Thorp Perrow
Thorp Perrow, near Snape, Bedale, North Yorkshire
Thorp Perrow is an 85-acre private arboretum near Bedale in North Yorkshire, created by Sir Leonard Ropner around an older pinetum and home to National Collections of trees and shrubs.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Thorp Perrow?
Thorp Perrow is a place to go for trees. The arboretum covers around 85 acres on the Ropner family estate, and it is one of the best-known tree collections in the north of England. Paths wind through open glades and avenues, so you can walk for an hour or spend a whole afternoon, and every season changes the picture.
The heart of the collection is the arboretum created by Sir Leonard Ropner, which takes in the older pinetum planted on the estate by Lady Augusta Milbank in the 19th century. Look out for the National Collections held here, including laburnum and cotinus, which give a chance to compare many kinds side by side. Laburnum in flower is a highlight of late spring, while the smoke bushes are at their best in summer and autumn. The mature conifers of the pinetum give height and year-round green, and the wider collection includes many specimen trees planted to show their full shape.
For gardeners, Thorp Perrow is ideal for choosing a tree before you plant one, because you can see how each will look when fully grown. The estate also has a bird of prey and mammal centre, which makes it popular with families. Thorp Perrow Hall itself, an 18th-century house, is used by the family as a wedding venue.
What to see
- The arboretum of around 85 acres created by Sir Leonard Ropner.
- The 19th-century pinetum planted by Lady Augusta Milbank.
- National Collections including laburnum and cotinus.
- Specimen trees planted with room to show their full mature shape.
- The bird of prey and mammal centre on the estate.
Thorp Perrow through the year
- spring
- Fresh leaves and blossom open across the arboretum, with the laburnum collection flowering in late spring.
- summer
- The cotinus collection shows off its smoky flower heads and coloured leaves, and the glades are shady and green.
- autumn
- Autumn colour is the arboretum's big season, with cotinus and many other trees turning red, orange and gold.
- winter
- The conifers of the pinetum hold their colour, and bare trees show off their bark and shape.
The story behind the garden
Thorp Perrow Hall is an 18th-century country house on the northern edge of the village of Snape. The estate once belonged to Sir Robert Danby and was later bought by William Milbank, who also acquired Snape Castle and village in 1798. His son Mark Milbank's wife, Lady Augusta, planted a pinetum on the estate.
In 1927 the estate was bought by William Ropner, and it has passed down in the Ropner family ever since. His son, Sir Leonard Ropner, 1st Baronet, created the arboretum of around 85 acres, taking in Lady Augusta's pinetum. It is open to the public for most of the year, and in 2012 the family opened the hall as a wedding venue.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Tree lovers, anyone choosing trees for their own garden, and families who want birds of prey alongside a woodland walk.
- Getting there
- Thorp Perrow is on the northern edge of Snape, about three miles south of Bedale and three miles west of the A1(M) in North Yorkshire.
- Before you go
- Paths run across grass and through woodland, so sensible footwear helps after rain. Check the Thorp Perrow website for current opening times and tickets before you go.
Questions about visiting Thorp Perrow
Where is Thorp Perrow Arboretum?
Thorp Perrow is beside the village of Snape in North Yorkshire, about three miles south of Bedale and three miles west of the A1(M). It is a short drive from the Yorkshire Dales and Ripon.
How big is Thorp Perrow Arboretum?
The arboretum covers around 85 acres. It was created by Sir Leonard Ropner and includes an older pinetum planted on the estate in the 19th century by Lady Augusta Milbank.
What National Collections are at Thorp Perrow?
Thorp Perrow holds National Plant Collections including laburnum and cotinus. They let you compare many kinds side by side, which is very useful if you are choosing one for your own garden.
When is the best time to visit Thorp Perrow?
Autumn is the classic time for tree colour, while late spring brings the laburnum collection into flower. The conifers and bark make it rewarding in winter too, so most seasons have something to see.
Who owns Thorp Perrow?
Thorp Perrow belongs to the Ropner family, who bought the estate in 1927. Sir Leonard Ropner created the arboretum, and the family now also uses the 18th-century hall as a wedding venue.
Garden features
Location
Thorp Perrow, near Snape, Bedale, North Yorkshire
Nearby gardens
Gardens within 40 miles, sorted by distance.
Parcevall Hall Gardens
North Yorkshire · 19 miles away
RHS Harlow Carr
North Yorkshire · 20 miles away
Helmsley Walled Garden
North Yorkshire · 22 miles away
Harewood House
West Yorkshire · 26 miles away
York Gate
West Yorkshire · 28 miles away
Durham University Botanic Garden
County Durham · 35 miles away
Similar gardens
Gardens with similar features.