Why Clattinger Farm Feels Like a Secret Worth Sharing
I love sharing ideas of places to visit in the Cotswolds…but there are times when I think, ‘Maybe I should keep this one to myself.’ But because I know that guests at our self catering holiday home are looking for those special places that don’t appear on every “Top 10 Things to Do in the Cotswolds” list, I’m going to tell you about it.
It’s the sort of place where you naturally slow down. As soon as you arrive you hear birdsong filling the hedgerows and then as the meadow opens up in front of you the abundance of wild flowers takes your breath away. For grandparents, it often brings back memories of the countryside they knew as children. For parents, it’s a rare opportunity to swap screens for simple family adventures.
A Meadow Untouched by Modern Farming
Walking through Clattinger Farm, just on the edge of Cotswold Water Park, feels like stepping back hundreds of years. Before modern farming transformed much of Britain’s countryside, colourful hay meadows like these were once a familiar summer sight. It feels wonderfully untouched, as though you’ve stumbled across a secret that has somehow escaped the guidebooks. This one of the most remarkable places to experience wildflowers in England.
Why Are Clattinger Farm’s Wildflower Meadows So Special?
Clattinger Farm lies at the southern end of the Cotswolds, just over the border from Gloucestershire into Wiltshire. Previous owners of this lowland farm resisted the use of agricultural chemicals and so, it remains as the only lowland farm in Britain which is known to have received absolutely none.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Clattinger Farm?
Every visit to the wildflower meadows is slightly different. Early spring brings the famous snakeshead fritillaries, late spring sees the orchids appear in astonishing numbers, while summer transforms the meadows into a sea of colour alive with butterflies and bees.
The richness of the wild flower meadows is outstanding, ranging from the delicate nodding heads of snakes head fritillaries, a profusion of orchids and then fabulous swathes of summer meadow flowers. In late spring, the orchids are so numerous that the meadows seem to shimmer with colour, creating a spectacle every bit as breathtaking as a woodland carpeted with bluebells.
The Royal Connection to Highgrove
The quality of these meadows (classified as a site of special scientific interest) is so exceptional that they were chosen by King Charles III to be the donor site for the wildflower meadows which grace his Highgrove home just 10 miles away.
Visiting Clattinger Farm with Children
A visit in July is a real treat for the senses. Children love running down the paths at the edge of the meadows, their hands trailing through the grasses. They pause, mesmerised by the sight of grasshoppers leaping in all directions. Tiny butterflies flit backwards and forwards and giant dragonflies pause on leaves, their fragile wings soaking up the sunshine.
Apps That Make Nature Even More Fun
This might be the one time you do want to pull out your phone – to open up the Merlin app to identify birdsong or the Seek app to find the name of that wildflower that’s just on the tip of your tongue.
How to Find Clattinger Farm
Whilst it is possible to walk through the Lower Mill Estate to Clattinger Farm, families may choose to save little legs for the main event. A five minute drive to Rigsby’s Lane reveals a layby with parking for two cars (What 3 words: ///bounded.indicates.nutrients) From here, you climb over a stile to the left of the parking space and you have arrived. A 20 minute walk will give you time to see some flowers, but you may well find, that like us, you simply want to sit and enjoy them. Do keep to the paths to preserve these beautiful meadows for everyone to enjoy.
Why We Recommend Clattinger Farm to Guests at Daisy Chain
One of the reasons we love recommending Clattinger Farm to guests staying at Daisy Chain is that it’s such a peaceful contrast to busier more well known Cotswold attractions. After a morning visiting the wild flower meadows, you can return to the lake for an afternoon paddle in the Canadian canoe, a swim in the pools at the spa or simply sit on the balcony watching the wildlife. It’s an easy day out that perfectly captures the slower pace of a Cotswold family holiday.
Wildlife to Look Out for at Lower Moor Nature Reserve
Clattinger Farm is part of Lower Moor Nature Reserve where you can also find:
Invertebrates
Including common lizard, grass snake, great crested newt
Birds
Including: barn owl, black cap, kingfisher, hobby
Insects
Including: brown hairstreak butterfly, dragonflies and damselflies
Mammals
Including otters and water voles
Some family days out are all about excitement. Others are about slowing down, noticing the little things and making memories together. Clattinger Farm is one of those rare places where children can experience something of the childhood that we all remember.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clattinger Farm
Is Clattinger Farm free to visit?
Yes, Clattinger Farm is part of Lower Moor Farm which are managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.They are free to visit.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs are allowed, but must be kept on the lead.
Is there a cafe?
Yes, at the Lower Moor Farm end of the nature reserve you will find Dragonfly Cafe where you sit by the lake and enjoy delicious homemade cakes and excellent coffee. It is open Wednesday – Sunday from 10am – 4pm
Is there a car park?
If you are visiting Clattinger Farm for the wildflower meadows the closest parking is in a layby on Rigsby’s Lane. At Lower Moor Farm there is a car park with ample parking.
Did You Know? Fun Facts for Children
Did you know… a single meadow can contain over 100 different species of wildflowers?
Imagine trying to count them all!
Did you know… grasshoppers can leap up to 20 times their own body length?
If you could do the same, you’d jump over a double-decker bus!
Did you know… butterflies taste with their feet?
Before laying eggs, female butterflies land on plants to check they’re the perfect food for their caterpillars.
Did you know… one bee might visit around 5,000 flowers in a single day?
Without bees and other pollinators, many of the beautiful wildflowers at Clattinger Farm couldn’t survive.
Did you know… snakeshead fritillaries were once so common that people picked huge bunches of them along the riverbanks of southern England?
Today they’re protected, making places like Clattinger Farm incredibly special.