7 gorgeous gardens to visit this winter - 30 minutes from St Helens

From one of the largest gardens in the UK to an industrial garden landscape, the National Trust gardens in the region are the perfect location for a refreshing walk in January and February.

Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire are home to seven National Trust gardens – which one will you choose to visit first?

Dunham Massey snowdrops (National Trust Images - Chris Lacey)

Dunham Massey, Altrincham

This seven-acre winter garden is one of the largest in the UK and is filled with more than a thousand winter shrubs, trees and evergreens which have all been chosen for their scent, colour and texture.

There are thousands of bulbs that form carpets of snowdrops, daffodils and cyclamen with 30,000 extra daffodil bulbs planted last spring in preparation for a stunning yellow display this winter.

There’s plenty more colour with the yellow flowers of witch hazel, purple berries of callicarpa and the pink winter daphnes. 

Quarry Bank glasshouse (National Trust Images - John Millar)

Quarry Bank, Wilmslow, Cheshire  

This garden surrounds a once bustling 18th century cotton mill.

Spot the red bark of cornas alba in the upper walled garden bringing a flash of colour on a dull winter day.

Recently planted bulbs by the river include picea glauca – Daisy’s White – and juniperus squamata – feeling blue.

Hazel trees are in flower to the west of the walled garden and there are full carpets of snowdrops to spot.  

Lyme garden in the snow (National Trust Images - Annpurna Mellor)

Lyme, Stockport 

The 1,400-acre grounds at Lyme are a mixture of formal gardens, ancient woodland and rugged moors.

Try visiting on a frosty morning when the windswept moorland backdrop and views of Lyme from the garden terrace are at their most dramatic.

The grand house forms a reflection in the lake in front of it and the Orangery is a year-round indoor oasis of tropical planting and a warm spot on a cold day.

The first winter plants to peep through here are winter iris and snowdrops.  

Hare Hill, Macclesfield 

Step inside a tranquil wooded garden surrounded by historic parkland and see plenty of white blooms all year round.

On warmer days, it’s the perfect spot to while away an afternoon with a picnic in the Walled Garden, a tranquil place to pause and escape the hustle and bustle.

The ornamental rockery was once a secret garden and after restoration work you can now twist and turn your way through it.

This will be reopening on February 14.

Little Moreton Hall (National Trust Images - Annpurna Mellor)

Little Moreton Hall, Congleton 

This topsy-turvy home is surrounded by a moat which is home to plenty of wildlife, including tufted ducks and moorhens.

The garden might be small but there’s plenty to see, as native flowers as well as early introductions from the continent grow here.

The recently restored Knot Garden is based on a Tudor quatrefoil design and the garden team have worked hard to restore it.

Reopening on February 14.

Speke Hall garden (National Trust Images - Annpurna Mellor)

Speke Hall, Liverpool 

Around 50,000 bulbs that were planted in 2021 by volunteers and these will create a huge display of late winter flowers, including a sea of white snowdrops in January and purple crocuses in February.

Take the path around the old moat to check out the tall evergreen topiary and if you’re lucky you may spot a handful of blooms popping up in the Rose Garden. 

Rufford Old Hall (National Trust Images - Annpurna Mellor)

Rufford Old Hall, Ormskirk, Lancashire  

One of the lowest lying National Trust gardens in England, Rufford is home to colourful borders, manicured lawns, an orchard and a relaxed woodland filled with snowdrops at this time of year.

It runs alongside the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

Don’t miss the two giant topiary squirrels close to the house – they glisten in the frost on a cool winter morning.

This will reopen on February 14.