Summer Gardens of Dorset QQQQ

Compton Acres and Cranborne

Admire the wonderful Elizabethan gardens set around historic Cranborne Manor near Wimborne. Only open to the public for a few days each year, these famous gardens are a real treat to explore. They boast a variety of planting themes in a range of gardens including a walled kitchen garden, herb garden and a white garden.

Then explore the 20-acre grounds of Compton Acres, a late Victorian garden built in 1924 which is now considered one of the UK's finest historic gardens. There are five themed gardens providing year-round interest: these include the beautiful Asiatic flowering shrubs decorating the Japanese garden, the water features of the Italian garden and one of the country's largest privately-owned rock gardens which has over 300 different kinds of plants on display.

Minterne House gardens and Athelhampton

The enchanting 20-acre woodland garden of Minterne House is set in a peaceful valley in the heart of Dorset. One of the former owners, Robert Digby, was an acquaintance of Capability Brown. Following the revolutionary gardener's ethos that gardens should avoid looking contrived, Robert created a horseshoe shaped park of indigenous species with a series of small lakes, waterfalls and streams in the 18th century. Today you can admire newly-planted specimen shrubs and rare trees coupled with superb views around the lake.

Contrast Digby's design with the historic walled gardens of Athelhampton House. These were created at the end of the 19th century and feature an octagonal cloister garden and the Great Court which is dominated by 12 yew pyramids – they were originally planted to simply add interest to the rose border but now provide the main focus! You can enjoy strolling through the gardens that are surrounded by natural woodland all the way down to the River Piddle.

Please note: Minterne House is not open to the public and some of the garden paths are uneven and steep in places.

Abbotsbury and Bennetts Water Garden

Beginning life as a kitchen garden for the Countess of Ilchester's castle in 1765, over time Abbotsbury has grown to encompass 20 acres of rare and exotic plants from around the world. Among its beautiful blooms are a camellia grove and collections of rhododendron and hydrangea for you to admire. You can also enjoy a stunning panorama of the Jurassic Coast from a viewpoint on the aptly-named Magnolia Avenue.

Your day continues with a visit to Bennetts Water Garden, a water wonderland that's home to the National Plant Collection of water lilies – they should be seen in all their glory at this time of year. Also admire the scene surrounding the Japanese bridge that was inspired by Monet's gardens at Giverny in France.