From a snowdrop collection to a bountiful cutting garden, we recommend the best gardens to visit in Somerset.
For more inspiration for days out, don't miss our guide to the best sculpture gardens and the best museum gardens in the UK.
Gardens to visit in Somerset
Hestercombe House
Two extraordinary restored historic landscapes. The first is an 18th-century park designed by Copleston Warre Bampfylde, with numerous follies, a grand cascade and a pond. The second is one of the most celebrated Lutyens/Jekyll gardens, with formal stonework, rills and Jekyll colour schemes, designed between 1904 and 1906.
Hestercombe House, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8LG, hestercombe.com
The Newt, Somerset
Visit the beautifully cultivated gardens of The Newt hotel near Bruton in Somerset. The Walled Garden, Kitchen Garden, Fragrance Garden, as well as woodland and orchards make this a breathtaking environment for day out.
You will need to buy an annual membership to visit the garden. This gives you unlimited access to the gardens, restaurants and attractions for 12 months.
Read our guide to the Newt in Somerset.
The Newt in Somerset, Bruton, Somerset BA7 7NG, thenewtinsomerset.com
Court House Farm
This cutting garden offers gift vouchers for picking their flowers in spring, summer and autumn, from tulips and sweet peas to the finest roses and dahlias. You can also add a luxury afternoon tea to the experience. If you're not up for picking, they have a pop-up honesty box shop selling their seasonal blooms.
Court House Farm, Church Road South, Portishead, Somerset BS20 6PU, courthousefarm.com
Hauser & Wirth
The garden of the modern art gallery, Hauser & Wirth, is undoubtedly worth a trip in itself, especially for plant lovers. Created in 2014 by none other than Piet Oudolf, the internationally renowned landscape designer, the garden at Hauser & Wirth is a sprawling splendour of soft perennials and swaying seed heads. Piet has created a scheme of bright green Sesleria autumnalis interspersed with dark perennials, such as Cimifuga brunette, Gilenia trifoliate and Astrantia ‘Venice.’ The plants are kept low, so you can enjoy the sculptures that feature also, most prominently, the Radić Pavilion which was designed by the Chilean architect Smiljan Radić.
Hauser & Wirth, Durslade Farm, Drooping Lane, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0NL, hauserwirth.com
Greencombe Gardens
One of the best gardens in the UK for seeing erythroniums. This small, 3.5 acre woodland garden is completely organic, and as well as holding one of the National Collections of erythroniums, it also offers many ferns and trilliums. Chosen by Keith Wiley
Greencombe Gardens, Porlock, Somerset TA24 8NU, greencombe.org
East Lambrook Manor
Margery Fish, the legendary plantswoman who created the garden at East Lambrook Manor was a galanthophile; she especially loved double snowdrops. Not surprisingly, the garden is filled with masses of snowdrops as well as other winter beauties. Read our feature on Margery Fish's snowdrops.
East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH, eastlambrook.com
Tyntesfield
These Victorian Gothic gardens near Bristol are ideal for a walk. Choose from a range of walking routes, including an accessible, steps-free walk and a woodland walk. The garden is full of wildlife, from hares to deers, so can keep an eye out!
Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol BS48 1NX, nationaltrust.org.uk
Don't miss our gardens to visit guide
