Took a day trip out in July to Aberglasney Gardens, which was on my to do list. It is located down near Llandeilo just off the A40, so easy to get to.
Aberglasney was made famous by the BBC television series “A Garden Lost in Time” which followed its restoration. Today it is quite simply one of Wales’ finest gardens, and at its heart lies a fully restored Elizabethan Cloister Garden that is the only surviving example of its kind in the UK today. Beyond this, visitors can explore 10 acres of over 20 different garden styles from formal to woodland, right through to exotic and modern along with the fully restored ground floor of Aberglasney’s grade II* listed mansion offer a stunning venue for exhibitions and events.
Ninfarium – Within what was the old house, that was beyond ‘restoration’.
The pond from the terrace wall
From under the terrace to the house
Gardens: Aberglasney’s 10 acres are home to many different garden styles, from our historic cloister garden to our productive kitchen garden and our unique Ninfarium. There are many aspects to explore, and the gardens change with the seasons to showcase a wealth of flowers and trees.
Mansion: The historic grade II* listed mansion at Aberglasney has been home to many a colourful character over the last 500 years – poets and artists, a Bishop, a High Sheriff, architects and solicitors, drinkers and those who fiercely abstained. However, prior to recent restoration it had been hard to visualise the grandeur of time gone by after decades of decline when the mansion stood uninhabited, neglected and vandalised. Today, the centre of the mansion is now is covered by a glass roof and is home to the ‘Ninfarium’, Aberglasney’s award winning sub-tropical indoor garden, where plants grow amongst the ruinous remains.
Tearooms: No trip to Aberglasney is complete without visiting the tearooms, idyllically located overlooking the Pool Garden. The tearooms are cosy inside while the terrace is a real suntrap. It’s the perfect place to enjoy good homemade, freshly prepared lunches or of course a quintessential afternoon tea including homemade cakes and pastries. You’ll also find a selection of wines, beers and ciders on the menu alongside great ice cream.
For more details see their website aberglasney.org
