25 best day trips to celebrate the beginning of spring 2022

Have you ever wondered what to do with watercress? This colorful street party in beautiful Alresford, Hampshire has it all. Holders of stalls at the festival are facing the challenge of finding increasingly inventive ways to use leafy greens – with sea salt water cress among the more imaginative inventions available. Morris dancers perform, and the King and Queen of the Water Cress have the task of distributing the first crop of the season to visitors. Those who especially like vegetables should sign up for a nutrition competition and try to get through the 3 oz bag as quickly as possible – a small bottle of water can wash everything away.

May 15 free of charge watercressfestival.org

Spring Herb Search, Monmouthshire

Abergavenny has gained a reputation as a destination for food lovers and Spring offers a wonderful way to explore the city with a food search course in Montenegro. Organized by Angel, a historic inn in the heart of the market town, they will show guests where to find a variety of herbs. These include incisors whose thread can improve your lymphatic system; pennywort, like a very sophisticated cucumber; and milkmaids, for a strong mustard blow. The sessions are chaired by the guide and author Adele Nozedar.

The last Sunday of the month from £ 322, including one nightly dinner with the B&B, angelabergavenny.com

Bude Spring Food Festival, Cornwall

Street food stalls take their place next to special food at the spring edition of the Buddha’s two annual food festivals. In the Buda Castle area, crowds can try the offer, including local sausages, gin liqueurs, coconut peanut butter and artisanal cider. Other treats for sale will include beeswax soap, organic vegetables, Indian food, vegan creations and jars of fermented delicacies. Children will be entertained.

April 18 free of charge budefoodfestival.co.uk

Salcombe Crab Festival, Devon

Brown crab is a Salcombe specialty and this spring, famous chefs were invited to the seaside town to smash shells and share tips through a series of cooking demonstrations. About 100 stalls are expected to be set up on the island’s street, which will be completely sandy that day. In addition to crabs fresh from the tank, there will be other local food products as well as artisanal gin, crafts and clothing. You can also expect street entertainers, live music and free entertainment for children. All funds raised go to Cancer Research UK.

May 1 free of charge salcombecrabfest.co.uk

Ludlow Spring Festival, Shropshire

The spring festival of this gourmet city, which celebrates local produce and real beer, is set under Ludlow Castle, which dates back to Norman times. It is attended by about 60 top food producers from Shropshire and Welsh Marches, as well as breweries for about 200 real ales. They offer presentations, talks and tastings – from salami to cheese, cider and honey to sample. Live music is also a big part of the weekend, and a dazzling array of classic cars will be on display as part of the Marches Transport Festival.

13.-15. May, from £ 9 (child £ 3), ludlowspringfestival.co.uk

Outdoor activities

Ospreys on the water, Rutland and Wales

Nearly 70 years ago and across the UK, only one pair of ospreys nested – in Scotland, which is still their main stronghold. Now, fortunately, this wonderful bird-eating prey bird can be seen nesting elsewhere, although it is still on the Amber RSPB list. The birds return from Africa in the spring and the fun way to see them is on the May Rutland Water Cruise. Twice a day, Rutland Belle sails with a guide on board to help spot birds tearing fish out of the water.

Two nesting pairs can also be observed in Wales: in Llyn Brenig, a reservoir at Denbigh Moors, via a telescope or live broadcast to their nest, and in the Glaslyn Valley near Porthmadog.

April-June, Rutland cruise £ 25 (children £ 16), lrwt.org.uk; northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Stargazing in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway

Spring is an ideal time to take children out into the constellations, as the nights before bed are still dark but less cold than in winter. It’s also a good time to find the Orion Belt before it disappears for the summer. Galloway Forest Park was named the first dark sky park in the UK in 2009. Due to the fact that 300 square kilometers is quite uninhabited, it enjoys rare conditions for star gazing. The Roman road cuts a strip of light across the sky from each of the park’s three visitor centers, and various lakes are to be explored before nightfall.

Different dates, free, forestryandland.gov.scot

Boat ride Windermere, Cumbria

The waterfalls that surround our largest and most mysterious lake are spring glistening emeralds glistening with fresh foliage and overgrown with sheep harvested from higher pastures. April is a new way to see them in style, from the handmade Freebody Slipper Launch to vintage style. The cruise is offered by Storrs Hall, a hotel with its own pier on the Windermere coast. Guests receive a bottle of prosecco and can choose from three two-hour excursions to visit local wildlife and historic lakeside homes. You can also arrange picnic suitcases.

From 1 April from £ 700 for two nights for two people, B&B, storrshall.com

Cruises with observation puffin, Northumberland