Visit the gardens at Dyffryn

Orange, pink and red flowers in bloom in the Herbaceous Border at Dyffryn Gardens, a couple meander through the garden in the background — The Herbaceous Border in the summer at Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan | © Aled Llywelyn

On the outskirts of Cardiff, discover more than 55 acres of horticultural variety, including grand historical vistas, a magical arboretum, intimate garden rooms, working kitchen gardens, an exotic glass house and two log stack play areas. During your visit, stop by our delightful café and beautifully curated shop to pick out some treats.

Top garden features during autumn

Dyffryn Gardens is simply spectacular in autumn. After the lush abundance of the summer, the Arboretum transitions into a rich rainbow of warming colours. The acers look their best at this time of year, showing off their reddish gold hues. Follow your nose and discover the scent of toffee apples from the Katsura trees as their leaves fall and start to decay.

Throughout the turn and shift of the seasons the Garden Rooms remain full of texture and colour and from late summer until the first frost you can still see our spectacular Dahlias and Ginger Lilies in the Exotics Garden.

There is also a unique and magical gourd display in the Glass House, which is a must-see on an autumnal visit to Dyffryn.

Waxcaps start popping-up in the damp but warmer weather of the autumn months. We have regular waxcap surveys and some beautiful examples of rare and colourful waxcaps all throughout the gardens. It's well worth coming to Dyffryn on a waxcap hunt.

We have lots of migratory birds stopping off at Dyffryn in the autumn to stock-up on nutrients on their way to warmer climates for the winter - there are Mistle Thrushes, Fieldfares and the occasional Waxwing. We also grow late forage plants as nectar sources for Queen Bees so they too can stock-up on nutrients ahead of their hibernation period.

View of Dyffryn House from the fountain pool, two trees with autumnal-coloured leaves are either side of the fountain pool. — View of Dyffryn House from the fountain pool, Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan | © Aled Llywelyn

Autumn walks

Every season we have a free self-guided walk which showcases seasonal beauty spots at Dyffryn Gardens. Pick-up your Autumn Walk map from the Welcome Centre when you arrive, it will take you round the gardens highlighting which areas look best during this lovely time of year.

As autumn progresses, what you’ll see on your walk will change depending on how the weather has been and when in the season you come - keep your trail leaflet and return throughout autumn to see how the gardens change as the year wends its way to a close.

The small plant labels which indicate you've reached a spot marked on the map will give information about the plant collection at Dyffryn Gardens. This year's Autumn Walk will be like strolling round an outdoor museum, with a beautiful living collection, marked for your notice with the species name and facts about why each plant is of special note.