Cymraeg

Garden

The gardens at Plas Brondanw are not as famous as his village of Portmeirion, but many people consider them to be Clough's most marvellous creation.

Surrounded by mountain peaks, Plas Brondanw is one of the best-kept secrets in North Wales. Although less well known than his village and gardens at Portmeirion, the Grade I listed gardens of Plas Brondanw are nevertheless considered by many to be Clough Williams-Ellis’s most important creation.

Sir Clough created a unique and distinctive garden landscape which provides a series of superb views and romantic prospects set within Snowdonia National Park. The gardens are laid out as a series of enclosed rooms, linked by axial views leading to distant peaks. Within the garden rooms, pieces of unusual art and sculptures are arranged, many are architectural salvage which Cough obtained through reclamation sales.

Inspired by the gardens of renaissance Italy, strong architectural influences are evident within the gardens; stone walls, topiary, pools, fountains and avenues of trees leading the eye to the dramatic borrowed landscape beyond the garden.

Other features include a woodland walk with several “eye-catchers” set at the end of beautiful avenues of trees, a spectacular cascade and pool built into a disused quarry. The walk concludes at a folly tower, built to honour Williams-Ellis's marriage in 1915, offering impressive 360° views of the surrounding mountains and sea.

Plas Brondanw is not a garden bursting with colourful flowers or lush herbaceous borders, it is a garden based on formal structure and designed views of the surrounding mountains. So, although there is more colour in the summer months, the feel of the garden does not change though the seasons. The imposing structure of the hedges, topiary and tree forms (we have a very impressive 200 years+ Quercus Ilex), architecture and the borrowed views of the surrounding landscape are the features that make this garden significant, the flowers are merely embellishments.

All proceeds and donations go towards maintaining the gardens.

Opening days and times

Gardens: Open every day 10.00 – 16.00 (when café is closed, please use the honesty box on the back of the gate).
Café: Open March – October, Tues – Sunday 10.00 – 16.00
Plas/Gallery: Open year round, Wed – Sunday 10.30 – 16.30

Dogs

We have a no dogs policy here at Plas Brondanw. You are, however, welcome to walk your pooches in our woodland garden. There is a gate just opposite the café.

Cost

Adult: £5.00 (standard) or £5.50 (gift aid)
Child: £1.00
Free entry for carers when accompanying the person they care for.

Memberships / discounts

1. RHS partner garden – allowing the card carrying RHS member free entry 365 days a year..
2. HHA – Allowing the card carrying member free entry 365 days a year.
3. Snowdonia Society – Allowing the card carrying member 10% off all purchases including garden entrance fee.
4. Groups of 20 or more can call for arrangements and to discuss discounts.

Car park

In 2021 with help from government funding, we opened our new car park with enough parking for 50 cars and 2 coaches. Because of the way the funding works, we need to show evidence that this was money well spent and the easiest way for us to do that is via a ticket system. Our ticket machine will cost you £2.00 and if you present the other half of your ticket in the café, you will get this cost taken off your bill, meaning the car park is free.

Please be patient when using this machine, it is solar powered and can be slow in responding. All staff are aware of the difficulties you may experience, so please bear this in mind when presenting your ticket in the café.

Plas Brondanw Gardens is located within the Snowdonia National Park near the village of Garreg Llanfrothen, Gwynedd, situated 5 miles from Porthmadog. Follow the brown signs.

Gerddi Plas Brondanw Gardens
Llanfrothen
Gwynedd
LL48 6SW

Phone: 01766 772772
Email: enquiries@plasbrondanw.com