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Last updated on 12 May 10

Bowood Gardens

  5.0/5 (2 ratings)

Gardenvisit Editorial

An eighteenth century house and park with a nineteenth century 'Italian' garden. Lancelot Brown's plan for the park survives and is one of the clearest examples of his style. It has circular clumps, an encircling tree belt and a serpentine lake. A Doric temple sits beside the lake. The lake discharges via a cascade designed by Charles Hamilton of Painshill. The conservatory was designed by Robert Adam. In 1851, George Kennedy designed an 'Italian garden' to mediate between the house and the park. It has terraced, balustrades, urns and steps - but it lacks the dignity of the house and park.

History

Capability Brown Parkland and Rhododendron Walks

Plants of Note

Rhododendron walks

Arboretum

Address - Bowood, Derry Hill, Calne, Wiltshire, England, SN11 0LZ
Opening times - April to October. Daily. Open 11am to 6pm. Rhododendron walks open daily for 6 weeks in May and June, depending on flowering period.
Admission - Adult House & Gardens £8.60, Rhododendron Walks £5.60 (£4.60 if you are visiting the House and Gardens on the same day)
Website - Visit the Bowood Gardens website

Designers and Influences

This garden has been designed and influenced by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, Charles Hamilton, George Kennedy

Local Hotels

Hotels within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Nearby Gardens

Gardens within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Nearby Garden Nurseries

Garden Nurseries within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Luxury Garden Hotels

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Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

  • about 1 year ago Anonymous said

    The most beautiful garden of our garden visit trip ! If you have to visit only one chose this one ! Even with the weather not on our side the walk was enjoyable.
    The recoded price for adult is not up to date : £10 for house and garden, £13 with the Rhododendron walk.

    (5.0/5)
  • about 3 years ago Adam Hodge said

    As it wasn't possible to visit just the gardens and £8.40 is a bit steep to admire two terraces, the Rhododendron Woods were a good alternative.
    It is a glorious woodland, generously planted with a lot of the fragrant Rhodo. Loderi cultivars amongst many other lovely cvs. The most exquisite fragrance... rich vanilla exuded from great bushes of Rhododendron Kewense sp. were intoxicating.
    Drifts of bluebells acted as a lovely footmark to the rich voluminous dollops of flower from the Rhodos.
    The grounds are enjoying additional plantings of choice trees - I hadn't heard of or seen Cornus rutgersensis Ruth Ellen so had to bone up on it aided by Hilliers Manual.

    (5.0/5)

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