Where to find bluebells in Dorset

Bluebells don’t bloom for very long. They appear for just a few weeks at the end of April and the beginning of May. Exactly when they appear can vary, depending on the weather and how shady the location is.

Some of the best places to see these beautiful wildflowers are:

Abbott Street Copse, near Wimborne

Find a carpet of bluebells in Abbott Street Copse near the small village of Pamphill.

Bulbarrow Hill, near Woolland

With great views of Blackmore Vale, Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon, Bulbarrow Hill is worth a visit. In spring, bluebells carpet the top.

Charmouth Forest, Wootton Fitzpaine

Known locally as Charmouth Forest they’re actually not in Charmouth, but a few miles away at Wootton Fitzpaine. The lower beech woods have the most amazing display of bluebells. A circular walk takes you through the woods and past fabulous views of Charmouth.

Colmers Hill, near Bridport

This iconic tree topped hill is covered in them. There are stunning views from the top.

Coney’s Castle, near Bridport

Near Lambert’s Castle, this ancient hill fort is full of bluebells in the spring. Coney’s Castle is just off the B3165 and there’s a car park off the road.

Delcombe Wood, near Milton Abbas

Delcombe Wood is mostly private but has limited public access. The are bluebells are interspersed with drifts of wild garlic.

Duncliffe Wood, near Shaftesbury

Managed by the Woodland Trust, Duncliffe Wood boasts one of the largest areas of native woodland in Dorset, covering an area of 213 acres. It covers the double summits of Duncliffe Hill. There are some steep paths in places.

Fifehead Wood, Fifehead Magdalen

The beautiful broadleaved woods are home to carpets of bluebells in the spring.

Hibbitts Wood nature reserve, near Halstock

Two areas of ancient woodland and a small, flower meadow next to Adam’s Green near Halstock. The area was given to Dorset Wildlife Trust in 2008. It’s also home to early purple and bird’s-nest orchids, common spotted orchid, cowslips, Goldilocks buttercup, wild daffodil and the rare adder’s tongue fern.

Hooke Park, Hooke

The beech wood is covered in bluebells.

Kingston Lacy

The National Trust estate is a great place to see bluebells. Lime Avenue is full of the colours of bluebells and wild garlic.

Lewesdon Hill

This is the highest point in Dorset, at 279m. The ancient hill fort is covered in woodland and has views across Devon, Somerset and the beautiful Jurassic Coast.

Minterne Seat Coppice, near Batcombe

This small native woodland is privately owned. Much of the magnificent display can be seen from the roadside.

Powerstock Common nature reserve

Run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust the area consists of wet and dry grassland, scrub, woodland and small copses.

Thorncombe Woods, near Dorchester

The 26-hectare ancient woodland and heath site is full of history, from the Roman road that runs through it to Thomas Hardy’s cottage at Higher Bockhampton.