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THE GARDENS OF ENGLAND’S WEST COUNTRY: Cornwall, Devon and Dorset
12 Days

The south-west corner of England enjoys a more temperate climate than the remainder of the country. Here, the warm Gulf Stream washes the coast and the soft undulations of the hills and high hedgerows shield gardens from the ravages of the worst weather. It’s not surprising, therefore, to find a concentration of England’s finest gardens all gathered here, although first time visitors do gasp at the profusion of species, even finding palm trees totally unexpected!

Our tour features a diverse selection of the best gardens - large and small, public and private, formal, wild and tropical. All of these stunning horticultural landscapes along with the charming local sites, quaint harbors, rugged coastline, ancient stone circles, freshly caught seafood, local specialties of pasties and cream teas to sample and last but not least, the friendliness of the local people.

Tour Date: 6 - 17 June, 2010

Tour Rate: $3999 USD per person in twin/double room; $495 single supplement

What your tour package includes: The services of your driver/guide for 12 touring days, your accommodation for 11 nights while on the tour including breakfast daily, most dinners, all entrance fees to gardens and attractions, transportation, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.

Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.

We have a Special Event tour visiting the Gardens of Belgium and Holland! The Ghent Flower Show tour, an event only once every 5 years, also featuring the annual Keukenhof Flower Parade. We also offer Chelsea Flower Show tours and other gardens tours throughout the year.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Day 1, Sunday

We make our way out of London to Savill Gardens in Surrey. Designed by Sir Eric Savill in the 1930s under the patronage of the Royals, this 35 acres of contemporary and classically designed gardens and exotic woodland is a gardener’s delight. Savill has been called one of Britain’s greatest ornamental gardens!

Stourhead has a landscaped garden laid out between 1741-80. There are classical temples, lakes, rare trees and plants. The house is another that tempts us with examples of Chippendale furniture and many fine paintings.

NIGHT STOP: Dorchester, Dorset

Day 2, Monday

Elizabethan stone frames the gorgeous stately home of Montacute House. This film site for 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice boasts wonderful gardens filled with strong colored plantings.

Also today, the marvelous Barrington Court. Here there's the magnificent white garden, influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, iris garden and rose garden. It has also a working kitchen garden.

NIGHT STOP: Dorchester, Dorset

Day 3, Tuesday

We’ve some amazing gardens right on our doorstep! The Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Garden is world renowned for their camellia groves and magnolias and offers a mix of formal and informal garden areas and some unusual plants. In addition to the gardens, we’ve a unique opportunity to visit a colony of nesting Mute Swans. This Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks during the 1040s.

Kingston Maurwood College Gardens is in the Arts and Crafts style of the Edwardian period. The series of garden rooms, enclosed within splendid stone terraces, balustrading, steps and yew hedges including water features and topiary, were designed by Sir Cecil and Lady Hanbury, great benefactors of the RHS.

We will make our way across the dramatic Dartmoor Moors – and if we’re lucky catch a glimpse of a famed Dartmoor pony - en-route to our night stop.

NIGHT STOP: Tavistock or Two Bridges, Dartmoor

Day 4, Wednesday

Cotehele is a large mature garden sitting in a sheltered valley. Unusual shrubs, azaleas and rhododendrons, and a small terraced garden make this an interesting first stop.

Eden Project is the progressive endeavor located in an old disused quarry. Its aim is to demonstrate as many aspects of the world’s bio-diversity as is possible, in the correct ecological context. The actual site looks like a moon settlement with its massive glass pods.

Also possible, time and interest permitting, the little known Marsh Villa Gardens in nearby Par. Located in a former tidal creek, this 3-acre gem with its waterway paths, wildlife viewing opportunities and mixed plant life, is sure to please.

NIGHT STOP: Falmouth, Cornwall

Day 5, Thursday

Today and tomorrow, we will explore the amazing gardens around the harbor of Falmouth.

Some, like Trelissick, are certain inclusions, but there are a wide variety of others to choose from and your guide will take ‘soundings’ from tour participants as to what places of interest you just can’t miss. We’ll be able to mould the day to day schedule around participant interest as well as weather conditions.

Your choices will include several private gardens in addition to the better-known icons such as Penjerrick, Trebah, Glendurgan and the Lost Garden of Heligan… The Helligan Gardens represent Europe’s largest restoration project with over 80 acres of award winning landscape, a super walled garden of exotic fruit and 22 acre ‘jungle.’ Definitely spoilt for choice!

NIGHT STOP: Falmouth, Cornwall

Day 6, Friday

We continue our exploration of the Falmouth area gardens.

Did you know that if you’re feeling adventurous, the group could take a ferry from Trebah to Glendurgan to explore the subtropical gardens and laurel maze dating from 1833?

This is certainly to be another lovely day!

NIGHT STOP: Falmouth, Cornwall

Day 7, Saturday

Our day gives you the chance to explore at your leisure. You may choose to simply explore Falmouth with local shopping, catch up with some ‘housekeeping’ or relax in a café with a cream tea. Alternatively, there’s the National Maritime Museum and Pendennis Castle to explore. Whatever your choice, your guide will be there to advise and assist in planning the day. Dinner is not included tonight for flexibility’s sake.

NIGHT STOP: Falmouth, Cornwall

Day 8, Sunday

There's so much to see in this region and we will enjoy as much as we can on this, our “peninsula day.” There are the wonderful harbours of St Ives and Penzance, the prehistoric village at Chysauster, the famous open-air Minack theatre and Land’s End itself. There are more gardens too!

Trevarno Gardens offers a stunning bluebell valley, ornamental lake with a picturesque Victorian Boathouse, a Sunken Italian Garden, Serpentine Yew Tunnel, extensive Pinetum, a Bamboo collection, an atmospheric Rockery, a Honey Bee centre and much more. Also here, the National Museum of Gardening, believed to be the largest and most comprehensive collection of garden tools and memorabilia in the country and <shoppers alert> the gardens offer their own range of handmade, organic skincare products.

NIGHT STOP: Falmouth, Cornwall

Day 9, Monday

The peaceful, Zen-like Japanese Bonsai Garden will be our first stop today. Here, the focus is on natural elements and features a bamboo grove.

This afternoon, we can enjoy some time at Trerice, with its award winning Tudor garden and old Cornish apple orchards.

As we make our way up the coast, we may find some time to explore one or two of the pretty villages en-route, such as Clovelly, where donkeys are still used to haul goods and people up and down the narrow cobbled street to the sea. This village also offers a small but lovely garden.

NIGHT STOP: Barnstaple, Devon

Day 10, Tuesday

This morning, we can choose some time at either Tapeley Park or Marwood Hill but we will want to leave ample time for our main attraction, the RHS Rosemoor.

RHS Rosemoor, created and given to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1988 by Lady Anne Berry, this magnificent garden has been developed into a joyous 65 acres of gardens and woodlands. Highlights include Herb and Cottage Gardens, a Potager, a Fruit and Vegetable Garden, two beautiful Rose Gardens, a Foliage and Plantsman's Garden.

NIGHT STOP: Barnstaple, Devon

Day 11, Wednesday

We will pay a visit to the charming Victorian country house, Knightshays Court; the gardens here feature lily pools, floral borders, amusing topiary and a newly restored kitchen garden.

We will make our way across the dramatic Exmoor Moors to our accommodation near Glastonbury, the mystic town reputedly the site of Arthur's burial and 'New Age' capital of England.

NIGHT STOP: Glastonbury area

Day 12, Thursday

Wilton House is truly one of the country's treasure houses. Here, amidst nearly 500 years of history, you will experience living history at its very best as you wander through its magnificent rooms, marvel at its architecture, soak in its fine paintings and be swept off your feet by its spectacular gardens.

The grand finale to our gardens adventure is one that requires no introduction – the RHS Wisley is known the world over, and with good reason! We will spend time exploring the rock garden, alpine garden, wild garden, formal rose courtyards and all that this wonderful place has to offer.

PLEASE NOTE: There is a minimum of 6 guests required to operate this departure. Please do not confirm airfare prior to verifying arrangements.

Please note: All garden opening times are correct at time of printing this website.

While we will do our utmost to include all of the properties mentioned as central visits, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to deliver a planned visit due to changes in opening days or times that we could not have been aware of at the time of loading this tour to our website.