Bodnant Gardens

The best garden in Wales

Tour the Garden
There are many different walks around Bodnant, and your choice will depend on the time you have while touring and what aspects of the garden you are likely to enjoy most. Our driver-guides will know a select number of routes based on how steep the paths are and your passion for certain plants. In most cases, the guide will take you on a classic route around Bodnant not missing any highlights. This route will change with the time of the year. There are 80 acres to explore with some very steep narrow paths. We can advise on wheelchair routes, and wheelchair uses will not miss out. 

Highlights of the Garden
The Laburnum Arch; The garden is great to visit at any time of the year, but spring is incredibly exciting. Back in 1880, the design of the estate was laid out, including the world-famous Laburnum Arch. It is over 180 ft long and rewards visitors with a spectacular display of bright yellow flowers at the end of May and the first weeks of June. Tens of thousands of people visit each year to see it flower, and it is spectacular. 

The Rhododendrons;  Sponsored botanical expeditions to Asia brought one of the most extensive assortments of rhododendron seeds to Bodnant. These plants thrived at Bodnant, the mild climate, acidic soil and hilly terrain mirroring the Himalayas' foothills, their native environment. Hybridisation at Bodnant created compact plants with vibrant colours and longer flowering season. 

The Terraces; the Italianate terraces have plenty of summer interest with the pergola of climbing roses, hydrangeas, and ‘D’ shaped lily pond. Elegant twisting stairs take you to the canal terrace, a long body of water reflecting The Pin Mill. The building originally stood in the grounds of a house in Gloucestershire, England and was removed stone by stone. It was used as a garden house and later a mill for the production of pins. It is a beautiful building and sets the canal off perfectly. 

The Dell; This area of the garden is something from a fairy tale story. It has cascades, delicate little streams, and giant trees. The Dell has a unique climate that is cool and moist, allowing mosses and shade-loving plants to thrive. Pathways wind there way across tiny bridges, and children enjoy using the stepping stones.   

The Bodnant estate
The estate is largely mountains with wooded areas. There are a few sheep and cattle farms and holiday cottages for let. Conwy Town is nearby and is an ideal based for touring the area.

Touring and accommodation
Bodnant sits on the edge of Snowdonia National Park with a multitude of hiking opportunities, such as the classic hike to the peak of Snowdonia. In addition, the terrain lends itself to a range of adventure sports such as White Water Rafting and Zip Lining. A more sedate local activity is fly fishing. 

Merging Wales with England makes for a dynamic experience of mountains, stately homes and cosy country pubs. If this is your first time to the UK, we would recommend a custom version of our Town and Country Tour; it covers the famous places and allows you to utilise your private driver-guide by getting-off-the-beaten-path. Our Classic tour of Ireland is a good place to start for the first trip to Ireland, and we suggest the Classic tour of Scotland for your first trip to the bonny Highlands. 

Pale Hall Hotel on the southern edge of Snowdonia is a beautiful hotel. The painstakingly restored grand country house is a real gem with a high-end restaurant to boot. The National Trust run Bodysgallen Hall and Spa near the seaside resort of Llandudno has renowned gardens, spa and traditional guest lounges. There is a wide choice of accommodation in the Wales. there are a multitude of Cottages, Manor House Hotels and traditional Guest Houses. There is an opportunity to stay on the Bodnant Estate, please contact us for further details.