Take the kids on bluebell walk through some of our stunning woodlands this spring
The picturesque landscapes of the Cotswolds, adorned with nature’s vibrant blue jewels; there isn’t much better than that!
Bluebells can be seen anytime between late march and early May. However, the most likely time for the bluebells to come out in full bloom is mid- late April.
Spring is the perfect time to venture outdoors and see the beauty of these delicate flowers, encouraging the children to connect with nature and creating special memories as a family. Plus, it makes for a stunning backdrop for some gorgeous family photos!
There are loads of great places in the Cotswolds to witness stunning carpets of bluebells, from enchanting woodlands to sprawling meadows, the Cotswolds offer a myriad of spots where bluebells bloom in abundance.
The best places to see
Cotswold Bluebells
this spring
Grab your walking shoes, pack a picnic, and let’s get the little explorers out hunting for bluebells this spring.
One final note, remember to take care to avoid trampling on the flowers when exploring bluebell woods are they are a protected flower.
We have listed over 12 free bluebell country walks for your family to try, and then bluebells to see in privaye gardens and woodlands in and around the Cotswolds.
They are all beautiful walks but if you feel spoilt for choice, jump to our number one favourite bluebell walk locations at Dovers Hill, Cam Peak, Siccaridge Woods and Bredon Hill.
Read on to discover a Cotswold bluebell walk for you;
12 free bluebell walks in the Cotswolds
Dover’s Hill, Chipping Camden
Parking: National Trust Car Park, Weston Subedge, Chipping Campden GL55 6UW
From the car park, you walk out on to the summit of Dover’s Hill and see the far-reaching views over the vale of Evesham and beyond straight away. Turn right and follow the path along the hill top to Lynches Wood to see masses of Bluebells. Click here for full guide.
Foxhole Nature Reserve, Chipping Norton
Parking: The reserve is just south of the small village of Bruern, Oxfordshire (OX7 6QD is the nearest postcode). There is a small layby up the lane to the nature reserve, just off the A424. Park here and then walk approx. 600m down the track to the reserve.
You will be rewarded with a classic bluebell wood full of delicate flowers, a carpet of indigo blue. The reserve is run by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, for website, click here.
Leckhampton Hill, Cheltenham
Parking: There are two places to park to access Leckhampton Hill walks. Daisy Bank Car Park, On Daisy Bank Road just past the Tramway Cottage. The nearest postcode is GL53 9QQ. The other option a bit further along the same road, same postcode is the Bridge Car park. For more info visit the Leckhampton Hill website here .
Leckhampton hill has many wonderful paths that criss-cross all over the hillside and through the woods. it is a brilliant place to explore with the kids, it has fabulous views of Cheltenham and beyond and beautiful patches of bluebells all over the woodland found on this part of the Cotswold Escarpment.
Siccaridge Woods, Sapperton, near Cirecencester
Parking: Park in the lay.by opposite the Daneway Inn, GL7 6LN.
Managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, these beautiful woodlands have masses of Bluebells every spring. Located in the Sapperton Valley, explore the various woodland trails that take you through dense patches of bluebells.
Littleworth Woods, Snowshill
Parking: Park at Snowshill Village Car Park.
You’ll find Littleworth Wood near the stunning and unspoilt cotswold stone village of Snowshill. The woodland has stunning views across the valley and a forest floor absolutely filled with bluebells.
Walk through the village and down to the wood. It is a 30-minute walk with kids to the woods along quiet country roads. We use google maps for the walking route. Walk past the church and the pub, on the main road out of the village towards the woods. Bearing right at the fork in the road. Head past a few cottages and then take a left downhill, you will see a National Trust sign for Littleworth woods.
Standish Woods, near Stroud
Parking: National Trust car park, GL6 6PP.
A beautiful landscape of woodlands and open grasslands with extensive views over the stunning Cotswolds countryside all the way to the Brecon Beacons. These lovely bluebell woods are the perfect spot for a walk with the little ones.
Frith Woods, near Stroud
Parking: Free parking is available, put in the nearest postcode, GL6 7QS, this which will direct you to the northern entrance to the Nature Reserve, you will pass the lay by for free parking before you reach the entrance, the layby is located at the Bulls Cross intersection (Slad Road and Yokehouse Lane) along the B4070.
There are lots of pretty bluebells and wildflowers that carpet the forest floor in Frith Woods Nature Reserve, managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. For the website, click here. There are many paths through the forest that you can explore with the little ones on a bluebell hunt .
Harebushes Woodlands, near Cirencester
Parking: Abbey Ground car park, Pay and display, GL7 2DA.
Enter the woods on the opposite side of the Norman Arch of Cirencester Abbey on Grove Lane (across the road) for a beautiful bluebell walk. The path around Harebuses is approx 1 mile in length through the woodland where there are lots of beautiful bluebells in spring. There is also a nice playground located in the Abbey grounds for before or after your bluebell walk.
Stinchcombe Hill, Dursley
Parking: Stinchcombe Hill free car park, nearest postcode is GL11 6AQ. At the top of the hill, go past the Golf Club on the right and there is parking on the left where the road turns into a track.
Take one of the various paths that criss-cross up the hillside to to the top of the hill. See amazing views of the Cotswold Hills from all around, as well as the Forest of Dean and the Vale of the river Severn. There are woodlands surrounding the top of the hill with masses of beautiful bluebells in the woods that spill out on to the commons and meadows of the hill.
Woodchester park, near Nympsfield
Parking: Park in the National Trust car park, GL10 3UP. Starting from this car park takes you on a wide path through the woods that leads to a national trust play trail, with playground equipment and den building spots along the way for the children.
Alternatively, on the opposite end of the estate, you can park at the Tinkley Gate Car Park, GL10 3UH. This entrance to Woodchester park has an amazing café, and various walking routes that take you through the woodlands and grounds of Woodchester and there beuatiful bluebells.
Woodchester Park is an outdoor estate with two entrances with various walking routes. You can walk to either end of the woods along the woodland path, past the boathouse, dam, lake and Woodchester House. There are lots of lovely bluebells to see in the fabulous expansive estate grounds and woodlands.
Cam Peak, Dursley
Parking: Cam Down car park, GL11 5HH.
Take a wonderful walk on the various footpaths and trails that leads from the car park.
The views from Cam Peak are stunning, with uninterrupted views of the Cotswolds that stretch for miles in front of your eyes. In spring, the bluebells cover the peak and woodland as far as the eye can see.
Cleeve Common, Cheltenham
Parking: Wardens Wood Car Park, GL54 4EX. (This postcode takes you to the near by houses. Continue up the road and you will find the car park).
The well known local gem, Cleeve Common, is a wide expanse on top of Cleeve hill, the highest point of the Cotswolds. It has amazing far-reaching views of the Cotswolds Hill, the Malvern’s and beyond. It also has patches of pretty woodland along the hillside where you can find beautiful displays of bluebells every spring. Click here for the full guide.
Bluebells in Cotswolds Gardens
(with an entrance fee)
Westonbirt Arboretum
Parking: Arboretum car park, GL8 8QS
The wonderful national arboretum at Westonbirt has a beautiful collection of ancient trees and also stunning bluebells carepeting the forest floor of the Silk Wood every spring. It has many easy and accessible trails to walk and a cafe and playarea too. Entrance tickets can be bought 7 days in advance on the website. Tickets from £16 per adult, £4 per child at a weekend or bank holiday.
Batsford Arboretum
Parking: Arboretum car park, GL56 9AT
The lovely arboretum in the North Cotswolds, Batsford has masses of stunning bluebells in spring. Walk through the trees along the well maintained level paths. There is also a garden centre. Cafe and playground here.
Family tickets from £25, please see website for more ticket options.
Painswick Rococo Gardens
Parking: Gloucester Rd, Painswick, Stroud GL6 6TH
Painswick Rococo Gardens, near the village of Painswick in the south Cotswolds, is a lovely garden that opens to the public. It has a nice cafe, a fairytale castle carved out of wood that is sure to be a hit with the little ones, and of course bluebells as far as the eye can see under the canopy of the trees. Family tickets from £33. Please check the website for further ticket options.
Kiftgate Court Gardens
Parking: Kiftgate Court car park, GL55 6LN
Located in Mickleton near Chipping Camden, Kiftgate Court Gardens have a spectacular bluebell wood that is also planted with maple and cherry trees, providing stunning colour every spring.
Adults from £11, child from £3.
Even More Bluebells
These Stunning Bluebells Woods are technically outside the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Beauty, but are so close and so lovely they are well worth the visit!
Bredon Hill, near Pershore
Parking: There is no specific car park for Bredon Hill. One option is to Park in Elmey Castle Village (opposite the cricket club, WR10 3HP). Fro mhere the walk up to the top of Bredon Hill is about one hour each way. To knock some time off the walk, there are several laybys you can park on, on Hill lane (which is the road you walk up to Bredon Hill).
Once at the top of the lane there is a footpath through the woods, where you will find beautiful bluebells growing en masse. There are many paths you can choose from, they all lead you up woods to the top of the hill with fabulous views of the Malvern Hills, and the Welsh hills in the distance.
Tiddesley Woods, near Pershore
Parking: Besford Bridge Road Car Park, WR10 2AD.
Managed by the Worcestershire Wildlife trust, these pretty bluebell woods are not technically in the Cotswold but are very close and offer stunning vistas of the pretty spring flowers. Tiddesley Woods has many hectares of bluebells, putting on quite the spectacle in the spring. Visit the website for more info here.
Oversley Woods, Alcester
Parking: Park on the street in Alcester town centre and walk from the town, along the Arden Way through Oversley Green (nearest postcode B496PH ). It takes about 10/15 minutes from Alcester to get to the edge of the woodland through Oversley Green. For further information from Forestry England website click here.
A stones through from the Cotswolds, these pretty woods near the market town of Alcester have lots of pretty bluebells and wide woodland paths to enjoy a leisurely stroll with the family.
Badbury Clump, Oxford
Parking: National Trust car park, SN7 7NL.
Visit this ancient woodland famed for its carpet of bluebells every spring at Badbury’s Iron age hill fort. Meander through the woodland paths through a carpet of bluebells and the under the mighty beech trees.
***
Thanks for reading our ultimate guide to bluebells in and around the Cotswolds – we love exploring the countryside as a family, especially in spring and bluebell season is probably our favourite time for a walk. Let us know in the comments which bluebell walk you have tried!
If you enjoyed this, how about even more walks for spring? All the details of our favourite family spring walks in the guide below
***
Cotswold Little Explorers 
Leave a comment