Gardens of North Wales

We meet our garden tour guide, Frances MacDonald, at The Alex Hotel in Dublin for our coach transfer to Dublin Port for Irish Ferries sailing to Holyhead. On arrival we will travel to Plas Newyd gardens which are situated on the shores of the Menai Strait amidst breathtakingly beautiful scenery. There is an Australasian arboretum, a wonderful collection of shrubs and wild flowers and an Italianate-style summer terrace.  Free time here for lunch (at own expense) in this National Trust garden.

This afternoon we will visit Bodysgallen Hall Gardens which is a National Trust hotel and garden for guided tour with the Head Gardener. The gardens have been recognised for their award winning restoration. Featured within the estate's grounds are a rare 17th century parterre of box hedges filled with sweet-scented herbs, naturally occurring limestone outcrops, a rockery with a cascade, a walled garden, lily-pad ponds, and several follies. The gardens also include a formal rose garden and a number of well-established and interesting trees and shrubs. Enjoy an included Afternoon Tea in this beautiful hotel before transferring to the Imperial Hotel, Llandudno where tour is based.

We will dine together in our hotel this evening.

Following a leisurely breakfast we depart for full day visiting extraordinary creations of architect, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Plas Brondanw Gardens, attached to his private home was created over 70 years and is inspired by the classical gardens of Italy. Dramatic and romantic prospects are achieved by the use of hedges, topiary, architectural features and vistas.

Free time for lunch at your leisure in Portmerion before exploring this wonderful village and gardens, created by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and perched on coast of Snowdonia. Herbaceous and bedding displays punctuate this village which also has a woodland garden containing many impressive specimens. Portmerion is home to a wonderful range of pottery. Evening free to explore the restaurants of Llandudno. Frances will be available to advise and escort you.

Morning at leisure for shopping and sightseeing in the charming seaside town of Llandudno. Iain will be available to advise on interesting destinations.

This afternoon we travel together to Plas yn Rhiw, an early 17^th century manor house with an ornamental garden and magnificent views overlooking Cardigan Bay. The house and grounds were lovingly restored by the three Keating sisters who bought it in 1938 and today the garden includes flowering trees, shrubs, beds framed with box hedges linked with grass & gravel paths.

This morning we start our day with a visit to Maenan Hall Gardens; created in 1950, formal planting and borders surround an Elizabethan and Queen Anne House and the informal borders make a spectacular display.  

We then travel to Bodnant Gardens, one of the most beautiful in the UK, growing a wide range of plants from all over the world. It also has an excellent restaurant and shop.

Following our hotel checkout this morning we will visit Plas Cadnant Garden which is a 10 acre garden, restored and replanted over the past 25 years. It consists of a walled garden of formal design softened by flower borders. An informal shrubbery and woodlands walks with picturesque cascades and pools complete the picture.

Time to return to Dublin! We will transfer to Holyhead port for our Irish Ferries sailing before arriving back to the Alex Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin in the late afternoon.