UK lavender farm has walking paths, viewpoint and cute cafe | UK | Travel

I’ve always loved flowers and the natural world. But after living in a flat without a balcony or garden for the last eight years, I’m longing for the day I have my own garden to plant various flowers and vegetables in.

That’s why when I learned about the Cotswolds Lavender Farm, I knew I had to visit. Located just outside the small Cotswolds village of Broadway in southern Worcestershire, Cotswolds Lavender consists of 45 acres of blooming purple flowers.

The first lavender was planted on the farm in 1999, but it is now known all over the world for its gorgeous and impressive purple blooms.

So, as my parents came to visit, we decided to spend a day in the Cotswolds, doing the famous walk between the villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter, before making the 15-minute drive up to the Lavender farm.

The steep entry price almost made me want to cancel

As we went during peak flowering season, which this year runs from June 27 to August 5, we paid £7.75 per person (it’s £3.50 for kids aged five to 15).

I thought this was a bit steep for what it was at first. However, when I soon realised it was worth every penny when I started exploring. Even though we didn’t visit on a sunny day, the views were spectacular.

Fields provide safe haven for bees

As soon as we walked through the gates, we were greeted by rows of gorgeous purple blooms, along with some yellow patches of wildflowers.

These have been planted to help recreate traditional flower meadows and nurture species naturally found in the Cotswolds, as 97% of these natural wildflower fields have been lost in the last 100 years.

Just walking past the patches of flowers, you could hear the buzzing of working bumblebees and butterflies fluttering by, clearly enjoying their floral haven.

There were also some endangered skylarks flying overhead, highlighting how important the floral fields are for their nests.

Despite the grey and chilly weather we hadn’t prepared for, we spent close to an hour walking through the paths of the lavender fields, taking in the gorgeous sights – and trying not to get in the way of people’s photos!

More than just flower fields

As we made our way back, we noticed signs for the Beechwood Trail, which was originally opened for kids last year but proved just as much fun for adults.

On the way to the viewing point, we made sure to walk along the winding, narrow bridges and climb up a wall, both of which had been built using the area’s natural environment.

On the way to this walking path, they also had smaller rows to show the different varieties of lavender and how much they differed – something that left me amazed, as I had no idea there was anything other than ‘normal’ lavender.

There was also a nearby café that sold hot drinks, food, and treats, including ice cream. But due to the cold temperature, we decided to skip this.

They were also selling various products, such as soaps and lotions, made from the lavender in the field. These are great souvenirs to remember the day by.

Overall, I was left very impressed with the Cotswolds Lavender farm, and will for sure be making my way there again next year. If you want to visit, make sure to stop by before August 5, when they close for the season.