Where to see the most breathtakingly beautiful bluebells in Monmouthshire
Mid April - Mid May is bluebell season so it's a great time to soak up the seasonal spectacle and enjoy our woodlands carpeted in blue. Bluebells aren’t just pretty to look at. Their bright petals attract a whole host of insect and plant life and they’re rich in pollen which means they provide important food for bumblebees who will then pollinate the area with more beautiful bluebell flowers.
A carpet of bluebells indicates that it’s an ancient woodland – because bluebells spread very slowly (they love the mineral rich soil that has been enriched by hundreds of years of falling autumn leaves) and they take so long to become established.
Although they grow in abundance and are a common sight here in Wales, surprisingly, bluebells are a protected plant. Bluebells are particularly sensitive to footfall and if their leaves are damaged they struggle to grow back so please keep to paths and protect our woodland displays for generations to come.
Our Top Five Favourite Bluebell Spots
1. Coed Y Bwnydd near Usk
Coed Y Bwnydd is a National Trust site in the Vale of Usk with possibly the best-preserved Iron Age hill fort in Monmouthshire. The gently rolling landscape is a haven for wildlife and you're guaranteed the heady scent of bluebells in spring.
Follow Pathcare Walk 12 to reach it from the Clytha Estate car park.
2. The Kymin near Monmouth
Head up the Kymin for some beautiful displays of Bluebells amongst the trees on the hill. As a bonus, you'll get some fantastic views overlooking Monmouth.
Visit The Kymin
3. Whitestone in the Wye Valley
The woodlands around the Wye Valley are a hotspot for bluebells, and you can see them best around Whitestone. We have two walks of different lengths that include the deciduous woodland, with both offering great views over the Wye Valley and plenty of chances to admire the bluebells.
Go for a 2 mile walk around Whitestone
Enjoy a longer 14 mile walk around Whitestone, Whitebrook and the Wye Valley
4. Goytre Hall Wood on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Managed by our MonLife Countryside Department, this site is 3.5 hectares of gently undulating broad-leaved woodland, set amongst a similarly flowing farmscape of small fields and woods.
Visit Goytre Hall Wood
Head off on a circular walk amongst the bluebells
5. Wentwood Forest in South Monmouthshire
As the largest block of ancient woodland in Wales, it's unsurprising that bluebells love Wentwood in the south of Monmouthshire. You can see them blanketing the woodland floor on our 'Gray Hill' walk, and then enjoy unmatched views over the Gwent Levels and Severn Estuary.
Visit Wentwood Forest
Gray Hill circular walk
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Visit Caldicot Castle in its beautiful setting of tranquil gardens and a wooded country park. Founded by the Normans, developed in royal hands as a stronghold in the Middle Ages and restored as a Victorian family home.
