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Special Group Tours

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specialgrouptours@yahoo.com

COUNTRY HOUSES & GARDENS OF NORTH WALES
4 days / 3 nights

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.

Tour Dates: Your choice! Begin on any day of the week.

Cost: Depends upon the number of guests in your party.

2 Guests: $2699 USD per person; $95 USD single supplement

4 - 11 Guests: $1899 USD per person; $95 USD single supplement

12 - 15 Guests: $1129 USD per person; $95 USD single supplement

16 Guests + - ask us for a quote

What your tour package includes: The private services of your driver/guide for 4 touring days, your accommodation for 3 nights while on the tour including breakfast and dinner daily, 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 are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.

Why not Link it? This tour ’links up’ with any of the 3-day tours in our “Name the Date” Series such as Literary Kent and Sussex, Heart of England or Hampshire Gardens to name a few. Heaps of choices! Mix, match and create a holiday break to suit your schedule!Tour Dates: Your choice! Begin on any day of the week.

Contact us for availability: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com

This tour begins and finishes in Manchester. You will be picked up from your London hotel at approximately 09:00.

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!

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