Sherborne Castle and Gardens

About the garden

 The Grade I-listed garden at Sherborne Castle has a rich history that dates back to the 11th Century. While its features have changed over time, remnants of the past still exist, such as Dinney’s Bridge, Raleigh’s Seat and Pope’s Seat. In the 18th Century, ‘Capability’ Brown designed an English Landscape Garden that remains largely unaltered today.

The garden encompasses 42 acres, set against the backdrop of a 50-acre lake. Visitors can enjoy sweeping lawns, magnificent herbaceous borders, and impressive specimen trees. Notable trees include a renowned Ginkgo, a Cedar of Lebanon and a Highclere Holly. Scenic walks around the lake lead to attractions such as the cascade, Earl Henry’s Bridge and the Folly. 

Shorter pathways take visitors to the courtyard gardens, the ‘Ginkgo Lawn,’ the orangery, and the boathouse and pier, all of which offer stunning views of the old castle ruins. In spring, the garden springs to life, showcasing carpets of narcissus, anemones, and the ‘Sherborne’ daffodil. During the summer, the herbaceous borders provide vibrant colours and delightful fragrances. In autumn, visitors can admire the dazzling reflections of about 40 cultivars of Japanese maples in the lake.