Enjoy Britain’s best public and private gardens on a Garden Tour
For those inspired by the wonderful floral displays and designs at the spectacular RHS Chelsea Flower Show - which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in May - HF Holidays is highlighting its UK Garden Tours which are led by expert guides and encourage guests to experience the colour, variety and beauty of Britain’s best public and private gardens.
New for 2013 is a seven-night Shropshire Gardens holiday – led by Hilary Thomas, a qualified horticulturalist and garden designer – which includes visits to Benthall Hall – a fine 16C stone house close to the River Severn which boasts picturesque terraces, rock garden and rose garden – and Hodnet Hall with its 60 acres of woodland, ponds and colourful long borders.
Other highlights include Wightwick Manor’s impressive topiary, David Austin Rose Garden, Stockton Bury Gardens as well as other superb private gardens in Shropshire and Worcestershire. Starting 29 June, the cost is £799 with accommodation at the company’s Longmynd Hotel at Church Stretton in the Shropshire Hills.
Or, enjoy a Somerset & North Devon Garden Tour – where the milder climate of the West Country supports an abundance of plant growth – and combine magnificent coastal scenery with wonderful gardens such as Marwood Hill – known for its collection of Japanese Iris – and Hestercombe, a stunning garden of mellow stonework, pools and delightful planting.
There are also visits to Rosemoor, the RHS “Wisley of the west” where more than 4000 plants are represented in Lady Anne’s Garden; to medieval Cothay Manor with is white, scarlet and purple themed gardens together with East Lambrook Manor Gardens, recognised as the ‘home of English cottage gardening’. Starting 08 June, this seven-night holiday costs £799 inclusive of accommodation at the company’s Holnicote House at Selworthy.
All prices are per person, twin-share and include full board accommodation, visits to a range of private and public gardens, entrances to gardens and transport as well as a sociable evening programme and the services of an experienced leader.
For more information, visit hfholidays.co.uk.