gardens north wales

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Plas Newydd is home to the Marquess of Anglesey. It’s home to the biggest collection of the work of Rex Whistler, too. Including his largest work. A giant seascape. Which is what you’ll see if you look out the front windows. Uninterrupted views of the Menai Strait, to be precise. And the gardens make the most of this. They’re based on a Henry Repton design. Italianate garden with fountains. A spring garden. An Australasian arboretum. A summer terrace. Woodland walks to a marine path along the Menai Straits. There’s a 5 acre rhododendron garden, too.

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Chirk Castle has been home to the Myddleton family for more than 500 years, and is the only one of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses still lived in today. As historic gardens go, the ones at Chirk are, well, really historic. They were landscaped in the 18th century by William Emes. There’s 19th century yew topiary, and a 17th century lime tree avenue. In the 20th century it won National Trust Garden of the Year. It covers more than 5 acres at the top of a hill, with views over 9 counties. 8th century Offa’s Dyke practically runs through it. Not the usual thing you find at the bottom of the garden.

 

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The Grade I listed gardens at Erddig were landscaped by William Eames in the late 1700s. Today, it’s one of the most important surviving 18th century gardens in the UK, home to the National Ivy Collection and some very rare fruit trees. Bon Chrétien d’Hiver (a late 15th century pear) and Edelsborsdorfer (a 16th century apple) are just two of them. And if you need to walk off that Welsh cream tea, Erddig’s footpaths total over 13 miles.

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Snowdonia on one side, Anglesey on the other. It’s no surprise the Pennant family chose this spot for Penrhyn Castle. And the gardens are pretty special, too. Snowdrops in February, Narcissi and bluebells in spring, Fuchsia in summer. And winter is the time to “crack on with some of the bigger projects where you can make noise and mess” says Mike Anderson, head gardener for over 25 years, “but working outdoors is the real essence of the job”.

www.bodnantgarden.co.uk

It’s little wonder the Garden at Bodnant is famous the world over. Its whopping 80 acres have views of the River Conwy and Snowdonia. But there are small intimate spaces, too. Living rooms. Literally. And when the gates open in February, spring has well and truly sprung. Spectacular doesn’t come close. The Gardens goes on blooming until it's tucked up again for the winter. And, if it’s suited to the Welsh climate, chances are it’s growing here. Bodnant Garden is home to plant species from all over the world, a 55 metre-long laburnum arch and, at a whopping 47 metres high, the UK’s tallest California Redwood. Plus another 18 record-breaking trees for good measure. Bodnant Gardens's gardening team work throughout the year so the pergolas, lily pond and five (count them) terraces live up to expectations. Which could explain why in 2000 Bodnant picked up first place at The National Trust Gardens Awards. And why Daily Telegraph readers voted it their ‘Favourite Garden in the Country’.

Last admission 30 mins before closing.

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Eileen, Lorna and Honora Keating began restoring the 16th century house and garden in 1938. They filled the garden with teasles, myrtle, sheep sorrel, foxgloves and other wild plants. So today, there are flowers at Plas yn Rhiw (weeds to some) that have all but disappeared from the countryside. In fact, Plas yn Rhiw is the only organic National Trust garden in Wales. And when not busy adhering to strict organic practices, Tim Walker (head gardener for 12 years) has other things to see to. Like the grass footpaths. They’re wearing away under the footsteps of thousands of visitors. And keeping the box hedges asymmetric. Just like the Keating sisters intended. Then there’s the bare patch on the box hedge. Visitors will keep resting their bags there while they take snaps of the house.