Cestyll Garden
CYM | 
ENG
Cestyll Garden lies just along the coast from Wylfa Site, overlooking Porth y Felin between Cemaes and Cemlyn Bays.
It has been owned and maintained by the power station since 1983. Traversed by the Afon Cafnan and divided by streams and bridges, it is essentially a rock garden featuring a large variety of unusual plants.
The garden was originally part of Cestyll House which was bought in 1918 by the Hon. William Walter Vivian of Glyn Bangor as a gift for his niece, the Hon. Violet Vivian, daughter of Lord Vivian of Bodmin, Cornwall.
Who was Violet Vivian?
The Hon. Violet Vivian was a Maid of Honour to Queen Alexandra between 1901 and 1925. She was on particularly friendly terms with Princess Victoria and as a result of this association, there were many Royal visits to Cestyll.
It was Princess Victoria who designed the south west corner of Cestyll, which includes the splendid white rhododendron.
Violet Vivian started the tradition of opening Cestyll to visitors twice a year which was continued until 1961 when the garden was inherited by Lady Astor oh Hever.
Shaping the Garden's History
Violet Vivian used Cestyll as a summer home initially but she took a great interest in the garden.
In 1922 she began to develop the beautiful natural setting of the fall of the Afon Cafnan to the sea. As a much later stage, a fir tree plantation was created to provide a wind break and soil was carried to the rock escarpment on the west side of the garden where up to 3,000 annual plants were planted each season.
In October 1991, Cestyll House has deteriorated beyond repair and it was demolished. However the results of the landscape gardening, conceived mostly by Violet Vivian, can still be seen today.
Continuing the Tradition
Violet Vivian's tradition of opening Cestyll to the public was revived by Wylfa Site in 1985. It intends to continue the tradition, opening the garden in May when it is at its most colourful.
Rare and interesting species intrduced in recent years have prospered in the amazing Cestyll micro-climate, helping to maintain the horticultural interest of this unique landscaped garden.
The Old Watermill
Cestyll is also home to an old water mill owned by the National Trust. Knows as 'Felin Cafnan', the mill is unusual in that the race water flows over the top of the mill wheel when in operation and is diverted under the wheel when not required.
The building and machinery is dated circa 1840 but evidence suggests that a water mill had been operating on this site possibly since the 13th Century.
The National Trust has no plans to refurbish the mill or open it to visitors.
To visit Cestyll Garden, please contact the Information Centre on 01407 711 400
