Visit the gardens at Dyffryn

The reflection of the house in the still water of the Fountain Pool on a winter visit to Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan — The reflection of the house in the still water of the Fountain Pool at Dyffryn Gardens | © 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.

Winter highlights

It may be winter, but the gardens at Dyffryn are anything but bleak. At this time of year the aromas of scented shrubs including Christmas box, winter sweet and winter honeysuckle fill the chilly air. Discover more delicate scents from sarcococca, chimonanthus and hamamelisna as you head around the gardens on a winter wander.

Winter flowering plants

Look out for early snowdrops. You'll often find them tucked under trees alongside clusters of hellebores dotted around the gardens. Other winter flowering plants to look out for include camellia and cyclamen.

Inside the heated glasshouse, you'll find orchids, bromeliads and aloes flowering in an oasis of colour and warmth, in contrast to the cold weather outside.

The Exotics Garden at Dyffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan during winter | © James Dobson

Structural splendour

The bare forms of deciduous trees and spectacular bark come to the fore in the winter. The great spire of the dawn redwood in the Exotics Garden is a real favourite. And be sure to seek out the bright bark of the young birches on the Kennel Bank and the mottled cinnamon of stewartia stems in the Arboretum.

Winter wander

1 January

After the hectic energy which often accompanies the end of one year and the start of another, a quiet winter walk is a great way to look after your body and mind during the ongoing winter months.

Pick-up your winter wander leaflet from the Welcome Centre when you arrive, it has a full-site map of the gardens and all the most interesting sections of the garden during the winter are highlighted so you can easily find them. Features such as snowdrops, early crocuses, Christmas Box, and ornamental grass. The map also points out where you can find our Glasshouse for a warming taste of the tropical even in the heart of winter.

On the back of the leaflet you can learn a bit about what our gardeners are up to over the winter and what we need to do to prepare the gardens for the spring.

Visitors walking in the wintry Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Talks and Tours

Find out more about these fascinating gardens on free, volunteer-run talks and tours on certain days of the week.

Talks

These 15-minute-long introductory talks give you a quick overview of the history of the Cory family, the estate, the gardens, and how we’re looking after this special place. They take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11.30am, 12pm, 1pm, 1.30pm and 2pm.

Find out more here.

Tours

These 45-minute-long tours take in seven key locations around the house and gardens. Accessible routes are available so please ask at the start of the tour and our volunteer guides will adapt the tour as needed. They take place on Saturdays at 11.30am and 1pm.

Find out more here.

Please note talks and tours are volunteer dependent, and visitors need to check they are running with the Welcome Team on the day. There’s no need to book.