Gardens to visit for the best displays of spring bulbs
Now's your chance to leaf through some of the best:
Daffodils
Anyone who loves daffodils should visit the family home of the iconic poet William Wordsworth, when the hosts of golden daffodils are out. Wordsworth considered himself as good a landscape gardener as a poet, and the Rydal Mount garden is the largest example of his design. The five acre garden, incorporating fellside terraces, rock pools and an ancient mound, remains very much as he designed it.
RHS Garden Bridgewater has 20,000 bulbs, planted over the last two years, which are due to come into bloom. In the Community Wellbeing garden, daffodils lead the way for a pageant of spring bulbs, with tulips and alliums following later.
Lower Bowden Manor, Pangbourne, Berkshire (open by arrangement for the National Garden Scheme to December 5, for groups of between six and 50)
This seven-acre garden with stunning views, designed and added to over the years by owner and garden designer Juliet Cox-Nicol, features a carpet of daffodils surrounding a marble statue of Pan in the orchard, while ancient multi-stem apple trees link the garden to the wider landscape, which overlooks the Thames Valley to the Chilterns.
Welcome in the spring with the magnificent daffodil displays at Springhill, accompanied by some special magnolias and beautiful, white-stemmed birches. The daffodil collection in the walled garden is expanding year by year, with 600 new bulbs added each autumn.
Mill of Forneth, Perthshire (open March 30 and June 8 for Scotland's Gardens Scheme)
Stroll through drifts of daffodils on the banks of the Lunan Burn, on the site of a former watermill originally laid out in the 1970s by James Aitken, the Scottish landscape designer and naturalist. The sheltered four-acre garden has a range of mature trees, including a Himalayan blue cedar, large rhododendrons, azaleas and a wide range of shrubs. Planting includes established perennials with seasonal colours, many bulbs, primulas and heathers.
This is the garden that just keeps on giving. From early in the season, in the hidden woodland garden, little daffodils pop up, then by mid-March a showstopping display of tens of thousands of daffodils and crocuses appear in large drifts throughout the Kennel Bank. Thousands of snake's head fritillaries can also be enjoyed in the North Lawn in the spring.
Bates Green Garden, East Sussex (open Wednesdays and Saturdays from February 26 to October 26, and on March 9 and October 5 for the National Garden Scheme)
A garden partner of the RHS, this tranquil 1.5 acre garden surrounding a 19th century gamekeeper's cottage was designed and planted by the late plantswoman Carolyn McCutchan over a period of many years, from 1968. Spring visitors can walk through a wild daffodil glade leading to the 24-acre ancient Beatons Wood, home of the Arlington Bluebell Walk in late spring.
Wallington, Cambo, nr Morpeth, Northumberland
Just as the snowdrops have reached their peak, drifts of crocuses emerge to create a deep purple carpet in the garden of this National Trust property, where the crocus lawn is a must-see, along with the fantastic displays of other spring bulbs throughout the season.
Tulips
Hampton Court Palace, Surrey
Visitors can see more than 10,00 vibrant tulips which will fill Fountain Court, the heart of Queen Mary II's baroque palace, at this year's annual tulip festival which runs from April 11 to May 5. Floating tulip bowls will drift in the Great Fountain, showcasing a beautiful floral display.
The palace holds one of the UK's largest displays of award-winning planted tulips, with more than 100,000 tulip bulbs bringing its historic gardens to life. Bright blooms will burst from every corner of the formal gardens and cobbled courtyards, with each bulb handpicked and planted by its expert gardening team.
Abbotsford near Melrose, Scottish Borders (open from March 1)
Don't miss the tulip festival in late April and early May at the home of Sir Walter Scott, who designed Abbotsford's three Regency walled gardens in the 1820s to surround his 'Conundrum Castle', and which remain virtually intact today. Scott's garden offers a series of secluded, richly detailed and sheltered 'rooms'. In its day, it would have showcased the latest plants discovered from around the globe. Regular tours are held exploring Scott's vision for the garden and the hidden meanings of its design.
The restored Sunken Garden at 19th-century Castle Ward is adorned with thousands of colourful tulips, hyacinths and Osmanthus fortunei each spring. Head Gardener Andy Dainty based the design of the garden on an 1864 painting by Mary Ward, which saw the installation of 61 parterres, each filled with a variety of colourful plants. In late spring, you'll find five miles of bluebell trails to explore too.
Camassias
Want to see swathes of camassias in late spring? Look no further than the RHS's flagship garden when flowering begins around mid to late April with the blue Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii Caerulea Group, and culminates some eight to 10 weeks later with starbursts of creamy white Camassia leichtlinii 'Semiplena' in late May to June. The camassia meadows are near the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden and RHS Hilltop and extend to the Rock Garden.
Bluebells
Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire
Steep wooded valley, waterfalls and fast-flowing streams have given this place the name of Little Switzerland. So enjoy the mass of bluebells on a three-mile walk to blow the cobwebs away.
Take the whole family through the estate's bluebell wood in late April and early May on a four-mile route which is ideal for all weathers, thanks to a hard surface.
The woodlands at Blickling are carefully managed through the winter months to ensure plenty of sunlight reaches the ground, producing a glorious show of bluebells, which you'll see whichever way you look, while savouring the views of the spectacular hall and lake.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Story behind the tiny ‘Scottish village' in the Italian Alps with just 300 people
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Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
North Coast 500 named one of UK's favourite road trips
The North Coast 500, a 516 mile Scottish road trip of stunning coastal scenery, and rugged mountains has officially been crowned the UK's third favourite road trip destination for 2025, cementing its reputation as one of the UK's must-do's this summer. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The ranking, commissioned by Car Finance 247, evaluated 15 of the UK's most scenic and popular drives using a data-driven approach that goes beyond scenery alone. Routes were scored on five equally weighted factors: TripAdvisor five-star reviews, average monthly search demand, estimated petrol costs, the availability of EV charging points, and affordable accommodation options. For Scottish travellers, the North Coast 500 needs little introduction. The famous 516-mile loop around the Highlands is renowned for dramatic coastal vistas, remote beaches, ancient castles, and wild mountain passes. But in this latest study, it also impressed with practical credentials that matter to today's road trippers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to the data, the North Coast 500 secured an average of 19,000 monthly searches – the second highest in the top 10 – highlighting its enduring popularity among visitors. NC500 looking west from Glen Docharty towards Kinlochewe, Ross-shire, Scotland. It also racked up 2,255 five-star TripAdvisor reviews for the route's major sights, reflecting its world-class reputation. Petrol costs for the route were calculated at £87.72 – understandable given its length, but still reasonable for such an extensive journey compared to other long-distance drives. Crucially, the route's 65 EV charging points also helped it maintain a strong overall score, making it increasingly accessible for electric vehicle drivers exploring the Highlands. Meanwhile, with 152 affordable accommodation options (priced under £150 per night in the study's sample period), it caters well to travellers seeking a longer, multi-day adventure without overspending. Louis Rix, Co-Founder & COO at Car Finance 247 added: 'As a company committed to helping people get on the road with confidence, we know that value matters, not just when choosing a car, but also when planning where it takes you. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "This research shows that whether you're heading out for a short weekend drive or a longer escape, there are incredible UK road trips to suit every budget and lifestyle.' While England's Jurassic Coast claimed the top spot overall thanks to its mix of affordability, visitor reviews and ease of access, the North Coast 500 was Scotland's highest-ranked route by a clear margin. Other contenders such as Hadrian's Wall and the South West 660 trailed behind the NC500 when it came to search popularity and EV infrastructure. The study also revealed that 2025 travellers are placing growing importance on practical considerations like fuel costs, charging access and budget accommodation – alongside the traditional appeal of spectacular views. With EV ownership on the rise, Scotland's investment in rural charging infrastructure is already paying dividends, making routes like the North Coast 500 even more accessible for sustainable tourism.
