England: Spring Gardens of Cornwall 731

England: Spring Gardens of Cornwall 731

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4 Days From

$1115

$1080

England: Spring Gardens of Cornwall 731

4 Days Starting in Tiverton, United Kingdom and ending in Exeter, United Kingdom

Visiting: Newquay, St Austell, Cornwall, Exeter

Tour operator:

Brightwater Holidays

Tour code:

BSGC

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

6 - 25

Physical rating:

Light

Age range:

1-99

Special diets catered:

Vegans, Meat, Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

UK tours by Coach

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $1115 $1080 Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$35

NB: Prices correct on 13-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on a captivating journey through the enchanting gardens of Cornwall with the "England: Spring Gardens of Cornwall 731" tour. This delightful escape begins at the Gothic Revival Knightshayes Court, where you'll explore its lush gardens and grand interiors. Stay at the cozy Pentire Hotel in Newquay, offering stunning coastal views. Discover the wonders of the Eden Project, a marvel of reclaimed land housing tropical and Mediterranean biomes. Wander through the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a testament to Europe's largest garden restoration. Experience the vibrant Trebah Garden, with its exotic plant collections, and the serene Glendurgan Garden, known for its maze and spring blooms. Conclude your adventure at Killerton, exploring its historic house and gardens. Enjoy comfortable coaching, expert guidance, and three nights of dinner, bed, and breakfast, making this a perfect retreat for garden enthusiasts.

Highlights

  • Knightshayes Court, a Gothic Revival country house with a celebrated garden featuring a water lily pool and Victorian kitchen garden.

  • Visit the Eden Project, a reclaimed china clay pit housing two plant conservatories, including a tropical biome.

  • Explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan, known for its historic shrubs and Europe's largest garden restoration project.

  • Discover Trebah, a wild Cornish garden with exotic Mediterranean plants and a Rhododendron Valley.

  • Experience Glendurgan Garden, with its hedge maze and exotic plants, set in three valleys leading to the Helford River.

  • Visit Killerton, a historic estate with a collection of period costumes and a garden featuring rhododendrons and magnolias.

Places You'll See

England: Spring Gardens Of Cornwall 731

England: Spring Gardens Of Cornwall 731

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1

Location: Newquay

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Pentire Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

We depart from our pick-up points by coach and travel to Knightshayes Court – one of the finest examples anywhere of the Gothic Revival country house.  The extraordinary “medieval romantic” interiors give an atmospheric insight into grand country living and the celebrated garden features a water lily pool, topiary, specimen trees, rare shrubs, seasonal colour and an impressive Victorian kitchen garden which supplies fresh, organic fruit and vegetables to the property’s restaurant.  Lunch is available here (not included).
We continue to our comfortable accommodation at the Pentire Hotel, a stone’s throw from Fistral Beach and stunning coastal views across the Atlantic.

Day 2

Location: St Austell

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Pentire Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast we travel to St Austell for a visit to the Eden Project, which since its opening in 2001 become one of Cornwall’s star attractions. The Eden Project is a 50 metre deep, 34 acre china clay pit which was reclaimed and transformed to house two controlled-environment plant conservatories, the larger of which recreates the climate of the Tropics and displays some of its plants such as cotton, rice, rubber, orchids, bamboo and rainforest flowers.  At its highest point it reaches 50 metres, taller than Nelson’s Column.
Our next visit will be to the Lost Gardens of Heligan.  The award winning gardens, asleep for more than seventy years, are the scene of the largest garden restoration project in Europe.  In the spring of 1991, the Gardens of Heligan lay under a blanket of bramble, ivy, rampant laurel and fallen timber.  A year later the restoration team opened the gardens to enable the public to share in the excitement of their discovery. This time of year sees the reawakening of Heligan’s fabulous collection of historic shrubs, including their National Collection of camellias and rhododendrons.

Day 3

Location: Cornwall

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Pentire Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast we depart for a visit to Trebah, a wild and colourful Cornish garden with something for everyone. The garden was laid out originally in the 1840s and flourished to become one of England’s great gardens by the 1930s.  After the death of the then owner, the garden was sadly neglected for many years until it was taken over by the Hibbert family, who still run it today. Wander down the “Zig-Zag”, a slope where a rare collection of exotic Mediterranean plants was recently planted. We will also see Rhododendron Valley, a huge amphitheatre of sixty foot high rhododendrons, many of which were imported as seed in the 1890s. It was here that rare Chinese palm trees, giant ferns and a host of other exotic plants were discovered a few years ago when some of the rhododendrons were cut back.
We then continue to Glendurgan, a place of great beauty and tranquillity. Three valleys converge and drop towards the sparkling waters of the Helford River and the hamlet and beach at Durgan. The garden has many fine trees, rare and exotic plants from the four corners of the globe, and at this time of year outstanding spring displays of magnolias and camellias. Look out too for the hedge maze, originally built by the owners in the 1830s to entertain their 12 children.

Day 4

Location: Exeter

Meals Included: Breakfast

After your full English breakfast we head for home. En-route we will call in at the house and gardens of Killerton.  The house displays a magnificent collection of 18th– 20th century costumes in period rooms (originally known as the Paulise de Bush collection).  The estate is set on a steep wooded hillside with the remains of an Iron Age Hill fort on top of it.  Countless trees and shrubs thrive in the gardens including rhododendrons and magnolias which should be coming into full bloom. A masterly rock garden in an old quarry sparkles among mossy rocks under a canopy of old camellias and maples.

What's Included

  • Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the comfortable Pentire Hotel, Newquay

    The tour includes three nights of dinner, bed, and breakfast at the Pentire Hotel in Newquay.

  • Comfortable coaching throughout

    The tour provides comfortable coaching for all travel throughout the itinerary.

  • All visits as outlined

    All visits mentioned in the itinerary are included in the tour package.

  • Services of a Brightwater Holidays tour manager

    The services of a Brightwater Holidays tour manager are included in the tour.

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

    Tipping and gratuities are not included in the tour package.

  • Lunch on Day 1

    Lunch on Day 1 at Knightshayes Court is not included in the tour package.

Mode of Transport

Travel in comfort with coaching throughout the tour, ensuring a seamless journey to all the outlined visits. The tour includes convenient pick-up and drop-off locations, making it easy to explore the beautiful gardens and attractions of Cornwall.

Accommodation

Enjoy a comfortable stay at the Pentire Hotel in Newquay, offering three nights' dinner, bed, and breakfast. Located just a stone's throw from Fistral Beach, the hotel provides stunning coastal views across the Atlantic, ensuring a relaxing and scenic experience.

Check out our Q&As

  • What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?

    The tour includes three nights' dinner, bed, and breakfast at the comfortable Pentire Hotel in Newquay.

  • What is included in the tour package?

    The tour package includes three nights' dinner, bed, and breakfast at the Pentire Hotel, comfortable coaching throughout, all visits as outlined in the itinerary, and the services of a Brightwater Holidays tour manager.

  • Are meals included in the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes breakfast and dinner at the Pentire Hotel.

  • What are some of the key attractions visited on this tour?

    Key attractions include Knightshayes Court, the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah, Glendurgan, and Killerton.

  • Is lunch included during the visits to the attractions?

    Lunch is not included during the visits to the attractions. For example, lunch is available at Knightshayes Court but is not included in the tour package.

  • What can I expect to see at the Eden Project?

    At the Eden Project, you can expect to see two controlled-environment plant conservatories, with the larger one recreating the climate of the Tropics and displaying plants such as cotton, rice, rubber, orchids, bamboo, and rainforest flowers.

  • What is special about the Lost Gardens of Heligan?

    The Lost Gardens of Heligan are known for being the largest garden restoration project in Europe, featuring a collection of historic shrubs, including a National Collection of camellias and rhododendrons.

  • What unique features does Trebah garden offer?

    Trebah garden offers a wild and colourful landscape with features such as the 'Zig-Zag' slope with exotic Mediterranean plants, Rhododendron Valley with sixty-foot-high rhododendrons, and a collection of rare Chinese palm trees and giant ferns.

  • What can visitors explore at Glendurgan Garden?

    Visitors at Glendurgan Garden can explore fine trees, rare and exotic plants, outstanding spring displays of magnolias and camellias, and a hedge maze originally built in the 1830s.

  • What is notable about the gardens at Killerton?

    The gardens at Killerton are notable for their collection of rhododendrons and magnolias, a masterly rock garden in an old quarry, and a magnificent collection of 18th–20th century costumes displayed in period rooms.

  • Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?

    You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.

  • What facilities do your coaches have?

    Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.

  • Do I have to go on the included excursions?

    Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.

  • Is there time to relax?

    Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.

  • Do I need to be an expert?

    Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.

  • How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?

    You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding

  • Do you have self-drive holidays?

    Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!

  • What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?

    There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.

  • Where are your departure points?

    UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .

  • What about the company that will be kept?

    For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.

  • What is a Brightwater Holiday?

    Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.

  • Why is there a single supplement?

    Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.

  • How much are your optional excursions?

    Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.

  • Can I pre-book my coach seats?

    Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.

  • How to get there? Easy!

    With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.

  • Do I need to have travel insurance?

    Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.

Reviews of this operator

Trusted Customer  

Brightwater Holidays offers great value

28-Nov-2019

I would highly recommend Brightwater Holidays. It offers excellent service and value for money. This was my first tour as I normally arrange holidays myself, but this tour - which was to the gardens of Kent and Sussex - was a very pleasant change of pace.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Brightwater Holidays Customer  

My experience with Brightwater Holidays

08-Aug-2019

The tour was well managed, the sites visited were all interesting and linked to the theme of the Picts and their place in history, the hotel was comfortable and the coach journeys were well paced. I have been with Brightwater before and will certainly travel with them again

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Alan Hawkes (Google Reviewer)  

We were on the Tour...

28-Aug-2022

We were on the Tour of the Outer Hebrides. We had a great experience, in no small part due to the excellence of the tour manager and driver.

Brightwater Holidays Custome  

Wonderful experience with brilliant information

31-Jul-2019

The most important factor was an amazing guide in Alastair Walker whose knowledge and care for clients was fantastic. The whole trips are superbly organised

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Eric Webb (Google Reviewer)  

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday...

07-Oct-2023

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday not so good. Various 'issues' to do with scheduling and organisation. I'm happy to report however that - after an interval - a letter expressing disappointment brought a full response - including a generous refund. So - with fingers slightly crossed - we'll be booking with Brightwater again in due course.

John G R (Google Reviewer)  

Now, this is a wee...

08-Nov-2024

Now, this is a wee family run holiday that is run from a bedroom. Outrageous prices for a holiday in scotland.👍

Kevin Barrett (Google Reviewer)  

The recent tour in Northumberland...

30-Sep-2023

The recent tour in Northumberland turned out to be a shambles. Our South London driver took us to Newcastle, but no guide to meet us. Next day still no guide and the bus driver attempted to salvage the tour the best he could despite having no knowledge of the attractions. Fortunately one of the passengers Googled the tides for Holy Island. No holiday guide ever showed up. Coach and hotel were fine. Do these people only offer self guided tours? Take Shearings next time.

ALEXANDRA MCQUEEN (Google Reviewer)  

Been trying to get a...

17-Oct-2023

Been trying to get a reply from them for over a week. Booked Xmas tour, confirmation said pick up subject to numbers, they never said anything when booking and theyve been paid in full. Would not recommend!

Dp Green (Google Reviewer)  

I had heard this company...

20-Feb-2024

I had heard this company was a nightmare to deal with, but thought I'd give it a go. Signed up for a tour, then emailed them about how to pay off the balance. No response to 3 emails. I've never encountered a tour company that ignored questions on how to pay off a balance. Looked into other reviews and found many complaints about cancelled tours and refusals to refund deposits.

Kieran Thompson (Google Reviewer)  

Two of your tour busses...

26-Jul-2021

Two of your tour busses used the A814 from Garelochhead to Arrochar on 24th July 2021. This route is not suitable for large vehicles and your drivers should not have taken the huge coaches that way. There are clear signs at both ends of the road indicating it is not suitable for HGV's. Our car had to go off into the soft verge to allow your coaches to pass. Please amend your routes to avoid this road in future.

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1 Select your preferred date

Monday - Thursday

Mar 17, 2025 - Mar 20, 2025
$1115 $1080

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$35

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.

    At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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