Cotswold Garden Break

We are very lucky to be in an area of outstanding natural beauty with great countryside, but also some of the most wonderful gardens in England.

Trull house is set in a lovely rural location near Tetbury and surrounded by 8 acres of gardens in a wide variety of styles, augmented by beautiful trees and mature shrubs. Chief features include a large lily pond, terraces, sunken garden, walled garden, summerhouse and wilderness area. Open Wed, Sat, Sun April – September

Westonbirt – The National Arboretum, just 3 miles from Tetbury, contains one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in Europe. 18000 species are spread throughout 600 acres of glorious Cotswold countryside include displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, wild flowers in silk wood and the stunning Japanese acers which are one the main attractions of the hugely popular Autumn colours. Open every day of the year.

Miserdon Park – has a proud history stretching back many hundreds of years. The 17th centry Manor House stands high overlooking the Golden Valley and is at the heart of a thriving Estate and Village Community. Highlights include spring flowers, shrubs, fine topiary (some designed by Edwin Lutyens) and, within the walled garden, herbaceous borders; roses, fine specimen trees and a newly planted parterre. Adjoining the Garden is Miserden Nursery with a wide range of bedding plants, roses and shrubs and specialising in hardy perennial plants. Open April – September

Rodmarton Manor – just 5 miles from Tetbury is a supreme example of a house builtaccording to Arts and Crafts ideals and was one of the last country houses to be built and furnished in the traditional style when everything was done by hand with local stone, local timber and local craftsmen. The 8 acre Cotswold garden is interesting any month of the year but really beautiful throughout the summer months. It was designed originally as a series of outdoor rooms and is still the same today.

There is a wide selection of planting with superb vistas and plenty of seats from which to admire the view. Highlights include alpines in troughs, rockery, lawns, a large kitchen garden, white borders, herbaceous borders, hedging, topiary and roses in abundance. Open May to September

Dyrham Park -The magnificent formal gardens of this National Trust property were laid out when the grand house was built but became unfashionable by the late 18th century. They were largely cleared away or filled in when the park was landscaped by Humphrey Repton and Charles Harcourt Masters. However, it is a joy to travel down the winding drive through the deer park until the house appears, wedged across the valley and facing out to the plain below. A bold formal terrace with simple planting and an impressive orangery full of colour and scent sit next to the grand baroque house which is also open to the public. With 272 acres of garden and rolling parkland it’s a delight for walkers and dog owners. Gardens open all year.

Painswick Rococco Garden – Situated outside this pretty Cotswold town, and famous for its snowdrop display, the Rococo Garden is a fascinating step back to a flamboyant and sensual period of English Garden Design. This gem of a garden, which was originally laid out in the early 18th century, is set in a hidden Cotswold valley with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Full of hidden gems, highlights include the Eagle house, the Pigeon House, Anniversary Maze, Kitchen garden and the Red House.

Bowood House – is considered to be one of Wiltshire’s greatest hidden treasures, For those wishing to escape into an oasis of outstanding natural beauty, the “Capability” Brown grounds, designed in 1762, offer a soothing retreat from the modern world boasting an extensive arboretum and pinetum, including 11 champion trees with a further 700 trees identified and labelled within the grounds.

Central to the design of the park is Brown’s great lake, almost a mile long, winding sinuously like an enormous river. The outflow is channelled through a series of aquaducts which feed Hamilton’s Cascade, constructed fifteen years after the completion of the park. A stunning torrent of white water falls 30ft over an outcrop of rocks which never ceases to amaze old and young alike. Set at the head of the small promontory is the Doric temple. For six weeks during April, May and early June, Bowood’s rhododendron walks are open. Covering two miles, and with seating throughout the walks are signposted and named after members of the family with the exception of ‘Pauline’s Walk’ named after the Hon. Mrs Spender-Clay from whom the late Lord Lansdowne acquired a large number of the rhododendron plants. ‘David’s Ride’ is named after Head Groundsman, Mr. David Cleverly, who cared for this garden for many years. Bowood House and Gardens are open April to November.

Cotswold Garden Break
• Two night’s accommodation
• Superior room Four Poster room
• Free entry into two of the Cotswold Gardens featured
• Cotswold cream tea on arrival
• Three course dinner for two on both nights
• Full English breakfast
• £219 per person weekends or £175 pp Sunday – Thursday