Discover more at Powis Castle and Garden
Find out when Powis Castle and Garden is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Visiting the garden at Powis Castle
Wales is famous for its rugged landscapes and castles but less known for its beautiful gardens. Stretching out beneath the medieval castle is one of the finest gardens in Britain. With dramatic terraces, an Orangery, an Edwardian formal garden and a peaceful wooded landscape, there is so much for you to explore.
Summer highlights in the garden
As the long, warm days of summer arrive, there’s lots to excite the senses in the garden at Powis. From the first flush of roses in June to the colourful herbaceous borders blooming in profusion in high summer, there’s plenty waiting to be discovered.
With beautiful colours, amazing scents and picturesque spaces to relax, summer is one of the best times of the year to explore Powis’ garden.
High summer
On the Top Terrace, tender warmth-loving plants put on a display of vibrant colour. In the Topical Border look out for Chusan palms, outsized banana foliage and the fat stems of the rice-paper tree.
Hot and cool colours
Herbaceous borders run parallel outside the Orangery. In the ‘cool border’ on east, perennials bloom in tranquil blues, lilacs, pinks and whites. In the ‘hot border’ on the west you’ll discover rich reds, vivid yellows and hot pinks.
With dozens of borders to explore, there’s endless summer colour waiting for you throughout the garden.
Dewch i ryfeddu ar yr arddangosfa rosod yng Nghastell a Gardd Powis
Roses
There’s a kaleidoscope of colour waiting to greet you in early summer as hundreds of fragrant roses spill from the borders, grow up hoops, and tumble down at the feet of classical statues. Take stroll through the Edwardian Formal Garden to see spirals of sweet-scented climbing roses such as Rosa Phyllis Bide and Alchymist decorating pillars, whilst hundreds of other varieties grow together in the vibrant borders that surround lush green lawns. Don’t forget to return in late summer as the second flush of roses washes across the garden.
Explore the Italianate Terraces at Powis Castle
Beneath the castle and blasted out of the bare rock, are the Italianate Terraces which are considered the finest surviving example of a 17th century terraced garden in Britain.
From their position high up on the hillside you can admire breath-taking views across the garden, deer park, and in the distance, the pointed profiles of Long Mountain and the Breidden Hills.
The 18th-century Orangery
Admire herbaceous borders flowering with a profusion of perennials, dancing lead and stone statues, an Aviary that once housed birds of prey and an orangery with a grand 18th-century stone doorway that was once the entrance to the castle itself.
The Edwardian Formal Garden
This area was once a Kitchen Garden but in 1912 Violet, Countess of Powis, oversaw its transformation into a formal flower garden.
Here you can stroll along avenues of ancient apple trees, enjoy the shade beneath the vine arch, admire seasonal colour and relax as you listen to the sound of water falling in the Fountain Garden nearby.
The Fountain Garden
In the Fountain Garden admire the topiary of the trimmed trees and hedges. View their long shadows in the low afternoon light across the grass.
Look out for the wrought-iron gates, a gift from Lady Violet to her husband George, 4th Earl of Powis, featuring the vibrant Herbert family crest of an Elephant and Griffin keeping an eye on the garden.
Huge hedges
It’s impossible to miss one of Powis’ most famous features, its 300-year old yew tree hedges. Looking back to the castle from anywhere in the garden you can see the cloud-like forms of the 14 giant tumps and the 30 foot high hedge will remain in your mind long after your visit.
Walk in the Wilderness
The wooded ridge opposite the castle, is known as the Wilderness. It’s less formal than the rest of the garden and is the perfect place for a woodland walk with incredible views.
Walk alongside great oaks, rhododendrons and exotic trees. Stop by the Stable Pond, the Ice House or the Plunge pool, which are surrounded by ferns. Uncover unique sculptures and admire the view of the castle across the Great Lawn.
You might also be interested in
Article
History of the garden at Powis Castle
Discover a paradise garden in Wales, with 300 hundred years of garden transformation providing many layers of history to explore.
Article
Visiting Powis Castle and Garden with your dog
Powis Castle and Garden is a one pawprint rated place. Find out more about bringing your dog to Powis Castle and Garden. Take in a view of the castle with a drink and bite to eat and your four-legged friend by your side. Explore the garden 1 November - 28 February.
Article
Eating and shopping at Powis Castle and Garden
After exploring the castle or traversing the terraces, refuel with a tasty treat from our Courtyard Café or take home a gift from the shop to help you remember a great day out.
Article
History of Powis Castle
Powis is a Welsh castle built by a Welsh prince, Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn (c1252). It survived wars and division to become one of the most prominent castles in Wales.