Chirk Castle (National Trust)

Magnificent 14th-century fortress of the Welsh Marches. Completed in 1310, Chirk’s rather austere exterior belies the comfortable and elegant state rooms inside, with elaborate plasterwork, superb Adam-style furniture, tapestries and portraits. Features from different eras include the medieval tower and dungeon and 18th-century Servants’ Hall. In the formal garden are clipped yews, roses and climbers on the castle wall. Further on the garden is more informal, with a thatched ‘Hawk House’ and rock garden. The shrub garden has a small pool and rare varieties of trees and shrubs. A terrace with stunning views leads to a classical pavilion and 17th-century lime tree avenue. The 18th-century parkland contains many mature trees and elaborate gates, made in 1719 by the Davies brothers. After 400 years of occupation, the house is still lived in by the Myddelton family.