As soon as the earth begins to defrost after a long winter, you can expect to see a blanket of beautiful bluebells appearing all over the woodlands between the months of early April to late May. Read on to discover our top recommendations for the best places to spot bluebells near Swanage.
East Stoke Fen Nature Reserve – East Stoke, Wareham BH20 6AW
East Stoke Fen is a protected Nature Reserve in Dorset that is perhaps best known for the beautiful bluebells that pop up here during the springtime. This nature reserve consists of mainly a wetland habitat, which is surrounded by a picturesque bluebell woodland! If you decide to visit East Stoke Fen, please keep any dogs on a leash as there are a wide variety of rare and protected animals and birds that live in the area.
East Stoke Fen Nature Reserve has a small parking area beside the woodlands. What’s more, this gorgeous nature reserve is only a twenty-two-minute drive away from our holiday park in Swanage – making it the perfect day trip from Ulwell Holiday Park!
King’s Wood – Corfe, Swanage
King’s Wood is an ancient woodland located near Corfe Studland Road. The grounds here are covered in bluebells and wild garlic, making for an excellent opportunity for a beautiful photograph! This bluebell woodland is easily accessible from Ulwell Holiday Park if you’re in the mood for a long circular walk.
For more information regarding walks from Ulwell Holiday Park, visit our top recommendations for the best pub walks in Swanage.
Pamphill Bluebell Woods – Pamphill, Wimborne BH21 4EF
Pamphill Bluebell Woods is arguably one of the most famous places to see bluebells near Swanage, and if not, the whole of Dorset! During the springtime, this ancient woodland located on the Kingston Lacy Estate comes alive with a blanket of blues and purples. Interestingly, this area of natural beauty is only referred to as ‘Panphill Bluebell Woods’ during bluebell season – throughout the rest of the year, the woodland area is more commonly called ‘Abbott Street Copse’.
Pamphill Bluebell Woods is a longer forty-four-minute drive away from Ulwell Holiday Park. As the bluebells here are such a prominent attraction, the National Trust set up a temporary car park during the springtime so that families can enjoy the beautiful seasonal flowers.
Ashley Wood – Ashley Wood, Blandford Forum DT11
Ashley Wood, near Blandford Forum, provides visitors with multiple footpaths to explore the beautiful ancient woodlands. If you visit Ashley Wood in the springtime, you are sure to see a blanket of bluebells beneath the hazel and ash coppice trees that grow here! What’s more, Ashley Wood is often regarded by the locals as being a hotspot for butterflies and woodland birds – making for a magical bluebell walk!
Ashley Wood is a forty-minute drive away from Ulwell Holiday Park. Whilst there is no parking beside the woodlands, we recommend parking in the nearby village and going for a refreshing cup of tea in one of the local cafes either before or after your walk.
Thorncombe Woods – Thorncombe Wood, Dorchester DT2
Thorncombe Woods is a large woodland on the outskirts of Dorchester. This ancient woodland is well-connected to the countryside, including the Black Heath and of course the famous ‘Hardy’s Cottage’, which was once the birth home of the Dorset-local Thomas Hardy. Between the months of April and May, Thorncombe Woods is filled with brightly coloured bluebells – many locals even claim that the bluebells in Dorset always bloom in Thorncombe Woods before blooming anywhere else!
Thorncombe Woods is a short fourty minute drive away from our dog-friendly holiday park in Swanage. Please note that Thorncombe Woods does have a car park, however, it does cost £1 for every two hours* your car is left in the car park (*prices subject to change). If you wish to visit Thorncombe Woods, we highly recommend that you make a day out of it by visiting one of the local towns, either Dorchester or Weymouth!
Dog-Friendly Holiday Park in Swanage
Springtime is a wonderful time of year to visit Dorset – however, we kindly ask all guests that to preserve the beauty of the countryside that you tread carefully not to stand on any bluebells. Similarly, please ensure that dogs are kept on leads wherever appropriate.
Ulwell Holiday Park is ideally placed in the countryside of Swanage, which simultaneously allows our guests to relax in beautiful surroundings, whilst providing convenient access to and from local attractions! Our dog-friendly campsite has a variety of accommodation options to choose from, including luxury holiday homes, caravan and motorhome pitches, camping pitches and even a rustic glamping pod!
To secure your camping holiday in Swanage, you can book your accommodation at Ulwell Holiday Park online or by calling our friendly reception team at 01929 422823.