Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ

Tel: 0161 941 1025 or see Dunham Massey website

A place to visit at any time of year, with a huge deer park surrounding an 18th century house and a mixture of formal and informal gardens. There are spectacular bluebell woods in spring, an Edwardian parterre with formal bedding during the summer, and masses of hydrangeas for late summer and autumn colour. This plantsman’s garden has plenty of interest including historic features from former landscape fashions. In addition to the Elizabethan moat and mount, the 17th century goosefoot design of avenues radiating from the house has been partly restored, and there’s an 18th century orangery. The bog, hosta and moss gardens are more recent, being relics of the Victorian era.

As ever with National Trust gardens, there are refreshments on offer.

Reduced admission fee when arriving by public transport. Query rate for arrival by cycle.