Cheshire

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-jeshoots-3726-1024x682.jpg" alt="Wildflowers" class="wp-image-3139" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-jeshoots-3726-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-jeshoots-3726-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-jeshoots-3726-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-jeshoots-3726.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>Whisper it. The sun is coming out. Cheshire is blooming and, luckily for us, we’re surrounded by endless green spaces and gardens to explore.</p>



<p>And from this April, 59&nbsp;private gardens in Cheshire&nbsp;will be opening their doors to the public on select dates throughout the year via the <a href="https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/near/cheshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Garden Scheme</a> – giving rare access to hidden spaces you’d never normally see, all while raising money for nursing and health charities.</p>



<p>If you’re seeking a tucked-away sanctuary, here’s our pick of the most beautiful&nbsp;secret gardens in Cheshire you can actually visit…</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peover-hall-gardens-over-peover"><a href="https://www.peoverhall.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peover Hall Gardens, Over Peover</a></h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-8712-Peover20Hall20Gardens-Liz20Mitchell-133948-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="Peover Hall" class="wp-image-3229" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-8712-Peover20Hall20Gardens-Liz20Mitchell-133948-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-8712-Peover20Hall20Gardens-Liz20Mitchell-133948-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-8712-Peover20Hall20Gardens-Liz20Mitchell-133948-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-8712-Peover20Hall20Gardens-Liz20Mitchell-133948-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-8712-Peover20Hall20Gardens-Liz20Mitchell-133948-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Liz Mitchel</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Turn away from the Elizabethan Peover Hall &#8211; a vast county pile dating from 1585 &#8211; and you&#8217;ll discover a series of &#8216;garden rooms&#8217;, which only open to the public on certain days of the year. And it&#8217;s exactly the sort of bucolic place to lose an afternoon, following the fragrant scents through unexpected doors, down secret passageways and through walled gardens, tended with utter precision. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-abbeywood-gardens-delamere"><a href="https://abbeywoodestate.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abbeywood Gardens, Delamere</a></h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-nati-87264186-21939595-1024x682.jpg" alt="Wisteria in a garden " class="wp-image-3158" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-nati-87264186-21939595-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-nati-87264186-21939595-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-nati-87264186-21939595-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-nati-87264186-21939595.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>There&#8217;s a whopping 45 acres to explore at this estate close to Delamere Forest; of woodland and a new arboretum with evergreen species taking root. But if it&#8217;s well tended gardens you&#8217;re after, plod on over to its stretch surrounding the Edwardian house, popping out at some wrought iron gates into the Chapel Gardens or wandering through the Pergola Walk, where roses cling to the brick pillars. Catch the tulips at the pool garden, or nosy about the tropical garden, sitting cheek by jowl with the cafe. </p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-goodcitizen-1315905-1024x682.jpg" alt="Roses " class="wp-image-3146" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-goodcitizen-1315905-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-goodcitizen-1315905-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-goodcitizen-1315905-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-goodcitizen-1315905.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-norley-court-frodsham"><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/44175/norley-court" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norley Court, Frodsham</a></h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="848" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-44175-Norley20Court-140607-2-848x1024.jpg" alt="Norley Court" class="wp-image-3237" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-44175-Norley20Court-140607-2-848x1024.jpg 848w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-44175-Norley20Court-140607-2-248x300.jpg 248w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-44175-Norley20Court-140607-2-768x927.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-44175-Norley20Court-140607-2-1272x1536.jpg 1272w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-44175-Norley20Court-140607-2-1696x2048.jpg 1696w" sizes="(max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px" /></figure></div>


<p>For killer views across the Cheshire plain and an instant sense of calm, mooch on over to this vast garden, filled with a thriving bluebell wood and an impressive amount of blooms, colouring in the scene. Wherever you look, clematis, wisteria, roses, abutilon and jasmine pop up. And don&#8217;t forget to look up, at the collections of trees along its fringes, from cornus and Judas trees, to eucryphia and maple. It&#8217;s the ideal spot for a quiet wander. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hill-farm-sandbach"><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/42150/hill-farm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hill Farm, Sandbach</a></h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="533" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/42150-01.jpg" alt="Hill Farm" class="wp-image-8541" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/42150-01.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/42150-01-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/42150-01-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure></div>


<p>How about combining a stroll around this verdant stretch with a nosey around its bijou <a href="https://hillfarm-gallery.co.uk/exhibitions-page/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">art gallery</a>? That&#8217;s the thing about Cheshire &#8211; interesting spaces are always popping up if you look hard enough. Hill Farm&#8217;s woodland garden is only open for several days a year (though you can contact for a private viewing) and is a dreamy place to wander around, before popping into the gallery with exhibitions by local artists. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stonyford-cottage-oakmere"><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/12874/stonyford-cottage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stonyford Cottage, Oakmere</a></h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="533" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/12874-03.jpg" alt="Stonyford Cottage, Oakmere" class="wp-image-8542" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/12874-03.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/12874-03-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/12874-03-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure></div>


<p>Now if I wanted to hide away for a few hours, this is exactly the sort of garden I&#8217;d escape to. Winding paths, sandy spots, magnificent, billowing leaves, arching bridges and a lake that looks as though it&#8217;s been plucked from a Monet painting. A truly magical spot to explore &#8211; before scoffing a coffee and cake in the garden tea room. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cholmondeley-castle-gardens"><a href="https://cholmondeleycastle.com/the-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cholmondeley Castle Gardens</a></h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-3847-Cholmondeley20Castle20Gardens-Joe20Wainwright-78481-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="Cholmondeley Castle Gardens" class="wp-image-3227" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-3847-Cholmondeley20Castle20Gardens-Joe20Wainwright-78481-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-3847-Cholmondeley20Castle20Gardens-Joe20Wainwright-78481-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-3847-Cholmondeley20Castle20Gardens-Joe20Wainwright-78481-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-3847-Cholmondeley20Castle20Gardens-Joe20Wainwright-78481-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/Cheshire-3847-Cholmondeley20Castle20Gardens-Joe20Wainwright-78481-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Joe Wainwright</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Not so much a heavily guarded secret, but certainly an under-the-radar gem, the romantic gardens here are lorded over by the gothic Cholmondeley Castle. From the drifts of daffodils, to the immaculate terraces and the dreamy temple gardens, there&#8217;s an air of magic to the place you&#8217;ll want to keep to yourself, though one you&#8217;ll want to revisit over and over again. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arley-hall-amp-gardens"><a href="https://www.arleyhallandgardens.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arley Hall &amp; Gardens</a></h2>



<p>Ok, so far from a secret, but the gardens at this 15th-century manor are so vast, you&#8217;ll easily find your own private patch to explore. All are immaculately tended, from the distinctive herbaceous border garden, to the pleached lime trees running to the clock tower, and the sedate walled garden. And there&#8217;s also the wild arboretum and a woodland walk, ideal for walking off a large wedge of cake from the cafe.  </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-gy1610-9640129-768x1024.jpg" alt="Doorway a secret garden" class="wp-image-3150" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-gy1610-9640129-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-gy1610-9640129-225x300.jpg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-gy1610-9640129-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/04/pexels-gy1610-9640129.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-national-garden-scheme">What is the <a href="https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/near/cheshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Garden Scheme</a>?</h2>



<p>The National Garden Scheme is a UK charity that opens up privately owned gardens to the public on selected dates throughout the year, giving rare access to spaces that are usually hidden or off-limits. From small cottage gardens to larger country estates, these openings take place mainly between spring and early autumn and offer visitors the chance to explore beautiful, often secret green spaces while raising money for nursing and health charities.<br>Some gardens allow walk-ins, but many require advance booking or have specific opening times. It’s always best to check the individual garden listing on the National Garden Scheme website before visiting.</p>



<p><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/sign-up/">ENJOYED THIS? Get more just like it sent directly to your inbox every Thursday and Sunday – join the list!</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/the-best-spring-walks-in-cheshire/">Blooming’ lovely! The best spring walks in Cheshire</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/the-best-things-to-do-in-cheshire-in-april/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The best things to do in Cheshire in April</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/the-best-adventure-playgrounds-in-cheshire/">The best adventure playgrounds in Cheshire</a></li>
</ul>


The most beautiful secret gardens in Cheshire to visit right now (2026 guide)

You may also like