Family Days out at Colby Woodland Garden

Planning your family visit

To help you plan your day in advance, here’s some key information. 

• You can find our opening times here. Please check before you travel as opening times for certain parts of the garden may change depending on the season. 
• The Bothy Tearoom serves scrumptious fresh food.
• We welcome picnics.
• There are natural play areas. 
• Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead throughout Colby Woodland Garden. Read more about visiting with your four-legged friend here 
• Toilets can be found near the Tearoom. There are baby changing facilities as well as accessible toilet facilities. 
• If you’re visiting with a wheelchair or pushchair, there is level access from a drop off point near to the vehicle access near to the Gallery.
• Wheelchair free to hire, subject to availability. If you require assistance or more  information, please ask a member of our friendly team. View our accessibility map here.

Celebrate St David’s Day with us at Colby Woodland Garden

Join us for a celebration of Wales, Welsh culture, and wanderings around the Garden at Colby Woodland Garden. The Welcome Centre and Bothy Information Room will be decorated to reflect Welsh tales and culture.

There’ll be lots of entertainment on offer including live music, storytelling, and crafting.

From 10am-1pm harpist, Elin Lloyd will perform a programme of Welsh music as well as sharing her skills with younger visitors on a smaller harp.

From 2-3pm storyteller, Phil Okwedy will be telling tales of the local Welsh history.

In the Bothy Information Room, craft a daffodil posy to take home as a memento of your day (while craft material stocks last).

The Bothy Tearoom will have also have St. David’s Day specials on the menu.

On 1 March there is no charge to park at either National Trust Colby Woodland Garden car parks, but if you’re a National Trust Member, please scan your Membership card at the Pay & Display machine. Funded by Welsh Government.

There’s no need to book a place. Come and celebrate!

Easter adventures at Colby Woodland Garden

Join us on Easter weekend for a special nature-inspired Easter trail.

From Friday 3-Monday 6 April join our Easter adventure experience! When you arrive, head to the Welcome Centre to pay for your trail and then follow the arrows to pick up a trail sheet and some bunny ears from the marquee on the pathway below/near to the Welcome Centre. Discover the natural delights of the Woodland Garden in spring, explore the meadow and west wood as you follow the trail with an activity to discover at each station before finding your way to the Easter egg collection point to get your sheet stamped and pick-up your treat. You can choose from either a Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa chocolate egg or Free-from chocolate egg. Find out more at ra.org.

Things you need to know before visiting this Easter:

• Each trail costs £3.50, with no booking required.
• Each trail pack contains an activity sheet and bunny ears to help you complete the activities.
• Trail ticket includes a chocolate egg, or vegan and Free From chocolate egg, made here in the UK from cocoa that's responsibly sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. One egg per trail sheet.
• Hopefully the weather will be kind but remember to wear suitable footwear if it has rained just in case, it can get a little muddy along the way (wellies welcome!).

Things to do in the garden 

Natural Play areas

The Woodland Garden is the perfect place for children of all ages to discover nature through natural play. Discover the sky gazing glade at the top of the woods or have fun building a den under the trees. Enjoy jumping on the giant stepping-stones or explore the flora and fauna that makes its home around the stream running through the meadow in the lower part of the garden. 

Picnics

There are plenty of places to enjoy a picnic in the garden. Choose from the meadow, the woods or anywhere that takes your fancy. If you need somewhere accessible consider the hand made bench on the gravel path that runs alongside the meadow or the bench ear the upper bridge. For more detailed information ask our helpful staff in the welcome centre.

Kites, bikes and balls

Young children can practise on their balance bikes only in the woodland garden, and it’s fun to play ball games in the meadow as well as flying a kite. We don’t allow balance bikes, kites or ball games in the walled garden

Play areas

There are natural play areas everywhere including fallen trees to climb, a bamboo den in the meadow., stepping stones in the woods and lots more to discover when you visit.

Nature-spotting highlights

Discover wildlife like birds, dippers, house martins and the many invertebrates that live in the ponds and stream.

Trails

To have a go at our family friendly trails please pop into the Visitor Welcome Centre to pick up your trail sheet and for more information, or discover the Colby woodland Garden walk on our website

50 things

Pick up your ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ sheet from the visitor welcome centre and get advice from our helpful staff on what activities work best for the time of year you are visiting.