Autumn colour at Hinton Ampner

Lawn in walled garden, with church behind

Hinton Ampner’s estate offers glorious autumnal walks, lined with ancient golden oaks and canopies of Norway maple. Hues of red, gold and bronze blanket woodlands, fields and forests across the gardens and estate. In the garden until the first frosts over 500 dahlias are on show, in a rainbow of bright colours, from pinks and oranges to yellows and deep reds.

Big pink dahlia flowers in the foreground, with house behind Play Video
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Dahlias at Hinton Ampner

Hinton Ampner’s dahlia displays reach their peak in early autumn. Here, head gardener John Wood reveals how he planted over 500 of these exotic beauties on his own, during lockdown. Dahlias were a great passion of former owner Sir Ralph Dutton. On your visit you’ll find beautiful displays all around the 14 acre gardens.

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The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden has beautiful blocks of rich pink dahlia Fascination, but you’ll also find plenty of other delights - soft grasses, espaliered fruit trees, and an abundance of vegetables. Giant onions dry in the golden afternoon sun while pumpkins, leeks and parsnips continue to swell in the cooler conditions, looked over by Hinton’s scarecrow and his little dog. All this produce is destined for the café, for visitors to enjoy on Hinton’s autumn menu. 

There's still lots on show in our gardens in autumn
Gravel path between flower borders and lawn in walled garden
There's still lots on show in our gardens in autumn


The Sunken Garden

Hinton Ampner still packs a floral punch in October, thanks to its collection of dahlias. Over twenty different varieties can be seen across the gardens, in hot reds and oranges, yellows and creams.

Deep pink dahlia Fascination fills the kitchen garden's borders
Deep pink dahlias in a border with hedging
Deep pink dahlia Fascination fills the kitchen garden's borders

The shortening days and cooler conditions just make the dahlias flower more and this continues until the first hard frost. New for this year are hundreds of pink-striped Mystic Dreamers in the Sunken Garden, mingling with purple salvia and fragrant white nicotiana.

Around the pond and in other spots of the garden the rose 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' continues to flower until the end of Novermber. They are chosen for their hardiness as well as their delicate colour and delightful scent.

Beautiful autumn colours appear throughout the gardens at Hinton Ampner
Autumn colour at Hinton Ampner
Beautiful autumn colours appear throughout the gardens at Hinton Ampner

The Parkland

From the back of the house you can gaze out over parkland littered with yellow and gold foliage from ancient oaks and beeches, interspersed with the deep red hues of Norway maple. Walk through the park and you’ll enter magnificent woodland filled with towering beeches, creating a bronze leaf canopy. 

Hinton Ampner's historic parkland is full of ancient trees
A veteran tree in Hinton Ampner's ancient parkland
Hinton Ampner's historic parkland is full of ancient trees

Estate walks

Hinton Ampner offers many beautiful walks around the estate and surrounding Hampshire countryside. The estate is nestled within the panoramic South Downs National Park, an area bursting with wildlife and beautiful scenery. Spot the seasonal changes as you wander through colourful canopies of Norway maple and pathways lined with ancient golden oaks