From Lothlorien Cottage
Total Est. Time:  34 Minutes
Total Est. Distance:  17.5 Miles

Aberglasney House and Gardens are just over half an hour's drive from Lothlorien Cottage (about 17.5 Miles).
They are set in the beautiful Tywi Valley of Carmarthenshire, and the gardens which are one of the finest in Wales, have been an inspiration to poets since 1477.

The Secret Garden

Aberglasney was almost unknown to the general public until very recently. A small band of enthusiasts of historic houses and gardens had been aware of it for a long time and were dismayed to see the grand property fall into decline, eventually forming the Aberglasney Restoration Trust to try to prevent the total destruction of the historical estate.

Their ambitions were made possible by the generous donation of an American benefactor who enabled them to purchase the property and carefully and lovingly restore it - a process still ongoing.

Aberglasney has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the UK's most remarkable gardens both for their historical importance and horticultural quality, including the many rare and unusual plants to be seen throughout the year.

Gardens Lost in Time

The story of Aberglasney spans many centuries, but, the house's origins are still shrouded in obscurity.

Its ten acres of garden include three walled gardens at the heart of which is the Cloister Garden, probably Aberglasney's most extraordinary feature, with three sides edged by giant stone arcaded structures supporting a parapet walkway. The fourth side made up by Aberglasney House itself, standing a little further away, creates a loosely formed rectangular garden.

The side opposite the house forms a long arcaded walkway - the cryptoporticus or cloister after which the garden is named.

This wonderful type of formal raised terrace was popular in its time - late Tudor and early Stewart era, but almost all have been lost to the ravages of time or taste, and this lovingly restored feature is one of the few surviving examples.

Possibly 13th Century

The discovery of a silver Long Cross Penny dating back to Edward 1 make its origins possibly as early as the thirteenth century.

Other gardens at Aberglasney are the Pool Garden, the Stream Garden and Pigeon House Wood, the Lower and Upper Walled Gardens which were once used to grow the fruit and vegetables required by the inhabitants of the mansion.

The Exotic and Unique Ninfarium

The newest addition to the gardens is the Ninfarium (named after the amazing gardens at Ninfa, south of Rome), a unique garden created in 2005 within the ruined walls of the central rooms and courtyard of the mansion. The ruins were stabilised and covered with a huge glass atrium and planted with warm temperate and sub-tropical plants including Orchids, Palms, Magnolias and Cycads.

There is a Cafe and Shop at Aberglasney and regular events taking place.