Snowdrops in the Cotswolds 703
Snowdrops in the Cotswolds 703
Snowdrops in the Cotswolds 703
4 Days Starting and ending in Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7PZ, UK
Visiting: National Trust - Newark Park, Colesbourne Gardens, Cerney House, Museum in the Park, Painswick Rococo Garden, Rodmarton Manor
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BSNC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Meat, Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
The Cotswolds are home to some of the best gardens for snowdrops in the British Isles, so this winter break will be of great appeal not just to ardent galanthophiles but to anyone who enjoys the uplifting sight that says spring is not too far away.
Colesbourne is considered to be the greatest snowdrop garden of them all and for many will be the highlight of the tour, but there are many other outstanding displays to be enjoyed. The extensive and historic grounds of Newark Park are carpeted with snowdrops, while at Cerney House there are swathes of Galanthus in every corner of this romantic garden. We visit the Museum in the Park in Stroud, where we can enjoy a fascinating collection of objects as well the snowdrops that fill the grounds, followed by the Painswick Rococo Garden, home to one of the country’s largest naturalistic plantings, including the tall, honey-scented Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’ variety. We conclude at the famous ‘Arts and Crafts’ house of Rodmarton Manor, where we find a staggering 150 different varieties of snowdrop that will round our tour off in style.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: National Trust - Newark Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Gloucester - Cheltenham
Meals Included: Dinner
We depart from our designated pick-up points and head to Newark Park, a secluded country estate upon the Cotswolds escarpment. The ‘New Worke’ was built in 1550 by Nicholas Poyntz, previously an influential English courtier to Henry VIII. The house, garden and estate would grow and develop over 350 years, followed by a short but grave period of decline, to then be lovingly restored by a Texan architect in the 1970s and 80s. Carpets of snowdrops cover the gardens and estate at this time of year.
Day 2
Location: Colesbourne Gardens, Cerney House
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Gloucester - Cheltenham
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we visit Colesbourne Gardens, considered to be England’s greatest snowdrop garden. The collection is probably the most varied of any garden on display, with over three hundred varieties of this spectacular harbinger of spring on show during the short season. There are over ten acres of private gardens and woodland walks with a mix of snowdrops, hellebores, cyclamen and a wide variety of early flowering shrubs.
Later, we head to the gardens at Cerney House. Set around a Victorian walled garden, they are described by Country Living as “what most people aspire to in their gardens – and few achieve”. The late Lady Angus and her daughter Barbara developed the garden over the years with a lot of help from nature itself. Barbara had little garden experience when they first arrived but luckily Lady Angus had. While the herbaceous borders lie dormant, there are swathes of snowdrops to be discovered in all corners of this romantic garden.
Day 3
Location: Museum in the Park, Painswick Rococo Garden
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Gloucester - Cheltenham
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we head to the town of Stroud and visit the Museum in the Park, in whose gorgeous walled garden there is an impressive display of snowdrops. There will also be an opportunity to visit the museum itself, which has an extensive collection of items, from historical paintings to dinosaur bones and one of the world’s first lawnmowers!
Later we head for Painswick Rococo Garden, which dates back some 200 years and has been resorted to its former glory by Lord and Lady Dickinson, after the garden fell into disrepair. It is home to one of the country’s largest naturalistic plantings of snowdrops, with 15 different species. It is said to be the spiritual home of the tall, honey-scented Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’ variety.
Day 4
Location: Rodmarton Manor, National Trust - Newark Park
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we travel to Rodmarton Manor, an ‘Arts and Crafts’ house with a fine eight-acre garden comprising a series of ‘outdoor rooms’ each with its own distinctive character. There are over 150 different species and varieties of snowdrops here, providing a spectacular conclusion to our celebration of this most charming and uplifting of flowers.
We then return to our original departure points.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Meals as per the itinerary
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All visits as outlined in the itinerary
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.