Woolbeding Gardens

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2011

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Friend(s)

Reasons for trip

Woolbeding House and estate sits in a beautiful valley not far from Midhurst in West Sussex. The National Trust has owned the 26 acres of estate since 1958, but only in the last year or so has the gardens been open to the public, as they were previously looked after by Trust tenants since 1972.

The gardens are open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays, but pre booking is a must, either by telephoning 01730 811960, or emailing woolbedinggardens@nationaltrust.org.uk. There is no parking facility on site, but in 'open season,' a free mini bus is available from nearby Midhurst.

Woolbeding really is worth a visit with it's well laid formal gardens, maintained lawns and variety of trees. Near the house, a large 'champagne glass structure', with water rising from the middle, stands adjacent to the West Borders and certainly catches the eye. The Fountain Garden has a 16th century reproduction Italian sculpture of a young man standing on dolphins.

After admiring the formal gardens you can take a gentle stroll along the open pasture, close to the river Rother which takes you through a ruined abbey, a folly, and on to to a long, yellow Chinese Bridge spanning a lake surrounded with rocks. Among the ferns, rises a sculpture of the river god in an oyster shell gown, looking out from his grotto. A little further on you arrive at a fountain (the Spugna), made from tufa limestone. You begin to wonder what other surprises await you!

Before leaving, don't forget the vegetable gardens with its fruit trees and variety of flowers. The gardeners are always happy to chat to you if you have any questions.

A beautiful day out in a picturesque setting.

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.