Guided Garden Tour at Dolgellau

Day 1: Arrival day.

Your room will be available from 2.30pm onwards. Please join us for tea between 4pm and 5pm to meet the leader and your fellow guests.

Before dinner there will be a brief introduction to the holiday programme.

Day 2: This morning we visit Ty Newydd, a private three-and-a-half acre maritime garden diversely planted with trees and shrubs to provide year-round interest through contrasting foliage and flowers. We then travel on to Plas Brondanw, the private garden of Sir Clough William Ellis, designer of the village at Portmeirion, which was inspired by the great gardens of Italy. 

Day 3: Today we visit the private garden, Gilfach, a one-acre country garden on a south-facing slope with magnificent views of the river Conwy and mountains. The afternoon is spent at Bodnant (National Trust), once the home of Lord Aberconwy, where newly planted terraces surround the house, and steep paths descend to the dell where the stream meanders through magnificent trees.

Day 4: This morning we visit Ty Capel Ffrwd, described as a true cottage garden in the Welsh mountains. In summer there is a continuous show of colour from herbaceous plants, roses and clematis. After a lunch stop at Bala we visit Caerau Uchaf where two garden designers have created a wonderfully imaginative three-acre garden with herbaceous borders, potager, wildlife garden and much more.   

Day 5: In the morning we visit the Centre for Alternative Technology where we can learn about organic gardening and see sustainable techniques put into practice in the gardens and vegetable growing areas. In the afternoon we visit the gardens of Glansevern Hall, over 25 acres of glorious gardens surrounding the house on the banks of the River Severn.

Day 6: Today we visit the Dingle, a four-acre garden well known for its colour-themed and unusual plantings and its wide range of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. We spend the afternoon at Powis Castle (NT) where the garden, laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, retains its original lead statues and orangery, and where huge yew hedges provide shelter for tender plants.

Day 7: Depart after breakfast.

All entrances to gardens are included, however, if you wish to visit the National Trust properties at Bodnant and Powis Castle, this will be at an extra cost, unless you have NT membership, so please bring your card with you.