Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waddesdon-manor">Waddesdon Manor </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Daffodils-at-Waddesdon-©-Waddesdon-A-Rothschild-House-Gardens.-Photo-Derek-Pelling.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142914" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Daffodils-at-Waddesdon-©-Waddesdon-A-Rothschild-House-Gardens.-Photo-Derek-Pelling.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Daffodils-at-Waddesdon-©-Waddesdon-A-Rothschild-House-Gardens.-Photo-Derek-Pelling-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Daffodils-at-Waddesdon-©-Waddesdon-A-Rothschild-House-Gardens.-Photo-Derek-Pelling-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Daffodils-at-Waddesdon-©-Waddesdon-A-Rothschild-House-Gardens.-Photo-Derek-Pelling-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Daffodils-at-Waddesdon-©-Waddesdon-A-Rothschild-House-Gardens.-Photo-Derek-Pelling-789x525.jpg 789w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Derek Pelling</figcaption></figure>



<p>The early flowering daffs are already in full resplendent bloom around the flower beds at <a aria-label="Waddesdon (opens in a new tab)" href="https://waddesdon.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waddesdon Manor</a>, but it&#8217;s Daffodil Valley that is, as the name suggests, the real show. There&#8217;s every shade of yellow in this area near the Aviary (back in 2019, 350,000 spring bulbs were planted around the grounds) &#8211; and it&#8217;s even gently sloping to give you the best view across the bobbing heads. Also check out Tay Bridge and Upper Deer Pen for their daffs and a quiet picnic spot on a sunny spring day. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rousham-gardens">Rousham Gardens</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Untitled-design-2024-02-26T153516.467.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-156967" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Untitled-design-2024-02-26T153516.467.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Untitled-design-2024-02-26T153516.467-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Untitled-design-2024-02-26T153516.467-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Untitled-design-2024-02-26T153516.467-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://rousham.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rousham Gardens</a> near Bicester lets in neither dogs nor children under 15, and so is utterly peaceful that it was named by Monty Don (AKA the God of gardening) as the &#8216;very best of English gardens&#8217;. Commissioned in the early 18th century, it remains almost as its designer William Kent (1685-1748) left it and has swathes of daffs planted around its lichen-covered statues and covering grassy banks. There’s no café on-site, though you’re welcome to picnic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stowe">Stowe </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="635" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Stowe-image-credit-Peter-Adams.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-127392" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Stowe-image-credit-Peter-Adams.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Stowe-image-credit-Peter-Adams-360x229.jpeg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Stowe-image-credit-Peter-Adams-720x457.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Stowe-image-credit-Peter-Adams-150x95.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Stowe-image-credit-Peter-Adams-827x525.jpeg 827w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Peter Adams</figcaption></figure>



<p>The pale stone of Stowe&#8217;s colonnaded facade is the perfect backdrop to Stowe&#8217;s gazillions of daffodils. They&#8217;re out now and at their best between Grenville’s Column and&nbsp;<a aria-label="Stowe House (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe/features/stowe-house" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stowe House</a> and around the ionic (did you pay attention in Classics?!) Temple of Concord and Victory. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shotover">Shotover</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T153901.204-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-127725" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T153901.204-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T153901.204-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T153901.204-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T153901.204-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T153901.204-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: ©Oxford Botanica/Adam Hodge  </figcaption></figure>



<p>Another grand dame of the Oxon/Bucks historic house set, <a href="https://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/shotover_house_garden">Shotover House</a> in Wheatley is usually an appointment-only garden to visit and with no direct website, it isn&#8217;t all that easy to arrange, so snap up this chance to visit on <a href="https://www.stnicolasforesthill.org/daffodil-day-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daffodil Day</a>. The charity fundraiser is on 17 March 2-4.30pm. There will be tea, coffee and home made cake stands plus a plant and home-made produce stall alongside the swathes of spring daffs. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-university-parks">University Parks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T163432.781-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-127730" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T163432.781-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T163432.781-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T163432.781-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T163432.781-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T163432.781-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Oxford&#8217;s <a aria-label="University Parks (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.parks.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University Parks</a> is a gem for its daffodils, which adorn the banks of the River Cherwell and the native planting between the sports pitches. You can enter the park through the South Lodge gate off South Parks road and saunter the Riverside Walk, just down from the  fabulously named Mesopotamia &#8211; the island between the upper and lower channels. Or get a riparian view from a punt &#8211; hire at Cherwell Boathouse or Magdalen Bridge. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-batsford">Batsford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T221359.308.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-127758" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T221359.308.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T221359.308-360x240.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T221359.308-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T221359.308-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/Untitled-design-2022-02-28T221359.308-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>March is the time when the carpet of yellow appears below the tree canopy at <a aria-label="Batsford Arboretum (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.batsarb.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Batsford Arboretum</a> and you can say so long to winter (though maybe don&#8217;t ditch the duvet coat quite yet). Ok, so it&#8217;s just over the border in Glouc near Moreton-in-Marsh, but totally worth the trip &#8211; as is fellow Glouc arboreturm, <a aria-label="Westonbirt (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Westonbirt</a>, with its blooms of wild daffodils. Check out more <a aria-label="daff delights and walks (opens in a new tab)" href="https://glosworcs.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/6-daffodil-things-to-do-walks-near-me-glos-worcs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">daff delights and walks</a> on our sister site Muddy Glouc &amp;Worcs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adderbury">Adderbury</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/St_Mary_Adderbury_6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-105044" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/St_Mary_Adderbury_6.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/St_Mary_Adderbury_6-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/St_Mary_Adderbury_6-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/St_Mary_Adderbury_6-150x113.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/St_Mary_Adderbury_6-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This winding village just south of Banbury is a pretty Cotswoldy village with honey-stone houses, impressive 13th century church and Morris dancers (three troupes no less!). But also swathes of daffs at this time of year. Its village store and four pubs should more than cater to your refreshment needs especially if you undertake this easy-going 5km, <a aria-label="circular walk (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksWalks/adderbury-circular-walk-walking-route#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circular walk</a> and earn that bowl of chips. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hughenden">Hughenden</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/easterhm.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p>There’s daffs galore at the National Trust owned&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden" target="_blank">Hughenden Manor</a>, known for its orchard and walled garden, and once the country home of Victorian statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Also worth a mooch is the neighbouring 25-hectare&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wycombe.gov.uk/pages/Sports-leisure-and-tourism/Parks-and-play-areas/Parks/Hughenden-Park.aspx" target="_blank">Hughenden Park</a>, to the north of High Wycombe. It is something of a mecca for daffodil lovers who come to see the carpets of yellow flowers, and among them gnarly old blossom trees. It’s a magic combination and is free!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hartwell-house">Hartwell House</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T084925.431-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-127774" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T084925.431-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T084925.431-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T084925.431-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T084925.431-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T084925.431-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The 90-acre Capability Brown-designed plot around <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Hartwell House (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.hartwell-house.com/" target="_blank">Hartwell House</a> is ripe for exploring in spring and the fact that this is one of the three Historic House Hotels of the National Trust means you can wake up there too! The gardening team planted 10,000 daffodil bulbs in the grounds near the canal temple 20 years ago so it&#8217;s quite a sight at this time of year. If you can&#8217;t stay, then at least take afternoon tea overlooking the grounds (pinkies at the ready!).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-willen-lake">Willen Lake</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T090233.251.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-127780" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T090233.251.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T090233.251-360x240.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T090233.251-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T090233.251-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/Untitled-design-2022-03-01T090233.251-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s not just watersports in MK&#8217;s vast <a aria-label="Willen Lake (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.theparkstrust.com/your-parks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Willen Lake</a> &#8211; the land around it amounts to 80 acres of parkland that&#8217;s been planted up for year-round colour. For spring daffs check out the area around the Peace Pagoda and Medicine Wheel, but with 250 million daffodils reportedly planted around Milton Keynes over the last few decades, you shouldn&#8217;t have any problem finding a few.</p>


Where to see daffodils in Bucks & Oxon

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