We’re currently at the height of lavender season, and visiting your closest farm is the perfect summer activity. Not only will you get the endorphins boost of spending a bit more time in nature, but it has the added bonus of being an activity which easily adheres to social-distancing guidelines.
If you want to get your fill of lavender before the season ends – which is technically September, but a lot of farmers harvest their crops in late July and early August – visit these farms in the UK and Ireland…
1. Cotswold Lavender, The Cotswolds
This Cotswolds farm will make you feel like you’re in the south of France with its fields of bright purple lavender.
If you’re feeling cooped up in the big smoke, Cotswold Lavender is the perfect day trip, as the closest station, Moreton in Marsh, is just an hour and a half train trip from London.
The farm is open to the public until August 1.
2. Wexford Lavender Farm, Wexford
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This picturesque Irish farm is set in the middle of the rolling countryside of North Wexford. There are four acres of lavender to explore here, and the farm is just over an hour’s drive from Dublin.
It’s open to visitors every day, except Mondays and bank holidays.
3. Wye Lavender, Powys
There aren’t very many lavender farms in Wales, which is what makes Wye Lavender so special. As the name suggests, it can be found in the picturesque surroundings of the Wye Valley. Like so many of these farms, it sells fresh and dried lavender, as well as products made from the plant’s oils.
4. The Seven Heads Lavender Farm, Cork
The Seven Heads Lavender Farm has one of the most breathtaking settings of any on this list, as it’s on the rugged Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. It’s been built on the site of a former slate quarry, and the purple fields are set on top of jutting fields over the sea – which certainly adds drama to the lavender experience.
The farm is committed to sustainability; it doesn’t use artificial fertilisers on its lavender and, as well over 5,000 lavender plants, they’ve planted thousands of bee and insect-friendly flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees around the farm, and aim to add to this every year.
Seven Heads is located 45 minutes from Cork.
5. Somerset Lavender, Somerset
With over 50,000 purple flowers, Somerset Lavender is the perfect place to get lost. As well as enjoying the lavender, you can also see all the bees, butterflies and insects which buzz around the plants.
When you’re done smelling the lavender, you can also visit the farm’s healing garden, which is full of herbs like arnica, echinacea and camomile. The farm is open Wednesday to Sunday.
