Open to the public by appointment or for fund-raising days. The rhododendrons, when in bloom, are a special attraction. The 14 acres of gardens of Old Cilgwyn are enclosed in an area of mature trees which include sessile oaks, beech hornbeam, spindle, wild cherry and three different types of horse chestnut. It is a woodland garden with three ornamental ponds and a geometric type of Chinese bridge designed and built by the grandfather of the present owner. The gardens are centred around the buildings near the north entrance to the 900 acre estate and are south facing. The acid soil provides the ideal condition for a succession of acid loving plants to bloom throughout the year. Large numbers of specie and hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas have been planted in the past 20 years which supplement the Victorian planting of R Cynthia . As early as Christmas the first snowdrops appear, followed by camillia x williamsii Donation and St Ewe . The daffodils are in full bloom by early March and in April and May the display of rhododendrons is quite majestic. There are five slightly different but unnamed embothriums and a fremontodendron, climbing on the north wall of the house, which flower from April to November. In some years hybrids of R. nobleanum in red white and pink comes into bloom in October and flowers throughout the winter until March. More recent development has lead to a rose arcade, orchards and a substantial refurbishment of the older parts of the gardens leading to Cwm Du, a mysterious tree covered narrow gorge through which the River Ceri forces its way down to the River Teifi. The nature reserve is managed by the West Wales Wildlife Trust and forms one of the largest tracts of ancient semi-natural woodland in Ceredigion. ....

Review Old Cilgwyn Gardens in Wales.