Bluebells at Buckland Abbey

It was a showery day, but, trusting that the weather would improve as the afternoon went on, we drove out to Buckland Abbey.  Previously we had done the 2 shortest walks around the estate, so this time we decided to do the longest one.  However, as we went through the reception the person on the desk told us that the red walk (2nd longest) had the best bluebells.  We took his advice and followed the red route, which was very well marked.

To begin with we walked by the side of  a field of sheep and noticed how much the lambs had grown since we were last here.  As soon as we turned into the Great North Wood we were astonished by the numbers of bluebells.

All along the route there were bluebells, not just on either side of the paths, but sometimes in the middle of the path.  It was truly a spectacular show of bluebells.

Bluebells at Lanhydrock

As we drove up to Lanhydrock we saw bluebells in the hedges.  There were even more as we walked from the car park to the Reception.  The woods on the right are called Bluebell Woods and this is an appropriate name - they were carpetted with bluebells.

We walked down the hill, and noticed bluebells in the fields on either side.  We started by going into the gardens that surround Lanhydrock House.  The formal gardens at the front were beautiful, even though the tulips were fading.

The gardens were looking magnificent with the vibrant colours of rhododendrons and azaleas, often with bluebells underneath them.

We climbed up to the Higher Garden then left the gardens to walk through woods down to the River Fowey.  There were bluebells bordering the paths and bluebells in the woods.

We walked down to Respryn Bridge then turned back and made our way back to Lanhydrock through the Great Wood.  Again there were bluebells everywhere.

Bluebells in Hardwick Woods

We decided to follow part of the walk http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_b/2018/ that went around Hardwick Woods.  We parked in Saltram Estate and walked to Stag Lodge then along the road to Hardwick Wood.  The walk instructions gave the impression this was a short stretch but it was quite long.  The road was very busy and the grass verge was narrow.  Not pleasant.

Once we were in the woods it was full of bluebells and wild garlic and very beautiful.  Wild garlic lined the path to begin with.  In places there was a carpet of bluebells under the trees, then we came to a path lined with bluebells.  It was unfortunate that there was no marking on the paths so we were not sure which way to go.

We walked back to the entrance of Saltram Estate.  The grass verge was wider this way but it was still not a short or pleasant walk.  If we visit again we will park at a layby at the entrance of the wood and not at Saltram.

Bluebells in Plym Bridge Woods

We parked at Wood Park, on the right off Plymbridge Road, (from Estover) just after the road narrows and before the car park at the bottom.  We walked across the footbridge over Plymbridge Road and into Plym Bridge Woods.  There were lots of bluebells in this part of the woods high above the river.

We followed the signed red route, that took us on a fairly flat path until we dropped down to the cycle path which took us to the viaduct.  People were watching the peregrin falcons from there, but we didn't stop but walked down the steps to the river side and walked along to Plym Bridge.  We then walked across the meadow and crossed the Plym on a foot bridge before climbing up to woods that took us back to our car.

Saltram

It was a beautiful sunny day so we went to see what new delights there were in Saltram Gardens.  The bluebells were now in flower and the rhododendrums were still spectacular.

Along one path were some very dark tulips.  They had quite small heads and there were not many of them, it looked as if there had been a bed of them in the past and these were all that were left.

After walking around the gardens we decided to walk further in Saltram Park.  We headed up towards Stage Gate, but then turned off to a path that led through woodland.  Here there were many more bluebells, mixed in with wild garlic and the occasional pink campion.

As we walked further along we came to a beautiful display of bluebells in the wood.

Bicton Gardens and Parke

Using Tesco vouchers we obtained tickets for Bicton Gardens cheaply.  As we entered the Gardens we first went to the Italian Gardens, which were beautiful - formal beds, lawns and a small lake with fountain and swans.  Wisteria was growing round doors to the Orangerie, and glass house.

We then walked around the rest of the gardens and ended it by sitting by the lake to eat our lunch.  Here we saw a family of ducks and ducklings.

On our way home we stopped at Parke (NT).  We walked down to the river and walked along the path following the river upstream for sometime - a very pleasant walk, which will be beautiful when the bluebells are out.

Yelverton to Clearbrook, Dartmoor

We parked the car just outside Yelverton at the Rock, crossed over the main road and walked along the cycle path to just above Clearbrook.

View of  Dartmoor from our walk

 We then followed a footpath down to the village of Clearbrook.  There were several Dartmoor ponies grazing in this area.

We went down the road to Hoo Meavy then walked along the river until we climbed back to the cycle path that lead back to Yelverton.  There were lots of bluebell plants at the side of the river and in the surrounding woodland and this should be a very beautiful walk when the bluebells are all out.