Stately Homes and Beautiful Gardens
Mini-Tour - Four days / Three nights
England is blessed with palaces, castles and great country
houses displaying unrivaled opulence and refinement. Treasure houses in
every sense. And then there are gardens, gardens and more flower-filled
gardens, formal and informal, large and small, planned and wild, all
bursting into riots of colour and overloading the senses with fragrant
smells and sights. We've chosen to show you a balanced selection, including
some almost legendary, iconic places that are virtual shrines for the home
and garden enthusiast, and others that might escape ones attention unless
shown them. And knowing that one's partners don't always share the
enthusiasm, please note that our 'Normandy D-Day' tour and 'Red Dragon'
Wales tours often run over the same four days allowing couples to follow
their own interests in the company of other kindred souls!
DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2003:
Saturday to Tuesday: 26Apr, 28Jun, 02Aug, 30Aug, 27Sep
Price: $649. Single supplement: $135
Includes four days touring, three night's accommodation with full
breakfasts and three course-dinners, all entrance fees and services of
driver/guide/companion.
DAY ONE - SATURDAY
We start our tour at the recently restored, art deco Eltham Palace.
Described as the epitome of 1930's chic, this tour de force is being written
about in al of the best fashion magazines and guides as a 'must-see'
attraction. In addition to glamorous and alluring interior, there are also
fine gardens nestling around the extensive remains of a medieval palace.
Then to Knole. This is one of England great 'treasure houses'. Home the
Lords Sackville since 1603, the property has much to offer including Royal
Stuart furnishings and a fine art collection of English masters. Knole was
the birthplace of Vita Sackville-West (whose own garden creation we'll see
tomorrow) and was used by Virginia Wolfe as the setting for her novel
'Orlando'. A visit here is like stepping back in time. Our third and final
call will be at Squerryes Court and gardens where a beautiful 17th century
manor house is set amidst 10 acres of mid -18th century garden.
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
Scotney Castle has been termed England's most romantic gardens with
Victorian terraces cover in a riot of coloured shrubs overlooking a 14th
century moated castle. We travel the short distance to the fabulous
Sissinghurst Castle. Vita Sackville-West's world famous garden requires no
introduction to garden enthusiasts. You'll have plenty of time to explore
this intimate and intricate garden and to visit those parts of her home open
to the public. Our final garden is that of Great Dixter. This is the largest
half-timbered house in England but it's the garden that grabs the attention
with it topiary, wild meadows and famed Long Border.
DAY THREE - MONDAY
Penhurst Place is another of our finest family-owned stately homes with a
history stretching back six and a half centuries. Perhaps its most memorable
feature is the 60-foot high, chestnut-beamed mediaeval hall. It doesn't take
much imagination to see the feats of old being enjoyed here! In addition to
the fine object d'art, furnishings and paintings displayed inside, Penhurst
has a lovely garden, uniquely dived into 'rooms' by yew hedges. Groombridge
Place is a multi-award winning attraction. You may enjoy a walk in the
'Enchanted Wood' and 17th century walled garden, or, time permitting, an
optional canal boat ride or watching birds of prey flying. Hever Castle is
the jewel we leave to climax our day. Hever is many people's idea of what a
'real' castle should look like, from its gateway and courtyard to its
surrounding moat. It is the most fairy-tale like. Though dating back to
1270, and being the family home of one of Henry VIII's ill-fated wives (Anne
Boleyn), it also has a relatively contemporary feel provided by the Astors
who took over and restored the castle in the early part of last century.
With a 30-acre garden including a unique Italian garden filled with roses
and statutes, there's plenty to admire here.
DAY FOUR- TUESDAY
Polesden Lacy represents the Regency period (1820s) in our historical
panorama. Sumptuous? Certainly sumptuous enough to have attracted King
Edward VI and wife Elizabeth (the much missed Queen Mother) to spend part of
their honeymoon here. In addition to the magnificent interior, there's
lovely walled rose garden to walk through. We've a choice of either
ClandonPark or neighbouring Hatchlands Park to visit next and you'll have an
opportunity of deciding depending on tour participants' interests. The
former is a Palladian pile, acclaimed for its collection of porcelain and
tapestries. The latter boasts wonderful Robert Adam interiors and the Cobbe
collection of historic keyboard instruments including those owned and played
by Bach, Mahler and Chopin. After four days of discovering these magnificent
gardens the Royal Society Gardens at Wisley provide the ideal climax. Here
you can not only enjoy a garden with something for everyone but a
well-stocked bookshops means you have excuses for not taking home a few
ideas for remodelling your own backyard!
Our tour returns to London for approximately 6pm.
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