The Greatest Gardens to Visit Across Yorkshire
Be inspired by Yorkshire's gorgeous gardens
Helmsley Walled Garden
Cleveland Way, Helmsley YO62 5AH
01439 772314
helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk
Originally built as the kitchen garden for Duncombe Park, the five-acre Helmsley Walled Garden is more than 250 years old. After World War One, Duncombe Park was leased out and was sadly derelict by the early 1980s. It remained that way until Alison Ticehurst, a local practice nurse, stepped in and saw its potential for therapeutic horticulture. Sitting beneath the imposing ruins of Helmsley Castle, today visitors can take a moment of calm in the Garden of Contemplation, spot living creatures in the Wildlife Garden, get lost in the Labyrinth or celebrate their heritage with the Yorkshire apple collection.
Tip for your trip: Refuel with a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake in The Vine House Café.
Nostell
Doncaster Road, Nostell, near Wakefield WF4 1QE
01924 863892
nationaltrust.org.uk
Rich with a variety of landscapes and wildlife, the gardens at Nostell are a haven for horticulturalists. Pass through the ornate Gothic archway to reach the enchanting menagerie garden, tucked beneath a woodland canopy. In the rose garden, an Iceberg rose climbs along the entire width of the 100-metre red brick wall, while the nearby kitchen garden contains more than 100 carefully tended crops including an impressive espalier of rare heritage pear trees. In the pleasure gardens, rows of sweet chestnut and oak trees shelter a circular pathway with views to the lower lake.
Tip for your trip: Follow the Apothecary Trail to discover the medicinal uses of plants in the garden, inspired by 18th century aspiring herbalist Sabine Winn who lived at Nostell.
Himalayan Gardens & Sculpture Park
The Hutts, Grewelthorpe, Ripon HG4 3DA
01765 658009
himalayangarden.com
From the 8th of April, the Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park will reopen for visitors to immerse themselves in the tranquillity of the gardens, woodland and arboretum in 45 acres of stunning North Yorkshire countryside. Look out for the rare meconopsis blue poppy amongst the mass-planting of hybrid spring bulbs, and take a walk around all three of the garden’s lakes. Nestled around the gardens are 90 permanent sculptures, all carefully chosen to enhance the landscape, and this year the Sculptures in the Landscape Exhibition will take place alongside botanical illustration workshops with Bridget Gillespie.
Tip for your trip: Interspersed around the garden are a number of must-see shelters and structures. These include the Norse Hut built by local craftsman Paul Grainger, and a Himalayan shelter made using authentic artisanal building techniques, but perhaps the must iconic is the beautiful Pagoda overlooking the Magnolia Lake.
RHS Harlow Carr
Harrogate HG3 1QB
01423 565418
rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr
Ornamental herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and streamside plants make up the most northerly of all the RHS gardens – Harlow Carr. In spring, the wildflower meadow explodes with colour, the Queen Mother’s Lake draws in all sorts of wildlife and the apple trees in the Kitchen Garden bloom with clouds of pink and white blossom.
Tip for your trip: From craft classes to gardening workshops, there’s always something going on at Harlow Carr.
Scampston Walled Garden
Malton YO17 8NG
01944 759111
scampston.co.uk
Designed by the renowned plantsman Piet Oudolf, Scampston Walled Garden had been derelict for nearly 50 years when Sir Charles and Lady Legard began renovations and since opening to the public in 2005, the garden has received international acclaim. Hedges and topiary form individual garden rooms, each with a distinct character, and Oudolf’s distinct natural planting technique can be seen in the wildflower meadow.
Tip for your trip: Finish your trip at pyramid structure The Mount at the top of the garden – this allows visitors to appreciate the whole design of the scheme.
Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens York
Stewart Lane, Stillingfleet, York YO19 6HP
01904 728506
stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk
This wildlife-friendly, family garden close to York is a peaceful spot with a courtyard tearoom and an art space which hosts workshops and special events. Find unique sculptures in the rill garden, see the countless wildflowers in the meadow, and discover more than 50 stunning species of roses across the courtyard garden, in the wood and meadow. More than 45 different species of birds visit in an average season, and almost 300 species of moths have been recorded here.
Tip for your trip: Take a look into the wildlife pond for the chance to see frog spawn in spring, as well as newts, frogs and toads.
Thorp Perrow
Bedale DL8 2PS
01677 425323
thorpperrow.com
Thorp Perrow is the most important arboretum in the North and was created by just one man – Colonel Sir Leonard Ropner. His wife and son developed it into the attraction it is today, covering 100 acres and home to some of the largest and rarest trees and shrubs in England, and five National Plant Collections.
Tip for your trip: The Bird of Prey & Mammal Centre here is home to almost 100 birds from all over the world, including eagles, falcons and owls, and hosts fascinating flying displays (weather dependent).
Sutton Park
Sutton-on-the-Forest, York YO61 1DP
01347 810249
sutton-park.co.uk
Sutton Park House may date from the 1750s but its award-winning terraced gardens are a much more recent development, having been laid out in their current style by garden designer Percy Cane in the 1960s. The garden has three terraces, with a rose-clad gazebo, canal pond with water lilies and a formal water garden. The Temple Walk is planted with daffodils and narcissi, as well as white cherries.
Tip for your trip: The best view of the house is from the stone seat nestled in the alcove of the beech hedge on the third terrace.
Parcevall Hall Gardens
Skyreholme, Skipton BD23 6DE
01756 720311
parcevallhallgardens.co.uk
Created by the late Sir William Milner, the 24 acres of formal garden and woodland here are a real hidden treasure. The garden features interesting plants from Western China, the Himalayas and around the world and visitors can wander the woodland walks and around the beautiful rose garden, or take in the garden from new heights on the Cliff Walk. The gardens are so beautiful they’ve been the backdrop to programmes such as Songs of Praise, Escape to the Country, and the Hairy Bikers.
Tip for your trip: The head gardener and members of the team are always keen to take pre-booked groups on tours of the gardens here.
Studley Royal Water Garden
Ripon HG4 3DY
01765 608888
nationaltrust.org.uk
One of the best surviving examples of a Georgian water garden in England (designed by John and William Aislabie in the 18th century), ornamental lakes, canals, temples and cascades make Studley Royal Water Garden a real sight to behold. Not only do 300 red, sika and fallow deer call the parkland home, it’s also home to one of the oldest cherry trees in the UK and one of the finest examples of high Victorian Gothic revival architecture in England (the truly stunning St Mary’s Church).
Tip for your trip: Take to the High Ride path through the Serpentine Tunnel for beautiful views through the trees.
Newburgh Priory
Coxwold, York YO61 4AS
01347 868372
newburghpriory.co.uk
There are approximately 30 acres of picturesque grounds to be explored at Newburgh Priory. Inside is a magical hidden water garden connected by rocks and waterfalls, lined by trees which give the garden year-round colour. The walled garden houses fruit trees and vegetable plots, as well as lakes and neat topiary.
Tip for your trip: Make sure to look out beyond the grounds for views of the iconic White Horse of Kilburn.
Newby Hall & Gardens
Ripon HG4 5AE
01423 322583
newbyhall.com
With 15 individual gardens to explore, there’s lots to see at Newby Hall. Sylvia’s Garden is the perfect place for a moment of quiet and in spring, the East Rock Garden comes alive with spring colour from pulmonaria, tulips, magnolia and later on, foxgloves. The Rose Garden is at its best in June and July but clever underplanting means there’s always something to see. The more informal Orchard Garden is softened with blossom all spring, and Bog Arum appears around the pond, alongside the pink of rhododendrons in late spring.
Tip for your trip: See the gardens from a different perspective on one of their boat trips along the River Ure.
York Gate
Back Church Lane, Leeds LS16 8DW
0113 267 8240
perennial.org.uk
Created by the Spencer family between 1951 and 1994, this one-acre gem of a garden in Leeds is now owned by the gardening charity Perennial. An intriguing space, it features a series of 14 meticulously-designed garden ‘rooms’ connected by equally beautiful vistas. Expect stunning examples of topiary (particularly the impressive box spirals in the herb garden), beehives, a traditional hay meadow and an overall impression of whimsy at every turn of this Grade II national heritage status garden.
Tip for your trip: A historic arbour has been recently restored at the garden and is worth seeking out.
Castle Howard
York YO60 7DA
01653 648333
castlehoward.co.uk
With 1,000 acres of parkland and woodland walks, lakes and fountains to discover, you can spend the whole day at Castle Howard. During spring, visitors can marvel at nearly 800 species of rhododendrons, see bluebells in the ornamental Ray Wood, and visit the walled garden where a garden of roses is dedicated to the memory of Lady Cecilia Howard. Ornamental water features include the famous Atlas Fountain at the centre of the South Parterre.
Tip for your trip: Don’t forget to explore all of the follies, statues and temples which dot the grounds, including a Mausoleum.
Yorkshire Lavender
Terrington, York YO60 6PB
01653 609228
yorkshirelavender.com
The gardens at Yorkshire Lavender showcase the whole spectrum of the eponymous herb, which flourishes in shades of white, blue, deep purple and – of course – lilac. They’re not limited to lavender, though – The Bog Garden makes the most of the stream to grow moisture-loving plants, The Purple Patch showcases perennials that mimic the colours of lavender in bloom, and The Wildflower Meadow leans in an altogether more naturalistic direction. They also grow more than 40 varieties of mint which release fresh scents when you rub their leaves.
Tip for your trip: Immerse yourself fully in the Sensory Garden, in which the plants offer sound, scent, texture and flavour.
Sledmere House & Gardens
Sledmere, Driffield YO25 3XG
01377 455198
sledmerehouse.com
No two visits to Sledmere are the same as the garden is constantly evolving. To achieve this, the gardeners at Sledmere draw from some eclectic sources for inspiration; the curves and soft colour palette of the Angel Garden were inspired by Sarah McLachlan’s 1997 hit; the Lark Ascending Garden uses the same colour palette as the Angel but was inspired by the music of Vaughan Williams; while the dark water and muted design of the Reflection Garden is intended to invite soulful contemplation. Elsewhere, apple and pear trees have been expertly trained into unusual shapes in the formal fruit garden.
Tip for your trip: For your chance to see deer, explore the estate beyond the garden walls on the Circular Walk.
Elsham Hall
Elsham DN20 0QZ
01652 688698
elshamhall.co.uk
At Elsham Hall, landscape architect Ian Stubbs has transformed what was once a private garden into one of the country’s biggest 18th century walled gardens. Inside is a Sensory Garden, as well as enclosures for some of Elsham Hall’s many animals including alpacas, sheep, hedgehogs and guinea pigs. Two 14th century lakes predate the hall itself and are all that remain of a priory that was destroyed during the Reformation.
Tip for your trip: Kids will love the adventure playground and the Enchanted Woods, where they can let their imaginations run wild and maybe even spot a fairy!
