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Milntown Estate

RHS Partner Garden
MILNTOWN ESTATE

Free access for RHS members throughout open period

Milntown Estate
Milntown
Lezayre
Isle Of Man
IM7 2AB

Free Access
Free access (member 1 only for joint memberships) applies when open.

Tel
01624 812321

Visit website

Opening Hours

Wed–Sun, 3 Jan–22 Dec. Please see website for opening times.

Admission

Please see website for admission prices.

RHS members

Free access (member 1 only for joint memberships) applies when open.

Facilities

  • Toilets
  • Baby changing facilities
  • Children's activities
  • Gift shop
  • Accessible facilities
  • Parking
  • Accessible garden
  • Picnic area
  • Group rates
  • Plant sales
  • Assistance dogs only

Features

  • Woodland
  • Herbaceous border
  • Cottage planting
  • Wildlife planting and features

About the garden

Owned by

The Milntown Trust

The Milntown Estate is set in the idyllic parish of Lezayre on the scenic Isle of Man, at the foot of the Island’s northern hills. The garden has a unique microclimate with the shelter-belt of nearby hills allowing it to host an array of interesting, rare and unusual plants. This is aided by the Island’s temperate climate due to the surrounding Irish Sea and closeness to the Gulf Stream.   

The estate was left in trust by Welshman Sir Clive Edwards in 1999. Sir Clive stated in his will that, being so impressed by the kindness of the Manx people, he would bequeath his estate in its entirety for their benefit and as a place of historic interest. The Milntown Trust has since developed the estate in that time.

The gardens surround a beautiful Gothic-style mansion house which dates back to the 18th century (house tours are available on set days) and provides a wonder of horticultural delights while still retaining a naturalistic charm, quirky sense and unusual planting combinations.

Throughout the gardens, there is a mix of rare plants – the Walled Garden with its ‘Manx cottage’ charm is a mix of tender shrubs and herbaceous perennial borders while sweeping lawns lead into the contrasting and dominating leaf forms of the Jungle Walk. This is planted with Dicksonia antarctica, Trachycarpus fortunei, Musa sikkimensis, specimen Rhododendron and Camellia which leads on to the woodland that features large elm specimens.

The 16-acre gardens are heavily influenced by water which flows graciously through the grounds, and the nearby river feeds the bog garden, woodland, millpond and the working waterwheel all to great effect. The estate also has many other attractions including a café, vintage vehicles and self-catering apartments all awaiting your visit.

Plants of special interest

  • Agapanthus
  • Alpines
  • Asters
  • Autumn bulbs
  • Begonias
  • Bluebells
  • Cacti & succulents
  • Camellias
  • Clematis
  • Conifers
  • Cornus (for winter stems or spring bracts)
  • Cut flowers
  • Cyclamen
  • Daffodils
  • Dahlias
  • Ferns
  • Fruit blossom
  • Fruit bushes/trees
  • Fuchsias
  • Grasses
  • Hellebores
  • Hemerocallis
  • Hostas
  • Irises
  • Lavender
  • Magnolias
  • Maple
  • Rhododendrons/azaleas
  • Shade-loving plants
  • Snowdrops
  • Spring bulbs
  • Topiary
  • Vegetables
  • Waterlilies
  • Wildflowers

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.