Private Gardens of Herefordshire
Private Gardens of Herefordshire
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Private Gardens of Herefordshire
4 Days Starting and ending in Various pick-up points available - please contact us for details
Visiting: Misarden Park Lake, Herefordshire, Thruxton, Westonbury Mill Water Gardens, Hampton Court Castle, Stockton Bury Gardens, The Laskett
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BHER
Group Type:
Private
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:
Coach tours (worldwide), Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Rural Herefordshire boasts some of Britain’s finest gardens, offering a great variety of styles, from water gardens to plantsman’s gardens; from a garden of sentiment and memories to a garden of history and refinement. The rolling hills of Herefordshire are home to some truly stunning gardens, none more so than Westonbury Mill Water Gardens. Be transported into a world of inspiration and wonder as you wander through the maze of paths, under leaves of Gunnera and over the lily-pond on the Monet Bridge. Whether it’s the romance of climbers, the sweet scent of rose beds or the openness of a wildflower meadow, you are sure be captured by the essence and beauty of this hide-away garden. Further highlights include Sir Roy Strong’s former garden The Laskett, in the parish of Much Birch. This 'uniquely autobiographical' garden of sentiments and memories was created not long after the marriage of Sir Roy and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman in 1973. Among the many interesting sights in this lovingly designed garden are a rosemary bush that belonged to Julia’s nanny, and an area dedicated to the couple's cats. At Stockton Bury, a four-acre plantsman’s garden full of unusual plants, we are privileged to have a workshop, tour and talk with the gardener. And of course, no trip to Herefordshire would be complete without paying a visit to the award-winning gardens at Hampton Court Castle. They were only completed a few years ago, but the hard work has paid off — they are one of the most ambitious garden creations of our time, featuring a walled kitchen garden, a scenic Magnolia Walk, a thousand-strong yew maze and an intriguingly named shrub 'The Bride'...
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Misarden Park Lake, Herefordshire
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Three Counties Hotel, Hereford
Meals Included: Dinner
We depart by coach to our first visit, the garden at Misarden Park, near Stroud. Originally designed in the 17th century, the gardens were redeveloped in the 20th century by Sir Edwin Lutyens in his famous   Edwardian style. Herbaceous borders, topiary, shrubs, grass terraces and the newly planted rill and lavender-and-hebe parterre are all contained within a walled garden. The manor house’s elevated position allows for scenic views over the five golden valleys of Stroud. Lunch is available here (not included) and there is also a traditional plant nursery.
Following our visit, we continue our journey into Herefordshire and to our comfortable hotel, the 3-star Three Counties Hotel in Hereford.
Day 2
Location: Thruxton, Westonbury Mill Water Gardens
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Three Counties Hotel, Hereford
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We begin today with a visit to the private garden of The Old Rectory at Thruxton. With breathtaking views over Herefordshire countryside, this constantly changing plantsman's garden is stocked with unusual perennials and roses, together with woodland borders, a gazebo, a vegetable parterre, a glasshouse and a natural pond.
In the afternoon we continue to Westonbury Mill Water Garden. Entering the main part of the garden over the Mill Pool you come to the Bog Garden, rich in water-loving plants. Paths cross the bog allowing a good view of individual plants. From the Bog Garden you may wander in any of several directions, visiting the Big Pond flanked by giant irises and rushes, the Cairn Garden, where boardwalks take you over a maze of small channels and luxuriant growth, or the Lily Pond and the blue `Monet' Bridge. The garden is home to a number of delightful follies, hand-built by the owner, including a unique, water-powered Giant Cuckoo Clock!
Day 3
Location: Hampton Court Castle, Stockton Bury Gardens
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Three Counties Hotel, Hereford
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, we begin by travelling to the gardens at Hampton Court Castle, a 15th century castle surrounded by 1000 acres of stunning parkland, pasture and woodlands with the River Lugg running alongside. The gardens were only recently completed and are one of the most ambitious garden creations of our time. Original Victorian garden walls enclose stunning new flower gardens divided by canals, island pavilions and pleached avenues. The kitchen garden is an ornamental garden of fruit and vegetables, supplying produce to the Orangery Restaurant for its seasonal menu. There is a maze of a thousand yews with a Gothic tower at its centre - climb to the top for a panoramic view of the gardens or descend underground to a tunnel that leads to a waterfall in the sunken garden. Beautiful herbaceous borders stretch out from a one hundred and fifty-year-old wisteria tunnel that leads to vast lawns and ancient trees beside the castle. Beyond the lawns are riverside and woodland walks.
Our second visit today takes us to Stockton Bury Gardens at Kimbolton. It’s here, after lunch, that we really get down to business with a garden tour, workshop and talk with the gardener. A true plantsman’s garden, this four-acre site is divided into different areas by brick and stone walls and yew hedges. Thoughtfully laid out and beautifully cared for, it contains a wealth of unusual clematis, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous plants. Many of the more unusual plants are for sale and are well-labelled, a good size and reasonably priced – the perfect souvenir!
Day 4
Location: The Laskett
Meals Included: Breakfast
Following breakfast we check out of the hotel and depart for Sir Roy Strong’s former garden The Laskett. The garden was created not long after Sir Roy and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman married in 1973. They created a garden of sentiment; memories of people, places and events. There is a Rosemary bush that belonged to Julia’s nanny and an area dedicated to their cats. The garden was very much divided into "his" and "hers" areas with Julia taking care of the kitchen garden and Roy with the architectural elements and the formal enclosures.
In the afternoon we return to our original departure points where we expect to arrive late afternoon/early evening.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Meals - as per the itinerary
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Drinks with Meals
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Entrance Fees
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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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.
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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 .
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
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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.
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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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