Visiting the garden at Plas Newydd

The terraces outside the House in summer at Plas Newydd, Anglesey — Early summer at Plas Newydd, Anglesey | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The Grade-I listed landscape at Plas Newydd, Anglesey, consists of 40 acres of garden and 129 acres of woodland and parkland.

A garden on the shores of the Menai Strait

The mild conditions of the garden allow a wide range of plants to flourish, from rhododendrons and magnolias to rare southern hemisphere specimens in the Arboretum.

So much of what's special in the garden is in direct result of the setting and climate. Being on the shores of the Menai Strait, with far reaching views out to the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia), it is most definitely a special location.

Beautiful borders

The Terraces and Sunroom Courtyard are full of colour from early spring to autumn. The stunning display of tulips in the borders in March are a sight to see, and with dahlias and salvias bringing the borders’ year to a close in October.

The Hot Border on the Terraces is a riot of reds, oranges and yellows, with the contrasting Cool Border opposite. The Sunroom Courtyard is filled with blues, pinks and whites, both from bulbs and perennials and remains attractive throughout the summer.

The West Indies

Here you'll find expansive lawns dotted with large specimen trees, beautiful magnolias, many hydrangeas, as well as Japanese maples that colour handsomely in the autumn.

Garden in bloom in Plas Newydd, Anglesey | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Summer highlights at Plas Newydd

Enjoy the sights of summer at Plas Newydd, with roses in bloom on the Cool Border, accompanied by nepeta, which is loved by the bees. The Terraces and Borders surrounding the House are full of colour.

On the Hot Border, the alstroemerias have started to flower and will continue all summer long. Marigolds and salvias are soaking up the heat, with the dahlias coming into bloom. Around the House, blue geranium ‘Brookside’ and salvia ‘East Friesland’ are magnets for the bees.

Terraces

This area of the terraces has a sheltered, sunny microclimate, so a planting scheme was drawn up inspired by Mediterranean regions around the world, such as South Africa and California. The borders were planted up at the beginning of June - African daisies and Californian poppies are already in bloom, with salvia, angels’ fishing rods and agapanthus to come.

Colourful rhododendron in bloom with pink flowers and green leaves with green in background — Rhododendron garden in bloom at Plas Newydd | © Annapurna Mellor;

Rhododendron Garden

The secluded and peaceful Rhododendron Garden was planted in the 1930s with specimens recently introduced to the UK by plant collectors. It was then expanded by the 7th Marquess in the 1940s with wedding gifts of rhododendrons from Lord Aberconway at Bodnant.

Alongside these venerable specimens you'll also find some stunning magnolias. The early blooming brings large splashes of welcome colour to the garden after the winter.

Find a quiet spot

Take a walk around the garden at Plas Newydd and discover a whole world of plants and trees with secluded spots to take a moment and enjoy the views. There are two hides along the paths by the Menai Strait from which you can observe the varied birdlife, both in the woodland behind and along the shoreline.

Ask the visitor welcome team for more information of walking trails in the area. Don’t forget to bring along your binoculars.