New tour for 2008 - Early Summer Gardens of the South West of England

Once again, I am delighted to be working in association with Alexandra Messervy of ‘The English Manner’.

Once again, I am delighted to be working in association with Alexandra Messervy of 'In the English Manner'.

Departing in mid May this specially created programme will be strictly limited to 16 guests.

11th-18th May, 2008 and an additional opportunity to visit Chelsea Flower Show

Sunday, 11th May
Arrive Bristol, UK via Continental Airlines.
Any other flights can be accommodated with transportation supplement applicable.
After customs formalities you will be met by our special gardens expert, Franki McCabe.  Once the luggage is retrieved, you will depart by private transport to our first destination, our delightful accommodation in mid-Devon. 

Close to an abundance of wildlife, Loyton offers a stylish retreat with traditions of a house party from a bygone age.  Butler service awaits you at this contemporarily designed luxury haven with 10 spacious bedrooms, roll top baths, log fires and oak floors.  In addition to the usual country pursuits of clay pigeon shooting, billiards and fishing, nearby is the antiques emporium of the town of Dulverton, in the heart of ‘Lorna Doone’ country, and close to the North Devon and South Devon coasts.

Loyton has been owned by Alick Barnes and his family for many years and the estate is farmed by Alick and his sons, which also offers a wonderful shoot.  Contemporary chic combines with traditional hospitality and we believe that the interesting way in which the House and old farm buildings have been designed and furnished during recent renovations will provide a series of talking points for the serious architect and designer as well as eager enthusiasts, country lovers and gardeners alike.

Please note that we reserve the right to alter accommodation to a similar standard if the need arises.

After a welcome brunch and a chance to unpack, we will depart by private transport for a very special guided tour of the gardens of Knightshayes, guided by Michael Hickson, who used to be Head Gardener of the Estate and is very well known to The English Manner and our friends.  A traditional Afternoon Devon Cream Tea will be served, before we return for a light supper and perhaps an early night to combat the effects of jet lag.

All meals at Loyton are included in our itinerary, but a personal account for guests’ purchase of beverages and any other items will be itemised separately.  Travellers’ cheques may be taken.

Monday, 12th May
Departing after breakfast, we will visit the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Rosemoor, set deep in the North Devon countryside.  Extending to some 65 acres, there is a fantastic display of some 2000 roses, herb garden and potager, extensive herbaceous borders and an alpine house.

After an opportunity for a light lunch in the café/restaurant (own arrangements), we are delighted to have arranged a very special private guided tour of the gardens of Castle Hill, the home of the delightful and welcoming Earl and Countess of Arran and the Earl Fortescue family from 1454 to 1989.

Known as the ‘most beautiful house in Devon’, we will arrive at Castle Hill for 2.30 p.m., when Lady Arran will show us around her wonderful home and we will tour the beautifully tended Estate, seeing woodland gardens planted with magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, many fine and unusual shrubs and carpets of bluebells.  There is a newly designed Millennium Garden with lavender edged herbaceous borders designed by Xa Tollemache, a RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winner, and there is also some amazing topiary sculpture brilliantly designed and built by Giles Rayner.  We will be joined at Castle Hill by the founder of The English Manner, Alexandra Messervy.  Lady Arran will entertain us to Afternoon Tea in her lovely drawing room, and we will then return to our hotel for a second night and a farewell dinner.

Tuesday, 13th May
We will this morning depart Exeter and drive a short distance into the borders of Cornwall, where we will stop en route at the garden of Judith Stephens at Marsh Villa, which is close to Fowey and it is here that Daphne du Maurier based her novel, ‘The House on the Strand’.  The Daphne du Maurier Festival is held each summer here and at the time of going to print dates may coincide with our visit.  A magical three acre water and woodland garden, lying in a former creek.  First planed in 1988 the garden is well established, with extensive herbaceous borders and mixed beds, amongst a charming network of waterways that drain into Treesmill Marsh. 

We will stop for lunch en route (own arrangements) before we visit Pine Lodge, a 30 acre estate and home of Mr. and Mrs. Clemo.  These lovely gardens contain a range of 5,500 well labelled plants including rhododendrons, camelias and magnolias, as well as many Mediterranean and Southern Hemisphere plants.  Trees are also a speciality with an acer glade, and a collection of over 80 conifers in a four acre pinetum.

We will then drive on to the deepest South Cornwall, arriving in time for dinner together at the Meudon Hotel, at Mawnan Smith on the Helford Passage, where we will stay whilst in Cornwall.

Dinner is not included in our accommodation package, and guests are advised to let us know if they would like to take dinner during their stay for their own accounts.

Wednesday, 14th May
The Lost Gardens of Heligan will be our first visit today.  The garden originated in 1603 and was added to throughout the eighteenth century, becoming neglected throughout most of the nineteenth century.  In 1991 Tim Smit initiated the reclamation of the garden and it is now the largest on-going garden restoration in Europe.  The process has included removing 1500 tons of timber, and many rare species have been discovered. 

We will then move on to the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Perry at Bosvigo, where a series of walled gardens surround a lovely Georgian house.  The gardens have been planted with well chosen and unusual plants.  There is a nineteenth century conservatory and a woodland garden.

We will return to the Helford Passage and will be able to take afternoon tea at Trebah, a personal favourite of ours.  Set in a long ravine running down to the sea, a series of water gardens sweep through camelias, rhododendrons and azaleas in a simply magnificent display.  Mature Koi carp can be found in the ponds, moorhens and trout.  Visit the beach and take a moment to enjoy the view, and to reflect on the site of the Omah Landings in 1944, commemmorated with a plaque at the bottom of the lower ponds.

For those who wish this evening we will visit a local Inn, the Tregilly Wartha Inn, which is renowned for using local produce to give sumptuous meals, and has an excellent selection of ales and wines (Accounts will be settled by guests’ own arrangements).

Thursday, 15th May
We will this morning travel to the Roseland Peninsula, where we will visit Trist House, which is situated in the famous village of Veryan.  Sloping down woodland to a small lake and an amazing rockery which was built in the 1840’s, this garden has been created with the celebrated Margery Fish in mind, the great cottage garden pioneer of the 1950s, creating her own at East Lambrook in Somerset.  One for another time!

We will then drive on to the seaside fishing village of St. Mawes, where we will be able to wander around at leisure, taking a light lunch at one of the hotels or inns.  We will then drive to the cliff top garden at Lamorran, and enjoy a leisurely tour of this amazing hillside acreage, steeply stretching towards the sea in a series of terraces and water features.

On our way home, just before the hotel, we will visit the Potager Garden and Greenhouse Café at High Cross, Constantine, a most interesting organic garden and café for a late cup of tea!

We will then return for our final night at our hotel.  Dinner – own arrangements.  The Meudon is close to the centre of the Naval Port of Falmouth, and there are ferries across from here to Flushing (The Sticky Prawn restaurant) and St. Mawes (The Tresanton), or you may wish to take a short taxi ride to the Pandora Inn at Mylor, all of which are well known for their excellent food.  Bookings in advance are advised, which we will be delighted to assist with.

Friday, 16th May
We will this morning depart Cornwall, and will drive back through Devon and Somerset, where we will be once again joined by Alexandra Messervy at the lovely Yarlington House.  A warm welcome awaits from our delightful hosts, The Count and Countess Charles de Salis, who will talk on their house during a tour of their artefacts and collections.  Count de Salis originates from Switzerland and is a writer and historian, acknowledged to be one of the world’s leading experts on Napoleon.  18th Century art and paintings abound, as well as a glorious collection of needlepoint and tapestries (The Countess is President of the Royal School of Needlework).  Carolyn de Salis is a keen and expert cook and revels in entertaining guests, and we will be entertained to luncheon by our hosts in their historic dining room.  We will then tour the delightful gardens, which include a ha ha, pleached lime walk and a gorgeous herbaceous border designed by Carolyn. 

Afterwards, we will drive a short distance to the private garden of Angela and Ian Whinfield, at Snape Cottage.  This glorious country garden just a few miles from Bath on the edge of Thomas Hardy’s Dorset contains an exceptional collection of hardy plants and bulbs, artistically arranged in informal cottage garden style, organically managed.  The Whinfields are particularly interested in plant history and conservation and featured during April 2007 in BBC Gardener’s World. 

Angela is a keen hostess and we will enjoy a traditional Dorset Cream Tea with Clotted Cream and Strawberry Scones before we depart for the highly acclaimed Bell Inn, at Malmesbury, just a few miles from Bristol, Bath and the heart of the Cotswolds, via Stonehenge.  The ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is one of the ‘must see’ sights of the West Country, and we will see the remains of monuments erected between 3000BC and 1600BC.

Saturday, 17th May
After breakfast at leisure, we will walk next door to the beautifully restored and simply gorgeous gardens of The Abbey House.

Home of BBC’s ‘Naked Gardener’ Ian Pollard and his lovely wife Barbara, we will enjoy a private guided tour in the glorious surroundings next to the Abbey church.  With over 2,000 roses planted for the Millennium and 100,000 tulips erupting from April to May, the gardens are a haven for unusual and exotic plants, herbs and water features, including a sharp ravine and waterfall as well as a display of amazing sculptures.

This five acre paradise dates from 1542, and Abbey House was built by an enterprising clothier, William Stump, who after the dissolution of the monasteries, purchased the Abbey from King Henry VIII for the use of the townspeople.  Abbey House is dominated by the remaining third of a Benedictine Abbey founded by Mailduf, a Celtic monk from Iona, and today this functions as the delightful parish church.

After approximately one hour, Barbara Pollard will talk on the house and we can then wander around the gardens at leisure, before we visit the nearby 14 acre haven of  Ridley’s Cheer, just outside Chippenham.  This glorious spot was created in the 1980’s by a garden designer and his wife.  On two levels, the garden is connected by a broad flight of steps with a wrought-iron rose arbour at the top and a grass walk, and contains many fine examples of rare shrubs and trees.  Owner Sue Young has very kindly asked to entertain our guests for a light lunch, and we will then depart for the historic City of Bath.  We will take a sightseeing and walking tour of Bath to include the Assembly Rooms, Roman Baths and the Abbey as a final stop for our programme in the West Country.

Sunday, 18th May
Departing our hotel early, we will arrive at Bristol airport for those who will be travelling home today. 

For those who wish to stay and visit the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, we will depart for London via a visit to the lovely gardens of Sticky Wicket in Dorset, and the beautifully restored Upton Grey, with Rosamund Wallinger.  This part of the programme is available at a supplemental cost per person and will be available for a minimum number of two guests.

For those who wish to stay in London, we can arrange accommodation at various bed and breakfast establishments recommended by us, or for those with a slightly greater budget, we recommend the Goring Hotel and the Egerton House Hotel, both of which are known well to us.

On Monday, accompanied by Alexandra Messervy, we will take a private guided tour of the home and gardens of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, followed by a tour of the wonderful Chelsea Physic Garden, where we may be joined, if available, by gardening guru, Rosemary Alexander.  There is a delightful café at the Physic Garden where we may take a light lunch (own arrangements).  Afterwards guests are free to wander at leisure and perhaps do a little shopping.

Tickets will be arranged to attend the Chelsea Flower Show on Tuesday 20th or Wednesday 21st May which guests will attend unaccompanied.  All guests of The English Manner are entertained on arrival at the Show in the Grand Pavilion by Gold Medal winners Bowden Hostas, who will give a short welcome and brief overview of the Show and exhibits.  However, experience has taught us that guests are much happier being left to wander alone and ensure that they see what each wishes to see, although we are very happy to advise.  The remainder of the day will be free for own arrangements, and onward transportation to return to your destination airport can be arranged.

Explore the Gardens and villages of the Cotswolds

This September I will be leading a tour to  some of the most  glorious gardens of the Cotswold region.

For full details of the programme and how to book please go to: www.expogardentours.com