Holidays for the garden enthusiast

Garden holidays in the Pennines

Lancashire Summer Gardens
8-11 July 2011

Part of the Pennine range, the Forest of Bowland is a beautiful stretch of rugged, unspoilt countryside in rural Lancashire and adjacent Yorkshire, with gritstone fells, moorland and a wonderful collection of gardens which we will to explore.

Our tour is based in the unique 4* Gibbon Bridge Hotel, set in the Ribble Valley and overlooking the Longridge Fells. After a tour of the beautifully landscaped gardens we travel south to Rufford Old Hall (pictured top left), a National Trust house and garden. The 16th century Tudor buildings, where a young Shakespeare once performed, are fascinating and the 5 acre Victorian gardens are of a formal layout around the Old Hall, with island beds and woodland walks.

After lunch at Rufford we visit Hawthornes Nursery Garden, a family run nursery and 1-acre garden laid out informally as beds and sweeping grass paths. The highlight of this visit is the collection of clematis within the small garden and the nursery, which holds a National Collection of viticella hybrids and rare herbaceous varieties.

Travelling on to the north of the county we visit Gresgarth Hall. This delightful 12-acre garden, created by the renowned garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd, includes terraces, a lake, herbaceous borders and many other features, including modern and classical sculpture displayed throughout the garden. Lunch is taken nearby and we journey on to Clearbeck House, an informal garden with an artistic appeal scattered throughout its 5-acres of flower beds, lake and wildlife garden. A unique garden with wonderful views of the Three Peaks and Lake District.

En route we will spend time in the formal gardens and landscape grounds of Harewood House. There is plenty to see and the garden walks include The Himalayan Garden, Walled Garden and Lakeside Garden, along with Harewood’s magnificent Terrace, with breathtaking views of the Yorkshire countryside. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Victorian formal gardens in England. On our return home we will call in to Holden Clough Nursery, specialist growers of herbaceous plants, alpines and heathers, before visiting the private garden of Yorke House. This 2-acre flower arranger’s garden has colour-themed borders, ornamental ponds and stream, and various walks around the site with beautiful views across Nidderdale. After a light lunch in the grounds of this lovely garden, we return home.

Cost per person: £480
Single room supplement: £45

Departure points: Saxilby, Lincoln, Newark, Leicester, Lutterworth
We may pick-up from a limited number of other points if they are en route and easy for coach access.

Your holiday includes:

Comfortable executive coach throughout the holiday
Quality 4* hotel with ensuite rooms, 3-course dinner and choice of cooked or continental breakfast
Two lunches and refreshments at all private gardens
All garden admissions
Garden visits on both outward and homeward journeys
Services of Tour Director on every holiday

Holiday Terms and Conditions