Tal-y-Cafn Things to Do

On the way down from the formal gadens to the wild gardens at the bottom of the dell you will come across little water features like this one in the pic. It was strange because the stones were slanted backwards, causing the water to back up and then eventually flow down the little steps.

At the bottom of the dell gardens is this lovely old rustic cottage and little stone bridge over the river....hmmm not so sure I'd like to sit on it though, looks like it could crumble into the water below!

Some of the statues seem to have an egyptian look about them. This one reminded me of one of the water fountains in Villa d'Este in Tivoli Italy, which we visited a couple of months earlier - guess where the water sprang from!

At the base of the valley garden, down in the dell, you will discover a still pool, water rushing over rocks and a waterfall with a bridge over it. This is a popular place to take a photo in the gardens.

The laburnum arch is a 55 metre long tunnel and is one of the main attractions of the garden in early summer. It is just to the left of the main entrance, and normally flowers from from late May to early June, when it is a mass of yellow blooms .
Probably more towards early June is best - the Bodnant laburnum is pruned so that it does not flower until a bit later than others you may see around you so don't be fooled!
We went in late May - but it could have been slightly better a week later.

Here's a closer view of Bodnant Hall.
Has some interesting architectural shapes to admire externally. Must be an amazing place to live and look out onto these gardens all year round with their seasonal colours

Bodnant Hall, built 1792, is the family home of the Aberconways - 4 generations of which had designs on the gardens. Unfortunately it is not open to the public - but really the 80 acres of gardens will captivate you anyway. Still it is a great setting for the gardens with the lawns sweeping down from the house.

The garden is in two parts. The upper part around the house consists of the Terrace Gardens as well as informal lawns shaded by trees. The lower portion, known as 'The Dell', is formed by the valley of the River Hiraethlyn, a tributary of the Conwy, and contains the pinetum and Wild Garden.