Gardens of West Wales
Gardens of West Wales
Gardens of West Wales
5 Days Starting in Swansea, UK and ending in Dyffryn Gardens, Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd CF37, UK
Visiting: Swansea, Swansea Botanical Gardens, Pembrokeshire, Picton Castle, Upton Castle Gardens, Dyffryn Fernant Garden, Ceredigion, Cae Hir Gardens, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Aberglasney Gardens, Laugharne, Dyffryn Gardens
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BGWW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Physical rating:
Low, Gentle
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Please contact Brightwater with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Tucked away in the rolling countryside of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire are some fine parks and gardens, both large and small; ancient and modern. The centrepiece of our tour is the National Botanic Garden of Wales, the first garden of its type to be created in the United Kingdom for 200 years. This spectacular re-interpretation of the historical garden blends the careful restoration of the historic, double-walled garden with Norman Foster’s Great Greenhouse, the largest single span glasshouse in the world, where mere panes of glass separate the familiar green hills of Wales from a panoramic sweep of warm, Mediterranean scenery.  By contrast Aberglasney is a superb 16th/17th century garden, which was discovered after 50 years of neglect and has been restored to produce a garden with immense appeal, including a unique Elizabethan/Jacobean cloister and parapet walk. We visit two superb woodland gardens, at Picton Castle and Upton Castle along with Cae Hir, which has established itself as one of Wales’ best loved gardens. Singleton Botanic Gardens, home to a spectacular herbaceous border. We also visit some interesting private gardens, including Dyffryn Fernant, built from scratch by Christina Shand and Lamphey Walled Garden, which demonstrates how quickly a garden can be restored and improved, and round off our tour in the tranquil surroundings of Dyffryn Botanic Gardens have also been recently restored to Thomas Mawson’s original 1904 design with the help of lottery funding.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Swansea, Swansea Botanical Gardens, Pembrokeshire
Meals Included: Dinner
We depart from your pick-up point and travel west to Swansea and Singleton Park Botanic Gardens, located within the old walled garden which was once part of the estate of Lord Swansea. The gardens contain many fine specimens of rare and exotic plants. A wonderful feature on entering from the north is the herbaceous border, which was originally planted in 1921. The stunning plant collections and creative bedding schemes are truly breath-taking.
We continue into Pembrokeshire and visit Lamphey Walled Garden, which has been extensively renovated since 2005. With several hundred different species and cultivars it is a plantsperson's garden with a very natural feel as wildlife are wholly encouraged with attention given to plant selection, peat free compost and natural fertiliser being used and wild areas where biodiversity can flourish. Over 40 Salvia species fill a large border with vibrant colour, old roses, lavender, sunflowers, grasses and ferns adorn other twists and turns in the garden. Espalier apples and pears plus fan trained plums, almond, apricot and cherries are starting to bear fruit after five years of development. A heritage vegetable garden grown naturally provides interest and food all season long.
Following this we transfer to our hotel.
Day 2
Location: Picton Castle, Upton Castle Gardens
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning following breakfast we will visit Picton Castle. The gardens comprise 40 acres of some of the most beautiful woodland gardens in West Wales. Discover woodland walks, a maze and rhododendrons. The Walled Garden has an elegant fountain, rose strewn arches and a door that leads to the fernery, a tranquil and fascinating habitat for less hardy fern species.
In the afternoon we visit the gardens of Upton Castle, which consist of 35 acres of listed historic gardens, surrounded by ancient woodlands containing a number of trees listed as veterans. Within the gardens there are spectacular herbaceous borders, a delightful formal rose garden and a fascinating, traditional 19th century walled garden, now being restored to its former use as a kitchen garden. Rare trees and shrubs abound throughout the gardens and include a stunning collection of rhododendrons, tree Magnolias and Camellias whilst the arboretum lists amongst its many unusual specimens a large handkerchief tree, Davidia involucrata, Drymis winteri, Cunninghamia and the fern leafed beech Fagus heterophylla.
Day 3
Location: Dyffryn Fernant Garden, Ceredigion, Cae Hir Gardens
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast we depart for Dyffryn Fernant Garden, a plantsman’s garden, created from scratch by Christina Shand and David Allum. They have made a number of ‘rooms’ including an azalea bank, a bog garden and a fernery and camellia walk. These rooms are punctuated by attractive sculptures plus mouthwatering displays of herbaceous shrubs.Â
We cross briefly into Ceridigion (Cardiganshire) for our afternoon visit to the gardens of Cae Hir, which since it first opened to the public in 1989 has become one of Wales' best loved gardens.  Owned, managed and maintained by two generations of the Akkermans family who first moved over from Holland in 1983, the garden is a love affair between nature and nurture. Cae Hir has become synonymous with blending the wild and the cultivated, of using ordinary materials in extraordinary ways and of thinking 'outside the box' in its approach to garden design.
Day 4
Location: National Botanic Garden of Wales, Aberglasney Gardens
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Following breakfast we will travel to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, in the exquisite location of a 568 acre estate in the heart of Carmarthenshire. Among the innovative and informative features here are the Great Greenhouses (the largest single span glasshouse in the world – focusing on temperature species, many of them endangered); the oval walled garden; the water discovery centre and the herbaceous boardwalk.
We continue to Aberglasney, set in the beautiful Towy valley. This is a superb 16th/17th century garden, which was rediscovered after 50 years of neglect and has been restored to produce a garden with immense appeal by a young and energetic team of gardeners. Set within nine acres are six different spaces with a rich and diverse collection of plants, including three walled gardens and the unique Elizabethan/Jacobean cloister; a walled garden of concentric herbaceous beds and a parapet walk.
Day 5
Location: Laugharne, Dyffryn Gardens
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning after breakfast we will check out of our hotel. First today we will visit The Boathouse in Laugharne, where the poet Dylan Thomas lived and worked in his later years and which provided many of the characters featured in his poetic works. The house is now owned by the local council and is dressed in authentic 1950s style, including some of the original furniture, with a recording of Thomas’s distinctive voice playing in the background.
Our final visit is to the magnificent Dyffryn Botanic Gardens, a Grade 1 listed Edwardian garden designed by landscape architect Thomas Mawson displaying a series of garden ‘rooms’ enclosed within clipped Yew hedges. There is something to see year round at Dyffryn – a Roman garden; Japanese garden; fountains and pools and an arboretum containing trees from all around the world including the original Acer Griseum collected by ‘Chinese Wilson’. Dyffryn is one of the best 100 gardens in the UK as selected by the British Tourism Association. A light lunch is included here.
What's Included
-
Accommodation
-
Services of a professional tour manager
-
Comfortable coach travel throughout
-
Meals - as per the itinerary
-
All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
-
Drinks with Meals
-
Entrance Fees
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
-
Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
-
Are flights included in this tour?
No
-
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
-
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
-
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
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.
Why book with tourhub?
Safe & Secure
Your money is protected in an external trust until you travel.
100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.
The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.
Guaranteed Best Value
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.
(Operator terms may apply)
Expert Knowledge
Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.
Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.
Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.
Trusted Service
Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.
Don't just take our word for it...
"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."