Lavender Passport
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Farm Day Trips · Area guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Loudoun & Fauquier Hunt Country, Virginia
Pair Blooming Hill's Friday and Saturday lavender gardens with Sky Meadows' 22 miles of trails and Aldie's 200-year-old mill in Virginia hunt country.
10 places · updated October 17, 2026
10places in this guide
October 17last updated
Western Loudoun and northern Fauquier counties sit where the Washington suburbs give way to the Blue Ridge foothills. It is horse country: Middleburg is home to a library and museum devoted to foxhunting, polo and steeplechasing, Morven Park runs an equestrian center, and the back roads between Purcellville, Aldie, The Plains and Delaplane connect wineries, farm markets and old mill villages. Most stops are 15 to 30 minutes apart, so a full day here involves little backtracking.
Two lavender farms in the area have confirmed visiting hours. Blooming Hill, in the hills near Purcellville, grows about 1,000 plants of nearly 100 varieties in display gardens and opens its gift shop on Fridays and Saturdays from mid-April to early November. Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Catlett, about 45 minutes south, opens its field for you-pick from June 1 to July 15 (2026 season), closed Mondays. Come in June or early July if you want to cut your own lavender and walk the gardens on the same trip.
The lavender farms
- Blooming Hill Lavender Farm & Gift ShopLavender farm · Purcellville
Open Fridays and Saturdays, mid-April to early November; guided tours, garden talks and occasional cream teas by reservation.
- Lavender Bliss CottageLavender farm · Delaplane
- Lavender HillLavender farm · The Plains
- Seven Oaks Lavender FarmLavender farm · Catlett
June to mid-July
You-pick season June 1–July 15 (2026), 10 AM–5 PM, closed Mondays; evening private events and after-hours photography by appointment.
Best time to visit
April brings the opening of Blooming Hill's season (mid-April), tulips at Great Country Farms and the start of weekend tours at Aldie Mill (April 1). Spring is also when large-flowered trillium covers the upper slopes of the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area. Strawberries ripen at Great Country Farms from mid-May to early June. June and early July are lavender months: Seven Oaks runs you-pick from June 1 to July 15 (2026), and Sky Meadows hosts its Great American Campout in June. Blackberries come in mid to late July and cut-your-own sunflowers run through July into early August. Apples follow in August and September, and pumpkin picking runs September 19 to October 31 (2026). October is the busiest and most colorful month, with Sky Meadows' Fall Foliage Fest. Aldie Mill closes for the year after November 1 and Blooming Hill closes in early November.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Sky Meadows State Park🌳 State park · Delaplane · about 22 mi, 35 min drive
A 1,860-acre park in the Crooked Run Valley with 22 miles of hiking trails, three miles of the Appalachian Trail and the 19th-century Mount Bleak House. It is an International Dark Sky Park with monthly astronomy programs.
Daily 8 a.m. to dusk; visitor center Monday to Thursday 10–4 and Friday to Sunday 10–6 (closes at 4 in December and January)
Parking fee charged ($10 regular parking fee as posted in 2026)
- Manassas National Battlefield Park🏛️ Historic site · Manassas · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
Fields above Bull Run where two armies first clashed in July 1861 and fought again in August 1862. Walk the battlefield trails from the Henry Hill Visitor Center.
Grounds dawn to dusk daily; Henry Hill Visitor Center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed major winter holidays
free (a fee-free park)
- National Sporting Library & Museum🏛️ Museum · Middleburg · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
A library and art museum on a six-acre campus in Middleburg, telling the story of hunting, angling, racing and other field sports. Fall 2026 exhibitions include 'George Washington and a Nation of Farmers' (through January 10, 2027).
Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Library admission is free
- Aldie Mill Historic Park🏛️ Historic site · Aldie · about 11 mi, 20 min drive
A gristmill built between 1807 and 1809, once the largest in Loudoun County, with twin overshot waterwheels. Weekend guided tours run April through October, and the grounds and village can be walked year-round.
April 1 to November 1, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; mill closed November 2 to March 30
- Oatlands Historic House & Gardens🌷 Garden · Leesburg · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
A National Trust site with an 1804 mansion, a 4.5-acre walled garden and trails across 418 acres. It was founded in 1798 as a plantation worked by enslaved people.
Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; guided tours Thursday to Monday at 11, 1 and 3
- Morven Park🏛️ Historic site · Leesburg · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
About 1,000 acres around the Davis Mansion, with two museums, gardens and a well-known equestrian center that hosts horse trials and polo.
Grounds and gardens daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grounds and gardens free
- Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (W&OD Trail)🥾 Trail · Purcellville · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
The paved 45-mile rail trail ends in Purcellville, so you can walk or bike a stretch of its western end, with a gravel horse trail alongside for much of the route.
Daily 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., year-round
free
- G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area🌲 Preserve · Fauquier County · about 20 mi, 35 min drive
Nearly 4,000 acres on the Blue Ridge slope, known for a large display of large-flowered trillium in spring, the 10-acre Lake Thompson and seven miles of the Appalachian Trail. Hawks pass over the crest in fall.
Access permit, or a valid Virginia hunting, trapping or fishing license or boat registration, required
- Shenandoah National Park (Front Royal entrance)🏞️ Park · Front Royal · about 35 mi, 55 min drive
The park's north entrance off Route 340 in Front Royal is the start of its 105-mile run south along the Blue Ridge, the nearest way into the park from hunt country.
$30 per private vehicle for seven days, $15 per walk-in or bike visitor 16 and older (2026)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Great Country FarmsU-pick farm · Bluemont
A family farm in Bluemont with U-pick from May strawberries to October pumpkins, about 15 minutes west of Blooming Hill.
- Magnolias at the MillRestaurant · Purcellville
Lunch or dinner inside Purcellville's restored 1905 mill, about 10 minutes from Blooming Hill.
- Breaux VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Purcellville
A 400-plus-acre estate with 104 acres of vines in 17 grape varieties and a tasting room open daily 11 to 6; 21 and over to taste.
- Barrel Oak Winery & BreweryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Delaplane
Wine and small-batch beer with Blue Ridge views near Sky Meadows; plan a designated driver.
- Goodstone Inn & RestaurantInn or B&B · Middleburg
A 265-acre Middleburg estate inn with a farm tour, creek kayaking and a farm-led restaurant for an overnight stay.
- The Philadelphia TavernRestaurant · Manassas
A cheesesteak lunch in Old Town Manassas after a morning at the battlefield or Seven Oaks.
- Foster Harris HouseInn or B&B · Washington
A five-room B&B in a 1905 house in Washington, Virginia, for travelers heading on toward Skyline Drive.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMBlooming Hill Lavender Farm & Gift Shop
Walk the display gardens and browse the gift shop; about an hour. Plan this day for a Saturday between mid-April and October.
- 11:15 AMGreat Country Farms · about 15 min drive
Pick whatever is in season and let kids visit the goats and jumping pillow; about an hour and a quarter.
- 12:45 PMMagnolias at the Mill · about 15 min drive
Lunch in the old mill in Purcellville; about an hour.
- 2:00 PMW&OD Trail, Purcellville · about 5 min drive
Walk off lunch on the paved trail's western end; 30 to 40 minutes.
- 3:00 PMAldie Mill Historic Park · about 25 min drive
Catch a weekend mill tour before it closes at 4; about 45 minutes.
- 4:00 PMNational Sporting Library & Museum · about 10 min drive
See the current exhibitions and walk Middleburg's main street; about an hour, closes at 5.
- 5:30 PMSky Meadows State Park · about 25 min drive
An evening walk on the meadow trails until dusk; pay the parking fee at the entrance.
Tips
- Blooming Hill opens only on Fridays and Saturdays and does not allow pets or picnics; Seven Oaks allows leashed dogs in the field on Thursdays only and is closed Mondays.
- Aldie Mill is open weekends only (April 1 to November 1) and the National Sporting Library & Museum Thursday to Sunday, so a Saturday fits the most stops into one day.
- Virginia state parks charge parking; bring a card or cash for the Sky Meadows entrance.
- To walk or fish at the Thompson Wildlife Management Area you need an access permit or a valid Virginia hunting, fishing or trapping license.
- Wineries in the area serve tastings only to guests 21 and over; plan a designated driver.
- Distances in this guide are measured from Blooming Hill or Seven Oaks, whichever is closer.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I pick lavender in Loudoun and Fauquier counties?
Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Catlett runs you-pick from June 1 to July 15 (2026), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays.
Is Blooming Hill Lavender Farm open every day?
No. It opens Fridays and Saturdays from mid-April to early November; teas and guided tours need a reservation.
Can I bring my dog?
Blooming Hill does not allow pets. Seven Oaks allows leashed dogs in the field on Thursdays only, and Great Country Farms allows leashed dogs except in the strawberry field.
Is there a fee at Manassas National Battlefield?
No. It is a fee-free park; the grounds are open dawn to dusk and the Henry Hill Visitor Center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport
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