Many castles have historic gardens. If you ever have a chance to visit one, never pass on it. You will come away with just one word. Magnificent. One of the most splendid and common type of garden you will see is called the knot garden. A knot garden was a feature of garden design from Tudor times.
Listing of castles that have historic gardens.
Wales
Bodelwyddan Castle
Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, Wales
3 miles west of St Asaph, signed from A55.
Tel: 01745 584 060
Open April-October daily except Fridays, 11am-4pm; November-March daily except Mondays and Fridays, 11am-4pm.
Chirk Castle
Chirk, Wrexham, Wales
8 miles south of Wrexham off A483, 2 miles from Chirk village.
Tel: 01691 777 701
Open 27 March -30 September daily except Monday and Tuesday (open Bank Holiday Mondays), 2-31 October, open Saturday and Sunday only, 11am-6pm.
Gwydir Castle
Llanrwst, Gwynedd, Wales
On B5106 half a mile west from Llanrwst.
Tel: 01492 641 687
Open daily all year round, 10am-dusk.
Hean Castle
Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 mile north of Saundersfoot, 1 1/2 miles south east of Kilgetty. Take Amroth Road from Saundersfoot or Sardis Road from Kilgetty.
Tel: 01834 812 222
Open daily from 30 May. Private visits welcome. Mr. & Mrs. T. Lewis.
Laugharne Castle
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Wales
From Carmarthen take A40 towards Haverfordwest. Leave trunk road at St. Clears and immediatly turn right to Laugharne. 3 1/2 miles.
Tel: 01222 500 200
Open daily 1 May-30 September, 10am-5pm.
Penrhyn Castle
Bangor, Wales
3 miles east of Bangor on A5, signed from A5.
Tel: 01248 371 337
Open 24 March-31 October daily except Tuesday 11am-5pm, (July and August, 10am-5:30pm).
Picton Castle
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Signed from A40, 3 miles east of Haverfordwest to Carmarthen.
Tel: 01437 751 326
Open April-October daily, 10:30am-5pm. Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays.
Powis Castle
Welshpool, Wales
Signed off A483, 1 mile south of Welshpool.
Tel: 01938 554 338
Open 27 March-31 October daily except Monday and Tuesday, July and August daily except Monday, 11am-6pm.
St Fagans Castle
St. Fagans, Cardiff, Wales
Signed from M4, junction 33.
Open all year round except 24/25 December, 10am-5pm, July-September 10am-6pm.
Tretower Castle
Crickhowell, Powys, Wales
3 miles north west of Crickhowell. Sign posted off A479 in Tretower village.
Tel: 01874 730 279
Open 1-28 March, 10am-4pm; 29 March-3 October, 10am-6pm; until 31 October, 10am-4pm.
Usk Castle
Usk, Wales
200 yds. from Usk center, up lane opposite fire station.
Tel: 01291 672 563
Open days and by appointments.
England
Broughton Castle
Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
2 1/2 miles SW of Banbury Cross on the B4035, Shipton-on-Stour-Banbury Road.
Tel: 01295 276070 Fax: 01869 337126
Open 21 May-13 September Weds & Suns, 2-5pm. Also Thurs in July and August and all Bank Holiday Suns & Mons (including Easter), 2-5pm. Groups welcome on any day and at any time throughout the year by appointment.
Grimsthorpe Castle
Grimsthorpe, Bourne, Licolnshire, England
4 miles NM of Bourne on A151, 8 miles East of Colsterworth roundabout off A1.
Tel: 01778 591205 Fax: 01778 591259
Open Easter Sun-24 September, Suns, Thurs & Bank Holidays. August daily except Fris & Sats. Gardens 11am-6pm.
Herstmonceux Castle
Hailsham, Sussex, England
2 miles South of Herstmonceux village (A271) by minor road. 10 miles WNW of Bexhill.
Tel: 01323 833816 Fax: 01323 834499
Open 15 April-29 October daily, 10am-6pm. Close 5pm from October.
Hever Castle
Edenbridge, Kent, England
Exit M25 Junction 5 & 16, M23 Junction 10, 1 1/2 mile south of the B2027 at Bough Beech, 3 miles SE of Edinbridge.
Tel: 01732 865224 Fax: 01732 866796
Open 1 Mar.-30Nov., daily, 11am-6pm. Mar. & Nov., 11am-4pm.
Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England
In Kenilworth, off the A452, west end of town.
Tel: 01926 852078
Open 1 Apr.-31 Oct., daily, 10am-6pm (5pm in Oct.). 1 Nov.-31 Mar., daily, 10am-4pm. Closed 24-26 Dec. & 1 Jan.
Powderham Castle
Kenton, Exeter, England
6 miles SW of Exeter, 4 miles South M5/J30. Access from A379 in Kenton village.
Tel: 01626 890243 Fax: 01626 890729
Open 2 April-29 October daily, 10am-5:30pm. Closed Sat to public, but available for private hire.
Ripley Castle
Ripley, nr Harrogate, N.Yorkshire
West edge of the village. Just off the A61, 3 1/2m north of Harrogate, 8m south of Ripon.
Tel: 01423 770152
Opening Times: Jan-May Sept-Dec Tues, Thurs, Sats & Suns 10:30am-3pm. Jun-Aug daily 10:30-3pm.
Scotney Castle
Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Signed off A21 1 mile south of Lamberhurst village.
Tel: 01892 891081 Fax: 01892 890110
Open 4-26 March, Sats & Suns, 12 noon-4pm. 1 April-29 October, Wed-Fri, 11am-6pm, Sats & Suns, 2-6pm, Bank Holidays Sun & Mons 12 noon-6pm (closed Good Friday).
Sudeley Castle
Winchcombe, nr Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
8 miles NE of Cheltenham, at Winchcombe off the B4632.
Tel: 01242 602308 Fax: 01242 602959
Open 4 Mar.-29 Oct., daily, 10:30am-5:30pm.
Walmer Castle
Walmer, Deal, Kent, England
South of Walmer on A258, M20/J13 or M2 to Deal.
Tel: 01304 364288
Open 1 April-30 September daily, 10am-6pm. 1-31 October, 10am-5pm. 1 November-December, Wed-Sun only. Closed 24-26 December, January & Febuary, March, Wed-Sun only. Closed when Lord Warden in residence.
