Reviews of How Caple Court Gardens

What a wonderful atmospheric garden.We loved the fact it is not manicured and is so terribly romantic. There was a wedding fair on the day we visited, what a stunning place to get married, wish I was having a wedding again!!

(5.0/5)

Don't understand how people can visit here and not be blown away by the romantic aura. To me it's the most romantic garden I've ever visited. Yes it's not immaculate, but that's all part of the charm. Go and enjoy it for what it is, not for what purists think it should be.

(5.0/5)

We visited this garden last week and were really sad to see such neglect. The woodlands were lovely, and the setting was impressive but the gardens really do need attention, even to keep it in a state of fading charm. I understand the scale of the problem; it is more like "the lost garden that time forgot" but it is being marketed as something quite different. As it is we thought it was overgrown and quite difficult to walk around at times. It certainly did not live up to the pictures on the tourist brochure or the website. The terrace garden was a particular disappointment in view of some of the lovely planting we have seen in the area we felt no effort at all had been made to plant it attractively. It too looked sad and unkempt. The church was fascinating and well kept, presumably with the wedding market in mind. We did not stay to eat as we were looking for lunch but the lady in the tearoom was most obliging and helpful as she directed us to Westons in Much Marcle. Our star rating is for the church and the helpful lady in the tea shop.

(2.0/5)

We came to How Caple Court for a wedding viewing and thought it stunning, the courtyard,the terracing which are available for your wedding are beautiful. What a find.

(5.0/5)

We have visited How Caple Court every year on our annual holiday to Herefordshire since finding it by accident a few years ago. The owner persuaded us to go around the garden with our dog - we reluctantly agreed, but were totally smitten as soon as we entered it. Yes, it is neglected if you prefer perfectly manicured gardens - but if you are a romantic we can guarantee you will be hard pressed to find anywhere with more atmosphere and haunting beauty. If only we hadn't been married for 28 years we would certainly be tying the knot there. Please go there with an open mind and be prepared to accept it as it is now, not prior to WW1 when money was no object and labour was cheap. By the way, the cakes are delicious and the staff very friendly. Visit the most romantic garden in England - in our opinion anyway.

(5.0/5)

We visited this garden 26 September 2011. How anybody could give this garden 5 stars I don't know. we were so disappointed. The gardens are totally neglected, there has been no planting for some years, the moles have taken over the grass which at least had been cut. As others have said it's muddy, slippery and the paving is broken up and difficult to walk on, when you can see it under the leaf litter and mud. The terrace garden which is tidy is bare of any planting, the plastic flowers at the entrance should have warned us of what to expect. We met the owner and said we were very disappointed and at least he did refund our entrance fees. The gardens need a couple of full time gardeners for a while and some money spent on them. It appears that the main interest of the court is weddings.

(1.0/5)

great place,great people. Best part of our holiday in the area.

(5.0/5)

What a treasure How Caple Court Gardens are. We visited with our 9 year old boy a week past Sunday and had a wonderful time.

The open spaces allowed our son to run arround without being contiually told off and the peacocks enthralled him. The antiquity and natural beauty of the gardens let the mind glimpse into bygone days of garden parties and chaparoned courting. The chuch alone would have been more than worth the meagure entrance fee and when reading the memorials I had wipe away a tear at the sheer waste of fine young men and the futility of war. The tea room is fabulous and the home made cakes and friendly service made us sit in the sunny courtyard much longer than we intended.

My wife was taken with the excellent value of the glass vases and silk flowers and needless to say we have now got the opportunity to look at several of them permenently (in our lounge!!)

I have looked at some of the other reviews and it seems to me to be 5 star or 1 star (marmite comes to mind). I am amazed at the criticisms from some who clearly have no understanding of what makes How Caple Court Gardens so unique.

My family will definately be returning to see the Autumn colours in this beautiful privately owned and run estate.

Geoff & Julia Wells + Roger

(5.0/5)

We visited 2 days ago with our children, and had the most wonderful afternoon. Like stepping back in time, so beautiful , so tranquil so magical, cant believe we were so lucky to come across such an outstanding place. Yes its a bit scruffy around the edges, this just adds to the charm. The tea room was perfect, in a courtyard setting, so safe and pretty, the children had a ball. There had been a vintage car auction, what a treat to be able to look at these incredible cars. We will be back soon. Thank you How Caple

(5.0/5)

Do not waste your money. What a disappointmnt!Seldom have we come across a more neglected colourless garden than this. It reeks of decay. How they can justify charging for this is beyond me. The single star is for the tea and cake which were reasonably priced. Terrible place and a disgrace to Herefordshire tourism.

(1.0/5)

I love this garden.I havent been for a year but hope to go very soon again
When we walk through the tennis court we imagine the players in their 1920's clothes calling to each other and laughing.
We sit in the Florentine garden with a glass of wine and sit on the seat and hide behind the greenery that cascades down over us.

Yes it needs a tidy and new roses and repairs but Id rather have it like this than smart over tidy borders etc.
Please look after it but dont spoil the lovely atmosphere of peace and the past

(5.0/5)

I visited on 14 July 2011. There are some impressive trees, and the Garden Terrace leading up to the house is well tended if unimaginative in its planting. But otherwise this is a garden in a serious state of decay. The Adrian Bloom border is overgrown with weeds, thistles, nettles and self seeded Aruncus, the Rose Pool area is likewise overgrown with weeds, no sign of surface water, and the roses are poor specimens with no flowers to note, although there is a promising Rogersia bed on the south side. The Italian garden is likewise unkempt, poor and very sorry looking, with the waterways boasting a fine display of duck- and blanket weed. The introductory leaflet explains that the rockery is "much overgrown at present and needs tidying" I would say that much of the garden badly needs repairing and renovating. as this comment applies pretty well through out. Overall a very, very disappointing garden - but the potential is for it to be a great garden.

(1.0/5)

This is a magic place! Thank you for staying away, all you garden snobs, because my 92-year old companion and I were transported to another world. The peace! The birdsong! And thank you to whoever has cut the nettles and loved the remaining plants. We found Nellie Moser sprawled on the pavement after breaking her string. We tied her up. She was in great condition! Sneak in here, romantics, and love it.

(5.0/5)

These were a wonderfully varied set of vistas and almost room like areas set around the house with its command view of all the ground around it
But the gardens are in an appalling state or repair and do not do any sort of justice to the grandfather of the present incumbent who laid them out.
What must have been a delightful Italian style inspired garden is now green with weed on what would have been small waterfalls.
The tennis courts which could have been a setting for Joan Hunter-Dunn, the dell, the vista from the house are all in drastic need of clearing undergrowth and establishing heights
A real shame this garden is not looked after

(1.0/5)

Also visited in August.

£4 entry fee and an honesty box.
If the owner's were honest they would stand at the gate and give the money back.
Put the honesty box at the exit, you will be lucky to get the price of a packet of seeds.

As a wedding photographer, if I had a bride and groom that told me they were going here I would insist my clients sign an indemnity form releasing me from any problems that would arise from going here.
Plastic plants at the reception entrance at a supposed garden, you're having a laugh.

(1.0/5)

Visited in August 2010, very disappointing, the garden is not worth the £4 entry fee. Takes years of neglect to get it in current state.
Have given it one star rating only to be able to submit review.

(1.0/5)

As a garden designer and plantswoman I find it difficult to find the words to describe the gardens at How Caple ... I do know you need one essential to visit - a superb imagination !No wonder the girl behind the desk looked surprised when we arrived. Replace romantic and charming with decrepit, unsafe and very sad.
The selection of weeds was second to none, so glad I hadn`t taken small children with me and wasn`t wearing shorts, a rose garden full of sickly specimens , the 'imaginative bed' planted by Alan Bloom was so overgrown with weed it was difficult to find an herbaceous plant...I The urns with dead plants summed the place up . I think it took us 25 mins to walk the garden, because there was simply nothing to look at ... apart from a few fine trees. I simply felt cheated - perhaps an apology at the entrance and a donations box would have been more honest than the £4.00 entrance fee.

(1.0/5)

Decaying old garden that is positively dangerous due to the poor repair of paving, steps etc. Had we realised we would be paying £4 each to view the entire place in 15 minutes and risk breaking a limb we would never have visited. We didn't expect perfection, just a well maintained pleasant garden where we could spend a couple of hours admiring the plants and views. We would rate it as no stars but weren't allowed to give it less than 1!

(1.0/5)

Gardens have obviously been wonderful at some point in time but now need some serious TLC. It was good to be able to wander at leisure instead of being directed along set paths. The views down to the iver were lovely and setting quiet & peaceful, the only noise was that of the pheasants and peacocks, who were running around the area. Surely there must be some horticultural students who would love to get involved in a project such as restoring these gardens,or even part of them, what a wonderful way to put to use skills learned in a college classroom! Just a thought!!

(2.0/5)

This was no doubt a magnificent garden at some point. However now it is in a very dangerous state of disrepair.
Paving stones are missing,the steps are highly slippery in damp/wet weather and the 'caution' sign at the entrance does not prevent most of the gardens to be hazardous.
The gardens are a romantic place of high interest, but it is sad to see how badly if at all maintained they have been over the last century.
Spring flowers are few and far between... The tidy church raised our spirits. We hope the moeny made in wedding receptrions is reinvested in the gardens, as they need urgent care!

(2.0/5)

A truely fabulous place...My first visit to the gardens made me feel as if I had stumbled upon the most marvellous secret. Quiet, peaceful, and I have rarely met more than 1-2 other visitors at any time I have been there.

Its magic comes from being left to go a bit wild and gives the trees, plants and dragonflies a chance to go their own way. Romantic? Definitely. There are plenty of clues as to its Edwardian roots but they will unfold about you rather than reveal themselves instantly and it is all the more charming for it.

To cultivate and 'manicure' a la National Trust would be to spoil. If you are looking for neatly laid paths and no need to use your imagination, go elsewhere and leave this gem to me!

(5.0/5)

Visited these gardens yesterday and whilst they are neglected they still give an excellent impression of what they must have been like in Edwardian times. What a pity the NT or similar organisation haven't "taken them in hand" and started some sort of restoration, a la Helligan.

Nevertheless it was a visit well spent and there is still a fantastic atmosphere of how it must have been, particularly in the Florentine garden down at the bottom.

(2.0/5)

Have just been to the garden, and came away feeling that it is very romantic! They have lost the battle with the detailed maintainance, but the basic design is wonderful, imaginative and unusual. The trees, climbers, roses and layout all had our admiration. The simple sheet of directions was quite clear. In addition the cafe, Post Office(Yes, Post Office!) and shop were run in a friendly fashion - all, apparently by the same person! We were made very welcome and the visit was a highlight of our stay in Herefordshire.

(3.0/5)

We were very disappointed with these gardens and felt that the overall theme is one of neglect. Once inside there are very few signs to help you find anything and the sketch map that is provided is so basic it is not worth the paper it is printed on. The ponds were either half empty or in a state of dilapidation and felt the entrance fee of £3.00 (honesty box) was not worth it as there was very little to see (April 25 2008). The rating of one star is, therefore, in our view over generous and will not be recommending this run down place to anyone.

(1.0/5)