BLOOM!

Immerse yourself in exquisite green spaces and surround yourself with an explosion of beautiful blooms at some of the UK’s most beautiful and historically important gardens during your next Pembrokeshire holiday.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthen is a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner Garden with 400 acres of native and exotic plants, plus the Bird of Prey Centre. Attend summer fairs and Doggy Days, or learn about their conservation work. Discover the Tropical House, the Aqualab and the Apothecary Garden to name but a few of the spaces here.

Near Haverfordwest is Picton Castle with 40 acres set around a 13th Century Castle, now a stately home museum. Explore the Jungle Garden and Bluebell Walk then take the kids to the Adventure Playground. Exotic trophy plants and native flora grow here along with medicinal herbs. Visit Maria’s Restaurant, the Escape Rooms and The Welsh Owl Garden.

Colby Woodland Gardens, near Amroth, has been hailed as having “one of the finest Rhododendron and Azalea collections in Wales”. These National Trust grounds house 8 acres of wildflower meadows, woodland trails and the tallest Japanese redwoods in the UK. There’s also a gift shop, tearooms and art gallery.

Under the Preseli Hills lies Dyffryn Fernant Gardens. Part of the Great Gardens of West Wales scheme, this 6-acre attraction is naturalistic in style. Roam the Magic Garden and Nicky’s Field before sightseeing the Bog Garden which is centred by a feature obelisk.

The Stackpole Walled Gardens have a wildflower meadow and secret garden, with a kitchen garden growing fresh fruit and veg you can buy in the shop and sample in their tearooms. This is the only place in Pembrokeshire where you can pick your own soft fruit in season, plus you can pick up plants and shrubs in the shop as well as handmade bird boxes.

Aberglasney in Carmarthen has the only surviving Elizabethan Cloister Garden in the UK, with 10 acres in around 20 styles all set around a Grade II listed mansion. Stroll through the Jubilee Woodland, the Yew Tunnel, the Pigeon House Wood and more to view exotic and modern gardens.

Upton Castle has 35 acres of listed historic gardens and a 13th Century Castle (not open to the public). See the 19th Century Walled Vegetable Garden and a formal rose garden; amble the Stanley Neale Treetop Valley Walk, wander past the ancient trees and stroll by the driftwood sculptures to the estuary. There’s even a Medieval Chapel within the grounds that predates the castle.