Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm, formerly known as Wolds Way Lavender, is a picturesque lavender farm nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire. This family-run, eco-friendly attraction offers a unique combination of natural beauty, sustainable agriculture, and relaxation retreat, making it an ideal destination for visitors of all ages.
We visited Woldies last weekend and spent over three hours exploring the nature farm. Here’s our review of Woldies Farm and the fun experiences it has to offer.
About Woldies Lavender & Nature Farm
Woldies Lavender & Nature Farm is a lavender farm with picturesque surroundings, nature trails, games and adventures suitable for all the family.
Lavender Fields: A Feast for the Senses
The Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm spans across 12 acres of land, with over six acres dedicated to growing over 120 different types of lavender and herbs. The diverse range of lavender varieties creates stunning colours, from deep purple to pure white, especially during the blooming season, which typically starts in mid-June and lasts until September. You can enjoy walks along the various paths, taking in the vibrant colours and fragrant scents of the lavender fields.
The lavender wasn’t in bloom when we visited as we went in early June but we still had a lot of fun.
Eco-friendly Practices: Embracing Sustainable Agriculture
Organic Farming and Distillation
At Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm, the focus is on organic farming techniques and eco-friendly practices. The farm has the only wood-fired lavender distillery in the country, reminiscent of traditional distillation methods. During the lavender season, you can see this in operation at the distillery. The lavender oil extracted from the fields forms the core ingredient for the Wolds Way Lavender Cosmetic range, which includes over 20 products such as hand creams, shampoos, and facial scrubs. Pure oil is also available for aromatherapy purposes.
Conservation Efforts and Wildlife
The farm is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the area and fostering a thriving ecosystem. The borders of the farm are home to an abundance of wildflowers, which looks beautiful and also create a habitat for wildlife. The farm actively promotes conservation efforts, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the picturesque surroundings while also appreciating the importance of protecting the environment.
Nature Walks
There are a few nature walks in Woldies, such as the tree trail, the woodland walk and insect orienteering. The woodland walk is absolutely stunning, it’s very quiet and feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere! It’s almost a surprise when you come out of the other side and bump into other people again.
Sensory Areas
The farm offers various sensory areas that help visitors connect with nature and experience a sense of calm and tranquillity. The idyllic fish pond, for example, is an excellent spot for having a quiet moment to yourself or simply enjoying the soothing sounds of water. The farm also features several quiet corners where visitors can unwind and immerse themselves in the natural surroundings.
Nature gardens
There are lovely nature gardens to walk around and enjoy, including:
- Bees & Friends Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Bird Hide
- Nature Ponds
- Cooling Carp Ponds
- Bug Hotel
- Spiders Web
In all these areas, there’s lots of signage and information about various species of animals and insects to help you spot them. There’s even a real see-through bee hive in the Bees & Friends Garden!
Family-Friendly Activities: Fun for All Ages
Miniature Railway
The Woldie Willows Lavender Express is a popular attraction among younger visitors. This 7.25-inch narrow-gauge railway takes passengers on a delightful journey through the lavender fields, complete with a tunnel for added excitement. The train ride costs an additional £2 per person, and booking is required upon arrival. The train ride takes around 10 minutes and is a lot of fun for children!
Timber Trail and Adventure Playground
The farm offers a range of outdoor activities to engage and entertain children of all ages. The Timber Trail is an assault course that challenges kids to navigate through obstacles without touching the ground. Nearby, a wooden adventure playground features a train and other play structures that children can climb and explore. There’s also a sandpit with toys to play with and a big wooden climbing frame with a slide and climbing walls on one of the trails.
Mini Foot Golf
Footgolf is new to Woldies! Mini-foot golf is a unique fusion of soccer and golf. We didn’t get to play as we had been at Woldies a long time and the toddlers were getting hungry (we should have packed a picnic). Also, it was a scorching day and we needed to find some shade for a while.
Giant Games Maze
Woldies has a giant games maze. Walking through the game, you’ll find quizzes related to nature and an assortment of giant games, such as limbo, drafts, hopscotch, chess, and noughts and crosses, providing endless entertainment for the whole family. At almost every corner, there’s a giant game! Some of the throwing games were a lot of fun for our toddlers.
The maze took us the most amount of time – make sure you go to the toilet first because it can take a while and we bypassed a lot of the games as they were too old for our two-year-olds.
You don’t need to be worried about getting lost in the maze as there are many ’emergency exits’ that direct you to the edge of the maze and lead you out.
Queen Bee Quest
There was a quiz, where we had to find the code for a padlock in the beehive, and then open it to find the secret word for a prize at the end. It’s fun for the children to look for the codes (and I enjoyed it).
Woldies Nature Mission
Get your Nature Mission book from reception and complete all 5 missions and collect stamps. I managed to get all stamps and the secret word and was rewarded with a sticker and some chocolate buttons at the end.
Educational Opportunities: Learning about Lavender and Farm Life
Distillery Tour and Audio-Visual Presentation
Visitors interested in learning about the process of lavender distillation can enjoy an audio-visual presentation that runs throughout the day on a TV in the distillery. The presentation offers insights into the workings of the unique wood-fired distillery and provides a glimpse of the lavender fields during harvest time.
Bird-Watching and Wildlife Identification
The farm’s diverse ecosystem attracts a wide variety of bird species, making it an excellent destination for bird-watching enthusiasts. A bird hide wall with an identification sign helps visitors spot and recognise the different species that call the farm home.
Shopping and Dining: Bringing the Farm Experience Home
Farm Shop
The Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm features an on-site farm shop where visitors can purchase products made with 100% pure Wolds Way Lavender Essential Oil, distilled at the farm itself. These products are also available at the Visit York Visitor Information Gift Shop. There’s also a selection of other gifts and toys.
The Tea Hive Takeaway
You can buy a range of take-away sandwiches, snacks, and hot and cold drinks from the Tea Hive takeaway. Picnic benches with umbrellas are provided for those who prefer to bring their meals and dine al fresco. I’d recommend bringing your own food as the sandwiches were small and expensive.
Practical Information: Planning Your Visit to Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm
Location and Contact
Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm is located in Wintringham, Malton YO17 8HW, North Yorkshire.
To get in touch, visitors can call the farm at 01944 758641.
Opening Times and Admission
The farm is open from April to September, with specific opening times and dates available on their website. Adult tickets are priced at £9, while children aged 2-16 pay £8. Under 2s can enter for free, and family tickets are available.
Facilities and Amenities
The farm offers ample parking, accessible facilities, and baby-changing facilities. Dogs are welcome on a lead, and the farm is dedicated to ensuring an accessible experience for all visitors, with more information available on their website.
Accessible for All
One of the highlights of this nature farm is its emphasis on accessibility. A significant portion of the farm has been designed to accommodate disabled guests, with raised lavender and herb beds providing perfect viewing opportunities for all. In addition, seating is available throughout the farm, allowing visitors to soak in the sights and fragrances in a relaxed and unhurried manner.
We’ll be back!
I can’t believe the way Woldies Lavender and Nature Farm combine the serene beauty of lavender fields with a wide range of activities, eco-friendly practices, and educational opportunities. There is so much to do, but it’s also very relaxing. All the activities fit in with the environment and don’t ruin the scenery.
Whether you are seeking a relaxation retreat, a fun-filled family day out, or a chance to learn about organic farming and sustainable agriculture, Woldies Farm offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.
Looking for more things to do in and around York and North Yorkshire? Check out my guide to visiting York.
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Oh wow!!! Reading your review of this farm makes me wish I’m in UK again. I just love lavender.
Thanks for sharing lovely!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
This farm looks amazing. Definitely somewhere we will visit with our toddler.
What a gorgeous place to visit! I love the ponds with the live fish. I can’t think of anywhere around here with something similar that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to visit!
What great pictures! I love lavender farms so much. There’s just something about the sensory experience, the floral notes in the air and just being out in a cultivated but still natural space. Thanks for sharing!