Wentworth Castle Gardens, South Yorkshire

With travel being severely limited at the moment I am spending much more time in Yorkshire until my office in London can safely reopen sometime in 2021.  While this is not how I planned 2020 going, one plus side to this trying time is being able to rediscover the best parts of my home county of Yorkshire.  One such place is Wentworth Castle Gardens, which only opened to the public in recent years.  Whilst the castle itself is closed to the general public (it is actually now used as a college building) the gardens are open completely worth a visit.  There is tons of stuff to see in vast land.  Here are a few of the things you can catch on your visit Wentworth Castle Gardens:

Beautiful Views

Wentworth Castle is situated on an uphill landscape, meaning it has beautiful views of the surrounding countryside from all around the gardens.  The best views are from the side of the main building where you can look down to the valleys and fields below.  The surroundings are truly relaxing and a great place to casually explore.

Walled gardens

I don’t know about you but I love strolling through a walled garden, something about it just feels glamorous and like I’m in a bygone time.  I think it’s something about the hidden and peaceful nature of it that really makes me feel relaxed.

Lady Lucy’s Walk

This beautiful avenue of lime trees was replanted just before the First World War. It was named after Lady Lucy, one of the daughters of an early 18th-century owner.  It’s a great place for a leisurely walk.

The Queen Anne Monument

This obelisk monument built-in 1734 is dedicated to Anne, the last Queen of the Stuart monarch, and is totally unique in it’s structure.

Union Jack Garden

This geometric maze-like garden was very fashionable when it was first created for Thomas Wentworth in 1713.  But there’s a patriotic message here too – Thomas created the design to combine the crosses of St George and St Andrew, celebrating the union of Scotland and England in 1707.

The Sun Monument

This obelisk-shaped monument is thought to be the oldest in the country dedicated to a living non-royal woman. With its unique bronze disk reflecting the sun, it was a tribute from William Wentworth to Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu.  Lady Mary made medical history by pioneering inoculation against smallpox in the 1720s, with William and his sisters all being treated to protect them from the disease.

Ivas Wood

These beautiful woodlands are relatively new to the estate and were replanted to ‘re-green’ the area which was devastated by the extensive coal mining.

Argyll Column

This column within the woodlands is topped with a statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war, who faces south towards London.

Stainborough Castle ruins

After Thomas Wentworth bought this estate in 1708, he built a fake castle on top of the hill to make visitors think it had been in his family for generations.  Fake or not this is one of my favourite parts of Wentworth Castle Gardens to explore, it’s so charming.

The Victorian Conservatory

Recently reconstructed after a large lottery grant this Victorian conservatory is a unique design of great historical importance.

Rotunda

This building surrounded by green fields was built in 1746 building in the style of a Roman temple and features a black and white marble floor.

Free-roaming deer

The lower garden area is home to many deer, who roam the fields here.  If you are lucky you might even get a close up look at some of the fawns as they take their first steps around the grounds.

There are just some of the reasons why Wentworth Castle Gardens are worth visiting.  With current restrictions in place, it’s the perfect place to go to escape from your home while still staying outside and safe, with plenty to explore for the whole family.  It’s a great place for a mindful break.  Tickets must currently be booked in advance and are currently £5 for non-National Trust members.

Do you have a favourite local National Trust site?