Escape the winter gloom with a stunning walk through the Cotswolds, less than two hours from Bath, where early blooms transform the landscape into a springtime paradise. While February often seems too cold and dull for outdoor adventures, the emerging snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils promise refreshing bursts of color and hope.
One exceptional route leads to the renowned snowdrop garden at Blenheim Palace, a place that feels lifted from the pages of a Jane Austen story. Located in Oxfordshire’s Cotswolds region, the palace grounds burst into life each year with an astonishing 15,000 snowdrop bulbs blooming across the estate. This spectacular display was recently showcased on TikTok by Blenheim Palace ambassador Anya Rowe, who captured the ethereal beauty of these delicate flowers.
Blenheim Palace’s snowdrops, mostly Galanthus nivalis and the double-flowered Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Plena’, blanket areas such as the Cascade Garden, the 4th Duke’s Rockery, the Arboretum grassland, and the Secret Garden. Visitors can marvel at this sea of white as they wander the meticulously cared-for landscapes that feel timeless and enchanting.
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Entry to the gardens costs £31 for adults and £15 for children, with combined palace and garden tickets available at £41 and £24 respectively. For enthusiasts living nearby, an annual pass offers excellent value and unlimited visits.
The palace grounds offer multiple accessible walking routes, ranging from a gentle 1.5-mile loop through the formal gardens to a dog-friendly 4.6-mile park perimeter trek. Families can also enjoy activities this February half-term, including meeting the resident sheep, building insect shelters, exploring the Marlborough Maze, and riding a miniature train through the walled gardens.
Blenheim Palace isn’t just about natural beauty—it carries deep historical significance. Built between 1705 and 1722 as a gift from Queen Anne to the 1st Duke of Marlborough to commemorate his victory in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Though Jane Austen’s connection to the palace is more literary than confirmed, areas of the Cotswolds were well-known to her, and her novels evoke the same serene elegance seen here.
Whether you’re seeking a refreshing outdoor escape, a brush with history, or a chance to follow in the footsteps of literary greats, this snowdrop-filled walk near Bath offers a perfect February day out that feels truly timeless.