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Special Group Tours Toll Free: 1 866 725 5250 |
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COUNTRY HOUSES & GARDENS OF NORTH WALES You could argue that North Wales is one gigantic garden! With the Snowdonia National Park at its heart, it really is the GREAT outdoors. However, it is not often appreciated that this northern end of the Principality boasts some of the finest gardens in the UK. It’s all a result of the climate. Rain, being close to the sea, having sheltered areas in the lea of mountains, and holding pockets of alluvial soil from ancient glacial movement have all contributed to the perfect growing environment. The diversity is amazing; from the Brazilian rain forest trees at Portmerion, the Redwoods of Bodnant, the Yew and Lime topiary at Chirk Castle, the organic gardens of Plas Yn Rhiw, to the many plant species nurtured at local nurseries such as the 18 times Chelsea Flower Show winner, Dibleys Nursery. The size is equally astounding; 80 acres and five terraces at Bodnant, 13 miles of walks at Erddig, Chirk’s five acres. And it’s not just the attraction of gardens and garden design that makes each place worth visiting; Portmerion is the world famed Italianate village. Pas Newydd holds the biggest collection of the paintings of Whistler, Chirk is a perfectly preserved 900 year old castle, Bodrhyddan Hall a 3000 year old Egyptian Mummy! Put these in the setting of the Snowdonia National Park and fabulous coast line and you have memorable four days.
Available at any date for private groups of 2 – 15 people. Price available upon application. Rates are based upon vehicle and guide hire per day; groups of 7 - 15 would have a per person rate same/similar to one of our scheduled tours of the same length. Please note, this is a suggested itinerary. It may be revised to suit your individual group needs.
If you do not have a group of traveling companions and are still interested in this custom tour itinerary, you are welcomed to join a waitlist… We record who is looking for travel companions to make up a tour with them. We need between 6 and 8 persons minimum to operate a tour without it being uneconomic for us or too expensive for you. Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd will be happy to run the occasional special departure IF there is sufficient interest. If you would like to check on or join a waitlist for this itinerary, please email us for full information: kate@specialgrouptours.com
TENTATIVE ITINERARY DAY ONE We depart Manchester and drive to North Wales. We start the tour as we mean to go on with a superlative day, featuring the first and foremost of Welsh gardens; Bodnant. World famed with its five magnificent terraces, the Dell (a delightful valley of majestic trees, wild flowers) and spectacular panoramic views across the river Conway, it will give us an afternoon of sheer pleasure and inspiration. Depending on which tour departure you join, our other main highlight of the day will be a morning visit to a local garden-elated festival. The June tour features the St Asaph Woodfest Wales where you’ll see chainsaw carving, lumber-jacking, and axe racing amongst other things! Our October departure features the Apple Fest at Erigg. There’s also a great craft marquee for souvenirs. Where the tour doesn’t include a festival visit we’ll instead be seeing Cheshire’s Tatton Park gardens. This award-winning estate with neo-classical mansion, 20 hectares (50 acres) of gardens, working farm and Tudor old hall, is set in 400-hectare (1,000-acre) deer park. NIGHTSTOP: Llandudno DAY TWO What better way to begin than with a breathtaking scenic drive through the very heart of Snowdonia, passing the fame Betyws Y Coed, and on to Clough William-Ellis’s astounding Italiante village of Portmerion. In addition to the almost surreal architecture you have Brazilian rain forest trees, wild Rhododendrons, Himlayan Firs and the largest willow-like Maytenus boaria in the UK! Next to nearby Plas Bronanw, another William-Ellis creation but this two acre site is perfectly formed with a clipped topiary a, decorative metalwork, ponds and statues. Finally, if time permits, to the very westerly point of Wales on the Llyn Peninsular and to Plas Yn Rhiw. Here we’ll find wild flowers grown and preserved that have virtually disappeared from the countryside. NIGHTSTOP: Llandudno DAY THREE Plas Newydd is home to the Marquess Of Anglesey and to the biggest collection of paintings by Rex Whistler. The gardens are based on a Henry Repton design and a highlight is the woodland walk along a marine path to the Menai Strait and a simply stunning view. Penthyn Castle has Snowdonia as one view and Anglesey as the other. Inside, there’s one of the most richly ornamented 19th century interiors ever created (on the profits of Welsh slate and Jamaican sugar), a bed built for Queen Victoria, an amazing collection of dolls, extensive Victorian kitchens and one of the best art collections in Wales. Our final visit of the day, subject to time and tour participants’ interests will be the Treborth Botanic garden at Bangor University. NIGHTSTOP: Llandudno DAY FOUR Our final day takes us first to Chirk Castle. This castle, built in the time of Edward I, has been home to the Myddleton family for over 500 years. You could say the gardens were historic! The gardens were landscaped in the 18th century. There’s a 18th century yew topiary, a 17th century lime tree arcade. With a view over 9 counties, it’s a perfect start to our tour. Next to Erddig, a Grade I listed garden landscaped in the late 1700s. With rare fruit trees, the National Ivy collection and much more along its 13 miles of paths we’ll find a few things to please! On the October tour we’ll attend the Apple festival at Erdigg on Saturday and another garden will be visited instead today. Finally, at nearby Ruthin, we’ll find Dibleys Nurseries. This is the country’s leading grower of stretocarpus and 18 times Gold medal winner at Chelsea, with ten acres of planting!
This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd |
