Ahh that unmistakable purple haze of lavender! It's a short drive away and always worth visiting every year - plus I can't call myself a blogger and not visit some sort of flower field, can I?!
We've been visiting Mayfield Lavender in Banstead, Surrey for a few years now. We only live around 7 miles from the fields so, every July we visit with the kids (they love the lavender shortbread) and we just take a slow stroll around the 25 acre farm.
It is hugely popular, being not too far from London - many tourists turn up in coaches so it does get very busy.
This is the first year that we have had to drive to a different car park - we parked about 400 metres down the road at Walcountians which cost us £5 (there is no charge for the usual car park it was just full up) - then we walked back down the road to the entrance. It is £2 per adult to enter the fields, children under 16 get in for free. The £2 fee goes towards maintaining the farm.
Once you're in you can roam as you please, dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead at all times. There is an Airstream cafe in the field with a picnic area, note you can only eat food purchased from the cafes - no picnics to be brought from home. There is a lovely small marquee that you can hire for parties, an old fashioned red phone box and a big red tractor.
There is also a gift shop and more cafe areas near the entrance you can buy lots of lavender produce and this year that were selling beautiful lavender flower crowns.
Being as it is a lavender field - expect bees and lots of them! They are just doing their jobs. We walked right to the back of the field as this is the best place for photos with not so many people in the background.
The lavender is at its peak and looking beautiful - I must have walked through 100's of busy bees - this is the first time I have ever been stung. I got stung on my shin it felt like a sharp scratch, then a bit like a nettle sting. I pulled the stinger out and now have an angry red patch - it only hurt for a minute. I actually put some honey on the sting last night and it really helped sooth the itching.
Here is a pic I caught on my phone three years ago!
And the magical one below taken by my brother four years ago. This one is sold in the shop as a postcard.
The fields are open between 9am-6pm daily, with the last cars being allowed in at 5.45pm. Mayfield is open yearly from June 1st until September but July and August are the best time to see the lavender at its best.
Well done to the team at Mayfield - you do a brilliant job and we will always return year after year.
Find Mayfield at:
1 Carshalton Rd, Banstead SM7 3JA