8 Day Private Gardens of Devon, Somerset, Cornwall & Chelsea Flower Show – APT

Itinerary

8 Day Small Group Tour from London to London with APT

Enjoy the UK’s gardens in Devon, Somerset and Cornwall in a small group. See Doc Martin’s village & dine at Rick Stein’s most famous seaside restaurant & experience the Chelsea Flower Show.

Day By Day

Day 1 Depart London to Barnstaple
Depart the London hotel at 9am to Bowood Estate owned by Lord and Lady Lansdowne and surrounded by acres of Capability Brown landscape and stunning gardens. Enjoy a tour of the house and gardens along with lunch. Continue on to the delightful village of Barnstaple set on the River Taw. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner. Stay Two Nights: Barnstaple, Imperial Hotel

(L/D)

Day 2 RHS Rosemoor Garden
Explore the RHS Rosemoor garden nestled in a Devon valley, with its magical blend of formal and informal gardens with many highly ornamental plantings of shrubs, roses, perennials and bulbs. Later, enjoy time to explore the quaint village of Barnstaple.

(B)

Day 3 Port Isaac and Padstow, Rick Stein Lunch
Travel into Cornwall, the countryside location of the TV series Poldark and the quaint fishing village of Port Isaac, where the popular television series Doc Martin was filmed. Continue to Padstow, home to the famous English chef and television personality Rick Stein. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at the best of Rick’s famous seafood restaurants. Stay Two Nights: St. Austell, Carlyon Bay Hotel in a seaview room

(B/L/D)

Day 4 Tregothnan and Trebah Gardens
Visit Tregothnan Garden, Cornwall’s largest private botanical garden featuring some rare ‘Red Book’ endangered trees, which are larger than any remaining in the wild. Continue to the sub-tropical paradise of Trebah Garden, set against an amazing coastal backdrop. Records of the garden date back to the Doomsday Survey of 1085.

(B/D)

Day 5 Lost Gardens of Heligan and The Eden Project
This morning visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years. Today it’s home to the gloriously restored, award-winning and internationally acclaimed botanical gardens. Next visit the unique and unforgettable biomes of the Eden Project. This top garden and eco-attraction, renowned for its innovative environmental programs, is also home to the world’s largest greenhouse. Continue to the pretty village of Tavistock in West Devon and the Bedford Hotel that exudes elegance and charisma and makes for a wonderful English experience. Stay Two Nights: Tavistock, Bedford Hotel

(B/D)

Day 6 Private Garden Visit
Visit a private garden set on four acres with mixed borders full of seasonal interest and unusual plants surrounding the house. Enjoy time this afternoon to explore Tavistock with its fine buildings made out of local stone and discover its interesting history.

(B)

Day 7 The Pig in Combe and London
Depart Tavistock and travel to Honiton to The Pig in Combe, a honey-coloured Elizabethan gem set in 3,500 acres of lush Devonshire countryside. Enjoy a tour of the potager garden and morning tea before we continue on to London. This evening enjoy a special dinner and lecture on ‘the Chelsea Flower Show Gardens’, which will give you a great insight into the exhibits you will see at the remarkable Flower Show. Stay: London, St. James Court Hotel

(B/D)

Day 8 Chelsea Flower Show
Enjoy a full day to experience the famous Chelsea Flower Show. For over 150 years, the show has been delighting visitors from all over the world with its amazing show gardens and floral exhibits. See the latest garden designs, learn of recent plant and floral releases and take the opportunity to talk to some of the exhibitors. This is the ‘mecca’ of all garden shows, and one that every gardening enthusiast should attend at least once in their life. You will be transferred back to the hotel at 3.30pm or to London Heathrow airport at 5pm.

(B)