Bodnant Gardens

The Most Beautiful Garden in Wales

Bodnant Gardens

Bodnant Gardens, nestled in the foothills of Snowdonia, with stunning views of the Conwy valley and mountains beyond is one of the most beautiful gardens in Britain. Bodnant Gardens is a realm of trees and rare plants. The roots of this multi-levelled garden were planned in the early 1900s by Henry Davis Pochin, an Industrial Chemist, who entirely re-landscaped this Georgian estate. 

The elegant Italianate terraces will delight, with reflective ponds, the longest laburnum arch in Britain, that turns bright yellow with flowers in the spring. Head into the dell and behold the vibrant pinks and reds of the rhododendron forests and Himalayan blue poppies.

Head down into the shady ‘dell’ of cascading waterfalls and collection of champion (largest in the country) trees; see Asian and American conifer, giant Californian redwoods, holly, pine and maple.

A passion about gardens is not required to enjoy Bodnant Gardens. It is a magical place and thrills everyone who visits. Our Classic Tour of Wales itinerary includes Bodnant as does our Honeymoon in Wales Tour.

Paradise on earth

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 CottagesManor House Hotels and traditional Guest Houses. There is an opportunity to stay on the Bodnant Estate, please contact us for further details.

Most Beautiful Garden in Wales

Eighty Acres of Heavenly Gardens of Terraces, Woods and Herbaceous Borders

  • Stay on the Estate
  • Award Winning Gardens
  • See the World Famous Laburnum Arch
  • Rare Rhododendrons
  • 80 Acres to Explore

Help us make your trip exceptional

Our UK, EU and US office-based staff will listen to what you want to see and experience.

Whether you are a honeymoon couple, a family or a corporate incentive group, our team’s collective resources will be brought together to build the experience that’s right for you.

We will require your arrival and departure dates, details of your personal preferences and places that you would like to visit as well as the events you would like to experience.

We will then prepare a draft itinerary and send it to you by email for your approval. Once agreed, we will send you a Booking Confirmation with Personalised Itinerary and Information Pack via email.

Contact information

From the UK: +44(0)20 8669 3666

FREE from Canada or the USA: 1-888-472-1799

Email: info@luxuryvacationsuk.com