Gardens of Snowdonia

Depart from Llandudno Junction Railway Station at 12.00 noon (to coincide with the fast through train departing 09.00 from London Euston) or join at Bodysgallen Hall at 12:30 where you can leave your car for the duration of the tour. Following lunch together at the hotel,the Head Gardener, Robert Owen will guide you around the garden.Then travel by coach together to nearby Bodnant Gardens with its wonderful terraces leading down to the Pin Mill and out to the dell and woodland gardens beyond, all in an unparalleled setting with views over the River Conwy to Snowdonia. Returning to Bodysgallen Hall where you stay for the next two nights with evening meals with wine included.

Travel westwards to cross the Menai Straits to Anglesey to Plas Cadnant where Anthony Tavernor discovered then restored and developed this remarkable wooded garden to perfection. Both garden and house are Georgian in origin; pleasure grounds of the fashionable picturesque style. Lunch is included at Plas Cadnant.  Later in the afternoon visit the small private garden of Llys-y-Gwynt developed from an exposed field over thirty years, the planting radiates out from the house in bands to provide vital wind protection. Return to Bodysgallen Hall, where we will enjoy an evening meal.

Maenan Hall is a private garden in the verdant Conwy Valley with dramatic views of Snowdonia, Owned by the Maclaren family, relations to the owners of Bodnant, which helps to explain the fine range of specimen trees and shrubs found throughout the garden that includes sweeping lawns, ornamental ponds as well as a tranquil woodland dell which features magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, pieris, cherries and hydrangeas. Continue to the beautiful lightfilled tidal estuary and landmark hotel of Portmeirion and Castell Deudraeth where you will stay for the next two nights. On arrival you are offered a lunch together followed by a visit to the memorable, theatrical gardens, setting for the Italianate village created by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Tonight, we dine together at Castell Deudraeth.

We spend a day on the Llŷn Peninsula that extends towards Ireland; a bastion of Celtic history and heritage and stronghold of Welsh culture and language. We go down to the remote shores of Hells’ Mouth to the small cottage garden of Plas yn Rhiw, past home to three remarkable sisters. This aftenoon we visit Plas Brondanw, the home of the creator of Portmeirion, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Return to Portmeirion for some free time before dining this evening at the hotel.

Heading for the mountains, we visit Plas Brondanw where Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and his wife Amabel created their private Italianate garden focusing on the mountains of Snowdonia. Following a light lunch, we return to Llandudno-Junction Station for 15:00 to catch the direct return train to London, or to pick up your cars left at Bodysgallen Hall.