Highlights: *Syon House* *Montacute House* *Plymouth* *Catchfrench Manor Garden* *Catchfrench Manor* *Isles of Scilly* *The Eden Project* *The Lost Gardens of Heligan* *Trewithian* *Trelissick* *Lanydrock* *Knightshayes Court* *Wilton House* *Wisley Gardens*

Day one
You’re met on arrival by our tour representative and transferred to our London hotel base. We have a leisurely first day to help you overcome the rigours of overseas travel and we’ll spend this afternoon at nearby Syon House, getting acquainted with your guide and with fellow tour participants. This evening we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at a riverside pub.

Day Two We depart London, driving south-west towards Devon, we’ll be able to enjoy some sightseeing en route. Following lunch, we’ll find our first garden to visit. This will probably be Montacute House but, at time of publishing, opening times for 2005 are not yet available. Whatever, we’ll certainly be seeing some less formal, private gardens and doing what all Britons do on a Sunday, visit a garden centre!

Day Three
Our first two Cornish gardens are Cotehele, near the Pilgrim Father’s city of . Cotehele is a large mature garden sitting in a sheltered valley. Unusual shrubs, azaleas and rhododendrons, and a small terraced garden make this an interesting first stop. Our second garden is something of a contrast; Catchfrench Manor is a historic Repton landscape (1792) with an Elizabethan courtyard. Hopefully, there’ll also be time to visit Drake’s Plymouth.

Day Four
The Isles of Scilly are today’s feature. This lovely group of five small islands (housing a population of just 2000) offer historical interest (an Elizabethan fort, museum and Wesleyan Chapel), rugged coastal scenery, and the famed abbey gardens at Tresco.

Day Five
We’ve another splendid day in store with visits to up to three internationally renowned garden projects - The Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and, if time, Trewithian.
This last one is, of course, widely known and respected for its magnolias, camellias and rare trees and shrubs. The Helligan Gardens represent Europe’s largest restoration project with over 80 acres of award winning landscape (and a super walled garden of exotic fruit and 22 acre ‘jungle’).

Perhaps the most remarkable, however, is The Eden Project. This absolutely incredible, futuristic £75 million development, is situated in an old disused quarry. Its aim is to demonstrate as many aspects of the world’s bio-diversity as is possible, in the correct ecological context. The actual site looks like a moon settlement with its massive glass pods. This will undoubtedly become one of the world’s new marvels.

Day Six Today, we’ll concentrate on gardens situated around the harbour of Falmouth. Some, like Trelissick, are certain inclusions, but there are a wide variety of others to choose from and your guide will take ‘soundings’ from tour participants as to what others we should include. We’ll also be able to mould the day to weather conditions or be able to suggest gardens that are more attractive at one time of the year above another. Your choice will include several private gardens in addition to the better-known Penjerrick, Lamorran House Gardens and Glendurgan.

Day Eight
We’ve kept an ace up our sleeve for the last day, the wonderful Wilton House, a stately home not only having a truly memorable garden but an interior of great beauty and wealth.
Our final visit before returning to London will be at the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley.

Day Nine
Alas time to return home. However, you may wish to extend your stay or take one of our mini-tours

Itinerary note: please note, the order of gardens visited may change depending on opening times and seasons.