Despite the extremely cold winter, our daffodils seem to be blooming earlier this year. This is probably due to the fact that February has been fairly mild compared to last year.
Trumpets of bright and pale yellow light up our countryside and let us know that spring is truly here. The delicate, wild version of our common narcissus is of course, the inspiration for Wordsworth’s famous poem “I wandered lonely as a cloud” and blooms later than our commercial garden varieties, usually around mid March.
One of the most famous places to see daffodils in Cumbria, is Dora’s Field in Rydal near Ambleside.
William Wordsworth bought the land next to St. Mary’s Church and planned to build a residence there. However, when his daughter Dora died in 1847, he and his family and gardener planted hundreds of daffodils in her memory.
There are many places in the UK to see swathes of daffodils in bloom and here are a few of them. If you are aware of any for our list, then please contact us using the comments section at the end of this article.
Where to see daffodils
Ragley Hall, Warwickshire – Early in the season the bank boasts a spectacular show of welcome colour.
Farndale, North Yorkshire – Farndale is internationally famed for its show of wild daffodils which normally bloom at the end of March / beginning of April each year.
Kempley Daffodil Weekend – Details of daffodil walks around Kempley and easter bonnet competition.
Brigsteer Woods – Brigsteer Woods has a network of paths running through it and is pretty at any time of year but especially so in daffodil season from March to April.
Dymock Daffodil Walks – The area around Dymock is renowned for it’s wild daffodils and the local parishes arrange walking tours of the daffodil fields during March each year.
Daffodil Walks In Cheshire – If you love daffodils, beautiful countryside, and a lovely day out, then come along for a guided daffodil walk near the village of Whitegate, in the heart of the Vale Royal, Cheshire.
Wisley Gardens, Surrey – With over 240 acres of glorious gardens, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Gardens are worth a visit at any time of the year. Over 70 different varieties of daffodil, from the miniature Tête-à-Tête to the classic trumpets.
Dunsford Nature Reserve, Devon – A two mile walk along the River Teign and the edges of the coppiced woodland has areas covered with wild daffodils.
Wordsworth daffodils – Wander on over to see the famous Wordsworth daffodils, which you can find on the lakeshore at Wordsworth Point near Glencoyne Bay. It was here that the poet was thought to have taken inspiration for the well-known poem ‘Daffodils’. NY388192
Great British Gradens – Where to see good displays of Daffodils in Gardens throughout the British Isles from mid March onwards depending on location.
More information
I hate daffodils.org – A website dedicated to the conservation of wild flowers in the British Countryside. Find out all about our native daffodil and the difference between it and the cultivated narcissi we see in gardens.
Gardener’s Tips – Tips to help you get the best from your daffodils.