Snowdrop walks in Buckinghamshire
February is the month of the snowdrop or Galanthus nivalis as the most common variety is officially known. So get on your walking shoes, wrap up warm and treat yourself to the wonderful site of sweeps of snowdrops covering the parklands, woodland, churchyards, and gardens of Buckinghamshire. To get you started here are a few of our favourite places to see snowdrops. Do check out via websites opening times, parking, and of course, do they serve tea and cake!
Basildon Park near Goring-on-Thames. Open 10-4 pm. Basildon Park on the Berks border has many walks through its 400-acre parkland and gardens. This includes the green walk through the woodland or the longer three-mile orange route around the estate’s boundary and the opportunity to see the snowdrops. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park/features/winter-at-basildon-park
Braziers Park near Wallingford. 0X10 6AN. Open days for snowdrops in the park 12 & 13th February. Open 10-4. Teas are available. Free maps and guided tours of the house. Booking advisable http://eventbrite.co.uk/snowdrop-eas-open-day http://braziers.org.uk
Cliveden near Taplow – the woodland area is full of snowdrops and great walks. One of the National Trust’s top spots for this springtime flower. Leaflet available from the Information Centre in the walled garden car park. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden/projects
Evenley near Bicester. NN13 5SH. Open 10-4. This private 60-acre woodland is on the Oxon/Northants border. You will find the woodland carpeted with over 80 varieties of snowdrops, including the Evenley Double, a special snowdrop that was developed and propagated on site. https://www.evenleywoodgardens.co.uk
Hughenden Manor near High Wycombe. 680 acres of woodland and gardens. Snowdrop walk on the 6th February in aid of Child Bereavement UK. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden/
Stowe Landscape Gardens. “Stowedrop” walks at this time of year are part of a brilliant day on this National Trust estate. Start your walk at the New Inn. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe/features/snowdrop-and-winter-in-the-garden-at-stowe
Swyncombe Estate and St Botolph’s Church, near Watlington, S Oxon RG9 6EA. A circular walk from the tiny hamlet of Swyncombe in Oxfordshire. The walk begins at the pretty 11th-century church of St Botolph’s, a beautiful flint church that is famed for the churchyard’s carpet of snowdrops every February. If you do visit in February, arrive early to make sure you can park and check out the church website for details Open February 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 26 & 27. Teas served 2-4 pm. https://www.st-botolphs-swyncombe.info
Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury. At this time of year, Daffodil Hill is full of snowdrops creating an amazing display. If you follow the Baron’s Walk there are also pockets of hidden snowdrops to discover. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blog/snowdrops-did-you-know
Waterperry Gardens, Oxon. 1-29th February. Open 10-5pm. It’s snowdrops in abundance over at Waterperry Gardens, a half hour drive east of central Oxford, with over 60 varieties of the snowdrop springing up across the site’s eight acres.(Adults £8.50, children aged 16 and under free). https://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk/events/snowdrop-season
