Winter walks

Blow away the cobwebs with a great winter walk

1 DYFFRYN GARDENS

Winter in the garden is when the bones are laid bare. Structure is the real star at this time of year – the ornate stone work of the Pompeian garden, the architectural majesty of fine trees. Or warm up among the orchids and cacti in the tropical glasshouse before continuing your winter adventure.

Vale of Glamorgan CF5 6SU | 029 20 59 3328 | dyffryn@nationaltrust.org.uk 2 HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS

Walk off the Christmas pudding in the gardens, where the warm bark of the redwood trees glows against the winter sky. Towards the castle the yew topiary stands majestically and the Winter Garden displays attractive colours and structures. For the more energetic take a bracing walk around the lake.

Nr. Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG | 01732 865224 | hevercastle.co.uk 3 NATIONAL TRUST, NYMANS

Brighten long winter days with a stroll along ‘Winter Walk’, lined with winter flowering shrubs and berries, textured bark and luminous stems. Indulge the senses with beautifully scented daphnes and Hamamelis flowers, subtly coloured and strongly perfumed. In midwinter spot snowdrops and cornus.

West Sussex RH17 6EB | 01444 405 254 | nymans@nationaltrust.org.uk 4 EMMETTS GARDEN, NATIONAL TRUST

The views from the garden alone are well worth making a visit for, more and more viewpoints open up over the winter months creating better vistas across the Weald of Kent and beyond. Wander through to the south garden full of exotic and rare trees and shrubs from across the globe. Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 6BA | 01732 868381 | nationaltrust.org.uk 5 DYRHAM PARK, NATIONAL TRUST

Winter is one of the best seasons to drink in the structural planting, clipped formal topiary and idyllic ponds of the formal West Garden, which is being sensitively developed as a 21st-century garden with echoes of the 17th-century. Open daily from 10am–4pm (last entry 3pm), with regular garden tours. Dyrham Park, near Bath, Gloucestershire SN14 8HY | nationaltrust.org.uk