Arley Hall, Cheshire
Arley Hall is one of the most interesting and attractive stately homes in the North West of England. The elaborate ceilings & oak panelling, impressive fireplaces, intricate stained glass and beautiful contents are not the only features which make Arley Hall so special. Visitors are enthralled by entering a piece of living history, which gives an intimate insight into life in the Hall and the history of a family that has cherished Arley as their home for over 550 years.
The garden’s best known feature is its Herbaceous Border which was probably the first border of its kind planted in England, this along with the unique Quercus Ilex Columns, Pleached Lime Avenue of trees and the furlong walk make this simply the most amazing and interesting garden.
Within its eight acres of formal gardens, which can take you several hours to meander around, there are many different areas, each with its own distinctive character, on the NE side of the house, beyond the Chapel is The Grove, a well established arboretum and a Woodland Walk of about 6 or 7 acre. The Grove has a pathway approx 1/3rd of a mile long and it will take you approx 30 minutes to walk around depending on your pace and interest in the planting, while the Woodland Walk is approx 1/5th of a mile long and will take you approx 15 minutes to walk, once again depending on your pace.
At Arley you will see a huge range of different plants of all kinds, making it a treasure trove both for the keen plantsman and for the less specialised visitor. Both The Grove and Woodland walk are not suitable for wheelchair access during wet periods, however The Gardens has good wheelchair access, no matter what the weather, please be aware though that the pathways throughout the Gardens are all either grass and gravel .
These excerpts from their website give a flavour of the attractions. More information can be found at www.arleyhallandgardens.com. I have visited the gardens several times and they are attractive all year round. The following photos of mine were taken in the spring.
Arley Hall is one of the most interesting and attractive stately homes in the North West of England. The elaborate ceilings & oak panelling, impressive fireplaces, intricate stained glass and beautiful contents are not the only features which make Arley Hall so special. Visitors are enthralled by entering a piece of living history, which gives an intimate insight into life in the Hall and the history of a family that has cherished Arley as their home for over 550 years.
The garden’s best known feature is its Herbaceous Border which was probably the first border of its kind planted in England, this along with the unique Quercus Ilex Columns, Pleached Lime Avenue of trees and the furlong walk make this simply the most amazing and interesting garden.
Within its eight acres of formal gardens, which can take you several hours to meander around, there are many different areas, each with its own distinctive character, on the NE side of the house, beyond the Chapel is The Grove, a well established arboretum and a Woodland Walk of about 6 or 7 acre. The Grove has a pathway approx 1/3rd of a mile long and it will take you approx 30 minutes to walk around depending on your pace and interest in the planting, while the Woodland Walk is approx 1/5th of a mile long and will take you approx 15 minutes to walk, once again depending on your pace.
At Arley you will see a huge range of different plants of all kinds, making it a treasure trove both for the keen plantsman and for the less specialised visitor. Both The Grove and Woodland walk are not suitable for wheelchair access during wet periods, however The Gardens has good wheelchair access, no matter what the weather, please be aware though that the pathways throughout the Gardens are all either grass and gravel .
These excerpts from their website give a flavour of the attractions. More information can be found at www.arleyhallandgardens.com. I have visited the gardens several times and they are attractive all year round. The following photos of mine were taken in the spring.