Gardens in Pembrokeshire
Take in beautiful sights of flowers, plants and trees
Immerse yourself in exquisite green spaces and surround yourself with nature at some of the UK’s most beautiful and historically important gardens during your next Pembrokeshire holiday.
Buried in the depths of Pembrokeshire’s valleys and nestled along the border of the neighbouring county of Carmarthenshire, there are several awe-inspiring gardens to be explored. If you’re passionate about plants and nature, wild natural habitats and immaculately landscapes, then a visit to these wonderful estates is a must.
One of the most well-recognised gardens in the area is the National Botanic Gardens of Wales in Carmarthen and it’s easy to see why. A Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner Garden, this one is pretty remarkable with some 400 acres of grounds to explore. It is home to the world’s largest single-span greenhouse and houses a mammoth range of native and exotic plants as well as the Bird of Prey Centre. As well as hosting seasonal events such as summer fairs and dedicated Doggy Days, the team here put science, education and conservation at the heart of their ethos. Discover the Tropical House, the Japanese Garden, the Aqualab, the Dipping Ponds and the Apothecary Garden to name but a few of the spaces here.
The Greenhouse at National Botanic Gardens of Wales
Near Haverfordwest is Picton Castle with 40 acres set around a 13th Century Castle, now a stately home museum. Explore the Jungle Garden and Bluebell Walk then take the kids to the Adventure Playground. Exotic trophy plants and native flora grow here along with medicinal herbs. Visit Maria’s Restaurant, the escape rooms and The Welsh Owl Garden.
Colby Woodland Gardens can be found near Amroth and has been hailed by Great British Gardens as having “one of the finest Rhododendron and Azalea collections in Wales”. Run by the National Trust, these grounds were once part of a working coalfield in the 1700s but now house 8 acres of wildflower meadows, woodland trails and the tallest Japanese redwoods in the UK. There’s also a gift shop, tearooms and an art gallery here.
In northern Pembrokeshire, under the mountainous valley of the Preseli Hills, lies Dyffryn Fernant Gardens. Part of the Great Garden of West Wales scheme, this 6-acre attraction began its journey in 1996 and is more naturalistic in style. Roam the Magic Garden and Nicky’s Field before sightseeing the Bog Garden which is centred by a feature obelisk.
Established in 1983 is the Stackpole Walled Gardens managed by Mencap, whose mission is to aid mentally handicapped people in maintaining and creating natural spaces here. Alongside a wildflower meadow and secret garden, you’ll also find a kitchen garden here which grows fresh fruit and vegetables you can buy in the garden shop and likely sample in their tearooms, Cawdors. This is the only place in Pembrokeshire where you can pick your own soft fruit in season plus you can pick up plants and shrubs in the shop as well as handmade bird boxes.
Another fantastic garden just across the Carmarthenshire border is Aberglasney, with the only surviving Elizabethan Cloister Garden in the UK. Here you’ll find ten acres of gardens in around twenty different styles all set around a Grade II listed mansion. You might recall watching the documented restoration in the BBC’s “A Garden Lost in Time” series, aired in 1999. Stroll through the Jubilee Woodland, the Yew Tunnel, the Sunken Garden, the Pigeon House Wood and more to view a full range of exotic and modern gardens.
Colby Woodland Gardens in Pembrokeshire
Last but not least is Upton Castle & Gardens. Expect 35 acres of listed historic gardens set around a 13th Century Castle (now a family home not open to the public) near Pembroke. Open April through to September, there really is plenty to see here with a 19th Century Walled Vegetable Garden, a formal rose garden and a bluebell walk. Amble along the Stanley Neale Treetop Valley Walk, wander past the ancient trees and rare shrubbery before enjoying a stroll by the driftwood sculptures and the estuary. There’s even a Medieval Chapel within the grounds that pre-dates the castle.
If you’re passionate about wild natural habitats and immaculate landscapes, a visit to these gardens in Pembrokeshire is a must.
