Have you heard of the British bluebells? Those delicate spring flowers that cover forest floors like a purple carpet? You can find excellent sights of this at Wembury Woods in South Devon.
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The Woodwalks
While you are here, don’t just visit Wembury Wood. You can easily follow the trails to Traine and Hollacombe Wood. They all are stunning and easily interconnected. The entire walk takes 60-90 minutes, depending on how often you stop to admire the view (or take photos).
Check out the official Wembury Woods walk map here. If you still feel like walking and want to see the Wembury coast as well, do the Wembury Bay and the River Yealm walk afterwards. The map is here.
Wembury Wood
How to Get to Wembury Woods
Make your way down to Plymouth in Devon, such as with the X63 from Newton Abbot via Ashburton and Buckfastleigh. From there, switch over to bus 48 headed to Wembury.
Buses typically leave hourly but there are some exceptions during school holidays and the last bus leaves in the afternoon. So check your schedule in advance. Should you take the bus, get off at Hollacombe and enter the woods there. (Ask the bus driver or you might miss the stop.) The bus ride is about half an hour.
A taxi or car ride from Plymouth to Wembury takes 18 minutes. You can park in the town centre. From there it takes 15 minutes to get to the southern entrance of Wembury Woods. You have to turn into the country lane east of Wembury Road.
Hollacombe Wood
What to Pack for a Trip
You will be walking through the woods, so bring enough water and maybe a few snacks. Take all rubbish back with you, however. During summer, you might want to put on both sunscreen as well as insect repellent. Opt for a repellent that also makes ticks stay away.
It’s a good idea to have a tick tweezer or tick card back at your hotel in case you do catch a tick. This way you can safely and quickly remove them.
Ticks in Devon can carry lyme disease so if you find any unusual signs even within two weeks after the bite, see a doctor as soon as possible. NHS is free, so don’t wait until you’re home if you feel odd.
To have a handy source of travel tips, guides for local restaurants and interesting tidbits on historical and cultural facts at hand, pack a Lonely Planet Guide for Devon. They really are a wealth of knowledge.Here are some other destinations in Devon I can recommend:
Totnes | Ashburton | Dartmouth| Brixham| Teignmouth | Dawlish Warren
Traine Wood
When to See Bluebells
The absolute best time to visit Wembury Woods near Plymouth, if you ask me, is during bluebell season. It varies slightly year by year but early May will offer you good chances. Then the forest floors of the different woods will be covered in stunning blues.
I followed the trail from Hollacombe down to and along the sheep meadow towards Traine Wood. Near the crossing, the bluebells were blooming like crazy. But the most prominent patch of blue was in Wembury Wood, towards the exit and near the wooden gate in the forest. So many flowers!
Check out my video to see how gradually the forest turns blue. (I also made up an educational song about bluebell protection. You’re welcome.)
Note: Bluebells are protected. Don’t step on them. Don’t pick them. No selfies in them. Please stick to the paths. (Pro tip:You can use a few photography angle tricks to make it look like you’re standing in the flowers.)
Are the Woods in Wembury Worth the Trip?
To me, it was my favourite bluebell experience in Devon. Seeing these delicate and fragrant flowers was one of the main reasons for my spring visit. And Wembury Woods totally fulfilled all my bluebell dreams in one go.
Other bluebell walks in Devon I can recommend are: Hembury Woods, Ashburton, Dartington Hall near Totnes and Dartmouth.
More from the England Blog
- Where to spot bluebells around London’s parks and woods
- Hiking to a Bronze Age village in Dartmoor
- Visiting nearby Holne Woods and its medieval bridge
- Retracing the steps of the Bronte Sisters in Yorkshire
- The Ultimate Shakespeare fan Trip
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