Garden & estate walks

Lily lake
Lily lake

'What a country! What peace! What healing air! I am soaking up the Welsh spirit!'

Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin resting at Gregynog from the pressures of office in August 1936

Gregynog Hall is surrounded by 750 acres of grounds containing many different landscapes, including Grade 1 listed formal gardens. Described by the Gardener's Chronicle of 1912 as 'highly artistic and in complete harmony with the natural surroundings', CADW added 'one of the most important parks and gardens in Powys, dating from at least the 1500s'.

Early concrete fountains and bridges are surrounded by a mass of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. A magnificent clipped yew hedge and herbaceous borders create a spectacular backdrop to the Hall.

Beech woodlands rise above 'The Dingle' and the water gardens of 'The Dell' display fantastic specimens of long established water marginals, including Gunnera manicata or 'carnivorous rhubarb!' The meandering Bechan Brook flows through the Estate attracting kingfishers and dippers on its way to the Lily Lake.

Ancient oaks, 300 years old or more, form the wood-pasture of the Great Wood, The Warren and around Wood Cottage. These ancient trees support many rare lichens and insects and are afforded protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Estate attracts a diversity of bird life; summer woodland migrants like redstart, pied flycatcher and wood warbler, share the bounty of the grounds with all three British woodpeckers.

The mouse-like treecreeper can be spotted amongst the Wellingtonia trees. Elsewhere magnificent Cedar, Cypress and Copper Beech challenge those found in any Arboretum. The paths along the Wern bottom follow a beautiful shallow valley, with grazing horses, leading through to the sunken lawns.

There is a network of colour coded woodland walks, of varying lengths, which weave their way through the Estate and give tantalising views of both the Hall and the wider Montgomeryshire countryside.

A cafe is located in the courtyard and further information is available in the gift shop.