“Nothing is so beautiful as spring / When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush.” The opening lines of Gerard Manley Hopkins’s celebrated poem Spring were beautifully paraphrased by the late Robin Williams: “Spring is nature’s way of saying: ‘Let’s party!’” There’s never been a better time to embrace the great outdoors. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
Take a hike
There’s no better time to dust off the anorak and walking boots and head for the fields. Whether you’re planning a long walk or a short stroll, the Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers’ Association, is a superb resource, offering suggestions for all abilities and ages.
Before you head out, check that you’re appropriately dressed for the terrain and temperature, make sure that your mobile phone is charged and you are carrying enough water to stay hydrated.
Britain’s stunning country walks range from the crashing Atlantic might of the Bedruthan Steps circular walk in Cornwall, to the thrilling views to be had on the Mam Tor circular walk in Derbyshire.
One walk that balances drama with homely charm is from the quaint village of Clapham to the Norber erratics in the Yorkshire Dales national park. It’s a dramatic, almost alien, landscape, scoured out of the limestone by glaciers thousands of years ago. As you climb, the fertile horseshoe hollow of Crummackdale, which is particularly attractive in spring, reveals itself below you. The erratics are giant sandstone rocks that were left behind as the glaciers retreated. On your way to them you’ll pass a meltwater ravine, limestone pavements and the subterranean Gaping Gill cave, a favourite with potholers from all over the UK.
Reassuringly, you’re never too far from a pub or a village tea shop: the New Inn and Croft Cafe in Clapham are both warmly recommended.
See spring in bloom
The UK is dotted with ancient woodlands in which bluebells, wood anemones, wild garlic and early purple orchids brighten up the forest floor – all at a time when the trees above have hardly got going.
Early spring is also, of course, the time for daffodils, and there’s seemingly nowhere with more of them than Kempley, Gloucestershire, the centre of a 10-mile circular walk through field after field of wild daffs. Maps are available from local tourist offices.
Head farther west, to Coed Cefn, Powys, for one of the UK’s most spectacular displays of bluebells, followed, in April, by wood violets. The Woodland Trust has information on the spring flowers that can be found in woodlands near you.
For those who prefer their flowers in a more civilised setting, late spring can be the best time to visit one of Britain’s formal gardens. In London, Kew heads the queue, but if you’ve never been to Wentworth Castle Gardens in South Yorkshire, now’s the time to treat yourself.
Farther north, on the Rhins of Galloway, Stranraer, Logan Botanic Garden can also be relied on to provide a magnificent spring display. Like the National Trust, English Heritage maintains a list of historic gardens with seasonal highlights.
Spot spring wildlife
Among the flowers, you may be lucky to catch a glimpse of some returning wildlife, or gambolling spring lambs seeing the world for the first time. The National Trust has a list of sites where you’re likely to see lambs, such as the Brecon Beacons in Wales and the Langdales in the Lake District.
Thousands of migrant birds also start to arrive in March. Keep an eye out for chiffchaffs, wheatears and sand martins, which are followed by swallows, cuckoos, swifts and nightingales – among many others – in March and April.
