See Britain’s most beautiful gardens with Jules Hudson
Exclusive for MoS readers: Join the Escape To The Country star on a unique tour
AS LAST week’s Chelsea Flower Show reminded us, we are a nation of garden lovers, with an astonishing number of publicly accessible gardens dotted around.
Whether or not you can tell your alliums from your echinaceas, this is a wonderful itinerary taking in some of the most idyllic gardens in the country.
It will focus on a fertile spot in the South West of England, home to a remarkable array of garden designs. These will include the restored Knightshayes, magnificent Hestercombe, the vast, beautiful grounds of Dunster Castle and the extraordinarily romantic Cothay Manor, widely considered to be among Britain’s greatest gardens.
Making this trip even more special will be the presence of the hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic Jules Hudson. A writer and broadcaster, well known for his appearances on TV’s Countryfile and Escape To The Country, he is the perfect guest to set the scene for your travels.
REASONS TO BOOK SPECTACULAR GARDENS
See four of the great gardens of South West England:
The beautifully restored walled garden at the National Trust’s Knightshayes – one of Jules’s favourite walled gardens.
Spectacular Hestercombe, with horticultural influences that reach across s everal centuries and include designs by the great Gertrude Jekyll.
The vast gardens of Dunster Castle looking over the Bristol Channel.
The romantic Cothay Manor Gardens.
JULES HUDSON TALKS
Joining you on the first two days of the trip, Jules will give an introductory talk, expanding on his passion for great English gardens. He will also accompany readers to one of his favourite walled gardens at Knightshayes in Devon.
PRIVATE DINNERS
Enjoy two excellent private dinners over the course of your trip: one on the first night on arrival at the Castle Hotel in Taunton, followed by a special occasion the following evening at Hestercombe Gardens.
THE CASTLE, TAUNTON
This is one of the region’s most historic and welcoming hotels, with millennia of stories behind it. Situated in the centre of Taunton, this delightful wisteria-clad retreat is an ideal base for your travels.
WALLED GARDENS BOOK
Each booking will receive a free signed copy of Jules Hudson’s beautiful new book Walled Gardens, which covers some of the most spectacular examples of the kind across the country.