Bodnant Garden, in the Conwy Valley in north Wales, is one of the most spectacular gardens in Britain. On Italianate terraces descending towards a wooded valley, with the mountains of Eryri in the background, grow plants gathered from all over the world. It is famous above all for its Laburnum Arch, which in late spring becomes a golden tunnel more than 50 metres long, one of the most photographed sights in the country. The garden belongs to the National Trust.
History
In 1874 the estate was bought by Henry Pochin, an industrial chemist from northern England who had made his fortune partly with a process for producing white soap. Pochin began planting conifers and laying out the first gardens. The work was continued by his daughter Laura and above all by his grandson Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway, who was for many years President of the Royal Horticultural Society. Between 1905 and 1914 McLaren created the five great Italianate terraces in front of the house.
The Puddle family played a decisive role: three generations of head gardeners, from 1920 to 2005, looked after the garden and bred new varieties of rhododendron. In 1949 the family gave the garden to the National Trust, while continuing to live in the house, which is not open to the public.
- 1874Henry Pochin buys the estate
- 1880The Laburnum Arch is planted
- 1905Work begins on the Italianate terraces
- 1938The Pin Mill is moved to Bodnant
- 1949The garden passes to the National Trust
What to see
The terraces
The Italianate terraces descend from the house towards the valley, with lawns, flower beds, roses and flights of steps. On the lowest terrace, the Canal Terrace, a long pool covered with water lilies reflects at one end a small open-air theatre of clipped yew and at the other the Pin Mill, an elegant 18th-century pavilion that was dismantled piece by piece in Gloucestershire and rebuilt here in 1938.
The Laburnum Arch
The Laburnum Arch, planted in 1880, is the longest and oldest laburnum tunnel in Britain. For about two or three weeks, between late May and early June, the yellow clusters hang from the arch to form a golden ceiling: at that time visitors come from all over the country.
The Dell and the woods
At the bottom of the valley lies The Dell, a damp woodland crossed by the River Hiraethlyn, with waterfalls, an old mill and some of the tallest conifers in Britain. In spring rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias bloom; in autumn the maples turn red. Further on, the Far End has wildflower meadows and a bridge over the stream.
The Poem
On the hillside stands The Poem, the neoclassical mausoleum built by Henry Pochin for his family, surrounded by trees and overlooking the valley.
Practical information
The garden is open for most of the year; National Trust members enter free. The ground slopes, with many steps, but alternative routes exist. There are cafés, tea rooms and a plant shop. Opening times and prices are on the National Trust website.
Getting there
- By train: on the Conwy Valley Line to Tal-y-Cafn, then about 2 kilometres on foot.
- By car: along the A470, about 15 minutes from Conwy and Llandudno.
- By air: Liverpool and Manchester airports are about an hour and a half away.
Nearby
- Conwy Castle and the walled medieval town.
- Llandudno, a Victorian seaside resort with the Great Orme headland.
- Snowdon and Eryri National Park.
Tips
- How long: two hours to half a day.
- When to go: late May and early June for the golden arch; April and May for rhododendrons and magnolias; October for autumn colours.
- A tip: when the arch is in flower, arrive at opening time: later the queues for a photo under the arch get long.