Holidays for Garden Lovers 2013

Join us for an indulgence in gardening. We travel by executive coach for comfort and relaxation, and look after you with a guided and hosted trip around some of the best gardens in Europe. Most trips start at Hillier Head Office in Ampfield, where we have ample free parking and aim to make you feel on holiday from the moment we take your bag out of the car.

There are two early spring garden tours which offer the perfect antidote to the winter blues, visiting some famous and private spring gardens in Cornwall, and the world famous Tresco Abbey Gardens. Then by popular demand we return to Menton near the Italian border to explore some of the Cote D’Azur’s stunning locations and horticultural feasts. In June and July, we visit some of the best gardens for summer colour; from formal herbaceous borders to secret plant hunters’ gardens there will be plenty to delight.

Tresco Abbey Gardens and Spring Gardens of Cornwall
31 March to 3 April 2012
Staying at The 4 star Carlyon Bay Hotel, St Austell

Our luxurious hotel overlooks the magnificent St Austell bay ,on the South Cornwall coast. It is Part of the Brend group, known for their high levels of service.  We are sure of a warm West Country welcome. En route to Cornwall, we will stop at Bickham Gardens near Exeter.

Cornwall enjoys a year round, mild climate and is home to a wealth of the most exciting rare and beautiful plants and trees in the British Isles. We have selected some of our favourite gardens for you to visit, including the private gardens of Bosvigo near Truro, Pine Lodge Gardens, a 30-acre estate with over 5500 plants, and the inspiring garden at Poppy Cottage near the Roseland Peninsula. There will be an option to take a helicopter flight to Tresco and tour the famous Abbey Gardens, or remain on the mainland to visit gardens in and around Penzance.

Gardens of The French Riviera
10/13 April 2013
Staying at Le Balmoral Hotel, Menton

Le Balmoral sits between sea and mountain, in the centre of Menton, and 10 minutes from Monaco. It offers a garden overlooking the sea, a solarium and modern air-conditioned rooms. We fly to Nice from Southampton, and then transfer to Menton, a picturesque town close to the Italian border with France and reputed to have the mildest climate of the Côte D’Azur. Menton has its own parks and gardens with lemon trees and floral displays. We’ll visit a superb and varying selection of gardens in the area, including Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, with wonderful sea views. Other garden visits include Jardin Plantes Exotiques in the medieval hill top village of Eze, the botanical garden of Val Rahmeh, Giardini Botanici Hanbury (La Mortola) and Serre de la Madone, a Laurence Johnston garden.

Monet’s Garden at Giverny and Normandy Gardens
23/26 June 2013
Staying at The Hotel Mercure Rouen Cathedral

Some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe can be discovered in Northern France, the most famous being Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny. In addition to the colourful gardens around the house water lilies will be abundant in the famous water garden with its wisteria festooned bridges. This region is also home to some stunning and diverse gardens including Clos du Coudray, where some 6,000 plant species can be admired, a traditional kitchen garden at Château de Miromesnil, and clever plantmanship and design at Jardin des Plumes. This tour is full of horticultural contrasts and there will be time to explore the atmosphere of the historic city of Rouen and dine out.

Lord Carrington’s Garden at Bledlow, Cottesbrooke Plant Fair and Gardens at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
27 – 29 June 2013
Staying at The Wroxton House Hotel, Nr Banbury

We are delighted that Lord Carrington has agreed a private viewing of his garden to Hillier Gardening Club members. Our small and intimate hotel is situated in a picturesque thatched village near Banbury and from here we will explore three stunning private Northamptonshire gardens including Cottesbrooke, considered to be one of the best gardens in England. Your visit to Cottesbrooke will coincide with their annual plant fair so rare and unusual plants can be admired and purchased as well as garden sundries. Finally, we hope to include a tour of the famous kitchen and herb gardens at Raymond Blanc’s famous Oxfordshire Restaurant and Cookery School.

Gardens of Northumbria and the Alnwick Garden
8 -12th July 2013
Staying at The 4 star Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel, Nr Morpeth

Northumbria is a region that boasts a variety of gardens of all shapes and sizes from the grand scale of the inspirational Alnwick Garden, to some remarkable private gardens set in tranquil countryside. We will meet some of the “Passionate Gardeners” and see their creations.

These include Penny Norton at Walton Manor Gardens and Heather Russell full of infectious enthusiasm at The Garden Cottage Bolam. Whalton Manor Gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens together with the help of Gertrude Jekyll. We will stay at the 4 star Linden Hall Hotel. Due to its attractive location, tasteful accommodation, and extensive leisure facilities, it is the ideal place to spend a relaxing holiday in the country.

En route to Northumbria we stop for a Head Gardener tour at Renishaw Hall where an astonishing array of rare and slightly tender shrubs can be discovered in this garden with a distinct Italianate atmosphere.

For more details telephone Brookland Travel on 0845 121 2863 or email info@brooklandtravel.com or make your request by post on the form below.