We’re not frequent visitors of Nymans Gardens because dogs are only welcome between the months of November and January, but we visited a couple of days ago so I thought I’d share what I found out!

The National Trust app describes Nymans as

A garden lovers’ home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.

Nymans Gardens, spanning approximately 600 acres, is a pretty impressive estate with a rich history. Originally purchased in the late 19th century by the Messel family, it became a hub of creativity and horticultural innovation. Leonard Messel transformed the gardens into one of the finest in England, blending formal and wild styles with rare and exotic plants. The house was partly destroyed by fire in 1947, not long after it was remodelled, and the ruins now enhance the charm of the estate. Nymans has been managed by the National Trust since 1953 and is a popular destination for garden lovers, as well as families.

As you walk down the main path from the admissions gate, you’ll immediately notice far-reaching views. At 500 feet above sea level, it’s hardly surprising that you get a stunning view of surrounding countryside, including the High Weald and South Downs. I was pleased to be able to spot the stunning Ouse Valley Viaduct whilst looking across miles of open countryside.

Click here to read more about the Ouse Valley Viaduct.

We didn’t get the opportunity to explore the woodland, however will definitely make the effort to do this in the future, especially as dogs are welcome in the woodland all year round. You will need to keep your dog in sight at all times and stick to the paths. There are bird hides and many birds nesting so its vital to ensure your dogs are kept on a lead during nesting season which is from 1st March onwards. The woodland can be accessed from the main car park and has a choice of three fairly short circular walks. This might be one for better weather as the paths are steep and muddy!

Dogs at Nymans

Dogs are welcome in the garden on short leads from 1st November until 31st January between 1.30pm and 4pm. This is a rule that is quite strictly adhered to – we got there at 1pm and had to hang around for half an hour before we were allowed to enter. It did give us a chance to have a browse around the shop and the outdoor plant centre though!

Dogs are allowed in the woodland at any time of the year, although you must ensure that you are in complete control of your dog at all times – as responsible dog owners we should always be in control of our dogs anyway.

Nymans is a one paw print rated place which means that facilities are limited. As well as in the woodland and gardens (time limited) they are allowed in the shop and plant centre and there should be water bowls available for them to get a drink.

I enjoyed our walk around Nymans, I love that there are lots of different areas to explore, for example this time around we found areas that we didn’t notice on our last visit. I would imagine it to be absolutely spectacular in the summer as there is a rose garden – doesn’t everyone love a rose garden?! Plus the gardens are extensive so I’m sure there will be flowers in all areas!

What you need to know

• Nymans Gardens is in Handcross, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6EB.
• There is a free car park onsite.
• If you’re travelling by train, the nearest stations are Balcombe and Crawley, which are both 5 miles away. It’s possible to get a Metrobus from Crawley station.
• At Nymans you’ll find a National Trust gift shop and a plant centre.
• Lunch or refreshments are available at a cafe onsite but you are also welcome to take your own picnic to enjoy while you enjoy your day out.
• If you have National Trust membership, you’ll get free entry. If you don’t have NT membership it will cost you £50 for a family of four to visit, or £20 per adult and £10 per child. You have the option to gift aid your entry which takes the price to £55, £22 and £11 respectively.
• If you have RHS membership, the main cardholder will be able to get free entry.
• There are accessible toilets, family toilets and a Changing Places toilet next to the cafe, which is fairly close to the admissions kiosk.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably put taking time for yourself as quite a low priority behind all the other things we have to deal with. However, it’s really important to try and allow ourselves some time to do things that we enjoy every now and again. More importantly, taking time to spend a little time close to nature and just being out in the fresh air for a while really does help.

I never really understood what was meant by the saying ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup,’ but now I understand and can relate to the fact that basically it means that you need to take a little time out for yourself every now and again to recharge and de-stress or you won’t be any good to anyone.

If you’re within a commutable distance of Nymans Gardens, or are ever in the area, I’d definitely recommend to take time for a visit!