OK so it is only February but the weather has been so lovely these past couple of weeks its hard not to turn our minds to all things spring and one of our favourite things about this time of the year, aside from the sunshine making an appearance, are the gorgeous spring flowers that arrive.
There are many beautiful spots across Ireland to see these beautiful spring flower shows, each offering something slightly different but just as magnificent as the rest, so if you have a spare few hours then get yourself out and about and let your eyes feast on the gorgeous spring colours.
Burren National Park, County Clare
The Burren is a region of environmental interest which is approximately 1500km in size.
Dromore Wood Nature Reserve is located within the National Park and has an incredible diversity and richness of its flora and fauna. This richness comes from the fact that it has many different habitat types including a river, lakes, turloughs, callows, limestone pavement, fen peat, reed beds and species-rich woodland, making it a great place to come and see those spring flowers.
Late spring is a particularly nice time to visit Dromore; the weather is pleasant but not too hot, the trees are coming into bloom and the place is more lively with families, walkers and folks strolling with their the dogs.
You’ll find crab-apples trees bursting with beautiful white blossom, bluebells carpeting the woodland floor, beautiful yellow Celandine and many more spring flowers.
St Patrick’s Cathedral Park, Dublin
If you are in Dublin and want your fill of spring flowers then head for the park next to St Patricks Cathedral to spot the hyacinths.
April is the best month to visit when the rest of the park will be in full flower and looking absolutely beautiful. Team it with a trip to St Patrick’s Cathedral itself, which was first established in 1191 and is now the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland.
Killaloo Wood, County Derry
Walking the steep pathways through this valley woodland just outside the city of Derry may leave you out of breath but you will be rewarded with bluebells, wood anemone, wood sorrel and wild garlic.
Look out for the wild goats that roam the valley and look upwards for a chance of spotting a purple hairstreak butterfly, one of the most rare in Northern Ireland.
If you’re lucky you may hear the screaming call of the jay as you go searching for the gorgeous spring flowers.
Carstramon Wood, Dumfries and Galloway
If you are looking for a spectacular display of bluebells covering the woodland floor then head for Carstramon Wood in May.
This woodland also boasts a number of other native flowering plants characteristic of old woodlands including wood violet, primrose, honeysuckle and wood sorrel, with its small white flowers streaked with pink.
Remember to stick to footpaths to avoid damaging the flowers, many of which are endangered species.
Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland
Spring is a unique time to be at Mount Stewart as the gardens and woodland come alive with new life.
With so many beautiful walks you’ll come across carpets of woodland flowers like primrose and bluebell, swallows and displaying buzzards.
Keep your eyes peeled for badgers as you walk and listen out for the great spotted woodpecker drumming against the trees.