Bodnant, Conwy

The garden at Bodnant is every bit as awe-inspiring as the Welsh landscape that surrounds it. With a mix of formal and naturalistic design, it leads visitors from manicured lawns and classical terraces to wild, rhododendronclad hillsides, lush meadows and giant redwood trees. Spread over 80 acres, Bodnant enjoys a spectacular location above the River Conwy, looking across the valley to the Snowdonia mountain range. Visiting in May is extra special, when Bodnant sees a sensory explosion of colour and scent, when hundreds of rhododendrons, magnolias and other trees and shrubs erupt into blossom. It’s also when the laburnum tunnel, thought to be the longest and oldest in the UK, achieves its shimmering, golden peak.

✱ Open daily, 10am-5pm, admission £14.80; nationaltrust.org.uk/ bodnant-garden