Stroll in a winter garden - at a National Trust Garden

Why not make the most of the winter short days by taking a stroll and getting some fresh air in a National Trust Garden. There are over 50 stunning N.T. gardens open over the winter offering a wonderful variety of winter foilage and interest.

Anglesey Abbey Garden, Cambridge, has more than 130 varieties of snowdrop during January and February and strongly contrasting foilage throughout the garden. Open 10.30am to 4.30pm Wednesday - Sunday 1st November to 29th February (closed 24 - 27 Dec 2007).

Attingham Park in Shropshire has the pleasant Mile Walk that takes you along the River Tern past a wonderful variety of shrubs and trees. Another walk takes you through the deer park and Attingham Woods and again Attingham has a brilliant display of snowdrops during the season. Open 9am to 4pm all week from 1st November 2007 to 29th Feb. 2008.

For a really dramatic walk why not visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden in North Yorkshire which has to be one of the most remarkable places in Europe. The elegant Georgian water garden, the abbey and medieval deer park and the wonderful drifts of snowdrops surrounding the abbey, are sights not to be missed. Open 10am to 4pm Saturday to Thursday (open Fridays in February during snowdrop season) 1st Nov to 29th February, 2008.

Rowallane Garden in Co. Down, Ireland, has 52 acres of natural garden containing spring bulbs and snowdrops and a wonderful collection of plants. Open daily 10am to 4pm from 1st November to 29th February 2008.

A visit to Stowe Landscape Gardens promises another enjoyable winter vista with its ornamental lakes, open spaces and wooded valleys. With over 40 temples and monuments it is one of the supreme creations of the Georgian era. For an invigorating winter walk it cannot be beaten. Open 10.30am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday 10th November to 24th February 2008.

A garden for all seasons can be found at Stourhead in Wiltshire where the dark January months are brightened with the delicate sprinkling of snowdrops and flowering rhododendrons. Open 9am to 7pm (or before dusk if earlier) all week all year.

With wonderful views across the Mersey to distant Welsh hills, Speke Hall offers the winter visitor a tranquil oasis from the city’s buzz. Carpets of daffodils delight from March onwards with lots of winter interest in the restored Victorian gardens and woodland. Pen 11am to dusk all week 3rd November to 29th February 2008.

Log onto www.nationaltrust.org.uk for information on winter opening times and events at all National Trust gardens.

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