National Botanic Garden of Wales

Opened in the Towy Valley at the start of the millennium, National Botanic Garden of Wales is a world-renowned centre and a major attraction. The garden is an important conservation and study facility. The centrepiece is the vast Great Glasshouse – home to rows of exoticism from as far away as Australia, South America, California and the Mediterranean.

Looking towards a large glasshouse containing tropical plants over grassy bank.
Daffodils in front of large glasshouse.

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire, West Wales

Aberglasney Garden

Another amazing restoration project has taken place in the Tywi valley, where the ten acres Aberglasney Mansion and Gardens contain one of the most diverse collections of plants in the world. The cloister, from the Elizabethan and Jacobean period, is exceptional, and the formal gardens contains an abundance of parapets and arches as well as a pool garden.

Aberglasney garden displaying flowers and shrubs with manor house in background.
The exterior of Aberglasney House in Llangathen with garden in foreground

Aberglasney Garden, Llangathen, West Wales

Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Fancy the sound of Elephant Rhubarb and American skunk cabbage? Clyne Gardens, Swansea is the place. There is also a wildflower meadow and Japanese bridge, as well as heather beds, towers, chapels and gazebos here. These gardens are officially famous for their National Collections of Pieris, Enkianthus and Rhododendrons. Look out for the cottage and bluebell wood.

Colby Woodland Gardens, Amroth

An informal woodland site of about eight acres, Colby Woodland Gardens has bluebells, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas aplenty, as well as Japanese maples just for good measure. The meadows and gardens belie the industrial past of the place, and a range of fun activities (den building, anyone?) are often organised here.

Clyne Gardens

Attraction
Swansea
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.

Colby Woodland Garden

Attraction
Narberth
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.

Picton Castle and Gardens

Picton Castle and Gardens is flanked by the Cleddau Estuary. The 40 acres of Picton find space for trees as old as time, mazes, ferns, wild flowers and rare species. The walled garden, where a fountain, arches, helpfully labelled medicinal herbs and colourful flowers dwell, is one corner to look out for during the summer.

Hywel Dda Centre, Whitland

Hywel Dda Centre is small and definitely singular. This place was named after a Medieval ruler, and it features a series of trees representing the laws he presided over in Wales centuries ago. Find out why the family clan was all-important back then, and visit the Interpretative Centre – built in the style of the era.

Picton Castle

Picton Castle & Gardens

Attraction
Haverfordwest
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.

Canolfan a Gardd Hywel Dda

Attraction
Whitland
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.

Plantasia in Swansea

Plantasia is a huge adventure site, and its themed zones and mazes make it a particularly good place to take the kids. Its botanic and animal collections are as good as you’ll find anywhere, and the hothouse is a great place to find out all about the magic of plants.

Margam Country Park, Neath Port Talbot

The gardens and landscape at Margam Country Park are Grade Ι listed; the long vistas have evolved since medieval times and are adored with beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers. The Orangery garden has a collection of interesting trees including Tulip Trees, a Cork Oak and cut leaved Beech. Other gardens at the park include the Broadwalk Steps with glorious rhododendrons, a Bamboo Collection and Japanese Garden.

bright yellow and pink flowers in front of a gothic stately mansion.
Stone garden ornament in front of orangery and plants in background.

Margam Castle, Margam Park, Neath Port Talbot, West Wales

Dyffryn Fernant Garden

Dyffryn Fernant Garden is situated under the Pembrokeshire Preseli uplands, 3 miles east of Fishguard. It is an adventurous private 6 acre garden, making the most of the ancient landscape and applying a touch of magic to it. Dyffryn Fernant is an RHS Partner garden and has self-service teas and coffees in the garden library. 

 

Garden with a variety of plants including clipped evergreens.
Outside of house with pink walls, showing front door, flowers and plants.

Dyffryn Fernant Gardens, Llanychaer, West Wales

Zoo Keeper Experience

Plantasia Tropical Zoo

Attraction
Swansea
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.

Margam Country Park

Attraction
Port Talbot
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.
Modern Welsh country garden

Dyffryn Fernant

Attraction
Fishguard
Aerial view of a harbour, two beaches and pastel coloured houses.

Hilton Court Gardens, Haverfordwest

There are eight acres of tranquil lakes and flowers to enjoy within Hilton Court Gardens. The gardens overlooks west Pembrokeshire’s St Brides Bay and is surrounded by dense forests with a thriving biodiversity. Spot the waterfalls and experience the resident solar domes – tropical refuges of year-round warmth for their exotic inhabitants.

Related stories