Great escape plots
gardens date back to the early 1800s and feature a fountain and sunken garden.
Summer sees a magnificent floral show with colourful displays in urns. Plantings survive from the 17th century, with a huge hollow oak believed to be 500 years old.
Fruit and veg from the walled kitchen garden is used in the kitchens and sold at farmers’ markets. The gardens are free to visit or you can pay for a tour with the head gardener. BED DOWN: Overnight stay with breakfast for two in a double room costs from £67. CONTACT: wortleyhall.org.uk, 0114 288 2100.
Scotland Glenapp Castle Ballantrae, South Ayrshire
UP THE GARDEN PATH: Renowned designer Gertrude Jekyll had a hand in landscaping gardens within the 36 acres of grounds of this 19th century castle on the Ayrshire coast.
Guests are treated to exclusive access to the gardens, which boast rare and unusual plants brought from all over the world by merchants in the Victorian era.
You can wander around the azalea pond, up through woodland and on to the walled garden and a 150ft glasshouse.
Herbs and fruit picked daily from the garden are used in the castle kitchen.
You can even go foraging with ha a local expert and the head chef will rustle up dinner for you from the fruits of your labour. BED DOWN: One night stay with breakfast for two in a garden room starts at £295. CONTACT: glenappcastle.com, 01465 831 212.
Somerset The Pig, near Bath
UP THE GARDEN PATH: It’s all about fine food when you stay at this mellow Georgian house, which likes to think of itself as a restaurant with rooms – so you can really pig out. No surprise that the beating heart of the hotel is the superb kitchen garden, supplying most of the produce. Kitchen gardener and chef together decide on the LiterallyLitera Picked This Morning menu from the day’s harvest,h which could be anything from kale to rocket to purple mizuna. And, of course,cou the hotel also keeps pigs along withwi quail and chickens. There’s a deer parkpa too. BEDBE DOWN: One night in a double room startssta at £149. CONTACT:CO thepighotel.com, 0345 225 9494.