We love this time of year - even though the weather seems to be suffering from a seasonal identity crisis…

To celebrate the season of hope and the prospect of warmer weather (well we can wish!), we’ve put together 12 top spring nature walks. Chosen for their features which come alive in spring, they also remind us that Britain has some of the finest and most varied countryside in the world.

Whether you're looking for stunning views, wildlife spotting or spring flowers these walks have it all. So wave a final goodbye to the cold and put a spring in your step!

Pencarrow Head and Pont Pill, Cornwall

Stay at…  Our South East Cornwall holiday cottages
Experience a mixture of high heathland, stunning coastline, smugglers tracks and creeks on this moderate 3.9-mile walk near our South East Cornwall holiday cottages. The energetic can also take the steep path down to Lantic Beach. Watch out for the grazing Dartmoor ponies and Dexter cows, spring wildflowers including bluebells, primroses and stitchwort, and visit the fourteenth-century church where Daphne du Maurier was married in 1932.
Download a comprehensive map and route for this walk

Arger Fen and Spouse’s Vale, Suffolk

Stay at… Campion Lodge and Woodbell Lodge, Wakes Colne
This ancient woodland is a top spot for a springtime stroll when beautiful displays of bluebells, wood anemone, wild garlic and yellow archangel are a real treat for the senses. Wild cherry trees are dusted with white blossom and the magical spring chorus of birds brings the woodland to life. Listen out for willow warblers, black caps and whitethroats to name just a few. And, if the weather’s behaving itself, don’t forget to bring a picnic!
To find out more, visit www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/argerfen

Ullswater, Cumbria

Stay at… Our Ullswater holiday cottages
Wordsworth was inspired to write his famous poem Daffodils, (“I wondered lonely as a cloud...”) after seeing the vibrant blooms on a walk by Ullswater one stormy day in 1804. Why not recreate the moment and experience the wildlife-rich lake when these welcome symbols of spring are carpeting the banks? There are plenty of walking routes along the shore. Time your visit with the Ullswater Daff Fest (April 8-30 2018) and enjoy daffodil trails, the Daffodil Regatta and more!
Click here for a selection of walking routes for varying abilities

Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

Stay at…  Our Cotswold Water Park Lodges or our cottages near Bristol
Spring at Westonbirt Arboretum is a real treat as nature brings an explosion of colour to the stunning Victorian-designed landscape. Magnificent displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias stand alongside wildflowers, bluebells and cherry trees at their spring best. A range of activities and spring trails help visitors discover the best the season has to offer. And if that isn’t enough, head to the STIHL treetop walkway, which offers beautiful views across pink blossomed treetops!
To find out more, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-spring

Cheddar Gorge, North Somerset

Stay at…  Our Somerset holiday cottages
This spectacular 4 mile walk upon the top of England’s largest gorge is even more of a pleasure on a clear spring day when walkers are rewarded with miles of exhilarating views across the Mendip Hills. Expect weathered crags and pinnacles teaming with wildlife and blooming flora - keep your eyes peeled for the Cheddar pink, a delicate flower found only in Cheddar! Primitive goats and the UK’s biggest flock of Soay sheep also roam free in this captivating habitat.
Download a comprehensive map and route for this walk

Kynance Cove, Lizard Peninsula

Wild chives at Kynance Cove by Barney Moss

Stay at…  Our holiday cottages on the Lizard Peninsula
Spring is one of the most rewarding seasons to walk this gentle 2.9 mile route to one of Cornwall’s most beautiful coves. With spectacular scenery and seascapes, the cliff tops are studded with a wealth of vivid coastal plants plus an abundance of birds and other wildlife – you may even spot a Cornish chough. The spring sunshine exposes the rich reds and greens of the 350 million year old serpentine rocks, unique to the area.
Download a comprehensive map and route for this walk

Blickling Estate

Blickling woodland in spring by Spencer Wright

Stay at…  Weavers Loft or Banningham Coach House
Breathe in the scent of spring flowers on a gentle stroll around the Blickling Estate with its red brick mansion surrounded by 950 acres of woodland and historic parkland. Daffodils and tulips bring colour to the gardens and the woodland floor blooms continuously from spring, when the bluebells, campions and yellow archangel show their heads.
Download a comprehensive map and route for this walk

Otter Valley Wildlife Walk, East Devon

Stay at…  Our East Devon Cottages
This lovely level 2.7-mile path winds through the delightful Lower Otter Valley SSSI in unspoilt East Devon countryside. Along the way, enjoy beautiful trees, spring blossom, the chorus of birdsong and flora in abundance. Bird hides and viewing platforms contain lots of helpful information en route. It’s a particularly good walk for the little’uns who love spotting the wildlife along the river. Look out for dragonflies and kingfishers, moths and butterflies, frogs and fish, ducks and waders.
Download a comprehensive map and route for this walk

Foxholes Nature Reserve, Cotswolds

Stay at…  Bruern Cottages
Immerse yourself in the tranquillity of ancient woodland at Foxholes Nature Reserve. Just a few minutes from our cottages at Bruern, explore the reserve on a 1.7-mile wildlife walk or soak up the surrounding area on a 7-mile version! In spring, the woodland floor is vibrant with primroses, violets and early-purple orchids and awash with bluebells in May. Bats, birdlife and butterflies also flourish here. Heaven!
To find out more, visit www.bbowt.org.uk/reserves/foxholes

Thetford Forest, Norfolk

Thetford Forest in spring by The Hedge Druid

Stay at…  Vicarage House / Vicarage House & Pool House
The largest lowland pine forest in Britain, Thetford Forest is so tranquil in early spring. The forest is a refuge for wildlife including red squirrels, deer, pheasants, red crossbills, goldfinches, nightjars and more. Keep your eyes peeled for woodlarks too, especially during March and April. There are plenty of walks through this immense Breckland area of pines, heathland and broad-leaved trees – even better when you can walk straight from the front door! Stay at Vicarage House where the owners have even thoughtfully provided walking maps!

Four Falls Trail, South Wales

Stay at…  Our holiday cottages near Pontardawe
Anyone with a passion for waterfalls should make this circular trail a priority with the added bonus that in spring the old sessile oak and ash woodland is awash with bluebells, wood anemones and wood sorrel. The route is waymarked and, along the way, look out for the river disappearing underground into the mouth of Porth yr Ogof, the largest cave entrance in Wales, and brace yourself for a walk behind the curtain of water that forms Sgwd yr Eira.
Download a comprehensive map and route for this walk

Cherry Trail Doddington Walk, Kent

Stay at… Our Kent holiday cottages
In April, the pride of Kent bursts into bloom, with glorious cherry trees coated in snowy white blossom. A 3.6-mile circular walk from Doddington Church follows footpaths and quiet country lanes, past cherry orchards, old and new, and through an avenue of wild cherry. You’ll also pass a traditional cobnut ‘platt’ and wind through modern apple orchards and ancient woodland full of primroses, bluebells and wood anemones.
To find out more, click here.

What else?

The South West Coast Path at Pencarrow Head, Cornwall

If we’ve given you a taste for a spring nature walk in Britain, why not step into spring with a Staycation holiday to blow away the cobwebs? There’s never been a better time to strap on the walking boots.