Premier Gardens Wales is a collection of the best gardens in Wales. Access is easy, and visitors can be in Wales from Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea airports within 2 hours.

The itinerary and accommodation ideas are provided as suggestions.
Further information on pricing, availability and travel times is available throughout this website.

For further information on the gardens go to The Gardens pages on this site.
For accommodation go to www.welsh.rarebits.co.uk

Morning
The itinerary starts at one of the best open air museums in Europe, set in 100 acres of beautiful countryside. Just a few minutes from the M4 motorway, The Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans is also an inspiring horticultural attraction. From formal gardens of the privileged classes to the first organic gardens that sustained a growing, working family, the Museum of Welsh Life offers a unique insight into social history. Summer 2002 see the restoration of the Italian Garden.

Lunch can be enjoyed at The Museum of Welsh Life before taking the 15 minutes drive to your afternoon destination, Dyffryn Gardens.

 Afternoon
Dyffryn Gardens are currently being restored to their full Edwardian glory and boast an extensive arboretum, grand formal lawns and intermit garden rooms including the unique Pompeian garden. There are many events throughout the year, ranging from Bonsai exhibitions and RHS regional talks to hosing music and theatre performances within the grounds. Before travelling to your overnight accommodation, stop for refreshments in the tea rooms and take a last look around – the next time you visit it will all look very different!

The drive to your overnight accommodation will take an easy hours, through spectacular scenery. Lake Country House in Llagammarch Wells in the first of 3 Welsh Rarebits hotels suggested as overnight stays in this itinerary. The hotel has a reputation for offering the best in country living

Morning
Allow about an hours drive from Llagammarch Wells to Powis Castle, in Welshpool. A National Trust Property, Powis Castle has a full events programme to interest everyone. Special and interesting purchases can be made at the Spring Plant Fair in May, and in June & July you can 'meet the gardener' for an atmospheric tour of the grounds. There is also a full programme of outdoor theatrical and musical events too. Have a light lunch in the tea rooms before setting off for a your afternoon visit.

Your afternoon visit is about 40 minutes drive away.

Afternoon
Award winning Chirk Castle, near Wrexham, commands far reaching views over Cheshire and Shropshire and extend to 5 ½ acres of hill top beauty. All year round special events highlight the beauty of the gardens, including 'Snowdrop Weekends' during February. There are some excellent examples of 19th Century yew topiary and the garden abounds with mature rhododendrons and deliciously scented roses.

Your second nights' accommodation is a short drive away at Bodidris Hall, an imposing residence with a baronial house style - almost theatrical in appearance. It is well placed for your final visit in the itinerary,

Erddig is a National Trust Property in Wrexham and is a unique family home which has captured the way of life of a bustling household community in the early 1900s. Erddig's walled garden is one of the most important surviving 18th Century gardens in Britain and has rare fruit trees, a canal, pond and the National Ivy Collection. There is a programme of events including hedge-laying & oak gate construction courses and an apple festival in October.