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Aberglasney is a remarkable garden restoration. The Aberglasney Restoration Trust have transformed a totally overgrown garden with derelict buildings into an attractive, compartmentalised series of gardens.

As you can see from supporting photos (taken in early September 1999), parts of the garden are still something of a building site, but the structural repairs to walls and cloisters are complete, and several areas are planted and providing Aberglasney with some useful colour.

Bishop Anthony Rudd, who bought Aberglasney around 1600, is probably responsible for much of the garden as we see it now. Robert Dyer gave the house a Queen Anne makeover from 1710 and the Ionic portico was added in the early 1800's by Thomas Philipps.

The facade of the house has been restored and you can see the portico has been returned to its rightful place, after being stolen and then fortunately spotted by someone in a Christie's auction! At this stage the house is still just a shell, but looking nonetheless impressive.

At the edge of the north lawn is a yew tunnel, thought to be around 275 years old. Alongside the tunnel is Aberglasney's original gatehouse, thought by some to have been a folly. Excavation revealed an attractive cobbled drive, worn over many years by horse drawn carriages, confirming its function as a gatehouse.

The cloister garden will probably become the centrepiece of Aberglasney, enclosed on two sides by walls, one side by the cloisters, the house on the fourth side, with a Victorian fountain at its centre. When the Trust began work at Aberglasney, this area was filled with soil to the top of the arches on the cloisters.

A parapet walk around the cloisters offers wonderful views over the gardens, enabling you to appreciate it from an entirely different perspective.

A terrace across the back of the tea room enjoys views over the Pool Garden towards the Kitchen Garden and Stream Garden. There are a couple of short woodland walks leading from the garden.

Aberglasney Garden offers access for wheelchair users, but watch out for the building work.

Attractions near Aberglasney Gardens include Carmarthen, The National Botanic Garden Of Wales at Llanarthne, Carreg Cennen Castle near Llandeilo, Shoppers World at Ammanford, The Golf Club near Carmarthen, St Elli Centre at Llanelli, The Quadrant Shopping Centre near Swansea.