Harrogate is well-known in Yorkshire and beyond for its flowers and the fabulous Spring and Autumn Flower Shows at the Great Yorkshire Showground so we’ve put together a guide to some of the best places in town to see Spring blossoming. Some are well-known visitor attractions whilst others are lesser-known beauty spots that are much-loved by locals.
RHS Harlow Carr
RHS Harlow Carr, on Otley Road, is a delight for flower lovers all year round. In Spring, masses of dwarf narcissus can be seen alongside hellebores, dogwoods, daphne, iris and spring bulbs including muscari and scilla. For mass impact and sheer scale and variety, RHS Harlow Carr is a must visit destination in springtime.
Valley Gardens
Over the years the Valley Gardens has evolved to include some lovely natural planting spaces alongside the manicured beds and lawns. These are full of Spring colour with snowdrops being followed by crocuses, hyacinths, muscari and daffodils. A few months after the main Spring flush, stroll up through the pine woods to enjoy woodland favourites such as bluebells and rhododendron.
Nidd Gorge
Those in the know cherish the wildlife haven that stretches along the River Nidd from Bilton to Knaresborough. The ancient woodland is home to kingfishers, otters, roe deer, tawny owls, herons and woodpeckers. It is also the perfect place to find snowdrops in early Spring, wild bluebells in April and May and the frothy white flowers of wild garlic.
Hookstone Woods
Stretching between Hornbeam Park and the Great Yorkshire Showground, Hookstone Woods is another glorious natural space where bluebells and other wild woodland flowers flourish. With paths, ponds and streams running through it, this is one place to feel close to nature right in the heart of town.
The Stray
Every year The Stray in Harrogate announces the start of Spring with a magnificent display of crocuses. Some of the most spectacular drifts of white, yellow and purple are on West Park and around Trinity Church and these continue down Montpellier Hill towards the Crown roundabout. As the crocuses end their riot of colour, they are closely followed by avenues of daffodils around Tewit Well and along the Cherry Tree Walk. By May, the daffodils are still in bloom as the cherry trees burst into life, creating a remarkable spectacle on the walk from Tewit Well to town.