In spring wild daffodils cover fields, woodlands and roadsides in the Golden Triangle formed by the towns of Dymock, Kempley and Oxenhall, near Newent in north-western Gloucestershire. Daffodils, also called "Lent Lillies", flower from mid-March to April. In the 1930s special trains brought visitors to the area to see and pick the flowers. These trains ran until the 1950s. Modern farming methods have removed a lot of the daffodils, so there are not as many now as there once was. But it is still worth a day in this area to see the daffodils and charming villages. See the daffodils in local nature reserves or do one of the walks in the area.
Local Nature Reserves
These nature reserves have been set up to save the wild daffodils:
- Gwen and Vera's Fields Nature Reserve (Gloucester Wildlife Trust) near Oxenhall. Two small fields, old orchard grasslands, on the edge of the lane beside Greenaway's Woods. Most of the old orchards are gone, but these two fields were preserved. In the 18th century there was a cottage on each field and the orchard provided fruit for the cottage-dweller.
- Betty Daw's Wood Nature Reserve (Gloucester Wildlife Trust). There is a 2 mile walk to see Gwen and Vera's Fields and Betty Daw's Wood.
- Shaw Common (Dymock Woods), near Gwen and Vera's Fields, has a 30 minute Daffodil Walk through its wood of ancient Oak trees. Park there and walk to Gwen and Vera's Field and Betty Daw's Wood.
- Vell Mill Meadow Nature Reserve (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust), a tiny meadow along the River Leadon near Dymock. Park in Dymock and walk 1/2 mile or drive to the field.
- Ketford Bank near Dymock. There is a walking trail between Dymock and Ketford.
The village of Kempley is spread out along the lane in three parts: Kempley Green, Victorian Kempley with St Edward's Church (built in 1903 and decorated in the Arts and Crafts style) and Old Kempley with St Mary's Church (Norman with 12th century frescoes). Wild Daffodils grow along the lanes.
Betty Daw's Wood.
Walks to see Wild Daffodils
There are several walks in this area. NOTE that daffodils thrive in wet areas and the trails to see the flowers are VERY MUDDY. Wear good hiking boots or wellies and expect to be in mud.
- The Daffodil Way is nine mile circular walk taking you through good areas to see wild daffodils. The route starts at Dymock or Kempley. The walk is described in the Pathfinder Guide for Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. It is well signed. NOTE there will be muddy patches in March and April. Read more on WyeWalker.com.
- There is an eight mile circular walk from Dymock to Ketford (signed Poets Path Route 1), passing through Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow and walking along River Leadon to Kelford Bank Nature Reserve.
- There is a two mile circular walk linking Gwen and Vera's Fields with Betty Daw's Wood.
- There are more walking trails in Queen's Wood south of Kempley.
More hiking information on Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Location: England - Gloucestershire - Dymock
The Daffodil Golden Triangle is between the towns of Dymock, Kempley and Oxenhall, north of Newent (some sources say the triangle is formed by Newent, Ledbury and Dymock which makes it a larger area). The area is accessed by lanes from the B4215 north of Newent. This is a quiet area of small villages and narrow lanes. Note that the M50 motorway runs through the middle of this area, but there are no entrances here so it does not bring traffic and you don't notice the traffic noise.
Kempley and Oxenhall are small villages with no services, but Daffodil Teas are put on in the village halls on specific weekends in March (check their websites). Dymock (pronounced Dim-aac) is the larger village with a pub.
Kempley Daffodil Weekend offers a weekend of guided walks through the daffodils.
There is parking in many locations and walking trails connect many of the areas. Park at Shaw Common on the lane between Oxenhall and Kempley to see Gwen and Vera's fields and the Shaw Common Daffodil walk.
Website: Gloucester Wildlife Trust - The Golden Trails
Google Map
More Photos
We visited this area in mid-March 2015. Usually this is peak daffodil time, but we had a cold winter and the daffodils are late blooming. Early April will be better. Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow near Dymock had very few flowers. Gwen and Vera's Fields had nice flowers, but these are very small fields. We saw nice displays in the woods.
Local Nature Reserves
These nature reserves have been set up to save the wild daffodils:
- Gwen and Vera's Fields Nature Reserve (Gloucester Wildlife Trust) near Oxenhall. Two small fields, old orchard grasslands, on the edge of the lane beside Greenaway's Woods. Most of the old orchards are gone, but these two fields were preserved. In the 18th century there was a cottage on each field and the orchard provided fruit for the cottage-dweller.
- Betty Daw's Wood Nature Reserve (Gloucester Wildlife Trust). There is a 2 mile walk to see Gwen and Vera's Fields and Betty Daw's Wood.
- Shaw Common (Dymock Woods), near Gwen and Vera's Fields, has a 30 minute Daffodil Walk through its wood of ancient Oak trees. Park there and walk to Gwen and Vera's Field and Betty Daw's Wood.
- Vell Mill Meadow Nature Reserve (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust), a tiny meadow along the River Leadon near Dymock. Park in Dymock and walk 1/2 mile or drive to the field.
- Ketford Bank near Dymock. There is a walking trail between Dymock and Ketford.
The village of Kempley is spread out along the lane in three parts: Kempley Green, Victorian Kempley with St Edward's Church (built in 1903 and decorated in the Arts and Crafts style) and Old Kempley with St Mary's Church (Norman with 12th century frescoes). Wild Daffodils grow along the lanes.
Betty Daw's Wood.
Walks to see Wild Daffodils
There are several walks in this area. NOTE that daffodils thrive in wet areas and the trails to see the flowers are VERY MUDDY. Wear good hiking boots or wellies and expect to be in mud.
- The Daffodil Way is nine mile circular walk taking you through good areas to see wild daffodils. The route starts at Dymock or Kempley. The walk is described in the Pathfinder Guide for Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. It is well signed. NOTE there will be muddy patches in March and April. Read more on WyeWalker.com.
- There is an eight mile circular walk from Dymock to Ketford (signed Poets Path Route 1), passing through Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow and walking along River Leadon to Kelford Bank Nature Reserve.
- There is a two mile circular walk linking Gwen and Vera's Fields with Betty Daw's Wood.
- There are more walking trails in Queen's Wood south of Kempley.
More hiking information on Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Location: England - Gloucestershire - Dymock
The Daffodil Golden Triangle is between the towns of Dymock, Kempley and Oxenhall, north of Newent (some sources say the triangle is formed by Newent, Ledbury and Dymock which makes it a larger area). The area is accessed by lanes from the B4215 north of Newent. This is a quiet area of small villages and narrow lanes. Note that the M50 motorway runs through the middle of this area, but there are no entrances here so it does not bring traffic and you don't notice the traffic noise.
Kempley and Oxenhall are small villages with no services, but Daffodil Teas are put on in the village halls on specific weekends in March (check their websites). Dymock (pronounced Dim-aac) is the larger village with a pub.
Kempley Daffodil Weekend offers a weekend of guided walks through the daffodils.
There is parking in many locations and walking trails connect many of the areas. Park at Shaw Common on the lane between Oxenhall and Kempley to see Gwen and Vera's fields and the Shaw Common Daffodil walk.
Website: Gloucester Wildlife Trust - The Golden Trails
Google Map
More Photos
We visited this area in mid-March 2015. Usually this is peak daffodil time, but we had a cold winter and the daffodils are late blooming. Early April will be better. Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow near Dymock had very few flowers. Gwen and Vera's Fields had nice flowers, but these are very small fields. We saw nice displays in the woods.
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