Dudmaston

Dudmaston is a satisfying mix of gentle lakeside garden, wooded valley and modern art, all within a traditional Shropshire estate. The garden falls away from the hall to the Big Pool, so the main view is of water, terraces and trees, and the walk round is varied rather than long and formal.

Start on the terraces below the house, with their small flights of steps and walls, then look across the Big Pool, which was made in the early nineteenth century by joining three small lakes. To the south is the American Border, first planted mainly with rhododendrons and now holding a wide range of Asian and American plants. Further on, the Dingle is the part many visitors remember: a small wooded valley where the Quatt Brook was reshaped into a stream with little cliffs, waterfalls and rustic bridges, with winding paths and seats laid out for slow walking. Inside, the hall holds sculpture by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth and mid-twentieth-century Spanish paintings, which links nicely with any outdoor sculpture you find on the way.

For gardeners, the Dingle shows how a small stream and a slope can be turned into a garden with only modest changes, and the American Border is a good example of using shrubs from similar climates together. The paths in the Dingle are uneven, so wear sturdy shoes, especially after rain.