Bloom and wander

Bloom and wander: Explore National Trust summer gardens that celebrate nature and colour in Cambridgeshire

Summer is the perfect time for lazy strolls and gentle walks in National Trust gardens bursting with colourful planting.

Visitors can spend sunny days meandering along tree-lined paths, through formal gardens and historic parterres, or basking in the warmth of walled kitchen gardens. Shady orchards are home to heritage varieties of fruit trees, and informal wildflower meadows buzz with insect life.

Each garden is looked after by a team of the charity’s staff and volunteers and is planted to not only add colour and interest, but support wildlife too.

To celebrate the quiet, relaxing days of early summer, the National Trust has pulled together a list of the best places for a serene stroll in some of the most beautiful gardens in Cambridgeshire:

Anglesey Abbey

Soak up the tranquillity of the gardens at Anglesey Abbey this summer with breathtaking displays of roses and 150 varieties of dazzling perennials in the Herbaceous Border.

The Rose Garden is always a highlight at Anglesey Abbey, with the first roses usually appearing in June. The Rose Garden was extended in 2024, and you can now enjoy the fragrance of 60 varieties of English rose, some about to bloom for their second summer.

As well as all that the Herbaceous Border has to offer with its colourful array of alliums, irises and peonies, you can also stroll through the wildflower meadows, alive with bees and butterflies, while taking in sweeping views of the Anglesey Abbey house. For the first time this year, the Formal Garden will be planted with eye-catching dahlias to create a stunning display around the statue of Father Time in the centre of the garden.

For those looking to experience the gardens from a new angle, there will be yoga sessions on offer every Friday in June. Come and take part in a 45-minute Hatha Flow yoga sequence in celebration of summer, incorporating breath work, meditation, yoga postures and deep relaxation. All abilities are welcome, and tickets include a complementary tea or coffee to enjoy afterwards.

Wimpole Estate

In summer, the gardens at Wimpole Estate come alive with vibrant colour and the hum of pollinators. From June to August, the walled garden is especially enchanting, perfect for a slow, mindful stroll.

Admire the dazzling salvia borders and the striking echium walk, both in full bloom and alive with bees and butterflies. Then, in the rotational quadrant, wander beneath the living willow pergola, now draped in fragrant honeysuckle. Nearby, the gardener’s cottage is surrounded by the sweet scent of roses, expected to burst into bloom once again.

Don’t miss the whimsical Wigwam Walk, where twisting paths reveal ripening pumpkins and squashes. Meanwhile, in the orchards, wildflowers flourish beneath a canopy of fruit-laden trees, setting the stage for the abundant autumn harvest and juicing season to come.