Dewstow Gardens

[smallhobbit]

I have been off work this week.  By rights we should have been away touring WWI battlefields learning about the many poets of the time.  As it is we haven't.  So instead we've been doing a few things and I've generally been lazing around at home.

Yesterday we had a trip out to Dewstow Gardens.  These gardens are in Monmouthshire (not far from Newport) and were originally created in the late 19th century, and on into the early 20th.  When the gardens were sold they were filled in and either buried or destroyed, but in 2000 the land was purchased by the Harris family, who discovered what was a listed landscape garden together with underground grottoes.

I'd not heard of them until vix_spes retweeted an article from the Guardian about hidden gardens to visit, and this one, being less than an hour's drive away looked like a perfect outing for this week.  They are absolutely beautiful, with so much to see.  The weather was overcast and raining at times, so my photos (of which I took masses) are not the best.  But here is a selection to give you some idea:

   

   

   

   

Comments

[innie_darling]

Lovely!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

[corvidology]

Lovely photos and it must have been nice to get out and about.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, it was nice to get out, and it was all very well organised and safe.

[angelofthenorth]

they're near where Anti Win used to live in Caerwent, but we never got round to visiting them....

[smallhobbit]

Yes, we drove through Caerwent to get there. It's a shame because they are well worth a visit.

[angelofthenorth]

Yes, Caerwent is lovely too.

[smallhobbit]

We may go back and visit Caerwent another time.

[luthienberen]

Gosh these are so beautiful, it feels so mythical - it must have been nice to get out <3.

[smallhobbit]

They are. It was great to get out. I can thoroughly recommend them if you're looking for somewhere to visit.

[luthienberen]

I'll definitely have to add it to my places to visit, as like you, I hadn't heard of the Gardens before!

[smallhobbit]

You should - their website is very comprehensive. And you don't need to book.

[annofowlshire]

Ah! We will (hopefully) soon be living near Monmouthshire. We’ll have to check these gardens out once we’ve moved ^_^

[smallhobbit]

Well worth a visit - they're in the south part of the county, not far from the old Severn bridge.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Very nice. Great to get out and see something pretty.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It was - really enjoyable time out.

[adafrog]

Very pretty. Thanks for sharing.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

[mafief]

Oh! I like those gardens.

Yahoo for save excursions! :)

[smallhobbit]

They were absolutely lovely.

[margaret_r]

The gardens are beautiful! Wonderful that they have been rediscovered again.

[smallhobbit]

They are. Yes, and a lot of work has gone into bringing them back.

[rusty_armour]

While it may not have been the same as touring WWI battlefields, I would think that visiting this hidden gem helps make up for it. :-)

I think your photos are beautiful, especially given the weather that day. It looks like Dewstow Gardens has a lot to offer. I like all of the water features and the great variety of flowers and plants. You chose your outing well. :-)

[smallhobbit]

Yes, it was a lovely visit and we're delighted we went. I'm pleased you like the photos.