Bluebell Woods at Dalkeith Country Park

Dalkeith Country Park is one of the best places for bluebells near Edinburgh and yesterday they were at their best.

Other flowers were in bloom too, including cowslips

leopards bane

and violets

Some of the paths were shut as the old stableyard is being renovated, so we discovered some new paths

but we did finally find out way to the ancient oak woods

The whole park was loud with birdsong (which is interesting, as often even at this time of year, these woods seem surprisingly quiet with birds). We heard blackbirds, mistle thrushes, song thrushes, blackcaps, willow warblers, chiffchaffs and others. Swallows, house martins and the occasional swift were flying round this open area below (you may even be able to see some in the photo if you look carefully!)

This is the best time of year to see bluebells in Scotland (possibly in England and Wales, it was a couple of weeks ago). The Woodland Trust has a list of ten top bluebells woods here, but there are many others across the country!