Visiting the stunning National Trust Bodnant Garden: A beautiful garden for all seasons

I was lucky enough to grow up in a small village in the Conwy Valley of North Wales. The view from my childhood bedroom window was one of fields, trees and mountains – nothing that you would ever appreciate as a child. Across the valley and nestled among the trees on the hillside was a beautiful Georgian mansion house called Bodnant House. This beautiful property is located in 80 acres of some of the most spectacular gardens in the United Kingdom, the stunning Bodnant Garden.

As a child, of course I had no interest in visiting gardens a couple of miles down the road. In fact, it wasn’t until my thirties, being a home and garden owner that I decided I was grown up enough to get a NATIONAL TRUST annual membership. On that basis, having found my interest in such things, I decided to visit the stunning garden when I was in North Wales visiting my parents. Having now relocated back to the area, we visit Bodnant Garden several times a year. With ever changing views throughout the year, it’s certainly a garden for all seasons.

A TOUR OF THE STUNNING NATIONAL TRUST BODNANT GARDEN

Founded in 1874 by Henry Davis Pochin, the gardens were created and developed through generations by his daughter’s family. Henry Pochin, with the assistance of landscape designer Edward Milner designed the formal gardens around the house, and created the landscaping on the sides of the valley, planting large North American trees leading down to the valley floor, where a beautiful woodland dell was created. Bodnant Garden was gifted to the National Trust in 1949, although the family still remain involved with more land being developed year on year.

 

 

Exploring Bodnant Garden in full would take hours if not days, and there will always be something to see that was missed on a previous visit. Some areas have more prominence during certain seasons, so it always worth amending the route around the property to suit. The natural route around the garden heads from the formal gardens surrounding Bodnant House downhill into the woodland dell before heading back up through the Yew Dell and Acer Glade.

THE FORMAL GARDENS AND TERRACES

On first entering the gardens you will arrive at the EAST GARDEN and the FRONT LAWN of Bodnant House.  With manicured lawns and pathways leading along colourful borders, this area provides fantastic views of the Georgian mansion and the backdrop of the Carneddau mountain range.

Following the pathway around the house, the beautifully scented ROSE GARDEN is an explosion of colour in summer. The steps down from the Rose Garden lead down to the TERRACES, on multiple levels. The first level down features a large lily pond which provides stunning reflections of Bodnant House sitting above. Further down from the

THE PIN MILL AT BODNANT GARDEN

The steps down to the next level lead to one of Bodnant’s most iconic and photographed buildings – THE PIN MILL, which was designated a Grade II listed building in 1952. Interestingly it was originally built as a garden house circa 1730 in Gloucestershire before being purchased, dismantled and re-built at Bodnant Garden in 1939. It’s a great building to photograph, with fantastic symmetry. Not only is it a thing of architectural beauty but the reflections on the long lily pond are just awesome. The lawns surrounding the pond are a popular spot to relax and breathe in the fresh Welsh air.

THE WOODLAND WALKS

To the rear of the Pin Mill, the gardens take more of a wild aesthetic compared to the formal gardens surrounding the house. A woodland area with narrow pathways which follow trickling brooks and streams, surrounded by lush forest plants. This is a fantastic area to admire the beautiful textures of the shade loving plants such as ferns and hostas.

THE OLD MILL

Arriving at the bottom of the valley and crossing a small stone bridge, the next stunning building at Bodnant Garden is THE OLD MILL. Also Grade II listed, the two storey building was built circa 1832 in a symmetrical design with an arched doorway to the centre with two sets of windows either side. The mossy roof and ivy climbing up around the structure give the effect that this man made structure blends in with the woodland backdrop. This is a great spot to take a break, as there is a cafe and WC facilities next door.

THE CHARMING DELL AT BODNANT GARDEN

the following section of Bodnant Garden is probably my favourite. Charmingly known as THE DELL, the gorgeous woodland valley follows the route of the Hireathlyn River. With meandering pathways either side of the river, this section of the garden has a collection of large redwoods, including the tallest Sequoia Sempervirens in the UK. I have loved these trees since seeing them in the National Parks of California, so to see such a grand specimen at about 49m high on home ground was amazing.

READ ABOUT MY VISIT TO SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK IN CALIFORNIA

Following the riverside pathways leads to another iconic feature of the gardens, the WATERFALL BRIDGE. The bridge was built in the early 1900’s when a dam was created on the river. Its a fantastic spot to stop, watch and listen to the water cascading down below the bridge.

THE FAR END

Passing Waterfall Bridge, the river continues its journey towards an area known as THE FAR END. This area is relatively new to Bodnant Garden, opening to the public in 2015 after five years of renovation work. The area features a large lake known as the SKATING POND, also home to the gorgeous BOAT HOUSE. This section of the Bodnant Garden is stunning during the autumn months with a fantastic display of colour.

AUTUMN COLOUR AT BODNANT GARDEN

On the subject of autumn colour, Bodnant Garden is one of the top places in North Wales to visit for a fabulous display of seasonal colour. After making a loop of the Skating Pond, the pathways lead into the Arboretum area and climb uphill. This is a fantastic spot to take a look back down into the valley and admire the stunning autumnal colours of the trees below.

Heading further uphill, the most spectacular part of the garden for autumn colour is the ACER GLADE. During the autumn season the Acer Glade becomes an explosion of dazzling reds, oranges and yellow when the Japanese Acers are in their peak season. It’s a fantastic show.

BODNANT GARDEN’S LABURMUM ARCH IN SPRING

From the Acer Glade, a pathway through the Old Park heads back towards Bodnant House and the formal gardens. Visiting in spring, the Old Park is a sea of daffodils and if you are lucky to be visiting in late May or early June, you will be able to see one of Bodnant Garden’s most popular attractions. THE LABURNUM ARCH is a 55m long, curved pergola walkway where the golden laburnum flowers bloom in the spring creating a great spectacle. The yellow canopy has a beautiful scent and draws in a lot of visitors. Good luck with photographing this scene without gatherings of people.

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GETTING TO BODNANT GARDEN

BY CAR: Bodnant Garden is easily accessible by car from the A55 expressway and is well signposted in the area. Following the A470 from Junction 19 of the A55 for about three miles, following the brown tourist signs at the right turn.

BY BUS: Arriva Buses operate the #25 services which runs to Bodnant Garden from Llandudno and Llandudno Junction Railway station.

BY RAIL: The nearest railway station is Tal-y-Cafn which is a 1.6 miles walk from Bodnant Garden.

BODNANT GARDEN

BODNANT ROAD

LL28 5RE

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MORE ABOUT THE SURROUNDING AREA

Looking for more information about the area during your visit?

Take a SCENIC LOOP OF THE BEAUTIFUL CONWY VALLEY

For information about what to do in the town: THINGS TO DO IN CONWY: A LOCAL’S GUIDE

Looking to stay in Conwy: NUMBER 18 – THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE ACCOMMODATION IN CONWY

Like adrenalin activities: RIDE A PERFECT WAVE AT SURF SNOWDONIA

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