Dunham Massey in Spring
Despite having lived within half an hour’s drive of Dunham Massey my whole life, I’d never visited in the spring. That is until now… it was literally the first place I went beyond the constraints of my local town as we emerged from the UK Covid lockdown 2.0. I soon discovered that Dunham Massey in spring is certainly a revelation!
What is Dunham Massey?
Dunham Massey is a National Trust estate located just inside the Greater Manchester boundary. Historically Dunham Massey sits in Cheshire, but in 1974 the boundaries moved and Dunham Massey was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester.
The estate comprises of an 18th century Grade I listed Georgian manor house with formal gardens and a large deer park. It has been managed by the National Trust since 1976.
As you approach the house from the car park, you’ll draw level with a lake which extends in front of the house. This used to be a moat and you can also see the remains of a Tudor mount overlooking the moat to the right of the house.
In the grounds of Dunham Massey there is a well-preserved 17th century watermill, a deer house and at the eastern most corner of the estate, a beautiful grade II listed lodge (built: 1906) called Charcoal Lodge.
Dunham Massey’s gardens are what’s known as a plantsman’s garden, due to the huge variety of plant, tree and shrub species; thus appealing particularly to the enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener. Within the gardens are a couple of fascinating architectural features – a Victorian bark house and an orangery.
Dunham Massey Gardens in Spring
With the house being closed when I visited due to the coronavirus pandemic, the gardens got my full attention. The house has now reopened and is currently open Saturday – Wednesday, 12 – 4pm. It is closed on Thursdays and Fridays. Always check their website for updated opening times before you visit as they are liable to change if further restrictions are brought back in.
Dunham Massey’s gardens are home to 700 species of plant and 1600 shrubs, trees and evergreens, chosen for their scent, colour and texture. Manicured lawns, mixed borders and extensive woodlands make up the formal gardens.
At 7 acres, Dunham Massey has Britain’s largest winter garden with an extensive collection of daffodils, snowdrops, bluebells, blossoms and many other early spring varieties. As a result, mid-March to early May is the best time to see the wonderful display of springtime blooms.
The moment you enter the gardens you’ll be hit by a sea of yellow with daffodils literally everywhere. I started out on the path to the right which leads into the winter gardens.
Hyacinths, daffodils and cherry blossoms accompanied my walk. I don’t think I’ve ever taken so many photos of daffodils before. These were some of my favourites and the more unusual varieties amongst them.
The gardeners apparently introduced 10 new varieties of daffodil to Dunham Massey in 2019. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be any name signs by the daffs, so I can’t tell you what they’re called.
You may like to check out spring time in St James’s Park, London
Interspersed amongst the daffodils, the woodland floor gives way to wood anemone at regular intervals. These have such delicate white flowers, that similarly to snowdrops, they look like flakes of snow. Peppered amongst the anemone are various shades of camellia.
Make sure you zig-zag round all the woodland paths and don’t take any of the signed short cuts as if you do, you’ll miss many of the spectacular plants and flowers that make Dunham Massey in spring so special.
Where the paths diverge there is the most spectacular white blossom tree and continuing through the woodland, you come across a petite but exquisite Fuji Cherry tree and a Flowering Currant bush called ‘White Icicle’.
Also, you’ll spot the stunning Balkan Anemone called ‘White Splendour’ and a very pretty white bell-shaped flower called a Leucojum Gravetye Giant.
My personal favourite out of all the spring blooms at Dunham Massey though is the ‘Snake’s Head’ Fritillaria. I fell in love with this beautiful deep plum purple colour with the extraordinary scale-like pattern on it. You can see why it gave rise to the name: ‘Snake’s Head’. I desperately want to get some of these for my garden!
The trillium called ‘Wake Robin’ is rather a handsome plant too, not just in the colour of the bloom and pattern on the leaves; but the structure of the petals and leaves lying over each other in sets of three is very aesthetically pleasing.
Once out of the winter woodland, you’ll see the huge lawn area with the attractive orangery building that Dunham Massey is well-known for.
Next to it, you’ll find the Victorian Bark House. You may have to get in a queue to have your photo taken inside it and hang around a long time to get a photo without any people around. As you can see, I gave up on that quest on this occasion.
It’s worth continuing along the footpath around the lawn borders as you’ll find magnificent viburnum as well as the bright and cheerful yellow and orange fritillaria called ‘Crown Imperial’.
Take the right turn in the path before you get to the Victorian bark house and you’ll see the fantastic tulip path stretching along the length of canal to the left.
Carry on straight ahead and you’ll wind around through more masses of daffodils to eventually come back up this tulip path from the other end. What a stunning array of orange and purple this is!
Walking towards the house on the path behind the orangery gives great views of the Georgian Manor house with the lake in front.
You are able to walk round the rectangular Edwardian parterre where pale coloured tulips and blue hyacinths make up the ornamental flower beds.
You can see a rather magnificent cream magnolia tree in full bloom to the side of the house. When you draw near to this, you get an excellent view of the orangery with the magnolia in shot too.
One last spring bloom of note to see on leaving Dunham Massey’s gardens is the yellow erythronium, commonly known as ‘Dog Tooth Violet’. Spring time sure does like its bell-shaped flowers.
As I took one last glance at the carpet of daffodils on leaving the formal gardens, I couldn’t help thinking it’s a shame they don’t last that long… Having said that – it does mean that bluebells are on their way and Dunham Massey’s winter garden will take on a different hue as the creamy yellow succumbs to the purply blue. And I definitely want to return to see that!
Find out some interesting bluebell facts here. Did you know for example that almost half the world’s population of bluebells are in the UK? Apparently, they are pretty rare throughout the rest of the world.
You may like to check out the wonderful bluebell walk at Beningbrough Hall in Yorkshire
The Deer Park
While you are visiting Dunham Massey in spring, make sure you head out to explore the deer park. It is home to masses of ancient trees, often referred to as Veteran trees. These of course are home to hundreds of wildlife species, particularly insects, birds and bats.
Dunham Massey’s deer park covers an area of 193 acres and has been grazed by a herd of fallow deer for hundreds of years. With numbers of over 150, the deer are so used to visitors roaming the parkland that you can often get very close to them without them becoming skittish. I’ve never had a trip where I haven’t spotted them so you should be in luck.
Formal avenues stretch out in different directions from the front lawn of the house and connect to a perimeter path. This means that you can set out on one avenue and return on a different one, thus creating a nice circular walk.
Amongst the woodland of the deer park, there are lakes and ponds where bird life can be seen. Squirrels galore dart around the trees. On my most recent trip I noticed a lot of dead branches have been left strewn across the woodland floor, more so than I remember seeing before. It seems to provide an exciting landscape for the deer to explore, or that’s what I like to think anyway! As well as of course providing habitats for Dunham’s huge variety of insects to flourish.
I noticed that fencing has been put around all the younger trees throughout the park, presumably to avoid damage from the deer.
You may have spotted it as you came in to the park alongside the water-lined side of the house, but if not, as you make your way back to the car park, take note of the oldest tree at Dunham Massey. This ancient oak is more than 500 years old and predates the park’s formal planting. It is cordoned off to protect the nearest roots and soil to the tree and prevent damage. It’s rather stupendous don’t you agree?
Visiting Dunham Massey (Updated April 2022)
What is open?
Everything at Dunham Massey has now re-opened and the mill will be open from May 2022 on the same days as the house. There is no longer a requirement to book tickets ahead of visiting.
Opening Times
Car Park, Deer Park, North Park, Cafe & Shop: 9.30am – 5pm daily (from 9am at weekends)
Gardens: 10am – 5pm daily
House, Servants Courtyard & Mill: 12 – 4pm, Saturday – Wednesday
Restaurant: 10 – 3pm daily
Last entry to the car park is 1 hour before closing. Last entry to the gardens is 45 minutes before closing. Last entry to the house and historic buildings is 30 minutes before closing
Note: the car park is locked at 5.15pm.
Is Dunham Massey Dog-Friendly?
You’ll be pleased to hear that dogs are welcome in all the outdoor spaces around Dunham Massey, however different rules apply to different areas.
Deer Park: dogs are allowed at all times, but must be on a lead.
Gardens: dogs are only allowed in the gardens after midday and must be kept on a short lead.
North Park: dogs are allowed off-lead in the North Park, which is the area alongside the car park to the north east.
Get in Touch!
I hope you enjoyed this tour of Dunham Massey in Spring. Have you visited before? Which is your favourite season to visit? Drop me a line in the comments below and let me know – I’d love to hear from you!
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Further Reading
Check out my visits to these other National Trust properties…
- Visiting Speke Hall during Covid-19 restrictions (Merseyside)
- Discover the treasures of Little Moreton Hall (Cheshire)
- Exploring Brimham Rocks in the snow (North Yorkshire)
- Go for a walk at Penshaw Monument – the Greek temple of Northern England (Tyne & Wear)
- Go underground at Dolaucothi Gold Mine (Carmarthenshire)
- See one of the best beaches in Wales at Mwnt (Ceredigion)
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Kath | 24th Apr 21
Hi there.
Like you, I only recently visited Dunham Massey & it’s winter garden for the first time in the Spring last month. It was certainly a riot of flower colour and variety. The one way systems were a great help to keeping the public moving, except where photo opportunities for every member of the group to be taken in exactly the same place!! As my first outdoor trip since our 3rd lockdown was easing, it was a very enjoyable afternoon.
I am not a great lover of the deer park as there is no long distance view to be caught over the wall (which in my experience, many of these great homes and gardens open to the public do have!) I find it very ‘samey’, though the deer themselves are very attractive – when you can catch sight of one! I understand the reasons why old trees/branches are left where they fall but I have never seen as much volume of rotting wood as I did on this occasion. Fortunately, this in itself would not stop me from visiting Dunham Massey again.
Thankyou yet again for superlative pictures and prose. I look forward to your next venture!