Garden holidays
Nothing is more inspiring to amateur gardeners than seeing how the professionals keep their beds and borders pristine. Indeed, horticulture is such a popular pastime that many companies offer trips to some of the world’s most spectacular gardens.
The enchanting Majorelle Gardens of Marrakech were restored by the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and can be visited during the Cox & Kings Exotic Morocco private tour. There are nearly twoandahalf acres of cacti, exotic plants and trees, pools, fountains and brightly coloured ceramics. The sevennight tour costs from £1,045 per person, including ights, transfers, excursions and room with breakfast.
020-7873 5000, www.coxandkings.co.uk
Gravetye Manor, West Sussex is closer to home and head gardener Tom Coward will walk and talk you round the gardens on Thursday 13 November. The Gravetye Garden Talk (£75 per person) begins with an aperitif, twocourse lunch and drinks, followed by a talk on growing ingredients for the kitchen and cut owers for the house yearround. Stay overnight, with breakfast, for an extra £240 per room (two sharing).
Pride of Britain Hotels: 0800-089 3929, www.prideofbritainhotels.com
Stay in the stone Coachman’s Cottage on the perimeter of glorious Aberglasney Gardens in Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, and you can roam freely during opening hours and receive a 10 per cent discount on shop purchases. One week’s stay in the cottage, sleeping four, costs from £330 (low season) to £815 (August).
01558-668998, www.aberglasney.org
For more gardens: www.discovercarmarthenshire.com/gardens
Gardens of the Côte d’Azur is a Kirker Holidays venight escorted trip based at Menton. It takes in visits to an array of gardens including Hanbury Gardens at La Mortola, Villa Piacenza Boccanegra, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden, Serre de la Madone and, in Monaco, the Jardin Exotique. From £1,458 per person, including ights, hotel, some meals, sightseeing and Kirker Tour Lecturer.
020-7593 1899, www.kirkerholidays.com
HF Holidays has a new sevennight Gardens of Madeira trip, from £999 per person, which takes in Monte Palace Gardens, the Funchal Botanic Garden, Quinta Palmeira and two halfday tours to see plants in the countryside. The price includes ights, halfboard at the fourstar Hotel Galosol and garden visits.
0345-470 8558, www.hfholidays.co.uk
The enchanting Majorelle Gardens of Marrakech were restored by the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and can be visited during the Cox & Kings Exotic Morocco private tour. There are nearly twoandahalf acres of cacti, exotic plants and trees, pools, fountains and brightly coloured ceramics. The sevennight tour costs from £1,045 per person, including ights, transfers, excursions and room with breakfast.
020-7873 5000, www.coxandkings.co.uk
Gravetye Manor, West Sussex is closer to home and head gardener Tom Coward will walk and talk you round the gardens on Thursday 13 November. The Gravetye Garden Talk (£75 per person) begins with an aperitif, twocourse lunch and drinks, followed by a talk on growing ingredients for the kitchen and cut owers for the house yearround. Stay overnight, with breakfast, for an extra £240 per room (two sharing).
Pride of Britain Hotels: 0800-089 3929, www.prideofbritainhotels.com
Stay in the stone Coachman’s Cottage on the perimeter of glorious Aberglasney Gardens in Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, and you can roam freely during opening hours and receive a 10 per cent discount on shop purchases. One week’s stay in the cottage, sleeping four, costs from £330 (low season) to £815 (August).
01558-668998, www.aberglasney.org
For more gardens: www.discovercarmarthenshire.com/gardens
Gardens of the Côte d’Azur is a Kirker Holidays venight escorted trip based at Menton. It takes in visits to an array of gardens including Hanbury Gardens at La Mortola, Villa Piacenza Boccanegra, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden, Serre de la Madone and, in Monaco, the Jardin Exotique. From £1,458 per person, including ights, hotel, some meals, sightseeing and Kirker Tour Lecturer.
020-7593 1899, www.kirkerholidays.com
HF Holidays has a new sevennight Gardens of Madeira trip, from £999 per person, which takes in Monte Palace Gardens, the Funchal Botanic Garden, Quinta Palmeira and two halfday tours to see plants in the countryside. The price includes ights, halfboard at the fourstar Hotel Galosol and garden visits.
0345-470 8558, www.hfholidays.co.uk