 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
Garden programmes will run in early May and mid-June for a maximum of six guests. If demand requires it, we will repeat the programme throughout the year. Itineraries can be personalised and individually tailored to suit specific interests if desired. Meals included where quoted. Guests will be accompanied by our highly sought after gardens expert, Franki McCabe. _____________________________ DAY ONE
Guests will convene at the award winning and highly acclaimed hotel, The Castle at Taunton, during the mid afternoon. Transport can be arranged from any location, and Taunton is well served by fast Intercity trains from London, Bristol and Birmingham airports. Private transport is included throughout our programme once guests have convened. Steeped in the drama and romance of history, the Castle was once a Norman fortress and has been welcoming travellers to the town since the 12th Century. Run as a family owned hotel for the past fifty years, it has acquired a worldwide reputation. Taunton is renowned for interesting shops and cafes, and is set on the lovely River Tone, with many walks along the bridges of the town. There is a particularly magnificent Parish Church. Guests will be greeted by directors of The English Manner and we will then depart by private transport for a short drive outside the historic county town to the delightful private garden of Kevin and Pat Chittenden at Vellacott. Long renowned as a favourite with our guests, Vellacott is a true labour of love, created as an outstanding example of an English cottage garden in the heart of the Quantock hills. Breathtaking views complement colourful and unusual planting, and our hosts are most knowledgeable. A traditional afternoon tea will be served with Directors of The English Manner and an opportunity to get to know one another. We will then return to Taunton and the evening will be free for guests to unwind and dine separately in one of the two award winning dining rooms – The Restaurant, which highlights British and local produce or ‘Brazz’, a modern bistro offering slightly lighter menus. Reservations are recommended at the time of booking, and we can also offer other alternatives within easy walking distance of the hotel, such as ‘Pizza Express’, and ‘The Willow Tree’. DAY TWO
Departing after breakfast, we will today visit the private gardens of James Fairfax, AO, at Stanbridge Mill, near Blandford Forum in the deepest Dorset Countryside (Thomas Hardy country). We will be given a private tour by the head gardener, Howard Warhurst, after morning coffee. The gardens were designed by renowned horticulturalist Arabella Lennox Boyd, and are a secret treasure trove of gardens set around an 18th Century mill house. We will lunch en route (guests to settle own account) and this afternoon will visit the gardens of Lower Severalls in neighbouring Somerset. We will be greeted by owner Mary Pring, who will guide us through her informal gardens surrounding a 17th century farmhouse. The Pring family have farmed and gardened here since 1929 and the original garden was just ¼ acre. The main development, now numbering some 3 acres, has taken place over the past twelve years and is a particular source for herbs and geraniums. Afternoon tea will be served. Returning to the Castle Hotel to change for a special dinner, we will be greeted by Managing Director Kevin McCarthy, and entertained to a private English Nyetimber drinks reception in the Penthouse which overlooks the Castle ramparts, and will then move downstairs to the award winning restaurant. Joined by our hosts, we will enjoy a menu for dinner which is specially created for our guests as a ‘Taste of the West Country’, using locally sourced produce with the theme of an English Summer Garden, with explanations from the highly acclaimed chef at each course.
DAY THREE We will depart the Castle Hotel this morning after breakfast for a private visit to the wonderful and completely restored gardens of Cothay Manor. Met by the delightful owner and garden expert, Mrs. Alistair Robb, we will be entertained to morning coffee and a personally guided tour. Cothay is a fascinating example of a medieval house where the lovely gardens have been restored by Mary-Anne Robb over a number of years. Cothay is one of the finest examples of its kind and is virtually untouched since it was built in 1480. The gardens, laid out in the 1920s, have been completely redesigned and replanned within the original framework of yew hedges. On either side of a 200yd yew walk are ‘rooms’, each of which are small gardens in themselves. A white garden, scarlet and purple garden, herbaceous borders, a scree bed and bog garden are but a few of the delights to be found in this magical place. Throughout the house, which we will tour after a private luncheon, guests will see examples of original medieval wall paintings used to decorate in days gone by before the invention of wallpaper!
We will this afternoon visit the wild garden of Spillifords. Met by leading surgeon Gavin Haig, who has made his home his part time passion, we will enjoy afternoon tea and a private tour of the gardens with a talk by Gavin on how the garden began, and its evolution over the last few years. After our guided tour, which will last approximately one hour, we will depart for our destination this evening, the delightful Kingston House, in South Devon. Located near Totnes on what is termed as the ‘English Riviera’, Kingston is a charming private home, owned by Elizabeth and Michael Corfield. Liz is herself a gardening enthusiast who lovingly tends her wonderful walled gardens, and is a most interesting guide. Kingston was built for a wealthy wool merchant and has a fine marquetry staircase, offering the ultimate in gracious living for our house parties. Outstanding historic accommodation, fine food and wines and kind hosts join to give our guests a very welcoming and special experience. Pre dinner drinks will be served in the panelled drawing room with our hosts before we join them for dinner. DAY FOUR We will depart after breakfast for a day of visiting wonderful local gardens. We will visit the hideaway retreat of Agatha Christie at Greenway, as well as the renowned coastal gardens of Coleton Fishacre. Lunching at Coleton, we will return to Kingston via the Hill House Nursery, where we will also enjoy afternoon tea. Before dinner this evening, Liz will give us a guided tour of her own lovely gardens and chat about the ongoing work and restoration of the Estate. Once again, we will dine en famille with our hosts.
DAY FIVE This morning we will visit the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, part of the original Duchy of Cornwall Estate. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is, of course, The Duke of Cornwall, and the Estate continues to be run under his stewardship and keen organic jurisdiction. The Nursery is one of the largest and most highly respected in the South West with an amazing array and quality of plants produced in shrubs, ornamental trees, perennials, alpines, roses, ferns and grasses to name a few. Duchy Originals tools are also available and overseas shipping can be arranged. We will then drive the short distance back towards Kingston House, where we will enjoy a traditional English pub lunch at the White Hart at Dartington Hall. We will then enjoy a privately guided tour of the Hall and acclaimed gardens, begun in 1925 by Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst. This 28 acre modern garden includes a Japanese dry garden, extensive wild flower meadows, sculptures and herbaceous borders. Lying within a curve in the River Dart at the head of its tidal range, Dartington Hall is also home to a Cider Press and guests may like to try some samples before we move to our final location of the day! We will then move on to visit the 7 acre gardens of sculptor Bridget McCrum at Hamblyn’s Coombe, where her sculptures have been designed with extensive planting and unusual gardens and stunning views of the River Dart. Billed as a ‘modernist’ garden, there are exceptional acers, ferns, bamboos, camellias and rhododendrons. We will then return to Kingston House, where we will be entertained for a Farewell dinner with our hosts. DAY SIX Bidding a sad farewell to our hosts, we will depart Kingston and visit just one more delight before saying goodbye. The Garden House, at Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton. 8 acres of walled gardens surround the ruins of a medieval vicarage, with pioneering landscapes of nature inspired by Dartmoor and South Africa. A Quarry garden, an English cottage garden and more than 6000 plants are on show with a myriad of spring bulbs. We will depart before the end of the morning, returning guests to the Castle Hotel in Taunton, for onward transportation or perhaps another night of comfort in this lovely part of the world.
|
|||||||||||
|
PRIVACY POLICY DISCLAIMER CONTACT US ©The English Manner 2007 |
