Go walking in the winter wonderland
Take a break from Christmas shopping, list-making and party planning by enjoying the best of winter gardens nationwide.
It's a great way to clear your head amid the festive rush and explore Britain's most glorious gardens and estates, taking in the frost-dusted flora and fauna along the way.
If you haven't celebrated Capability Brown's 300th anniversary this year, there's still time to visit his majestic landscapes, while the National Trust offers a wealth of winter wonderlands and the RHS stages a range of horticultural events. Here's just a few of the best gardens to give you space to think before Christmas takes over. . .
Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs
Top designer Piet Oudolf's Rivers of Grass is a sight to behold in winter. The gardens are open throughout the holiday, apart from Christmas Day itself, and the Italian Garden, designed by Oudolf and Tom Stuart-Smith, is also stunning in winter. Book a skating session on their lakeside rink (trentham.co.uk; 01782 646646).
Croome Court, Worcester
Take in a guided tour of the gardens and parkland Capability Brown designed with stunning views over the Malverns at Croome Court. Guided tours run until December 31, with temples, follies and statues around every corner. If you want to explore on your own, downloadable walks, including a winter welly walk to Pirton Castle, are available from www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Dingle Nurseries and Garden, Frochas, Welshpool, Powys
This family-run business has devoted a 4.5-acre area for a spectacular RHS partner garden taking in the mid-Wales rolling hills and is famed for its colour-themed and unusual planting. At this time of year, head for the lake to admire the brightly-stemmed dogwoods and trees with eye-catching bark, including eucalyptus and superb birches, as well as the paper bark maple (Acer griseum). It also has great collections of conifers and shrubs, including witch hazel (dinglenurseryandgarden.co.uk; 01938 555 145).
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Bodnant's winter garden has now been open for almost four years. Discover coloured-stemmed birches and enjoy the scent of winter shrubs such as hamamelis, daphne and sarcococca. Highlights after Christmas include bright bergenias and bulbs such as snowdrops, iris, cyclamen and crocus (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden).
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, Yorkshire
Get into the Christmas spirit at Fountains with a music and lights event on selected afternoons in December. Tuck into a hot pulled pork sandwich and a mulled wine from the visitor centre then wander through the estate to see the trees twinkling with light and the abbey all aglow. Stop by the cellarium to catch some live festive music (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey).
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Adorned with daphnes, witch hazels, birch trees and maples, the striking stem colours and variety of forms, textures and breath-taking scents make this one of the largest and oldest concentrations of winter horticulture in the north of England. Kids can get involved in the festive garden detective trail, while Magic of Christmas days offer family fun to get you in the festive spirit. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Winter Walk, some 5,000 irises have been planted and will bloom in early spring (www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr).
Wallington, Northumberland
Leave the formality of the house behind this winter and explore the wonderful 18th-century ground waiting for you in the woods at Wallington. Follow the growing winter trail and take in the seasonal planting through the East Wood, showcasing coloured and textured bark and winter berries. Discover the mini-lake covered in a sprinkling of frost and the enchanting Walled Garden, where the Edwardian conservatory bursts with colour and scent all year round. And, if you're staying in the area, you'll be pleased to hear the grounds at Wallington are even open on Christmas Day (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington).
