Activity: Wander a Lavender Field
Lùnastal marks the point in the Celtic year when Summer reaches its fullness and the first hints of change begin to stir. It is a season rich with colour, scent and abundance, and one of my favourite ways to honour it is to seek out landscapes that invite stillness and sensory immersion.
A lavender field is one of those places. The moment you arrive, the pace shifts. Rows of soft purple stretch across the hillside, bees drift from bloom to bloom, and the air carries that unmistakable, calming scent. It feels worlds away, yet deeply rooted in the land beneath your feet.
On my visit to a Scottish lavender farm, the experience was simple and grounding. We wandered slowly through the rows, noticing the shades of purple deepen in the light, watching butterflies hover and settle, listening to the gentle hum of pollinators at work. Some fields grow English lavender with its familiar deep violet, others grow French varieties with softer tones and an intoxicating perfume that drifts on the breeze.
Many lavender farms also demonstrate traditional distillation. Watching the copper still at work is a quiet kind of magic: freshly harvested blooms are combined with spring water, then transformed slowly into fragrant essential oils. The process honours the plant’s integrity, and the scent that fills the air feels almost sacred.
Whether you bring home a small bunch of lavender or a bottle of oil, the fragrance carries the memory of the day long after you leave.
If you choose to make this a Lùnastal ritual, pack lightly, go early if you can, and let the experience unfold at its own pace. Wander without rushing. Pause to breathe in the scent. Notice the colours, the movement, the gentle hum of life all around you.
A lavender field is more than a beautiful place. It is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your senses, and step into the subtle magic of the in-between season.
