Summer seems to have finally arrived in the Cotswolds (hurrah!!) and with the warmer weather and sunshine comes thoughts of long summer days out exploring the beautiful English Countryside. We are spoiled for choice with places to visit, but one firm favourite is the many gardens and beauty spots to view the wealth of blooms England has to offer. Due to the nature of flowers and plants, there are often small windows in which they are best to visit, so here is a quick round-up of some of the best places to see flowers in the Cotswolds- and when- to ensure you don’t miss out on the experience.
Lavender Fields
Where to see them: The outskirts of the village of Snowshill on Broadway.
Best time to see them: Early to mid-July.
A delight for your senses; the fields of purple/blue, the strong scent of lavender, the fields of wildflowers surrounded by the green countryside and fresh fresh air. Spend a summer day strolling amongst the lavender, have a lavender infused ice-cream at the cafe (if that’s not your thing, there are other more conventional flavours too!), and browse around the gift shop selling amongst other things cut lavender, and skin care products from Cotswold lavender.
Open from the 8th of June until the 4th of August (again the opening times will differ from year to year so do check the website before your visit). The lavender is grown as a crop and as such needs to be harvested when it is at its peak. This usually begins the last week of July until early August. When harvesting is taking place, visitors can also go into the distillery to view the process from cutting to distilling. This is very much weather-dependent so again worth checking on the day if this is something you are keen to see.
Several Cotswold Journeys tours stop in Broadway, making a visit to the Snowshill Lavender Fields a breeze, including:
- The Grand Tour of the Cotswolds on Foot
- The Cotswolds Interlude Short Break Walking Tour
- The Heart of the Cotswolds Walking Tour
- The Best of the Cotswolds Walking Tour
Sunflower Fields
Where to see them: Ebrington, near Chipping Campden.
Best time to see them: Late July to mid-August.
Fields of stunning, bright sunflowers are sure to put a huge smile on your face- there is just something so ‘happy’ about them, don’t you think?! One of the best places to see them in all their glory in the Cotswolds at Ebrington, near Chipping Campden. Not a day out as such, but a pleasant way to pass a few hours browsing the local produce and having a coffee in a farm shop with views across the sunflower fields and perhaps a stroll too. Perfect photo opportunity too!
Many of our walking tours visit Chipping Campden, only a stone’s throw away from the sunflower fields at Ebrington, including:
- The Best of the Cotswolds Walking Tour
- The Cotswold Way Long-Distance Walking Tour
- The Cotswold Circle Walking Tour
- The Cotswolds Guided Walking Tour
Hidcote Manor Gardens
Where to see them: Hidcote Manor, near Chipping Campden.
Best time to see them: June.
Hidcote Gardens, near Chipping Camden, renowned for its outdoor ‘rooms’ and row-on row of sculpted hedges, is a gem of a place nestled within the Cotswold countryside. One of the most popular National Trust gardens in the UK, it is easy to see why. Created by Lawrence Johnston, an American, in the early 20th century. June is the perfect time to visit Hidcote, as the roses are at their best – displaying their full beauty and filling the air with their wonderful scent.
There is a special rose trail throughout the month of June too, but fret not if you don’t make it there in June, Hidcote continues to blaze with an abundance of beautiful, colourful flowers and plants to make a visit this summer one to remember.
A selection of our walking tours stop at Chipping Campden, making Hidcote Manor Gardens an easy spring/summer detour, including:
- The Best of the Cotswolds Walking Tour
- The Cotswold Way Long-Distance Walking Tour
- The Cotswold Circle Walking Tour
- The Cotswolds Guided Walking Tour
The Confetti Flower Fields
Where to see them: Wycke Manor Estate, Pershore.
Best time to see them: Mid to late June.
If you haven’t been here before, this place is an absolute must! Breathtakingly beautiful – a sea of colours awaits you. The UK’s original real confetti fields located in Pershore, on Wycke Manor Estate, part of a working farm, open fields to the public for 10 days of the year (from the 21st of June until the 30th June this year) it is worth checking the website to check the specific dates it is open as it varies from year to year.
Providing natural biodegradable confetti since 1997, all of the blooms are planted, handpicked, naturally dried, mixed by hand, and then sent out to weddings across the world. The concept of The Real Confetti Fields was created when Charles Hudson, began to look at ways of creating more environmentally sound confetti after seeing paper confetti left over from a wedding outside a church. Seeing natural flowers fall from a bouquet he was carrying he experienced a eureka moment and his idea for natural confetti was born. Whole fields include a wide range of flowers and petals such as delphiniums, roses, wildflowers, and lavender in an array of stunning colours it really is a sight to behold.
On-site, there are portaloos, a cafe, and a shop where you can buy bunches of delphiniums and confetti to take home. It has become more and more popular over the last few years and gets particularly busy at the weekends so a top tip would be to arrive early to avoid the crowds (and queues) to make the most of your experience.