Bodnant Garden which is 80 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland is in Conwy, North Wales.
It is not just the lovely flowers and layout of the lawns as they lead you down to dells and yew trees that is magical. It is the Snowdonia mountains that you can see in the background that cast a spell over this special place. It is a real privilege to wander here. I was making the most of a sunny afternoon and a National Trust Membership that I received as part of my working holiday at Erddig (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig) earlier this year. As my eldest son lives in North wales I do visit the area often but have never been to Bodnant before. I can`t imagine why as I have passed it often on my way to Betsw-y-Coed. Maybe I have been spoilt by so much beauty around me in North Wales that I have missed this stunning place. I can`t do Bodnant Gardens justice with words or a camera it needs to be walked through to appreciate the work that has gone into creating it. The smell of flowers and water, the colours and the awesome size of some of the trees leaves a powerful impression. I want to go back each day and watch the trees change colour into their Autumn outfits, then again to watch the frost outline their branches against the sky. It is really lovely but does have some steep paths so wheelchair users are only able to access the top part of the gardens. There is a a tea room and some shops including tiny art shops and a pottery shop. A larger pavillion where you can get a varied choice of dishes and an information centre. Bodnant Hall itself is not part of the National Trust just the gardens and therefore is not accessable to visitors which seems a shame. Walk down quite a steep slope and you find this pretty waterfall and barns hidden amongst the trees and a mausoleum. The car park is also on quite a steep slope and people who have difficulty walking may find the retun to their car hard work. Bodnant is well worth a visit though and once you see it you will want to return.
The National Trust's Bodnant Garden in Conwy is famous around the world for its botanical collections and stunning views across Snowdonia.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden
