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May is here and what better way to enjoy this glorious Spring month than to explore some of the county's most beautiful, award-winning gardens.
Dorset's stunning array of gardens are skilfully hand-crafted and filled with unique collections of flowers and plants. Below you will find 10 of Dorset's gardens that promise you a ‘blooming’ great day-out.
1. Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
One of the finest gardens in England, this 30 acre tropical splendour is filled with many unusual and exotic plants.
The Garden is a mixture of formal and informal flowers, world famous for its Camellia groves and magnolias. Noted in Dorset for its rhododendron and hydrangea collections and the charming Victorian Garden.
Don’t miss stunning views of the Dorset Jurassic Coast from the viewpoint at the top of the Magnolia Walk.
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2. Minterne Gardens
The gardens are laid out in a horseshoe below Minterne House, with a picturesque chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams.
Minterne hosts a world renowned and completely unique collection of Himalayan Rhododendrons and azaleas, with spring bulbs, cherries, maples and many fine and rare trees.
The trail through the gardens is around a mile in length with plenty of opportunities to sit and soak up the peace and tranquillity.
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3. Keyneston Mill
Keyneston Mill is the largest private botanic gardens in the country dedicated solely to aromatic and scented plants, with over 1,000 varieties in a 50-acre estate.
Here the key ingredients of Parterre luxury perfumes are grown, harvested and distilled.
Come and enjoy the scented plants and perfume trails in the newly created botanic gardens, see the distillery and visit The Scented Botanist bistro and enjoy a cocktail or two.
4. Athelhampton House & Gardens
The impressive gardens at Athelhampton House were built in 1891 by Alfred Cart de Lafontaine.
Francis Inigo Thomas designed four Ham stone courts in the Elizabethan style with a series of ponds and a formal canal.
The walled gardens include the world- famous topiary pyramids and collections of tulips, roses, magnolias, clematis and lilies.
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5. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Stroll along the stunning riverside walks and explore the spectacular 200 acre site while surrounded by world-famous Rothschild Collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
Capture Exbury’s hidden beauty and escape the cares of the world as you explore a myriad of pathways around this earthly paradise, before topping the day off with tea and cake in Mr Eddy’s Tea Rooms.
6. Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Gardens
The excavated remains of this once important and influential Abbey lie in a peaceful walled garden, scented with traditional roses, home to a medieval-inspired orchard and extensive historic herb collection.
The garden has a magic of its own, offering seclusion, peace and tranquillity. The plants in the Anglo-Saxon collection are just a sample of the species that would have been cultivated and used by the nuns that resided there.
As well as the more commonly known aromatic herbs, the garden includes unusual plants such as woad, marshmallow and even some poisons.
7. Mapperton House & Gardens
A Jacobean manor overlooking a 15 acre Grade II listed garden with outstanding views of the Dorset hills and woodlands.
Tucked into a steep north-south combe, these romantic gardens descend from the very formal topiary gardens and Orangery to the north to an arboretum, beyond which the land unfolds in small, steep valleys and headlands down to the sea five miles away.
8. Bennetts Water Gardens
Eight acres of gardens with Monet-style Japanese bridge, tropical house and woodland walks. The gardens hold the National Plant Collection© of Water Lilies with over 140 different varieties.
When in bloom, thousands of flowers spread across the ponds and lakes creating one of the most outstanding displays of water lilies in Britain.
There are scenic places to sit and unwind, shaded woodland walks to explore and a Family Nature Trail keeps young visitors interested.
9. Kingston Lacy House & Gardens
Extensive parkland gardens surrounding an elegant 17th century Italian inspired country mansion complete with an ancient Egyptian obelisk, Japanese Tea Garden and restored Victorian kitchen garden.
The Nursery Wood is a particular highlight in the Spring months with a spectacular display of azalea, camellia, rhododendron and flowering cherry trees
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10. Sherborne Castle Gardens
The eighteenth century 'Capability' Brown landscape provides a peaceful and tranquil setting with magnificent specimen trees, borders and sweeping lawns forming one of his finest Lake landscapes you will ever see.
Colour is provided throughout the seasons, from spectacular displays of spring bulbs and daffodils, through Summer Herbaceous borders to the breathtaking colours of Autumn reflected in the lake. The Garden boasts many champion trees including cedars of Lebanon and a particularly important Ginkgo tree.
Explore more of Dorset's amazing gardens and find your corner of paradise.
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*LATEST UPDATE* Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens are now open for pre-booked ticket holders. They are asking everyone who wishes to visit to book online, indicating their date and time of arrival. For the time being, the restaurant, cafe and shops are closed. They are hoping to be able to open the shops again on 15th June, following Government guidelines.
*LATEST UPDATE* Minterne Gardens are now open (usual hours from 10am to 6pm). Please observe the notices in place during the Coronavirus situation: respect 2 metre social distancing, there is a One-Way system around the Garden. Toilets will be open for emergencies only. Minterne is famed for its seasonal profusion of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Japanese cherries and Magnolias are set in a peaceful wooded valley and have been described by Simon Jenkins as ‘corner of paradise.’ As seen on BBC Gardeners' World.
*LATEST UPDATE* Athelhampton Gardens are now open for pre-booked ticket entry. The Restaurant will re-open on the 13th July and the House will re-open on the 27th July. Athelhampton House & Gardens is one of the finest English manor houses, with beautiful furnished rooms. The Grade I Listed gardens are home to the famous topiary pyramids, fountains, newly opened Kitchen Garden, and the River Piddle.
*LATEST UPDATE* Exbury Gardens are now open. Please check their website for which facilities will be open. You can watch virtual garden tours on their social media channels. Now more than 100 years old, Exbury Gardens is a spectacular collection of woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal and wildflower gardens. At over 200 acres, these impressive gardens (created and managed by the Rothschild family) border the Beaulieu River and boast a narrow-gauge steam railway, wooden play area, newly refurbished restaurant and an outdoor cafe.
*LATEST UPDATE* Mapperton Gardens is now open for pre-booked ticket holders. You can book tickets in advance online via the Mapperton website. Historic House and RHS members can visit free of charge but will still need to obtain an online ticket in advance. The Cafe is open at the weekends for takeaways. The House will unfortunately not be open at this stage. If you are unable to visit right now, you can join the free live stream house tours on Tuesdays 4pm at mapperton.com/live. Spectacular formal valley gardens beside 16th-17th Century manor house. Pools, orangery, fine views and walks. Voted 'The Nation's Finest Manor House' by Country Life magazine.
*LATEST UPDATE* Bennetts Water Gardens has now re-opened. There are limits on the number of people who can visit and you will need to book a ticket in advance of your visit. Eight acres of gardens. Outstanding displays of water lilies in summer. Monet style bridge and gazebo. Nursery, gift shop and tearooms.
*LATEST UPDATE* Kingston Lacy parklands and part of the gardens are now open. Pre-purchased tickets are required. Please check the National Trust website before visiting. Kingston Lacy is an elegant 17th century Italian inspired country mansion set in attractive formal gardens and extensive parkland. Wander around Kingston Lacy house and discover the Spanish Room with its gilded leather and gilded ceiling brought from the Contarini Palace in Venice. Witness paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel and explore the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK. Stroll around the Japanese Garden, complete with authentic tea house or take a shelter
*LATEST UPDATE* Sherborne Castle's Gardens are now open. The Gardens will be open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm. Entry to the grounds £9 per adult who may be accompanied by up to 4 children for free, (0 - 15 Years). The Castle, Tearoom and Gift Shop remain closed. Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 & home of the Digby family since 1617. View Magnificent Staterooms, Nationally Important Collections of Art, Furniture & Porcelain, Raleigh’s Kitchen & a Museum. Explore 42 acres of English Landscape Gardens designed by ‘Capability Brown’ and discover a 50 acre lake, herbaceous borders, magnificent specimen trees and sweeping vistas.
Keyneston Mill is open from 10am - 5pm (everyday except Tuesday). The Scented Botanist bistro has a new lunch menu, socially distanced inside seating is now available and we are taking reservations. Alternatively, our picnics and takeaways are also available to enjoy in our bistro garden. Please, note that we are not taking outside table reservations. If you would like to enjoy your picnic in our river meadow, we will require you to purchase a garden entry ticket. Explore 30 acres of beautiful grounds incorporating glorious Scented Gardens, River Meadow, Lost Orchard & Perfume Crop Fields.
*LATEST UPDATE* Under the current government guidelines, the museum gardens is now open at the weekends ONLY. 10am-4pm. Social distancing applies. Donations gratefully received. Shaftesbury Abbey Museum tells the story of the Abbey founded by King Alfred the Great in AD888. The foundations of the Abbey lie in a peaceful walled garden with traditional roses and extensive herb garden. The museum brings to life the extraordinary history of the Abbey and its people through the ages.
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I will look up for opening times on each of the sites and look forward to visiting some of them!