Snowdrops everywhere! 8 local lockdown walks
They're coming out! The loveliest places (that we're allowed to visit in lockdown) to catch winter snowdrops across Bucks & Oxon over the next few weeks.
Shorts and sandals at the ready, spring is here. Er, okay maybe not, but the snowdrops are! If you’ve thawed out enough to venture outside and see them, here are the best snowdrop hotspots in our ‘hood that are allowing visitors this winter. If you know a secret spot, please let us know in the comments below.
Hughenden Manor , High Wycombe
You’ll get more than just snowdrops over at Hughenden, two miles north of High Wycombe. By early spring the huge 680 acres is carpeted in all sorts of seasonal foliage; scilla siberica, daphne mezereum and bergenia cordifolia, adding bright pinks and purples to the grounds *gets camera ready*. Booking essential.
Stowe Gardens , nr Buckingham
And there we were thinking Stowe gardens couldn’t get any more picturesque. Stowe loves its snowdrops, or should I say Stowedrops (their pun, not mine!), with the vast landscape gardens usually carpeted until the end of Feb. Hit up the Elysian Fields, Sleeping Wood and Lamport Garden to see the best of them. Booking essential.
Swyncombe Downs, South Oxon
A lesser known hotspot in our ‘hood, snowdrops and bright yellow aconites usually spring up around St. Botolph church’s 1000 year old grounds in Feb and early Mar. If you fancy a walk, you can head on to the ridgeway and across Swyncombe Estate.
Waddesdon Manor, nr Aylesbury
Waddesdon’s gorgeous gardens are the jewel of the National Trust and look amazing all year round, but I especially love snowdrop season here – my favourite spot to see them is the knoll just around from the Aviary. The same ground is smothered in daffodils come March so make the most of the white stuff while it lasts. Booking essential.
Badbury Hill, nr Faringdon
Better known for it’s bluebells in late April, Badbury Hill also has a decent snowdrop offering scattered amongst the beech trees.
Evenley Wood, nr Bicester, 1 – 28 Feb
On the Oxon/Northants border, you’ll find this picturesque 60 acre private woodland flush with over 80 varieties of snowdrops, including the Evenley Double, a special snowdrop which was developed and propagated on site.
Cliveden , Bucks
Cliveden’s snowdrop scene had an upgrade back in 2017 when former head gardener and Amersham based charity TalkBack planted over 36,000 seeds on the grounds. Head to the Long Garden and Blenheim Pavilion for the best carpet of white. Booking essential.
Basildon Park, nr Goring-on-Thames
A great spot if you fancy a stroll with your annual snowdrops. Basildon, on the Berks border, has loads of different routes around its 400 acre parkland and gardens including the green walk through the woodland, or the longer three mile orange route around the estate’s boundary. Booking essential.
Find more Muddy-approved walks here.
14 comments on “Snowdrops everywhere! 8 local lockdown walks”
Visited Evenly Wood near Bicester today: lovely snowdrops and crocuses! One of the few country parks that’s open, including the restaurant in a log cabin serving hot chocolat etc and has a warm log fire burning! Definitely worth going to with younger children. Forest school meets up here as well, there is a swing, covered area, big half build dens to work on, etc. We saw lovely wood sculptures (a hare, a fox and an eagle). Kids loved it. The trails through the woodlands are well marked and fun. Bring your wellies, it can be a little muddy.
Thanks Janny, really lovely helpful comment. x
Snowdrop teas at St. Botolphs, Swyncombe have been cancelled for this year. The church is also closed.
Hey thanks for the suggestions. Your pictures are very beautiful .https://signatureweddingsbd.com/
Evenley Wood Gardens. https://www.evenleywoodgarden.co.uk/snowdrop-days/. Just over the boarder into Northamptonshire, near Brackley. NN13 5SH. Wonderful woods and snowdrops.
Waterperry Gardens is east of Oxford not west. Your description of ‘A half hour drive west of central Oxford is wrong. Worth seeing all the different varieties of snowdrops and enjoying a fantastic tea in the teashop.
Hi Sally, thanks for the compass lesson, mea culpa. Will correct on the feature now. Kindest, Hero
West Wycombe Park reopens on 1st April
Thanks for that Angela, will amend accordingly, though there was a Snowdrop walk there on Sunday 2nd Feb for Child Bereavement. x
For details re St Botolps Snowdrop Teas – visit http://www.st-botolphs-swyncombe.info/events/
They do exellent “Snowdrop teas” every year at St Botolphs Chuch in Swyncombe (which you mention above) on most weekends in February. Amazing church as well – great place to visit anyway, and the snowdrops make it really special
Snowdrop Sunday at Nether Winchendon House 9th Feb from 11am to 4pm. Hosted by Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.
Child Bereavement UK is holding a Snowdrop Walk on Sunday 2nd Feb at West Wycombe House. A lovely day for a fantastic cause with a treasure hunt for children, tombola and the best cake stall! https://www.childbereavementuk.org/Event/snowdrop-walk-buckinghamshire
Some great ideas for places to go. I can’t wait to explore some of these. X