Thorp Perrow walk - Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Route: Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Area: North Yorkshire

Date of walk: 19th November 2019

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 2.0 miles

Weather: Cloudy

Thorp Perrow Arboretum boasts one of the largest collections of shrubs and trees in the North of England, including 5 National Collections. The garden is laid out in sections, each of which connects with its neighbour via paths, grass walks, glades, bays, or avenues. There are trees from all over the world, including 51 Champion Trees which are recorded and designated by the Tree Register of the British Isles. The arboretum is the creation of one man, Colonel Sir Leonard Ropner (1895-1977)

On arrival we were given a map of the gardens, but as on previous visits to this place we decided to wander around rather than follow a route. There are numerous tempting paths, and it’s best to go where your fancy takes you. The map is useful though, as it’s easy to lose your bearings. It’s also possible to buy a catalogue at the entrance which identifies the trees

At this time of year the great glory of the gardens is the stunning autumn foliage. We’d arrived rather late in the season and wondered whether there’d be any autumn colour left. We needn’t have worried, there was a wonderful display, despite the fact that the weather was rather overcast

We spent a couple of hours walking around the 100 acres of grounds and every step was a delight. The photos which follow are not intended to cover the whole garden, but merely to give a sense of its special atmosphere…

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