Located in the charming West Sussex village of Handcross is the gorgeous Nymans House and Gardens.
This National Trust property is a gem, and words hardly do it justice - an estate of beautiful gardens and tranquil woodlands set around the enigmatic Nymans House building.
From the moment you arrive at the property the gardens begin to dazzle.
Nymans has a vast and deservedly renowned collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, and the hundreds of different varieties of these shrubs cultivated around the estate are a magnificent sight during their springtime bloom.
Venturing further into the Nymans estate leads to peaceful walks through verdant woods, down country lanes beneath towering trees, and alongside meadows blanketed in wild flowers.
The Nymans House itself is a focal point of the property - partly in ruin and a stately, moody backdrop to the lovely surrounding lawns and gardens. Garden paths reveal unexpected delights, like a trellised walkway sheltered by heavy-hanging wisteria overhead.
The Walled Garden, Rose Garden and Rock Garden are all popular, filled with an abundance of colour at any time of the year, the flowers varying with the changing of the seasons. Water features gurgle in places and statues appear unannounced. And all around is the buzzing of bees and the merry chirping of birds.
Nymans Gardens makes for a great day out - at its best during the colourful spring months but a joy at any time of the year - and is a National Trust property not to be missed.
Address: Staplefield Rd, Handcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (4pm during winter)