All six of these stately gardens are located within an hour’s drive of our holiday cottages. Five of them warmly welcome your furry friends on leads, making them the perfect destinations for those exploring the area with their dogs.
There is a particular kind of magic that settles over the Forest of Dean in April. The heavy morning mists lift to reveal a landscape vibrating with new life. While the wild forest floor is a wonder of its own, there is something deeply restorative about stepping inside the stone walls of a stately garden as it wakes up for the season.
Lately, we’ve been feeling particularly inspired here at Willow Forest Stays HQ. We’ve been getting our hands dirty with a major landscaping project in our own private garden, installing raised beds for a brand-new kitchen garden. We’re dreaming of the day we can harvest home-grown herbs and leafy greens in the fresh forest air, but while we wait for our own seedlings to sprout, we’ve been looking to the grand estates of Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, and the Wye Valley for a little bit of expert inspiration.
If you’re staying with us this month, April is the prime time to explore the “manicured” side of the forest. Here are 6 incredible stately gardens to explore, ordered from our doorstep outwards.
Westbury Court Garden (15 mins away)
Stepping into Westbury Court Garden is like stepping into a 17th-century painting. This stately garden is the only restored Dutch water garden in the UK, it eschews the typical rolling English hills for elegant, straight canals and clipped evergreen hedges. Originally laid out between 1696 and 1705, the stately garden was designed to be a “water garden” that used the local streams to fill its long canals. In April, the garden feels incredibly crisp and architectural. Look out for the “National Collection” of old apple and pear varieties beginning to blossom, and the vibrant tulips that line the water’s edge. It is a quiet, meditative space perfect for a slow morning stroll.
Open: Generally daily (Check National Trust website for 2026 seasonal hours).
Dog-Friendly? Yes, the National Trust welcomes dogs on short, fixed leads.
Café on site? No, but The Lyon Inn is next door
Website: Westbury Court Garden | Gloucestershire | National Trust
Lydney Park Garden (20 mins away)
Lydney Park Garden is the “jewel” of the season because of its exclusivity. The stately gardens are only open to the public during the spring months. The 8-acre woodland garden is famous for its towering magnolias and “forests” of rhododendrons and azaleas that create a canopy of pinks, whites, and purples. The estate’s history is equally fascinating; as you wander deeper into the wooded valley, you’ll discover the ruins of a Roman temple site dedicated to the god Nodens. Some of the original formal gardens were cleared to grow potatoes during the Second World War, but they were replanted in the 1950s to create the stunning entrance of scented spring shrubs and drifts of bulbs we see today.
Open: In 2026, open select days from April 3rd to June 7th (10am – 5pm, last admission 4pm).
Dog-Friendly? Yes, dogs on leads are very welcome.
Café on site? No formal café, but picnics are welcome on the grounds.
Website: Woodland Garden at Lydney Park Estate
Highnam Court Garden (20 mins away)
Highnam Court Garden is a masterclass in horticultural restoration, having been brought back to its former glory over the last 30 years. The estate features massive lakes that reflect the sky and the nearby Victorian Gothic church, creating some of the most beautiful vistas in Gloucestershire. April visitors can explore the Pulhamite rock garden, artificial stone features from the 19th century that look incredibly natural and a series of intricate wood carvings and sculptures hidden among the trees. The stately gardens are particularly vibrant in the spring when the lakes are framed by fresh growth and the historic Orangery serves as a stunning backdrop for the estate.
Open: Select Sundays in 2026: April 5 and May 3 (11am – 4:30pm).
Dog-Friendly? Yes, dogs on short leads are welcome (though not allowed in the Orangery).
Café on site? Yes, light refreshments are available in the Orangery.
Website: Events | Highnam Court
Painswick Rococo Garden (35 mins away)
Designed in the 1740s as a place for flamboyant garden parties, this stately garden is hidden away in a secret Cotswold valley. It is quirky, theatrical, and utterly charming. Instead of traditional formal beds, you’ll find “follies”—whimsical little buildings like the Red House or the Eagle House dotted around a landscape designed for curiosity and fun. It is the only garden of its kind left in the UK. In April, the garden is bursting with life as the legendary snowdrops make way for spring borders. It is a playful space that encourages exploration, making it a favorite for both families and those seeking a unique historical perspective.
Open: Daily 10am – 5pm until April 19th (Check for seasonal updates).
Dog-Friendly? Extremely! Dogs on short leads are “very welcome” throughout.
Café on site? Yes, there is an on-site Café.
Website: Rococo Garden, Painswick Glos | Cotswold & Gloucestershire Family Days Out & Events Venue
Llanover House Garden (45 mins away)
Just over the border in Monmouthshire, Llanover is a 15-acre “garden of discovery” that has been in the same family for generations. It is uniquely shaped by the Rhyd-y-Meirch stream that bubbles through the grounds, feeding several ponds and creating a lush, serene atmosphere. It is renowned for its rare and unusual trees, many of which were planted by the family’s ancestors. In April, these trees begin to show their fresh lime-green leaves, and the circular lawns are framed by early herbaceous growth. The stately garden is highly respected for its botanical diversity and offers a more intimate, private estate experience compared to larger tourist attractions.
Open: Specific dates via the National Garden Scheme (NGS).
Dog-Friendly? Generally not (please check specific NGS open day listings).
Café on site? No formal café, but refreshments are often served during NGS open days.
Website: Llanover Garden
Cerney House Garden (50 mins away)
Cerney House Garden is the epitome of a romantic, “secret” Victorian walled garden. It feels wonderfully “undone” lavish, overflowing, and full of old-fashioned scents and colors. The stately garden is centered around the Angus family home. You can wander through the potting sheds, admire the overflowing herbaceous borders, and explore the 40 acres of Cotswold parkland. It is a soulful, quiet place where time seems to stand still.
Open: 7 days a week, 364 days a year (10am – 7pm, or daylight hours in winter).
Dog-Friendly? Yes, the grounds offer extensive wildlife and woodland walks.
Café on site? Yes, the charming Bothy Tea Room is on-site.
Website: Cerney House Gardens Home Page
While these stately gardens are a highlight of the season, there is so much more to discover in our corner of the world; for more local inspiration and trip-planning tips, explore our other forest guides below:
Explore The Daffodil Way in the Forest of Dean – Willow Forest Stays
5 of the Best Instagrammable Walking Trails in the Forest of Dean – Willow Forest Stays
5 PLACES SEE THE BLUEBELLS – Willow Forest Stays
Your Spring Sanctuary at Willow Forest Stays
After a day of garden inspiration, there is no better feeling than returning to your own private retreat.
Whether you are settling in by the warmth of the log burner at 24 at St John’s, enjoying the private courtyard garden at Casita Lodge, sketching your new planting plans sat at the dining nook at Wyldwood Cottage, or retreating to the master bedroom at Woodland Barn to enjoy a room with a view, April is the time to breathe it all in.
Here are the listing links to book direct.
Casita Lodge – Willow Forest Stays
Wyldwood Cottage – Willow Forest Stays
Woodland Barn – Willow Forest Stays
24 at St. John’s – Willow Forest Stays
We can’t wait to welcome you this Spring.
Our Thanks to Karen McDermott for the beautiful photograph of Westbury Court Gardens