Looking for a garden tour? Head to Doncaster. The gardens there are amazing. Places like Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, and Hodsock Priory should keep you busy for most of the day. It’s a family outing that even your children will enjoy – and it’s better than paying for a sitter. Nearby shopping centres allow you to grab a bite to eat when you’re hungry. Here are a few of the more notable gardens in the area:
 
Brodsworth Hall & Gardens
The gardens here allow you to experience the fashions, desires, and changing fortunes of the Victorian country gentry. There are 15 acres here for you to explore. It’s unlikely that you’ll see everything on your first visit, but you can certainly try.
All gardens have been restored – showcasing what they would have looked like in the 1860s. There’s the summerhouse, pleasure grounds, the fountain centrepiece and the fernery. All of the pathways wind through a colourful assortment of flowers period summer bedding, and winter evergreens.
Hodsock Priory
The Hodsock Priory and its garden lie in the centre of an 800 acre Hodsock estate on the border of Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. This estate has been owned by the Buchanan family since about 1765, and has been restored to host elaborate weddings, conferences, and other events. Oh yes, they have wonderful gardens here too. Here, you’ll find the Snowdrop Gardens and a pleasant half-mile walk through the woods.
There’s also a spectacular Bluebell Wood – if you catch them in season, it’s at least as good as the Snowdrop Garden.
Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory is a Palladian house in Nostell, near Crofton. The gardens date as far back as 1733, and was built for the Winn family. Built on a medieval priory, it’s now home to some spectacular gardens. The priory, and its contents, were given to the National Trust in 1953, but it still remains the home of Lord and Lady St. Oswald.
The grounds contain a generous landscaped park and gardens with good trees. The park itself leads you to a lake with gorgeous waterside walkways. The flowers? Oh yes, you’ll see rhododendrons, magnolias, and azaleas. There’s also a summerhouse and a Gothic arch. Closer to the house is a rose garden which serves as the main feature of the property.
Renishaw Hall
The Renishaw Hall is a country house in, you guessed it, Renishaw. It’s a Grade I building and has housed the Sitwell family for over 350 years. The formal garden at Renishaw Hall, which was initially laid out in 1895, has been fabulously restored to its former glory. The restoration enhanced its geometric design while retaining yew hedges, antique statues, and pyramids.
You’ll find rose and clematis gardens here as well as a host of other exotic flowers. Booking trains to Doncaster online could never be easier. You’ll also find more naturalistic plants with unusual shrubs. Specimen trees tower over rambling rose beds. Just to the east of the gardens, you’ll find holly and camellia avenues that lead to paths through a very mature woodland. Of course, you’re welcomed to walk the paths – they lead to the lakes. There’s even a children’s garden and a producing vineyard with around 1,500 vines.
Joel Rodgers is an avid gardener and traveler who is always on the lookout for new gardens to explore. He also loves to share his findings with others by blogging on various sites.
