Landscape gardens, historic parkland, an estate surrounded by woodland—Sheffield Garden is a joy to walk around. It's certainly ideal to visit during late Spring and throughout Summer when everything is blooming. Although I imagine the gardens would look just as beautiful in all the shades of Autumn.
You can follow a map around the network of twisting paths, over bridges, and around lakes. Or do what we did and find your own route through the garden into the woods. The crisscrossing tracks will lead you around grassy banks, under rhododendron bushes, and through shady glades. In Spring there is a carpet of bluebells and wildflowers to admire. If you carry on walking deeper into the estate, you'll discover the Walk Wood and East Park.
The East Park is a place your dog can run off-leash as you uncover Second World War history in the form of excavated paths, hut foundations and washing facilities. In the Walk Wood, occasionally inaccessible due to wildlife conservation and path maintenance, you'll discover sculptures by local artist Keith Pettit. The Sheffield parkland provides space for a longer walk around the estate.
Even though I visited on the cusp of summer, Sheffield Garden was absolutely bursting with colour. The lakes were real show stoppers, each one looking remarkedly different to the other. Some lined with brightly coloured blooms, others littered with water lilies. Although the woodland was a haven for wildlife, there wasn't much to spot in the garden other than a few ducks and swans.
What I love about having a National Trust membership is not feeling like you have to rush around and see everything on the first visit. You can slow down and explore at your own pace. Sheffield Park and Garden is a place worth visiting multiple times to witness the change in colour over the seasons.
It appears Sheffield Park and Garden is slightly less dog-friendly than some National Trust locations. Dogs were previously only permitted access after 1.30pm but are currently welcome in the garden at any time. However, the National Trust is 'monitoring how visitors feel.' So be wary that access may change in the future.
We sat out the back of the Coach House Café where dogs were welcome to sit with you, both inside and out. There was plenty of space for everyone to relax in and even water bowls left out for the dogs. It's lovely to see plant-based options being made more readily available at National Trust sites. Pea soup and barley risotto mains as well as sweet treats for desert.
