Many of the most famous gardens across Wales are run by the National Trust. With exotic plants, friendly animals, picnic spots and more, don’t miss these 10 horticultural highlights.

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is the most visited garden in Wales and has more than 6,000 different plant varieties spread across 560 acres (227ha) of beautiful countryside.

There’s an inspiring range of themed gardens, the world’s largest single-span glasshouse, the British Bird of Prey Centre, a tropical Butterfly House, play areas and a national nature reserve, all set in a Regency landscape. They run a packed programme of events and courses throughout the year.

Aerial view of a garden, with a huge dome, structured gardens and paths.
Red hot pokers, and other orange-hued flowers with a large glass dome in the background.

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire, West Wales

Aberglasney Gardens, Carmarthenshire

A 15th century poet praised the ‘nine green gardens’ of Aberglasney, but this medieval gem had almost vanished until the gardens, and the mansion at their centre, were saved in the 1990s. They’ve been beautifully restored and planted into a dozen themed areas, which are offset by cloisters, pools, parapets, arches and the surrounding woodlands.

Aberglasney garden displaying flowers and shrubs with manor house in background.
An open wooden door through a stone wall in a garden of purple flowers.

Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, West Wales

Dyffryn Fernant, Pembrokeshire

The superb location gives Dyffryn Fernant a head start, tucked away in the folds of north Pembrokeshire, with the coast on one side, and the Gwaun Valley and Preseli Hills on the other. It’s taken the best part of 25 years for this imaginative six-acre (2.5ha) garden to emerge from the wild landscape, but it’s described by The Times as ‘the best domestic garden in Wales’.

A pink house adorned with flowers.
large garden with shaped topiary.
garden with plants, small shaped topiary and small willow arch.

Dyffryn Fernant, Pembrokeshire, West Wales

Aberglasney Mansion

Aberglasney Mansion & Gardens

Attraction
Carmarthen
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, Pembrokeshire

A series of tiered ponds, thick with waterlilies, are the centrepiece of Hilton Court, which lies in a wooded valley just inland from St Brides Bay. The warm microclimate helps to support a rich array of plant (and animal) life, while the solar dome is a tropical refuge for more exotic inhabitants.

I love my morning walks in the gardens and the showers and sunshine created a lovely rainbow.

Posted by Hilton Court Gardens, campsite, event & wedding venue, Pembrokeshire on Thursday, October 1, 2020

Picton Castle and Gardens, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

Flanked by the Daugleddau Estuary, the 40 acres (16ha) surrounding 13th century Picton Castle include ancient trees, mazes, ferns, wild flowers and rare species. Children are made especially welcome: a kids trail through the gardens stops off at an adventure playground, herb garden and pond. The Welsh Owl Garden is open all year round but from Easter there are daily flying displays, in both a dedicated glade in the woodland and on the lawn in front of the Castle.

The front entrance to a castle-style building.
A woman in a motorised scooter and a man walking in an ornamental garden.

Picton Castle and Gardens, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, West Wales

Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Japanese gardens, lakes, wildflower meadows, bluebell woods, towers, chapels and gazebos are among the eye-catching features at this 19th century idyll. Clyne Gardens has a nationally important collection of rhododendrons, pieris and enkianthus, which produce a blaze of early summer colour. The gardens were created by the Vivian family of industrialists/barons.

Treborth Botanic Garden, Bangor

Conceived as a pleasure garden more than 160 years ago, Sir Joseph Paxton’s original design for Treborth was thwarted by funding problems, and the site only re-emerged during the 1960s when it was bought by Bangor University. Shaped by academic experts, Treborth Botanic Garden is now both a research institute for honing horticultural skills and a thoroughly pleasant place to visit. Its six glasshouses come in varying temperatures to support amazing plants from Wales and across the world. As a bonus, the Wales Coast Path runs through its woodland. 

Dewstow Gardens, Monmouthshire

Dewstow Gardens are a remarkable tale of lost-and-found. The original Edwardian gardens were buried in the 1940s and returned to farmland, and only rediscovered in 2000. The excavations revealed ponds, rills, rock gardens, and an entire labyrinth of underground grottoes , tunnels and sunken ferneries – all painstakingly restored to their former glory.

tropical plants and grotto.
tropical garden.

Dewstow Gardens, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Picton Castle

Picton Castle & Gardens

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

Clyne Gardens

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

Treborth Botanic Garden

Attraction
Bangor
Dolbadarn Castle

Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes

Attraction
Chepstow
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.

Plas Brondanw, Eryri (Snowdonia)

Sir Clough Williams-Ellis is famous for creating the Italianate fantasy village of Portmeirion, but his real passion was closer to home. Plas Brondanw is the property he inherited more than a century ago. Its gardens are the legacy of a man who spent much of his life and every penny he had on them. These days their magnificent landscaping – part of a site built in the mid-16th century – offers yews, an orangery and splendid mountain views.

garden with steps, trees and house in background.

Plas Brondanw, North Wales

Portmeirion Gardens

Portmeirion Village Gardens

Attraction
Portmeirion
Dolbadarn Castle
Holm Oak and Cnicht

Plas Brondanw Gardens & Café

Attraction
Penrhyndeudraeth
Dolbadarn Castle

Wye Valley Sculpture Garden, Monmouthshire

The tranquil Wye Valley Sculpture Garden lies among the ancient wooded slopes of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s been managed organically for 40 years, and has abundant herbaceous borders, a pond, woodland areas, an orchard and meadows, all providing a rich habitat for wildlife. Sculptures by local artist Gemma Wood are placed harmoniously around the garden.

purple flowers and garden sculpture.
lake and wooden building.

Wye Valley Sculpture Garden, Monmouthshire, South Wales

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