The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell, Cornwall
It's name alone evokes the aura of mystery of a Daphne du Maurier novel, and there is indeed quite a story attached to these glorious gardens in south Cornwall.
The Tremayne family lived here for 400 years, but their splendid gardens went into decline in the 20th century, after most of Heligan's 22 gardeners perished in the First World War. The gardens were gradually claimed by bramble and ivy until, in the mid-Nineties, a group of enthusiastic gardeners decided to restore them.
Heligan is now in its second decade of restoration, and is famous for its huge rhododendrons and camellias, as well as pretty lakes, and an area called ¢The Jungle', filled with ancient ferns, that's like something out of Jurassic Park. Decaying manure is used to warm the last ¢pineapple pit' (where these exotic fruit are grown) in Europe.
Opening times
March to October 10am to 6pm daily (last entry 4.30pm). November to February 10am to 5pm (last entry 3.30pm).
More info
www.heligan.com
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Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire
Garden-lovers say that everyone should visit Stowe at least once in their life, as for many, this sprawling estate represents the ultimate in classic garden design.
Laid out by legendary 18th-century landscaper Capability Brown, Stowe has more than 40 monuments, temples and little nooks, as well as ornamental lakes, wooded valleys and world-class views. One famous edifice is the Temple of Concord and Victory, a huge classical-style construction.
The gardens are huge, so you can go off walking for miles, in the gardens themselves and in the surrounding 750 acres of parkland. In fact, the gardens were designed to be best appreciated on a ramble. The house, once a stately pile, is now home to posh Stowe School.
To get to grips with Stowe, it's a good idea to take one of the guided tours that run at 11am and 12pm on most days.
Opening times
From Wednesday to Sunday between March and November, 10.30am to 5.30pm; weekends only the rest of the year, 10.30am to 4pm.
More info
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stowegardens
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Howick Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland
The one-time home of 19th-century prime minister and speciality tea inventor Earl Grey, Howick Hall sits in splendid isolation near the rocky Northumberland coast. There are different areas in the extensive grounds, such as a rockery, a beautiful woodland garden called Silverwood, and even a ¢bog garden' with lots of Chinese plants.
Like all great gardens, Howick has something wonderful to see at any time of the year, from snowdrops in March to hydrangeas in September. The excellent 65-acre arboretum opened in 2006 and has 11,000 trees and shrubs from all over the world. You have a very good chance of spotting rare red squirrels hopping about in there, as well as in the gardens, as the hall is a haven for this threatened species.
After a good potter around, it's near-compulsory to have a cup of that famous bergamot-infused brew in the Earl Grey Tea House.
Opening times
Daily from March until end of October, 12pm until (last entry) 5pm.
More info
www.howickhallgardens.org.uk
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Bodnant Garden, Clwyd, Wales
Looking down over the River Conwy, and across the valley to the mountains of Snowdonia, this 80-acre garden in North Wales certainly has stunning views. Bodnant itself is rather wonderful, too. Divided into an upper and lower garden, its big selling point is that it has plants and trees from all over the world, particularly from China, North America, Europe and Japan, as these are most suited to the Welsh weather and soil.
Spring comes alive with daffodils and magnolia, and the Japanese azaleas are at their peak in late May. The terraced gardens are colourful in summer with herbaceous borders, roses and water lilies. Autumn reveals spectacularly colourful tree foliage of red and gold, as well as lots of berrying trees. Bodnant also houses the national collection of eucryphias, and in August and September, most of them are in resplendent bloom.
Opening times
Daily from March to the beginning of November, from 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm).
More info
www.bodnantgarden.co.uk
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Mount Stewart House, Garden and Temple of the Winds, County Down, Northern Ireland
Anywhere with a 'Temple of the Winds' has to be worth visiting on principle. Mount Stewart House graces the shore of the brooding Strangford Lough, outside Newtownards. The gardens, which were originally just boring old lawns, were lavishly re-imagined by the Marchioness of Londonderry, who created a shamrock garden and sunken garden, as well as expanding the lake and adding Spanish and Italian gardens. By the time she'd finished, there was talk of it becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
The aforementioned Temple of the Winds is an octagonal structure, based on something the first Marquess saw in the Mediterranean, on his grand tour of Europe. You can also climb Scrabo Tower for great views over the lough.
Opening times
The lakeside gardens are open daily from 10am to sunset, year-round, and the formal gardens are open daily from March to October, from 10am.
More info
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mountstewart
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Logan Botanic Garden, Stranraer, Scotland
At Scotland's southwest tip, warmed by weather currents from the Gulf Stream, you'll find the country's most exotic garden, full of weird and wonderful plants from far afield.
It's a tranquil place, with a water lily-covered fish pond and a renowned collection of tender plants, which can be found in the pretty walled garden. It enchants throughout the seasons, with vivid colours and exotic scents, with lots of stuff from New Zealand.
Some of the very un-Scottish trees to be admired in the woodland garden include eucalyptus and some unusual conifers from New Zealand. There's also a bog with gunnera, which looks a bit like giant rhubarb.
In summer, with the cabbage palms going strong and ferns waving in the breeze, you'll find it hard to believe you're in Scotland. In autumn there are winter-flowering shrubs from Australia.
Opening times
February: Sundays only, 10am to 4pm; March and October: 10am to 5pm; April to September: 10am to 6pm
More info
www.rbge.org.uk/logan
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