Top gardens to visit in the South West

A walk through the countryside we look after in April and May is often rewarded with carpets of blue. Here are some of the best places to spot bluebells in the South West.

Cherry, apple and plum blossom are a welcome sight this spring across the South West. Discover some of the top places to see these beautiful blooms this season.

Near Torpoint, the garden at Antony is home to playful topiary, intriguing sculptures, fountains and sweeping views over the water.

Glorious Cornish garden with valley views and an expansive estate to explore. The garden features terraces, ponds and orchards with 150 local apple varieties.

An ancient and atmospheric estate with a medieval garden rich in archaeology and wildlife. In the walled King's Garden, cloud-like box hedges follow neat paths where you can experience an environment that’s rich in history as well as nature.

Peaceful and playful valley garden near Falmouth, where a beautiful and intriguing blend of exotic and native plants thrive. In spring thousands of wildflowers carpet the sloping sides of the jungle-like lower valley.

The Lanhydrock garden and estate is full of winding paths and stretches of countryside to explore in spring. Park Café is open daily, perfect for a warming drink after a walk or cycle.

Nestled between the moors and the sea, Trengwainton is a garden of contrasts that nurtures an award-winning plant collection. A gentle stream runs through the centre while winding, wooded paths climb to an open terrace with sea views. Ten sections of walled gardens include a kitchen garden built to the dimensions of Noah’s Ark.

An estate with maritime views and woodland walks, near Truro. Explore the meandering paths through the garden, leading to exotic plants and herbaceous borders bursting with colour.

Tranquil small but varied garden complete with Elizabethan knot garden, wild meadow and orchard.

On the edge of Exmoor there are over 20 miles of footpaths to explore on the estate, plus pleasure grounds and a Victorian garden to discover.

Tranquillity and history meet at this ancient gem in the Tavy Valley landscape, with gardens, meadows, orchards and woodlands to explore.

High above the ancient woodlands of the Teign Gorge stands Castle Drogo. The Lutyens designed garden is colourful in all seasons, and there are miles of pathways to explore through woodland and along the riverside of the Teign Gorge.

High above the ancient woodlands of the Teign Gorge stands Castle Drogo. Inspired by the rugged Dartmoor tors that surround it, the castle was designed and built by renowned 20th-century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The garden is colourful in all seasons, and there are miles of pathways to explore in the Teign Gorge.

Home to the last set of working Victorian water-powered forge tools in England, Finch Foundry is the doorway to Dartmoor's industrial past with a lovely garden. Get an insight into the life of workers in the 19th century and learn about the enterprising Finch family.

At Greenway, the walled gardens, river views and romantic woodland combine to make up 'The loveliest place in the world' in the words of Agatha Christie. The relaxed and atmospheric Georgian house is set in the 1950s, when Agatha and her family would spend summers and Christmases here with friends, and is home to their extensive collections. If arriving by car, you will need to book in advance to secure a parking space.

A 19th-century garden and parkland near Tiverton, with woodland walks and acres of tenanted farmland where you may even spot Exmoor Horn sheep. The formal and woodland garden is one of the finest and most varied plant collections in the country.

A glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland, a stone's throw from Exeter, beautiful year-round with rhododendrons, magnolias, champion trees and formal lawns. Explore winding paths, climb an extinct volcano, discover an Iron Age hill fort and take in distant views towards Dartmoor.

A hidden paradise of subtropical gardens, Overbeck's is tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe. The garden is filled with exotic and rare plants and surprises around every corner.

Situated near Bath, this ancient parkland is full of magnificent trees and view points with extensive vistas that stretch as far as the Welsh mountains. The garden is home to sumptuous planting, formal areas and peaceful wooded terraces.

This Arts and Crafts-inspired garden with intricately designed outdoor spaces in the rolling Cotswold hills. Explore the maze of narrow paved pathways and discover secret gardens, delightful vistas and colourful planting.

This Tudor hunting lodge is set proudly in an estate on top of the Cotswold escarpment, looking down into the Ozleworth valley and to the Mendips beyond. The quaint gardens and sprawling parkland are filled with colour in spring.

The garden of this Cotswold manor house is the perfect place to unwind and explore hidden vistas, quiet corners and unexpected delights.

A rare and beautiful survivor, explore the canals in this Dutch water garden near Gloucester; the only restored one in the country.

Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, Dunster Castle is a place of dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens near Minehead in Exmoor. The terraced garden displays varieties of Mediterranean and subtropical plants leading to the tranquil riverside wooded garden below.

A beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath, undergoing a major restoration on its historic dams. Set in a sweeping valley above Bath, it's a place of magnificent views and wide open lawns, with one of only four Palladian bridges in the world.

One of the few Elizabethan houses in England to have retained its setting within a compartmented garden, Montacute is complete with herbaceous borders, a magnificent fountain, orchard and parkland.

Home to a walled White Garden, Rose and Iris Garden and Lily Garden which were influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, with playing fountains, vibrant colours and intoxicating scents.

Fyne Court is a hidden gem in the heart of the Quantock Hills. You can explore this wild garden and discover pieces of its history hiding in the undergrowth. The estate was the home of the Crosse family who lived here until the house was destroyed by fire in 1894.

Extensive garden and parkland, just a stone's throw from Bristol. Terraces, a rose garden, an empty lake, woodland, champion trees and the kitchen garden balance faded beauty and function with an abundance of nature.

World-famous landscape garden with a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes and rare and exotic trees.

At Avebury, the world's largest prehistoric stone circle partially encompasses a pretty village where you'll find Avebury Manor. Why not take a walk through the 'garden rooms' of Avebury Manor garden, each with a different character. From formal lawns to orchards, topiary and kitchen gardens, you can immerse yourself in this delightful, gentle space.

Stroll through the dappled light of woodland to the wide open spaces of a newly restored parkland meadow at this country house, still in touch with its monastic roots after nearly 900 years. From the conceit of an 18th-century 'ruin' to the glass houses that speak of its 19th-century owner’s search for botanical knowledge, Lacock’s grounds are filled with the scents, sounds and colours of nature.

Romantic Arts and Crafts garden near Melksham with terraces, topiary houses, gazebo, lily pond, roses and views across the spring-fed fishpond. A charming 15th-century manor house sits peacefully in the countryside, complete with a moat, barns, gatehouse and delightful parish church.

Charming English country garden full of variety, with peaceful water gardens, herbaceous borders, organically shaped topiary and an imaginative use of colour and planting.