Where to Photograph Daffodils

Daffodils can be found in the UK countryside any time from late February to early April. The exact flowering date will depend on the weather, a warm spring will prompt the flowers to come out earlier.

Daffodils inspired Wordsworth to write the most frequently recited lines of poetry, "I wandered lonely as a cloud". He probably did, you probably won't. Because of the time of year that they are about they can also be referred to as 'Lent Lillies'. Wild Daffodils usually carry their head slightly bowed which can give a challenge if you want to take close up's like the cultivated one shown here. They are woodland wild flowers and adapt well to open pastures where they often provide vista displays in some parts of the UK countryside. The genuine wild variety in Britain have two-tone yellow flowers, narrow trumpets and forward pointing petals and are concentrated in the Lake District, North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Devon.

Daffodils are easy to grow and come in many different shapes and colours and with careful selection can bloom for four months a year. The scientific name comes from the Greek God 'Narcissus, who looked into a pool, saw his reflection and fell in love with himself. Because there are so many types they are usually divided into 13 groups and this is done based on those having more or less the same floral characteristics. There are not so many of the wild varieties left and Cornwall is a hot spot for the cultivated versions we tend to see in shops.

Marie Curie Cancer Care use the daffodil as their emblem and run The Great Daffodil Appeal  throughout March each year as a way of fund raising for their charity. The idea is to get everyone across the UK to give donations in return for daffodil badges.

The 200 islands of the Isles of Scilly have been a part of the Duchy of Cornwall since it's foundation in the 14th century. It owns the freehold of most of land and nearly a third of the residential buildings on the islands. They were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1975 and the AONB and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust work closely together to mange all the untenanted land, uninhabited islands and rocks leased to it by the Duchy. The trust pays a rent to the Duchy of one daffodil per year!

Where to See and therefore photograph Daffodils

The daffodils Wordsworth referred to were discovered on a walk in the woods at Gowbarrow Park overlooking Ullswater and adjacent to Aira Force Waterfall, which tumbles 70 feet down a rocky ravine before joining the Ullswater, where they still flower today.

Farndale, Yorkshire.  is a beautiful deep valley of patchwork quilt of fields divided by drystone walls and narrow winding lanes. It is most famous for its daffodils, which are reputed to have been planted by the monks of nearby Rievaulx Abbey. One-mile 'daffodil walk' north along the banks of the River Dove to High Mill where wild daffodils bloom along the banks of the River Dove, creating a wonderful carpet of colour.

The wildlife sanctuary of Brigsteer Woods, which lies beyond the upper reaches of the Kent Estuary and the tidal sands of Morecambe Bay is also another great place to see wild daffodils.

Cornwall is the place for daffodil growers in the UK, particularly in the Tamar Valley, can be seen in fields around Constantine, St Keverne and the west of Cornwall.

Cotehele Gardens (NT), St.Dominick, Nr Saltash. A vast garden with some steep paths, daffodil meadow, rare species of trees & formal terraced rose garden with mango climbers. The sheltered Valley has a pond, dovecote 18th Century Tower, unusual shrubs, rhododendrons & azaleas. In March the Daffodil meadow contains hundreds of cultivated varieties once grown in the Tamar Valley by market gardeners.

Mount Edgcumbe Garden, Cremyll, Torpoint, Cornwall  and see this link.

The Eden Project, Cornwall. There is no better time to visit the Eden Project than in spring, when the Bulbs are king, it starts with hundreds of thousands of daffodils draping the landscape in a vivid gold. As you enter the site you are greeted by Martinette varieties in full glorious colour, while outside the Rainforest Biome there are swathes of Cornish Chuckles, Tête-à-Tête and Eden's very own variety, Eden Gold, which has a strong scent and a deep, saffron colour.

Dunsford Nature Reserve, Devon is managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust and covering 57 hectares, this is a mix of shady woodland, riverside walks and a wide array of wildlife. Best of all, the landscape is carpeted with thousands of daffodils, and there is a fantastic two-mile walk along the River Teign where the banks are covered with golden Narcissus. Lighter in colour and more delicate than garden-variety daffodils, these spread naturally, making each year's display more impressive than the last. Keep your eye out for rare marsh fritillary butterflies, with their striking, bright orange colourings, which flutter through the area in mid-spring.

Daffodils in Gloucestershire can be seen March to April at the following locations:

Place	Near
Batsford Arboretum	Moreton in Marsh
Betty Daw's Wood	Newent
Colesbourne Park	nr Cheltenham
Conderton Manor	nr Tewkesbury
Gwen & Vera's Fields	Newent
Hidcote Manor Garden	Chipping Campden
Highnam Court	Gloucester
Hodges Barn	Shipton Moyne
Kempsford Manor	Fairford
Lydney Park	Lydney
Sezincote	Moreton In Marsh
Sudeley Castle	Cheltenham
Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow	Dymock
Westonbirt Arboretum	Tetbury
Willow Lodge 'Daffodil Walk'	Longhope
Eastleach House	Cirencester
Upton Wold	Chipping Campden

Kempley Daffodil Weekend Gloucestershire takes place on the 19th and 20th March 2011. A fund raising event organised by a team of volunteers. It began over twenty years ago by a local lady who saw the potential of the natural wild daffodils which grow in abundance in the woods surrounding the village. Every spring time the woods are carpeted in yellow with these tiny daffodils.  The small wild daffodils grow freely in many fields and the surrounding woods and can be enjoyed on the circular 'Daffodil way' footpath covering approximately eight miles maps are available from the village hall showing sites of specific interest. The daffodils may be seen from the roads and the many footpaths between Newent and Dymock. There are also guided walks and a Daff'n'Ride bus every 30 minutes.

Daffodils Way, Newent, Gloucestershire, which centres around Newent. When searching the internet you may come across other walks called the Daffodil Way within Gloucestershire but related to Dymock which is nearby.

Oxenhall Daffodil Weekend 6th - 7th March starts at Oxenhall Village Hall, open 12 - 5pm Refreshments, produce & gifts. Guided walks both days takes in Betty Dawes Wood and Vera's Fields Nature Reserve, starts at 2pm and lasts about 2 hours. There is also a shorter family walk starts at 2.30pm and lasts about one hour. Both are lead by members of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

Other Places around England include:

Abbey House, Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Ashdown Forest, in W.Sussex

Broadleigh Gardens, Bishops Hull, Taunton, Somerset

Butley Woods, Suffolk, the wild daffodils rival those "beside the lake beneath the trees".

Daffodil Park on the River Rea Heritage Trail. The park so named because daffodils were once grown as a commercial crop on this site. It runs parallel with the Birmingham cross city railway line and ends up a Hawksley Mill.

Daffy Wood, nr Chelmsford, Essex

Ebernoe, West Sussex

Elchin Wood near Elmsted, Kent

Georges Hayes Wood, Staffordshire 48 acres of woodland on the edge of Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Hever Castle, Kent

Lacock Abbey nr Chippenham, Wiltshire

Lesnes Abbey Wood, Abbey Road, Belvedere Kent. See also Bexley RSPB page for wildlife.

Scotney Castle Garden, Lamberhurst, Kent

The Weir, Swainshill, Herefordshire. An informal 1920's riverside garden with views towards the Rivery Wye and Black Mountains.

Wisley Gardens, Surrey. With over 240 acres of glorious gardens, the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Gardens during spring has golden drifts of daffodils, the Trials Gardens, have over 70 different varieties of daffodil, from the miniature Tête-à-Tête to the classic trumpets. Also look out for them in the Wild Garden, Rock Garden and Seven Acres, with its large pond and lush plants.  Also see our location guide on RHS Wisley

Daffodil Walk at Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey. In 2000, 70,000 daffodil bulbs were planted either side of the Broad Walk, and an extra 40,000 were added in 2001 - now creating a spectacular site from February-April and some into May. They also have a display of 140,000 Tenby Daffodils on the Princess Walk, and also a daffodil display in the Woodland Garden with the Temple of Aeolus.  See also our location guide on Kew Gardens

Daffodils in Wales

The National Emblem of Wales. The Daffodil has become the emblem of Wales since the Victorians decided to pin a daffodil in their button holes on St David's Day instead of the traditional leek. The tradition goes that the Victorian females did not like the perfume that was given off by the Leek and wanted something more floral, the daffodil was chosen as it signified the start of spring and the lambing season. There are two varieties unique to Wales, the Tenby, with a small orange flower and unsurprisingly common in fields surrounding Tenby and the Welsh, a delicate flower of an orange trumpet with yellow petals. In 2005 a special variety, Narcissus Cardiff was specially bred to commemorate Cardiff's 50th year as the capital of Wales.

One of the biggest displays of Welsh daffodils can be seen at Coed y Bwl Wood (also known as Wild Daffodil Wood), at Castle Upon Alun near Bridgend in South Wales. PDF printable guide.

National Botanic Gardens of Wales in Carmarthenshire also have a spring time display.

The Dingle Nature Reserve in Llangefni, Anglesey. It's ancient woodland has a display of wild daffodils during the spring, particularly in an area behind the church.

Daffodils in Scotland

Brodie Castle, Brodie, Forres  also see this link Brodie Castle Gardens

Threave Gardens,  Stewarty, Castle Douglas - over 200 types of Daffodil to see in Spring.  Also see these links for more information Threave Gardens Features and Gardens Guide - Threave

Floors Castle, Kelso. Explore the gardens of Floors Castle and immerse yourself in the yellow daffodils of Spring.  Located beside the River Tweed, the castle's woodland and riverside walk takes in some stunning scenery and you may even encounter some red squirrels! 

Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, Berwickshire. Yellow Daffodils venture into the grounds, where you can marvel at the yellow daffodils and stroll through the surrounding woodland.