Cascades Gardens & Bonsai Centre
Clatterway, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire
A four-acre garden on the Clatterway at Bonsall, near Matlock, with a Buddhist-inspired meditation garden and a bonsai centre, on the edge of the Peak District.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Cascades Gardens & Bonsai Centre?
Cascades Gardens is a quiet, contemplative garden rather than a grand estate. The four-acre site sits on the Clatterway, the steep road that climbs from the Via Gellia and Cromford up into the village of Bonsall, and it combines a Buddhist-inspired meditation garden with a bonsai centre. The local press has described it as Japanese-inspired, and the setting, on the edge of the Peak District in old lead-mining country, gives it a tucked-away feel.
Go expecting a slower kind of visit. A meditation garden is meant to be walked gently and sat in, so allow time to pause rather than rushing round. The bonsai centre is the other main draw: anyone who grows bonsai, or is thinking of starting, can study how trees are shaped and trained, and it is worth bringing questions about care.
Gardeners with small plots often get the most from a place like this, because the ideas scale down well: careful pruning, restrained planting and a strong sense of calm. The garden has been listed by the RHS as a partner garden and has opened for the National Garden Scheme, but arrangements change, so confirm details with the garden before setting out. Bonsall itself is worth a wander afterwards, with its old market cross and a church that partly dates from the 13th century.
What to see
- The Buddhist-inspired meditation garden, made for slow walking and quiet sitting.
- The bonsai centre, a chance to study trained trees up close.
- The four-acre hillside site on the Clatterway, on the edge of the Peak District.
- Bonsall village nearby, with its old market cross and partly 13th-century church.
Cascades Gardens & Bonsai Centre through the year
- spring
- Spring brings fresh leaf to the bonsai and garden trees, a good time to see new growth being shaped.
- summer
- Summer is the easiest time for a relaxed visit, with long days for sitting in the meditation garden.
- autumn
- Autumn can bring leaf colour to deciduous trees in the garden and among the bonsai.
- winter
- Winter shows the branch structure of bonsai most clearly, but check visiting arrangements before travelling as opening may be seasonal.
The story behind the garden
Bonsall is an old lead-mining village in the Derbyshire Dales, recorded in the Domesday Book and about five miles from Matlock. Cascades Gardens lies on the Clatterway, the steep hill, sometimes nicknamed the Col du Bonsall, that leads up to the village from the Via Gellia, now the A5012, and from Cromford. The four-acre site has been developed as a garden combining a Buddhist-inspired meditation garden with a bonsai centre. Published detail on who made the garden and when is limited, so the garden itself is the best source if you want to learn more about how it was created.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Bonsai growers, anyone seeking a calm and reflective garden, and visitors exploring the Derbyshire Dales around Matlock and Cromford.
- Getting there
- The garden is on the Clatterway in Bonsall, about five miles from Matlock, reached by a steep hill up from the A5012 Via Gellia and Cromford.
- Before you go
- The approach road is steep and the site is on a hillside, so wear sturdy shoes. Check the garden's official listing or contact it directly for current opening times and entry before you visit.
Source: Wikipedia: Bonsall, Derbyshire
Questions about visiting Cascades Gardens & Bonsai Centre
Where are Cascades Gardens?
Cascades Gardens is on the Clatterway in Bonsall, a village in the Derbyshire Dales about five miles from Matlock. The road climbs steeply from the Via Gellia, now the A5012, and Cromford, on the edge of the Peak District.
What is there to see at Cascades Gardens?
The four-acre site includes a Buddhist-inspired meditation garden and a bonsai centre. It suits a slow, reflective visit, and bonsai growers can study trained trees closely and pick up ideas for their own collections.
Is Cascades Gardens good for bonsai enthusiasts?
Yes. The bonsai centre is one of the main reasons to visit, giving beginners and experienced growers a chance to see trained trees in person and to ask about shaping, potting and care.
What else is near Cascades Gardens?
Bonsall village has a market cross that may date from the Middle Ages and a church partly from the 13th century. The village sits on the Limestone Way, and Cromford and Matlock are close by for a longer day out.
Garden features
Location
Clatterway, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire
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