The choice of where to spend a sunny weekend is rarely an easy one to make with such a big selection of visitor attractions to choose from in the region, but on Sunday I decided to head for Bodnant Gardens, near Llandudno in North Wales. Judging by the number of cars heading along the A55, North Wales was clearly a popular choice for many as the sun gave us what was hopefully a sneak preview of the summer to come. But would Bodnant be a worthy choice of destination to spend a precious sunny day? Especially as I would by no means consider myself a member of the gardening fraternity (I live in a fourth floor apartment) and struggle to name any flowers less obvious than roses, daffodils or tulips. Although I admit that since my only previous trip to Bodnant, six years ago, I have developed a greater appreciation of gardens.
A good visitor attraction should be able to keep the casual customer engaged enough to enjoy their stay and preferably make them want to return and Bodnant Gardens does this with ease. The gardens, run by the National Trust, are famous for their laburnum arch which sadly was still a week or two away from full bloom. Yet despite missing the star attraction the huge array of wonderfully colourful plants, flowers, trees and ornate lawns and pools across the eighty acre site still have more than enough to captivate anyone with even the faintest interest. I would recommend allowing at least half a day to wander around the gardens as visitors will find themselves spending far longer than expected standing and taking in the stunning views. Not least of these views are the numerous intriguing buildings, especially Bodnant Hall itself which is sadly not open to the public but is still one of the most beautiful houses in Wales.
As to the question of whether Bodnant Gardens was a good choice of destination to spend a sunny Sunday, the answer is a resounding yes and I doubt I’ll wait six years for my next visit. For any local or visitor to the region, a trip to Bodnant Gardens is highly recommended.
