing host to Tudor royals, to sheltering WWII evacuees; The Vyne has such an amazing history. Go for the Bluebells, stay for the house!
5. Pondhead Inclosure
You can find the amazing Pondhead Inclosure in the heart of the New Forest (near Lyndhurst). Unlike any other area of woodland in the New Forest, it hasn't been grazed by ponies or cattle for hundreds of years! Which means the inclosure is packed full of an incredible variety of flora, butterflies and birds found in few other places locally. Every April/May the woodland is transformed by the stunning bluebells that pop up, this one is definitely a favourite with the locals.
6. Exbury Gardens
With the incredible (and world famous) Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias, Exbury gardens is a wonderful day out for any flower lover! Not only do beautiful bluebells bloom here in the Spring, but they also have a spectacular daffodil meadow and 'river of gold'. These perfectly landscaped gardens, curated and designed by the Rothschilds are a Hampshire must visit!
7. River Hamble Country Park
Beautiful bluebells bloom in the copse at River Hamble Country Park. You'll also find an amazing array of snowdrops here in Spring, down by the church! Perfectly placed between Southampton and Portsmouth, River Hamble Country Park is the perfect place for an outdoor adventure this Spring, with plenty to see and do out in the fresh air.
8. Roydon Woods
Full of wildlife, Roydon Woods is a rich patchwork of grassy meadows and ancient copses of conifer and hazel. It really comes alive in the Spring though when the bright bluebells blanket the ground underneath the beech trees. Because of the beautiful array of wildflowers you can find in this woodland it's also a great place to spend a while butterfly spotting; one of our favourite Spring activities!
9. The Holywell Estate
On Saturday the 30th of April and Sunday the 1st of May the Holywell estate's popular bluebell walk returns, the raise money for local Hampshire charity The Murray Parish Trust. It's a rare opportunity to walk through beautiful private grounds of the Holywell Estate, by kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Clarendon. With activities for little ones along the way, and admission raising money for such an amazing charity, this will definitely be one we'll be trying this year!