Boxwood brochure 2022

EXCLUSIVE 

GARDEN TOURS 

2022

Ninfa, Italy 

December 2021 

Dear Garden Enthusiasts, 

Welcome to a World of exclusive garden tours from Boxwood Tours… 

Now that our thoughts are turning to travel once again, we are delighted to bring you our latest brochure, featuring our full 

collection of Exclusive Garden Tours for 2022. In reading through this brochure, we hope that you will be inspired to join 

us in discovering some of the most beautiful and private gardens, many of which are not usually seen by the public. 

In bringing you this collection of tours we have once again worked with the previous Boxwood Tours owner and director, 

Sue MacDonald, to offer you an engaging range of tours centred around a variety of garden themes. Here in the UK, our 

first departure with Hortus in March explores Cornwall’s spring-flowering magnolias, in September writer, nurseryman 

and garden designer, Tom Attwood, hosts our tour to The English Lake District, renowned for its dramatic beauty, including 

England’s highest mountains and finest lakes. Our travels abroad take us to Italy on three occasions, firstly with Country 

Life, discovering the Italian Rose in Umbria and Lazio, then with the Telegraph, hosted by Helen Yemm, we travel to Tuscany 

and later in October ‘Tuscan Gold’ visits some of the finest Renaissance gardens dating back to the 15th-Century as well as 

important gardens of the early 20th-Century including La Foce, designed by Cecil Pinsent for Iris Origo, arguably Pinsent’s 

best garden. 

Our core team, together with Sue MacDonald and our troop of expert hosts and tour leaders, have continued with utmost 

effort to ensure that we provide well-researched, enjoyable tours with a personalised service to give you a holiday that will 

enrich and inspire. 

We look forward to welcoming you on a holiday soon. 

Steve Goodenough 

Managing Director 

Front cover image: Great Dixter 

2 

To book call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk

CONTENTS 

WHY CHOOSE BOXWOOD TOURS 4 - 5 

SO MUCH INCLUDED 6 

MEET THE BOXWOOD TEAM 7 

MEET THE EXPERT HOSTS 8 - 9 

Drumlanrig Castle 

GARDENS ILLUSTRATED, 

GARDENS OF MARRAKECH & TAROUDANT 

10 - 11 

HORTUS GOES TO CORNWALL 12 - 13 

COUNTRY LIFE, THE ITALIAN ROSE 14 - 15 

THE TELEGRAPH, GARDENS OF CORFU 16 - 17 

THE TELEGRAPH, TUSCAN GARDENS 18 - 19 

HORTUS GOES TO TANGIER 20 - 21 

GARDENS OF SNOWDONIA 22 - 23 

English roses 


THE FRENCH ROSE GARDEN 

24 - 25 

THE LAND OF WIDE SKIES, NORFOLK 26 - 27 

THE TELEGRAPH, THE SUSSEX COLLECTION 28 - 29 


DEVON ON THE WILDSIDE 

30 - 31 

THE TELEGRAPH, BELGIAN GARDENS 32 - 33 

HORTUS GOES TO SOUTH WEST SCOTLAND 34 - 35 


THE LAKELAND COLLECTION 

36 - 37 

COUNTRY LIFE, TUSCAN GOLD 38 - 39 

Château de Villandry 

ART HISTORY TOURS AND SMALL 

SHIP CRUISING 

40 - 41 

BOOKING CONDITIONS 42 

HOW TO BOOK / TRAVEL INSURANCE 43 

“ „ 

They were a wonderful selection of gardens: 

very varied; each one very different ... 

Cornwall 

To book call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk 

3

WHY CHOOSE BOXWOOD TOURS? 

Travelling with Boxwood Tours 

Boxwood Tours have been offering high quality garden holidays 

since 1990, specially created for small groups of people with a 

shared passion. Travelling in comfort, staying in carefully selected 

hotels and dining in fine restaurants, guests can enjoy tours 

designed and led by an exclusive team of horticultural experts, 

ensuring a unique and memorable experience. 

Expert Hosts 

Key to your enjoyment 

and at the heart of every 

Boxwood tour, our expert 

Hosts have been chosen for 

their specialist knowledge, as 

well as their enthusiasm and 

passion. They are delighted 

to share your experiences, 

as well as their invaluable 

knowledge. 

Experienced Tour Leaders 

Carefully selected for their horticultural knowledge, travel 

experience and organisational skills, our small team of friendly 

and experienced Tour Leaders are an extension of the Boxwood 

team and are always on hand to ensure you enjoy a seamless travel 

experience. Your holiday enjoyment is their priority and they will 

go the extra mile to ensure everything meets your expectations, 

leaving you to relax and enjoy every moment. 

Uniquely Crafted Tours 

Each of our unique tours has been carefully crafted with you in 

mind. Guided by our experts, we have created a host of tours 

visiting the most exclusive and beautiful gardens, with many 

featuring meetings with garden owners and head gardeners. We 

pride ourselves in taking care of the details, so every tour not only 

meets, but exceeds your expectations. 

Your Travel Arrangements 

Travelling to and from your chosen destination is an important 

part of your tour, with that in mind we use the services of reputable 

scheduled airlines and where schedules allow, select flights and 

train departures at the most convenient times. All prices are based 

on economy class but our team would be more than happy to assist 

should you wish to upgrade. 

Alternatively, you may prefer to make your own travel 

arrangements at the start and end of your holiday, or even extend 

your stay by a day or two. Please call us for details and the price of 

your tailored tour. 

No Hidden Extras 

The published price of all of our tours includes your hotel, 

transport, entrance fees, taxes, driver gratuities, and the services 

of our expert Tour Host and Tour Leader. Each tour includes some 

meals and where lunch or dinner is included, wine, tea and coffee 

are also served plus we will take care of waiter gratuities. 

We welcome single travellers. Unfortunately, most hotels charge 

more per person for a single-occupancy room than for a shared 

room. However, to keep single supplements to a minimum our tour 

price for single travellers only reflects these actual costs. 

Our Personal Service 

From your initial enquiry to your post-tour feedback, you will 

enjoy the personal service of our small and friendly team of travel 

advisors. With in-depth knowledge of all our tours, they are on 

hand to share their expert advice and answer all of your questions. 

Group Size 

To enhance your enjoyment of 

the tour you will be travelling 

as part of a small and friendly 

group of like-minded people. 

Groups are restricted to a 

maximum of 25 so you will be 

able to enjoy private visits to 

exclusive gardens that would 

not be accessible to the wider 

public. 

4 To book call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk

CAREFULLY SELECTED HOTELS 

Carefully selected to match the style of the tour, our 

hotels are very much part of what makes your tour 

memorable. 

We consider the best possible location, whether that 

is in the centre of a city, or on a tranquil lakeside, or 

in most cases a fine country house hotel. 

We place equal importance on the warmth of the 

welcome, ambience and standard of service. It 

may be characterful and quirky, or elegant and 

contemporary, our hotels are four or five-star rated, 

and all offer the high standards and comfort we 

know you expect. 

Activity and Fitness 

Whilst each itinerary is designed to balance exploration with 

relaxation, the nature of these tours means there will at times be 

extensive walking and inevitably some long periods of standing. If 

you have any concerns please do not hesitate to call us and we will 

be happy to discuss in more detail so you can decide if this is the 

right tour for you, or help you find a suitable alternative. 

Special Visits 

Many of our tours include 

exclusive visits to private 

houses and gardens. 

Occasionally a venue may not 

be able to fulfil the special 

arrangements we have 

made but please be assured 

we will always seek out an 

interesting alternative should 

that situation arise. 

Full Financial Protection 

You can book with us and travel with confidence knowing that 

as members of ABTA we are a fully bonded and licensed tour 

operator with air holidays protected by ATOL. 

“ „ 

As ever, a truly brilliant trip. Patty and 

Helen are an excellent team. Hotel was 

exceptional - just wish we had longer! 


5

SO MUCH INCLUDED 

• Inclusive travel 

• Private coach travel throughout 

• Quality accommodation in carefully selected hotels 

• Many dinners and lunches with wine, tea & coffee 

• Unique itineraries expertly planned 

• Guided visits and entrance fees 

• Talks with Head Gardeners and Horticultural Experts 

• Services of experienced Tour Leaders 

• Expert Hosts to guide you around 

• All entrance fees, taxes & gratuities for coach drivers and waiters 

Levens Hall 


MEET THE TEAM 

Sue Macdonald 

Kew-trained, professional 

horticulturist Sue Macdonald 

managed the Palm House at Kew 

and then lectured at the English 

Gardening School before starting 

Boxwood Tours in 1990. Sue enjoys 

using her love and long experience 

of gardens and travel to dream up 

entirely new programmes of superb, 

fresh tours every year. 

Helen Greasby 

After studying Tourism 

Management at University, Helen 

travelled extensively in Europe and 

beyond before working for several 

UK Tour Operators and joining 

Arena Travel’s Cultural and Garden 

Tours team. Excellent customer 

service skills and attention to 

detail enable Helen to organise 

your travel requests with all the 

knowledge necessary to offer you a 

dedicated service. 

Mellissa Taylor 

Mellissa acquired her travel 

experience whilst working for 

companies ranging from the 

luxury brand, Elegant Resorts, to 

an educational tour operator and 

a specialist destination company. 

Mellissa oversees Arena Travel’s 

Cultural and Garden Tours office in 

Buckingham. 

Claire Jamieson 

Before joining Arena Travel’s 

Cultural and Garden Tours team 

in 2013, Claire managed an 

independent travel agency. This 

work took her around the world 

researching the finer points that 

make inspiring trips. Claire’s wide 

knowledge of travel makes her the 

ideal person to oversee all aspects 

of Arena Travel’s cultural tour 

arrangements. 

Steve Goodenough 

Steve gained his extensive 

knowledge of the travel business 

over many years before he joined 

the special interest company, 

Arena Travel, in 2016 as Managing 

Director. Steve is based in the 

Market Harborough office, where he 

takes overall responsibility for all 

the Arena Travel brands. 

Amy Ballinger 

Amy joined Arena Travel’s Cultural 

and Garden Tours team two years 

ago and her role is Brand Marketing 

Assistant. Amy is able to use her 

creative flair and organisational 

skills to oversee marketing 

throughout our Cultural tour 

division. Amy enjoys writing her 

own tea and lifestyle blog in her 

spare time. 

Julie Kirkup 

Living in France for four years, 

working as a bilingual PA, gave Julie 

excellent skills which help her in 

her role at Arena Travel’s Cultural 

and Garden Tours office. Julie works 

in the Buckingham office and is 

responsible for putting together 

our programme of Cultural Tours to 

France and Spain. 


7

MEET OUR EXPERT TOUR HOSTS 

& TOUR LEADERS 

Helen Yemm 

Helen Yemm is probably best-known for her 

weekly Thorny Problems page that has been 

a fixture for nearly 20 years in the Saturday’s 

Daily Telegraph. In ‘real life’ she is a hands-on, 

self-taught, keen-as-mustard gardener and 

lecturer with a garden in East Sussex that she 

occasionally opens for small groups. Helen 

is a sometime television presenter and is the 

author of several gardening books. She is also 

a regular feature writer for The English Garden 

magazine, however hosting garden tours is, she 

says, the icing on the cake – she gets enormous 

pleasure from discovering gardens in the 

company of others who share her passion. 

Charles Fox 

Charles Fox comes from a long line of 

gardeners who are responsible for the creation 

of at least three remarkable Cornish gardens: 

Penjerrick, Trebah and Glendurgan. In the 

early 1990s Charles qualified twice as a garden 

designer, at Kew Gardens with Merit. Since 

that time he has led many garden tours in 

the south west, and having lived in Cornwall 

most of his life is well qualified to talk about 

the county’s history. He has written one book 

about Glendurgan, the property where he and 

his family now live, and which was given to the 

National Trust in 1962. 

Tom Attwood 

Tom Attwood started working with plants 

in his parent’s garden before working in a 

traditional Cumbrian nursery roused his 

passion. He then went on to formally train 

at Edinburgh and Kew before taking on 

head gardener posts in the Lake District and 

Lancaster. Tom now manages the gardens at 

Halecat Estate. Tom has lectured at Newton 

Rigg College and writes for Cumbria Life, Living 

Magazine, Garden Design Journal and Gardens 

Illustrated. 

Stephen Anderton 

Stephen is the long-standing garden writer for 

The Times, as well as a journalist, broadcaster, 

lecturer and author. Trained originally in 

Drama and then Landscape Design, he 

worked in historic gardens where, latterly 

as National Gardens Manager for English 

Heritage, he was responsible for several major 

restoration projects. His book Discovering 

Welsh Gardens was published in 2009 and 

his official biography of Christopher Lloyd 

appeared in March 2010. He now lives in the 

Black Mountains where he is making a new 

landscape garden of 20 acres. 

Charles-Quest Ritson 

Charles Quest-Ritson started out as a lawyer 

but is better known as a writer, journalist and 

translator. His many books include The English 

Garden Abroad (1992), Olive Oil (2004) and 

Ninfa (2009). He has also edited the RHS Year 

Book and written two prize-winning books 

on roses. He and his wife Brigid garden in 

Hampshire (2½ acres of chalk) and Normandy 

(12 acres of woodland and apple orchard, 

where they grow 1200 roses.) He is a popular 

lecturer and columnist for Country Life 

magazine. 

Michael Marriott 

Michael Marriott is technical manager and 

senior rosarian of David Austin Roses and is 

one of the world’s most-respected rose experts. 

He is also well-known for his rose garden 

design and his common sense approach to 

gardening. In his work he travels the globe, 

often sharing his expertise in lively radio, TV, 

newspaper and magazine interviews. 

Virginia Affleck 

Virginia Affleck was raised in county Victoria, 

Australia. Following a Degree in Fine Art, four 

year’s at Sotheby’s Australia ensued which 

furthered Virginias love and understanding of 

art, along with an intrigue for anthropology. 

Virginia has spent time living in the Indian 

Himalaya, Nepal, Tibet, Istanbul and Paris, 

which eventually led her to Morocco where 

she now resides in Tangier, the northern most 

point of this beautiful North African country. 

Keith Wiley 

Keith Wiley was head gardener for 25 years 

at The Garden House, a 10-acre garden in 

Dartmouth, where his creations were described 

as ‘one of the most exciting and innovative 

gardens in Britain today.’ Keith has lectured 

widely on both sides of the Atlantic and is a 

regular contributor to horticultural and lifestyle 

magazines. He has written three books ‘on the 

wild side’, ‘shade’ and ‘designing and planting a 

woodland garden.’ 


Sophie Piebenga 

Sophie Piebenga trained with the National Trust 

and qualified at Kew Gardens. Whilst head 

gardener of a private estate, she developed a 

particular interest in the conservation of historic 

gardens. This led to a doctoral study at the 

University of York researching the work of the 

early Victorian landscape gardener, W. S. Gilpin. 

She has since worked freelance, mostly in the 

field of historic landscape conservation. Born in 

the Netherlands and now based in the Cotswolds, 

Sophie has lived most of her life in the UK. 

For the last 30 years, Sophie has regularly led 

tours for Boxwood to Ireland, France, Spain, the 

Netherlands and within the UK. 

Kirsty Fergusson 

Kirsty Fergusson exchanged a career in 

academia (she is a PhD specialising in French 

philosopher-novelists) for a life in gardening. 

Trained at Capel Manor, she was head gardener 

at Mapperton in Dorset during the early nineties, 

where a series of fortunate encounters opened 

the door to garden writing. As well as writing 

a weekly column for The Express, for many 

years she was a frequent contributor to Gardens 

Illustrated, House and Garden, Country Life, The 

Times, The Telegraph and The Independent. In 

2003 she moved to south west France, where she 

continues to explore the possibilities of her own 

(very forgiving) garden – when not travelling, 

writing or leading tours. 

Tom Stuart Smith 

Tom Stuart-Smith is a landscape architect 

whose work combines naturalism with 

modernity and built forms with romantic 

planting. He has designed gardens, parks and 

landscapes throughout the world. His clients 

have included the Royal Horticultural Society 

and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He has 

designed eight award winning gardens for 

the Chelsea Flower Show, all of which were 

presented with gold medals and three ‘Best in 

Show’. Tom is Vice President of the Royal 

Horticultural Society, a Garden Advisor at RHS 

Wisley, a trustee of the Charleston Trust, and a 

Fellow of the Landscape Institute. 

Maïté Delmas 

Maïté Delmas is a Kew-trained professional 

horticulturist, currently in charge of public 

relations for the Jardins des Plantes in Paris. 

Maïté has over thirty years’ experience in 

managing plant collections gained at Kew, 

Bordeaux and Paris Botanic Gardens. She is 

an active promoter of the network of Botanic 

Gardens of France in French speaking countries 

which she represents in many international 

committees. Maïté is keen to share her love 

for plants and gardens and to add historic and 

cultural insights into regions visited. She is a 

founder member of Jardins et Santé a recent 

French charity which, by opening gardens 

to the public, raises funds for the creation 

or rehabilitation of therapeutic gardens and 

support of clinical research projects on brain 

diseases. 

Adam Wilkinson 

Adam has spent most of his life being interested 

in the relationship between people and place. An 

early influence was the study of the aesthetics 

of landscape at St. Andrews University as part of 

a joint MA Hons in Geography and Psychology. 

Gardening has long been a personal expression 

of this interest. He cut his teeth making a garden 

of passion and exuberance, in the Herefordshire 

borders. Now living on top of Exmoor he is seven 

years into a brand new garden and is starting 

another water garden in the Lot valley in France. 


9

in association with Boxwood Tours 

Gardens of Marrakech & Taroudant 

Indulge in a Unique Selection of 21st-Century Gardens 

This special Moroccan garden tour offers a unique selection of 21st-Century, mostly private gardens, designed 

by some of our best-known designers. Award-winning, British designer Tom Stuart-Smith will guide you through 

his own creation, Le Jardin Secret in the heart of Marrakech. While in the city of Taroudant we visit a series of 

remarkable gardens designed by Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières, two French globetrotting botanists, plant 

hunters, and garden designers. A further highlight of the tour will be a day comprised of all things Yves Saint- 

Laurent, including the new YSL museum, Jardin Majorelle, and a private view of the adjacent Villa Oasis where Yves 

Saint Laurent lived during his lifetime in Morocco. In a picture-book setting with views of the High Atlas Mountains, 

wonderful climate and cuisine, and great shopping, visitors will discover two warm and friendly cities steeped in 

history. We stay at two outstanding small hotels: guesthouse Jnane Tamsna, surrounded by its own botanically rich 

and captivating garden in an oasis setting; and Dar al Hossoun in the ancient town of Taroudant, an eco-friendly 

lodge (or small hotel, if you prefer) designed around a series of botanically rich and diverse courtyard gardens. 

Le Jardin Secret 

10

Programme 

Day 1 

This morning we depart from London Heathrow airport for Menara, 

Marrakech Airport, on arrival we drive past the great city walls to the 

Palmeraie to Jnane Tamsna for a warm welcome. Time to settle in 

before an invitation to join the owners, Gary & Meryanne for cocktails 

and canapés followed by a classic dinner at which delicious Moroccan 

wines will be served. 

Day 2 

We are delighted that today we will be accompanied by British garden 

designer, Tom Stuart-Smith who will host the tour for two days. We 

start the day with a tour of the gardens and interiors of Jnane Tamsna 

followed by Dar El Bacha Museum, a beautifully restored royal palace 

with changing exhibitions dedicated to the cultural history of the 

city, then a drive to the walled Medina, Marrakech’s heart, to visit Le 

Jardin Secret designed by Tom, with contrasting Islamic and exotic 

courtyards. After a light lunch at Café Arabe’s famed rooftop restaurant 

we visit a private garden. This is a new creation designed by Swiss 

born, Hélène Lindgens on a level site: a formal, structured garden 

shimmering in bands of silver and verdant green foliage leading the 

eye to the Atlas Mountains beyond. We dine together this evening at La 

Mamounia’s Moroccan Restaurant. 

Day 3 

An early start heading to the beautiful blue gardens that has attracted 

so many to Marrakech: La Majorelle is a rhapsody of intense 

plantsmanship incorporating the exquisite Berber museum housed in 

Cubist artist Jacques Majorelle’s former studio followed by a visit to the 

new museum YSL in Marrakech. We are then privileged to be invited 

for a private viewing of Villa Oasis, one of the world’s most heavenly 

gardens, studded with pale lime green and soft yellow pots; a citrus 

garden, lily pool, and shaded walkways. We’ll have a special lunch here 

too, served in the pool-side pavilion. Some free time in the afternoon to 

explore the Medina or return to Jnane Tamsna where drinks and tapas 

have been arranged for the evening. 

Day 4 

We start the day with a visit to The Thiemann Cactus Nursery, the 

largest succulent collection in Africa, a verdant oasis in the desert just 

a short distance from Marrakech. We then lunch in the new Royal Club 

House at Royal Mansour before driving through the dramatic arid 

landscape to Taroudant, arriving at the green oasis of Dar al Hossoun 

for a warm welcome from Xavier Giraud and time to settle into your 

room prior to dining together at the hotel. 

Day 5 

Accompanied by Xavier Giraud, we visit four gardens designed by Eric 

Ossart and Arnaud Maurières with a pause for lunch at former home 

of Chilean artist, Claudio Bravo. The elegant Riad houses collections 

from paintbrushes to a staggering collection of Islamic glass vessels. 

We then return to Dar al Hossoun for a relaxed evening meal in the 

garden together. 

Day 6 

After breakfast we take our return journey to Marrakech, Menara 

Airport for our return flight back to London Heathrow. 

Le Jardin La Majorelle Secret 

Join Kirsty Fergusson, with special guest host, 

Tom Stuart-Smith to explore the wonders of 

Morocco’s contemporary gardens. 

Tour Dates 

10 – 15 March 2022 

6 days 

Tour Prices 

£3,898 per person 

‘No flights’ price £3,718 per person 

Double room for sole use supplement £350 

Deposit £450 per person 

What’s Included 

• Return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow 

to Marrakech 

• Private coach transfers and excursions 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star Jnane Tamsna, 

Marrakech 

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Dar al Hossoun, 

Taroudant 

• Five evening meals and four lunches with wine 

• Guided visits to sites listed in the programme 

• Services of the Tour Leader and Hosts 

• Detailed programme and garden notes 

• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers 

and waiters 

Your Accommodation 

Jnane Tamsna, Marrakech 

At Jnane Tamsna, modern design and Moorish tradition 

combine to sumptuous effect. The hotel offers an oasis 

of tranquillity away from the bustle of the Old Medina. 

Elegant guestrooms are spread throughout five integrated 

houses, which are further complimented by five pools and 

a tennis court. An excellent onsite restaurant also uses 

organic produce from the estate. 

Dar al Hossoun, Taroudant 

The only eco-garden lodge in Morocco, Dar al Hossoun 

is set within fifteen acres of former olive grove. The 

gardens which contain over 900 species of plant, reflect 

the passion and plantsmanship of their original creators 

Arnaud Maurières and Eric Ossart, garden designer, plant 

hunters and ecologists. Facilities include a restaurant, 

where menus are complemented with produce grown 

onsite, and two swimming pools, one of which is heated 

in winter. 

Please contact the Boxwood office if you wish to obtain a quotation to 

upgrade to Club Europe. 


11


Goes To Cornwall 

For a Magnolia Extravaganza 

Head south for the Cornish magnolia spectacle. The Cornish peninsula is famous for sheltered woodland gardens 

harbouring important collections of magnolias, as well as camellias, rhododendrons, palms, tree ferns and many 

other exotic plant groups that predominantly flower in the spring accompanied by carpets of wild spring flowers. 

Most of these gardens are found to the south of the peninsula where valley gardens lead down to secluded 

creeks warmed by the Gulf Stream. The wonder and magnificence of Cornish gardens is made possible by this 

unique microclimate as well as by the prosperity of estates established in the seventeenth century, funded by 

local tin-mining and porcelain production. In later centuries, estate owners with keen horticultural interests 

were able to fund plant-hunting expeditions to the New World, resulting in the arrival and acclimatisation of 

a large number of exciting and exotic plant species in their sheltered valley gardens. To immerse yourself in 

the splendour of these outstanding woodland collections, stout footwear and the capability to walk around 

expansive valley gardens are required. We stay at Olga Polizzi’s renowned Tresanton Hotel, a haven of beauty 

and peace where guests enjoy comfort, fresh local cuisine and traditional, unobtrusive service. All rooms have 

dramatic views across the sea towards St Anthony’s lighthouse with the opportunity to stroll into light-filled St 

Mawes, one of the prettiest fishing villages in Cornwall. 

Magnolias 

12

Programme 

Day 1 

Depart Bristol Parkway at 10:30 and travel to Cornwall by coach, 

or take the train to St Austell Rail Station to join the coach at 14:15. 

Alternatively, if you wish to take your own car to the hotel we will 

arrange for you to join the group at the first garden. Tregrehan has 

been the home to the Carlyon family since 1565. Jovey Carlyon’s 

passion for trees during the late nineteenth century is evident today. 

Tom Hudson, the latest family member to take on the gardens, is an 

equally gifted planstman: his collection of high-altitude Asian trees, 

including some very special magnolias, brought back from recent 

plant hunting expeditions, complement his cousin, Gillian Carlyon’s 

camellia collection and Jovey’s superb pinetum. Drive on to Tresanton 

Hotel with time to settle before dinner together, with wine included. 

Day 2 

Nothing quite prepares you for the loveliness of that springtime view 

of Caerhays Castle, comfortably enthroned between lakeside pasture 

in the foreground and a rising backcloth of a thousand trees, the 

canopy splashed with clouds of pink and cream magnolia blooms. We 

start the day at Caerhays Castle viewing one of the finest collections 

of magnolias in the country for a special walk with the highly skilled 

gardener Jaimie Parsons. J. C. Williams (great-grandfather of the 

present owner) and successive members of the family, assisted by 

their dedicated head gardeners, have had success at hybridising 

as well as collecting magnolias; Caerhays now holds a National 

Collection comprising more than eighty species and five-hundred 

named cultivars. A light lunch is included at nearby Bodrugan Barton 

Farm before we visit Burncoose Nurseries that offers a vast array of 

magnolias, several of which have been home bred. Return to Hotel 

Tresanton for a pre-dinner talk by Charles Fox before dining together 

in the hotel. 

Day 3 

The Fox family started a successful shipping agency in Falmouth in 

the eighteenth century and established many important gardens in 

the region. We are delighted to have Charles Fox of Glendurgan to 

show us two of these outstanding gardens - to relate how they were 

initiated and developed by his family and to showcase their important 

collections of magnolias. Trebah has one of the most beautiful vistas 

of all Cornish gardens, down through the valley gardens to the Helford 

estuary. At Glendurgan we are invited to lunch at home with Charles 

and Caroline Fox before being shown their remarkable garden, first 

developed by Alfred Fox. Return to Hotel Tresanton where we dine 

together in the hotel. 

Day 4 

Our final morning includes a special visit to Trewithen, where head 

gardener Gary Long will take us to the main lawn with its celebrated, 

intricately planted vista. We can then enjoy some free time to explore 

the garden by ourselves before journeying northwards for lunch at the 

Polgooth Inn. The coach then returns to St Austell (14:30) and Bristol 

Parkway (18.30) and we arrange for transfers back to the hotel for 

those who need to pick up cars. 

An early-spring tour focusing on magnolias 

led by HORTUS contributor Kirsty Fergusson, 

hosted by Charles Fox 

Tour Dates 

21 – 24 March 2022 

4 days 

Tour Prices 





• Transfer from Bristol Parkway or St Austell Railway Stations 

• Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast in the four-star 

Tresanton Hotel, Truro 

• Three evening meals at the hotel plus three lunches 

with wine, including a special invitation to lunch at 

Glendurgan House with Charles and Caroline Fox 






and waiters 


Tresanton Hotel 

Comprised of a cluster of white-washed cottages, this 

former yachting club enjoys spectacular sea views, which 

are matched by tastefully eclectic interiors decorated in 

soothing coastal tones. Situated on the edge of charming 

St Mawes, facilities include a cosy bar and games room, 

elegant beach club and a celebrated restaurant. Room 

facilities include an en-suite bathroom with REN bath 

products, TV and DVD player, Wi-Fi and complimentary 

fresh fruit. 

Trebah 


13

The Italian Rose 

Gardens of Umbria & Lazio 


This tour is timed to coincide with the magical weeks of early Italian summer when roses bloom and nightingales sing 

day and night. We explore some of the most famous rose gardens including Ninfa and a private garden owned by a 

former President of the World Federation of Rose Societies, Helga Brichet. We start the tour in Rome at the Hotel De 

Russie, a Rocco Forte hotel, with interiors created by Rocco’s sister, Olga Polizzi. A tranquil retreat amid a vibrant city, 

this enduringly glamorous hotel successfully blends modern design with classical architecture. Known as ‘The green 

heart of Italy’, Umbria is a region of great beauty encompassing mediaeval hill towns, mountains, lakes, and verdant 

valleys edged by wooded slopes. It is here in Perugia that we find the Brufani Palace Hotel where guests, including the 

late Queen mother, have received the warmest of welcomes and highest levels of hospitality for the past 120 years. 

Ninfa 

14

Programme 

Day 1 

This morning we depart London Heathrow and fly to Rome Fiumicino. 

We drive into the heart of Rome to the Hotel de Russie for a welcome 

drink and time to relax and explore before dining together at the hotel 

with wine included. 

Day 2 

The morning begins with a visit to the informal roseto, Valleranello 

belonging to Rosarian, Maresa del Bufalo. We then continue south to 

Ninfa, a supremely romantic garden where roses scramble over the 

ruins of a mediaeval town set on the banks of a river. A light lunch is 

included. Return to the Hotel de Russie for a free evening in Rome. 

Day 3 

Leaving Rome, we head into the hills of Rieti to visit a relatively new 

collection of roses, both ancient and modern, occupying a dramatic 

hillside site. Emanuele Dotti, who has assembled this ever-expanding 

collection, has named the garden in memory of his dear friend, 

Giovanni Chilanti. We then head off for a buffet lunch with Helga 

Brichet, a world expert on roses. Helga even lectures in China about 

Chinese roses and is a past president of the World Federation of Rose 

Societies. Helga’s garden, Santa Maria della Porta, holds a unique 

collection of Chinese & hybrid gigantea roses. We then travel to Perugia 

and the Brufani Palace Hotel, ideally placed in the heart of old Perugia 

with wonderful views over rooftops to the countryside beyond. An 

evening meal has been included at the hotel with local wines. 

Day 4 

High in the Umbrian hills is the hidden retreat of American artist Gary 

Jo Gardenhire and British garden designer Tim Rees. Gary’s metalwork 

sculptures complement a delightfully multi-layered garden that comes 

alive with colour at this time of year. After lunching here with Gary 

and Tim, we drive to the plains below Spello to visit the Tenuta San 

Giuseppe. The old silk mill has been transformed into a home and 

offices for the production of the Barbanera Almanac, produced by the 

same family for over 250 years and still used by farmers and gardeners 

throughout Italy. Surrounding the buildings are the potager, orchard 

garden, and the four-season terrace. In addition, we will be shown a 

fascinating collection of historic almanacs from all over the world. The 

hilltop town of Assisi provides a beautiful backdrop to the impressive 

Quando Fioranno Le Rose rose garden and nursery, where we enjoy a 

private tour, before returning to Perugia where we dine this evening in 

a fine local restaurant. 

Day 5 

Today we enjoy a special invitation to view the gardens of Palazzo 

Parisi, the childhood home of garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd. 

Here Arabella has created a magnificent garden with a luxuriously 

planted formal space leading out to olive groves underplanted with 

wildflowers. After a delicious lunch, we return to Rome Fiumicino 

airport to check in for our return flight to London Heathrow. 

We are privileged to have Charles Quest-Ritson 

author of RHS Encyclopaedia of Roses & Ninfa: 

The Most Romantic Garden in the World and 

Kirsty Fergusson to host and lead this special 

tour, both contributors to COUNTRY LIFE 

Tour Dates 

25 – 29 April 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 





• Return flights from London Heathrow to Rome 


• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star Hotel de Russie, 

Rome 

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star Brufani Palace 

Hotel, Perugia 

• Three evening meals and four lunches with wine 





and waiters 


Hotel de Russie, Rome 

Hotel de Russie features a peaceful garden, a gourmet 

restaurant, and spacious, elegant rooms. Guests will also 

find a wellness centre, which offers a sauna, Turkish bath 

and salt-water hydromassage pool. The en suite bedrooms 

have a mix of classic and contemporary styles and offer 

city or garden views. Each comes with air conditioning, a 

minibar and satellite TV. 

Brufani Palace Hotel, Perugia 

The luxurious Brufani Palace has been a favourite of 

glamorous actors, royalty and heads of state since its 

opening in 1884. Commanding charming views across the 

Perugian rooftops, sumptuous interiors strike the perfect 

balance between historical splendour and modern comfort. 

Enjoy complimentary access to the Sina Wellness Club with 

heated indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath and gym. Hotel bar 

and restaurant, serving regional specialities. 


15


Gardens of Corfu 

Contemporary Gardens of the Ionian Sea 

For centuries, from Homer’s Odyssey to the Durrell family’s stay on the island in the 1930s, the beauty of Corfu has 

bewitched writers, artists, travellers and royalty.Known as ‘The Garden Isle’, it is one of the greenest Greek islands with 

a higher annual rainfall than London. With its lush vegetation, wildflowers and olive groves punctuated by cypress 

trees, this is a gardener’s heaven. The influence of Greek, Venetian, French and British occupation can be seen not only 

in the beautiful architecture of Corfu Town, but also in the island’s thriving agriculture and gardens. 

This tour focuses on the work of a new wave of garden designers, who honour the Mediterranean style with native 

plants, while introducing other plants adapted to tolerate hot, dry summers. You will see British designer Jennifer 

Gay’s work at Rou and Kassiopia, and have a chance to visit the Rothschild Estate where a host of designers, including 

Lady Mary Keen have worked their magic. You will stay in the five-star Hotel Domes Miramare, a former Onassis villa 

with a private beach where jet setters and politicians were once entertained in lavish style. The tradition of hospitality 

continues, with reserved rooms all facing the Ionian Sea. 

Corfu 

16

Programme 

Day 1 

You will depart London Heathrow on a morning flight to Ioannis 

Kapodistrias Corfu Airport. You then travel by coach along the coast to 

Hotel Domes Miramare. After a warm welcome and time to settle in, 

you’ll dine together in the hotel restaurant. 

Day 2 

Rachel Weaving’s book Gardens of Corfu, has done much to promote 

the magic of Corfiot gardens. You are invited by Rachel to view her own 

small terraced garden at Villa Zetouna with views across the infinity 

pool to the arid mountains of Albania. Close by you will discover 

Lemon Tree House with abundant cottage style planting on the lower 

slopes of Mount Pantokrator, the highest mountain on the island. 

Rou was a deserted village before it was discovered by architect Dom 

Skinner. With the help of Jennifer Gay, Dom has transformed it into 

an exquisite garden with holiday homes nestled within. Following a 

delicious lunch, you will travel to see more of Jennifer’s work at the 

Kassiopia Estate overlooking the Corfu Straits. Here, two contrasting 

gardens have been created: one wild and open to the elements; the 

other south-facing and sheltered. Both use a strong palette of native 

species, reflecting a deep understanding of Mediterranean flora. You 

return to Hotel Domes Miramare before dining together in the hotel 

restaurant. 

Day 3 

Start the day with a leisurely walking tour of Corfu Town (Kerkyra) 

to include the Old Fortress, the Durrells’ Garden, St Spyridon Church 

and a chance to taste local specialties. You then drive to the Ropa 

Valley to the Theotoky Estate Vineyard, one of the oldest wineries on 

the island. Here you are invited to taste their best wines and enjoy a 

light lunch. In the afternoon you’ll visit a private garden designed by 

Thomas Doxiadis. You then return to Hotel Domes Miramare before 

dining together in the hotel restaurant. 

Day 4 

Today we have a special invitation to the Rothschild Estate which 

occupies two beautiful peninsulas: Strongilo & Kanonas. Nurtured by 

three generations of the family, it skilfully embraces the wild landscape 

with more intense planting in the courtyards, potager and around the 

pools. The infinity pool in a former quarry was designed by Spanish 

architect, Xavier Barba and is edged with tightly clipped rosemary. 

We are then invited to a Corfiot summer lunch at the St George’s Bay 

Country Club overlooking the Ionian Sea. Returning to the hotel to 

dine together later. 

Day 5 

After a leisurely breakfast, we return to Corfu Airport for our return 

flight to London Heathrow. 

An exclusive Telegraph tour hosted 

by gardening expert Helen Yemm 

and led by Kirsty Fergusson 

Tour Dates 

2 - 6 May 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 






• Return flights with British Airways from London 

Heathrow to Corfu 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star 

Hotel Domes Miramare 

• Four evening meals and three lunches with local wines 





and waiters 


Domes Miramare Hotel, Corfu 

The glamorous Domes Miramare has hosted glitterati and 

royals alike and is today one of the Mediterranean’s most 

prestigious adult-only hotels. Exquisitely positioned on 

the shoreline of Eastern Corfu, the hotel offers ultimate 

seclusion and relaxation just a short distance from 

Corfu Town. Wonderfully appointed rooms are chic and 

minimalist in décor. Hotel facilities include a swimming 

pool, sauna and steam room, tennis court, private beach, 

fine dining restaurant and multiple bars. 

Corfu 


17


Tuscan Gardens 

The Most Beautiful Gardens around Florence 

This late spring tour has been carefully designed to include some of the most beautiful gardens of Tuscany. It was 

here that the Renaissance took root in the 15th-Century, and many of the gardens you visit display designs from 

that remarkable period. By way of contrast, the tour also features important gardens of the early 20th-Century, when 

English-speaking expatriates comprised one sixth of the population of Florence. You will visit gardens designed 

by Cecil Pinsent who worked in the early 1900s for the expatriate community, designing ingenious gardens that 

complemented the surrounding architecture and landscapes. You’ll also hear how these garden masterpieces are 

managed in Italy today from Nick Dakin-Elliot who leads restoration work at Villa La Pietra. Nick will also join Helen 

Yemm for a question and answer session one evening before joining you for dinner. For Nick, the perfect garden 

contrasts a formal structure with the romantic touch of profuse planting, a fusion of Italian and English garden design 

at their best. This tour includes many rare and private visits with special invitations to lunch with owners. We are 

accommodated for four nights at the elegant five-star Hotel Regency. 

Florence 

18

Programme 

Day 1 

Check-in at London Heathrow for your early afternoon flight to Pisa 

Galileo Galilei Airport. You’ll drive to Florence to receive a warm 

welcome at Hotel Regency with time to settle in before dining together 

with local wine included. 

Day 2 

Villa La Pietra is the magnificent Acton family villa now owned by New 

York University. Here, Nick Dakin-Elliot will explain how Kim Wilkie’s 

ingenious plan restored this important site. A picnic lunch is provided 

in the gardens of La Pietra before visiting Cecil Pinsent’s dramatic 

treatment of the steep hillside at Villa Le Balze in Fiesole. You’ll return 

to Hotel Regency before dining out in a local restaurant together, with 

local wines included. 

Day 3 

You head south of Florence today to visit two beautiful estates, one 

in the Val d’Orcia, a miraculously intact valley in southern Tuscany 

and the other in the rolling hills of Chianti. When Antonio and Iris 

Origo bought the estate of La Foce, they engaged the English architect 

Cecil Pinsent to restructure the main buildings and create a garden 

to enhance the Renaissance house and expand the spectacular view 

over the valley. Perfect harmony between buildings, garden and nature 

helps La Foce stand out as one of Pinsent’s best works. Count Bianchi 

Bandinelli of Villa di Geggiano then invites you to lunch at the villa 

with its 18th-Century frescoes representing the 12 months of the year 

created by Austrian artist, Ignazio Moder. Take time to stroll around 

the garden to see the famous green theatre and walls decorated with 

vases and monkey grotteschi. Your evening is free to explore Florence 

and find the restaurant of your choice. 

Day 4 

Start the day with a short walking tour in the company of Jeremy 

Boudreau of the British Institute. Jeremy will talk you through the 

wonderful sculptures found in the heart of Florence. You are then 

invited by Marchese Vieri Torrigiani Malaspina for a light lunch and 

a tour of Giardino Torrigiani, a remarkable garden owned by the 

Torrigiani families since the 16th-Century and the largest privately 

owned garden within city walls in Europe. There follows free time 

before rejoining at the hotel for early evening drinks and a Q&A 

session with Helen Yemm and Nick Dakin-Elliot. You will dine together 

at a local restaurant. 

Day 5 

On the last day of the tour you visit the gardens of Villa Gamberaia, 

one of the most perfect examples of garden architecture. Though the 

original garden dates back to the 17th-Century, the famous water 

terrace was designed by Princess Ghyka of Serbia in the late 19th- 

Century. Both were severely damaged in the Second World War and 

immaculately restored by Signor Marcello Marchi. Explore the unique 

water parterre, bowling alley, secret garden, nymphaeum, lemon 

garden and bosco with magnificent views over the Arno Valley. Lunch 

is at Enoteca Rossellino. You then return to Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport 

for your flight home to London Heathrow. 

An exclusive Telegraph tour hosted 

by garden expert Helen Yemm 

and led by Kirsty Fergusson 

Tour Dates 


5 days 

Tour Prices 







to Pisa Galileo Galilei 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star Regency Hotel, 

Florence 






and waiters 


Hotel Regency, Florence 

Situated in a quiet, residential area, Hotel Regency-Small 

Luxury Hotels of the World is hidden away from the busy 

city centre, yet only 10 minutes from Florence’s main 

tourist sites, including the Accademia Gallery. Facing 

lush, green parkland on one side and a historic square 

on the other, this hotel, one of the leading small hotels 

of the world, offers unparalleled service, with attentive, 

professional staff and beautiful accommodation. 

Villa Gamberaia 


19


Goes To Tangier 

A Rare Invitation to Step into Luxurious Private Gardens 

Tangier, one of the Mediterranean’s oldest and most strategically-placed sea- ports has experienced a long 

and dramatic history of intrigue and multicultural occupation, attractive to a fluid population of adventurers, 

diplomats, spies and socialites as well as being the legendary haunt of the Beat Generation’s literary lions. 

Today – to the regret of some – Tangier has shaken off its slightly seedy reputation, grown considerably smarter 

and acquired cosmopolitan confidence, perhaps more attractive to business than bohemians. But the city still 

has secrets and the best of these are its private gardens, hidden within the heart of the old city or behind the 

high walls of the fashionable Vieille Montagne. Here, a wonderful cast of men and women have married their 

love of Tangier to a love of plants, creating gardens that reflect their own diverse personalities. On this very 

special tour we will have the rare privilege of stepping into these magical places and meeting their creators, 

as well as enjoying the comfort and hospitality of the centrally-located and much-celebrated El Minzah Hotel. 

Donabo Botanic Garden 

20

Programme 

Day 1 

Depart from London Heathrow for our flight to Tangier via Madrid on 

IB879 14.35. Transfer to the El Minzah Hotel and enjoy the rest of the 

afternoon and evening here. We dine together at the hotel’s Moroccan 

restaurant. 

Day 2 

Today we visit a cluster of gardens on Vieille Montagne, all enjoying 

sublime views over the Bay of Tangier, just a short drive from our hotel. 

These include Gazebo, the Tangier residence of celebrated interior 

designer Veere Grenney; El Foolk, home of the late antiques dealer 

Christopher Gibbs, and Cliff House, Tangier home and inspirational 

garden of Madison Cox, garden designer and president of the 

Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint-Laurent. Madison will also be one 

of several distinguished Tangerine guests for a buffet lunch hosted 

by Anna Mackew, a former water-skiing champion (and renowned 

English beauty) who has lived in Tangier for many decades – her house 

and garden reflect a lifetime’s passion for the company of people and 

plants . . . and dogs, and cats, and ducks and geese. In the evening we 

head back to Vieille Montagne, to dine together in a local restaurant of 

repute. 

Day 3 

Umberto Pasti hails from Milan, but for the past thirty years has spent 

much of his time both in Tangier and Rohuna, a small village close 

to the Atlantic coast, an hour south of the city. Ecologist, writer and 

gardener extraordinaire, Umberto’s passion for plants, especially those 

native to Morocco and in danger of extinction, is legendary and we 

have the great privilege of visiting both his gardens in his company as 

well as enjoying lunch with him at Rohuna. We return to the Minzah 

for dinner in the hotel’s French restaurant. 

Day 4 

The Donabo Botanic garden is an exciting and beautifully planted new 

project, from British artist Paul Belvoir, set on the glorious, wooded 

slopes of the Cape Spartel Nature Reserve, a short drive out of the city. 

After a guided visit, we enjoy a light lunch in the gardens followed 

by an afternoon at leisure – the souks of the Medina are just a short 

stroll from our hotel – before heading to the Marchane for a lanternlit 

dinner with Gordon Watson (of TV antique-dealing celebrity) at his 

exquisite house and courtyard garden, Dar Ouezzane. 

Day 5 

One of Tangier’s most distinguished British residents offers an optional 

guided walk from the hotel, taking in some of the city’s most important 

historical sites. Depart Tangier for the afternoon flight to London 

Heathrow via Madrid. 

Hosted by Virginia Affleck, and led by 

garden expert Kirsty Fergusson 

Tour Dates 

16–20 May 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 


‘No flights’ price £3,048 




• Return flights from London Heathrow to Tangier via Madrid 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star El Minzah Hotel, 

Tangier 

• Two evening meals at the hotel and two evening meals as 

guests in private homes with local wine and four lunches 





and waiters 


El Minzah, Tangier 

The extravagant El Minzah Hotel enjoys an ideal location 

in the heart of Tangier nearby the city’s beautiful beach, 

it overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar, Rif Mountains and 

the Bay of Tangier and features lush, neatly landscaped 

gardens of palm, eucalyptus, rose and geraniums among 

other exotic vegetation. 

Exhibiting a Spanish-Moorish themed décor, this 

sophisticated hotel successfully blends premier services 

and luxuries with exclusive facilities to provide a relaxing 

retreat in this charming Moroccan city. 

Tangier 


21

Gardens of Snowdonia 

Rivers, Mountains, Woodland & Sea 

Set in uniquely wild, rugged & picturesque Snowdonia, we have a special selection of visits arranged to delight 

and inspire. The superb gardens of Snowdonia share the mild climate Gulf Stream influence, acid soils and tender, 

exotic plants of the better-known Cornish & West Coast Scotland, but we also learn how these gardens have been 

created to stand up to the occasional severe weather and terrain. We stay at two of the best hotels in Wales, both 

with stunning views of mountain and sea. Historic Bodysgallen Hall provides all that is great in country house 

hospitality including its own 3AA Rosettes restaurant. At Portmeirion village, you will be accommodated either in 

the main hotel, the famous village or in Castell Deudraeth, the 19th-Century folly Castle, dining one night in the 

main hotel and one night at the Castell Deudraeth Brasserie Restaurant. 

Portmeirion 

22

Programme 

Day 1 

Depart from Llandudno Junction Railway Station at 12.00 noon (to 

coincide with the fast through train departing 09.00 from London Euston) 

or join at Bodysgallen Hall at 12:30 where you can leave your car for 

the duration of the tour. Following lunch together at the hotel, the Head 

Gardener, Robert Owen will guide you around the garden. Then travel by 

coach together to nearby Bodnant Gardens with its wonderful terraces 

leading down to the Pin Mill and out to the dell and woodland gardens 

beyond, all in an unparalleled setting with views over the River Conwy to 

Snowdonia. Returning to Bodysgallen Hall where you stay for the next two 

nights with evening meals with wine included. 

Day 2 

Travel westwards to Crûg Farm Nursery to meet Chelsea Gold medal 

winners, Bleddyn & Sue Wynn-Jones who will introduce their nursery and 

garden with a reputation for the rare and wonderful, most of which they 

have collected on expeditions to tropical montane regions worldwide. 

Cross the Menai Straits to Anglesey to Plas Cadnant where Anthony 

Tavernor discovered then restored and developed this remarkable wooded 

garden to perfection. Both garden and house are Georgian in origin; 

pleasure grounds of the fashionable picturesque style. A simple lunch 

is included at Plas Cadnant. Later in the afternoon visit the small private 

garden of Llys-y-Gwynt developed from an exposed field over thirty years, 

the planting radiates out from the house in bands to provide vital wind 

protection. Return to Bodysgallen Hall. 

Day 3 

Maenan Hall is a private garden in the verdant Conwy Valley with 

dramatic views of Snowdonia, owned by the Maclaren family, relations 

to the owners of Bodnant, which helps to explain the fine range of 

specimen trees and shrubs found throughout the garden that includes 

sweeping lawns, ornamental ponds as well as a tranquil woodland dell 

which features magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, pieris, cherries 

and hydrangeas. Continue to the beautiful light-filled tidal estuary and 

landmark hotel of Portmeirion and Castell Deudraeth where you will 

stay for the next two nights. On arrival you are offered a lunch together 

followed by a visit to the memorable, theatrical gardens, setting for the 

Italianate village created by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Tonight, we dine 

together at Castell Deudraeth with a pre-dinner talk by Bettina Harden, 

owner of Nanhoron but also author of The Most Glorious Prospect: Garden 

Visiting in Wales 1639-1900 that will be the subject of her short talk. 

Day 4 

We spend a day on the Llŷn Peninsula that extends towards Ireland; a 

bastion of Celtic history and heritage and stronghold of Welsh culture and 

language, with visits to three contrasting gardens. Firstly, we go down to 

the remote shores of Hells’ Mouth to the small cottage garden of Plas yn 

Rhiw, past home to three remarkable sisters. At Nanhoron we are met by 

owner, Bettina Harden and her head gardener who will lead us around the 

walled gardens and woodland walks before inviting us to lunch. Later in 

the afternoon we visit a small garden surrounding a traditional crog loft 

cottage on a windswept hillside. Return to Portmeirion where we dine this 

evening at the hotel. 

Day 5 

Heading for the mountains, we visit Plas Brondanw where Sir Clough 

Williams-Ellis and his wife Amabel created their private Italianate garden 

focusing on the mountains of Snowdonia. Following a light lunch, we 

return to Llandudno-Junction Station for 15:00 to catch the direct return 

train to London or to pick up your cars left at Bodysgallen Hall. 

Plas Cadnant 

A garden tour hosted by Stephen Anderton, 

Gardening Correspondent of The Times and 

author of Discovering Welsh Gardens and led 

by garden historian Dr Sophie Piebenga. 

Tour Dates 


5 days 

Tour Prices 





• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Bodysgallen 

Hall Hotel, Llandudno 

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star, Portmeirion 

or Castle Deudraeth 

• Four evening meals and five lunches with wine 






and waiters 


Bodysgallen Hall Hotel, Llandudno 

Bodysgallen Hall stands in 200 acres of its own parkland. In 

the magnificent gardens, the follies, walled gardens and lily 

ponds await discovery. Rooms are furnished in a charming 

country house style. Hotel spa with heated indoor pool. 

Portmeirion Estate Accommodation 

Rooms are to be allocated in the main Portmeirion Hotel, 

in the Village and at Castell Deudraeth. 

Castell Deudraeth 

A contemporary style Gothic Castle in the Portmeirion estate 

converted into luxury hotel. 

Rooms in the Village 

Luxury hotel rooms with in the Portmeirion village, all have 

views of the village or the Dwyryd Estuary and some have 

private patios and terraces. 

The Portmeirion Hotel, Portmeirion 

This hotel was designed as the focal point of Clough 

Williams-Ellis’ Welsh Italianate village. Classic, comfortable 

and elegant. Facilities include an award-winning fine dining 

restaurant, a bar and terrace. 


23


The French Rose Garden 

A celebration of the Rose from Paris to the Loire 

Following our highly successful English Rose tours with Michael Marriott, we now venture across The Channel to 

investigate the story of the French rose and to enjoy some truly wonderful gardens and rose collections from Paris 

to the Loire. If you love the perfume of roses on an early summer’s day and have always promised yourself time to 

discover more of this vast and varied genus, then this is the tour for you; an unmissable opportunity to stroll from 

rose to rose discussing the merits of under-planting, mulching, pruning, budding, training, and even ‘the name of 

the rose’ in the company of a great rose enthusiast and expert. We will stay one night at Hôtel Les Pléiades, in the 

village of Barbizon before travelling down to the Loire to Hôtel Le Choiseul, Amboise. Both hotels offer good food 

and hospitality: dinners with local wines and bed and breakfast all included. Michael Marriott is senior 

rosarian of David Austin Roses and is one of the world’s most esteemed rose experts; Maïté Delmas has 

over thirty years’ experience of managing plant collections (including roses) gained at Kew, Bordeaux 

and Paris Botanic Gardens. Maïté has worked with Boxwood for many years and is a well-respected 

tour leader familiar to many of our travellers. 

Roserie Val-de-Marne 

24

Programme 

Day 1 

We take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. 

On arrival, we travel by coach to Roseraie Val-de-Marne in L’Haÿles-Roses, 

where we start with a delicious light lunch followed by 

a tour of the roses with the garden’s curator. Initiated in the late 

19th-Century by Jules Gravereaux, a private collector and owner of 

the Parisian department store Le Bon Marché, the garden now has 

more than 11,000 rose bushes and nearly 2,900 species and varieties 

of rose, making it one of the largest collections of old roses in the 

world. We then drive to Hôtel Les Pléiades, on the edge of the Forêt de 

Fontainebleau, with time to settle in before our evening meal together. 

Hosted by Rosarian, Michael Marriott 

and led by Maïté Delmas 

Day 2 

Though André Eve (1931-2015) is well known in France for his work 

in hybridising old roses, few people know of his own small garden 

in the Pithiviers. This garden, full of his favourite roses planted with 

compatible herbaceous plants, is a joy to see and is maintained to 

high standards by a group of skilled volunteers. At Le Manoir de la 

Javeliére Park, we are invited to lunch by the owner, Patrick Masure, 

and to view his comprehensive collection of wild roses. Next, we visit 

the nursery that was originally set up by André Eve for a fascinating 

behind-the-scenes tour of Les Roses Anciennes André Eve where 

work is still underway creating beautiful new French roses. We 

then journey on to Hôtel Le Choiseul overlooking the River Loire in 

Amboise, with time to settle in before dining in the hotel restaurant. 

Day 3 

The fairy-tale Château Rivau has a remarkable garden with a 

remarkable owner. Patricia Laigneau has planned her colourful garden 

to wrap around the château. With a particular passion for roses, she 

will take us on a special tour to show how roses are interwoven into 

all corners of the garden before a delicious lunch together. In the 

afternoon we have a private visit to the Loubert Rose Collection where 

over 2,500 different species and cultivars of the genus Rosa comprise 

a French National Collection, its main purpose to preserve and display 

rose species as well as old and rare varieties. We then return to Hôtel 

Le Choiseul for dinner together. 

Day 4 

In the heart of Touraine, we find Chédigny, ‘village des roses’, the 

only village in France to be ranked as a ‘Jardin Remarquable’ for its 

extraordinary collection of roses and its Rose Festival. We are then 

invited to lunch and Vouvray wine tasting at Château de Valmer owned 

by the same family for five generations. Today the Count and Countess 

de Saint Venant still live in the château, their son, Jean de Saint Venant 

managing the property and vineyards. Later, we visit the gardens of 

Château de Villandry a unique testament to Renaissance architecture 

with decorative potager and symbolic ornamental garden. Villandry 

has long been the epitome of decorative vegetable gardens; the 

standard of horticulture, attention to detail, and clever design remain a 

total delight; we meet the head gardener to discuss the standard roses 

that give the rhythm and the high notes to the potager. We then return 

to Hôtel Le Choiseul for dinner together. 

Day 5 

Moving up-river we pass the village of Cormeray to find a small rose 

garden, product of the full-blown passion of owner, Brigitte Chiron- 

Charaud. We then find Les Jardins de Roquelin where Stephane 

Chassine, who previously worked for André Eve, has created a very 

beautiful cottage garden full of his favourite old roses on the banks 

of the Loire. The coach will then drive to Paris, Gare du Nord for our 

evening Eurostar service to London St Pancras. 

Tour Dates 

30 May – 3 June 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 





• Return travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to 

Paris Gare du Nord 


• One night in the four-star Hôtel Les Pléiades, Barbizon 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Hôtel Le 

Choiseul, Amboise 






and waiters 


Hôtel Les Pléiades, Barbizon 

Partially the former atelier of the painter Charles Daubigny, 

a member of the Barbizon school, Les Pléiades combines 

history and elegance with chic modern style. Located in 

the heart of Barbizon, made famous by the 19th-Century 

painters who strove to capture the area’s pastoral beauty, 

hotel facilities include a spa, stylish indoor and outdoor 

pools and a fine dining restaurant. 

Hôtel Le Choiseul, Amboise 

Le Choiseul combines three handsome and historic 

residencies to form this picturesque castle-hotel in the 

heart of Amboise. Rooms are furnished in an elegant 

French Country style and enjoy views across the hotel’s 

romantic Italian-style gardens, the Loire or the Château 

d’Amboise. This luxury extends to an attractive outdoor 

pool and the hotel restaurant, which offers gastronomic 

dining with an array of panoramic views. 


25

The Land of Wide Skies 

Private Gardens of Norfolk 

Enjoy a hand-picked selection of fine private gardens in a quintessentially English region of rural Britain, a littleknown 

landscape of flint and red brick architecture, steeply pitched roofs of tile and thatch, round church towers and 

long sandy beaches. In every garden visited in this quiet corner of old England we are met for special guided tours to 

learn the essentials of the creation of exceptional gardens. The owners of Holme Hale Hall will guide us through the 

work of Arne Maynard; classical garden designer George Carter will describe his theatrical green garden; Roger Last 

invites us to view the garden that he began to create with his brother as a boy and is still developing into retirement; 

at Hunworth Hall we will see the passion and hard work of Dr Henry Crawley in the creation of an inspired garden 

from a paddock and family vegetable plot and at The Old Vicarage, East Ruston, Alan Gray will show us a garden that 

started as a field to become what is one of the most remarkable and enjoyable contemporary gardens in Britain. We 

are accommodated for three nights at Titchwell Manor Hotel, a small hotel on the North Norfolk coast with views 

across wild marshes to the sea. The rooms are simple, fresh and comfortable and the restaurant currently holds three 

AA Rosettes for excellent, innovative food. 

Houghton Hall 

26

Programme 

Day 1 

Our tour begins at Norwich Railway Station. Those parking at the hotel 

will be collected by our coach before we drive together to Silverstone 

Farm, home and garden of designer, George Carter, where we are 

invited to lunch and a guided tour of his formal theatrical green 

garden. We then head to Kettle Hill, a jewel of a garden punctuated 

by pink follies with excellent views across to Blakeney Point and the 

sea: a garden with a new head of steam. We then drive along the North 

Norfolk coast to Titchwell Manor Hotel with time to settle in before an 

evening meal together. 

Day 2 

We start the day with a real treat: an ‘early bird’ tour by the head 

gardener of the wonderful walled gardens at Houghton Hall, home of 

David, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. We arrive before the garden is 

officially open with time to explore the larger garden before lunching 

together. In the afternoon, we are guests of Henry and Charlotte 

Crawley at Hunworth Hall. This new creation has strong Dutch 

influences with much topiary and formal hedges dissected by water 

canals and vistas headed by a very fine pavilion, all reflecting the style 

and the period of the house. We then return to Titchwell Manor for an 

evening meal together. 

Day 3 

Just a short distance from the East coast yet sheltered from the worst 

of the elements we find East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden where we 

are shown one of the most remarkable and enjoyable contemporary 

gardens in the country by owner, Alan Gray. Following lunch, we are 

invited to Corpusty Mill, a complex series of interlinking contrasting 

spaces overflowing with fine plants. We will be shown three very 

different sections: one, a manicured web of fine plants and intricate 

follies; another, informal and relaxed with lake and stainless-steel 

obelisk; and the last, latest section with an unexpected twist! We then 

head back to Titchwell Manor for our final evening meal together. 

Day 4 

There are a number of moated manor houses in Norfolk but not all 

with fine gardens: Elsing Hall is an exception. The 15th-Century manor 

is surrounded by beautiful gardens with especially notable collections 

of old English roses and pines as well as a fine gingko avenue. Not far 

away you are invited by Mr and Mrs Simon Broke to a lunch made by 

the ladies from Holme Hale Church and to visit the gardens of Holme 

Hale Hall that has been in the Broke family for several generations. 

The gardens have been reworked by garden designer, Arne Maynard 

from the bones of the original garden. The walled garden has come 

back to life, once again growing vegetables and fruits now with long 

borders in pastel shades. Elsewhere, low cloud hedges of box are filled 

with perennial grasses framing the formal façade of the Hall. Later 

this afternoon we return to Norwich Railway Station. Those who have 

travelled by car will be transferred to Titchwell Manor. 

Hosted by Stephen Anderton, gardening 

correspondent of The Times and led by 

garden historian Dr Sophie Piebenga 

Tour Dates 

14 - 17 June 2022 

4 days 

Tour Prices 





• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Titchwell 

Manor Hotel, Norfolk 







and waiters 


Titchwell Manor Hotel 

A stone’s throw from the stunning North Norfolk coast, 

Titchwell Manor is a four-star boutique 26-bedroom 

country retreat. Titchwell Manor offers relaxed fine 

dining, luxurious accommodation, a secluded garden, 

and spaces for private events, with the option of 

exclusive use. 

Owned by Margaret and Ian Snaith since 1988, the 

elegant former Victorian farmhouse combines traditional 

values with chic contemporary accommodation and 

spectacular, uninterrupted views across open marshes to 

the North Sea. 

East Ruston, old vicarage 


27


The Sussex Collection 

Helen Yemm’s Favourite Gardens, Including Her Own 

Visit the finest gardens and nurseries in Sussex, as chosen by Helen Yemm. This is an all-star cast of mostly private 

gardens, including a guided visit to the gardens of Gravetye Manor with lunch included, an ‘early bird’ visit to Great 

Dixter, a special invitation to lunch with Lady Collum at Clinton Lodge and a unique visit to Helen Yemm’s own garden. 

You will stay throughout the tour at Ockenden Manor Hotel, a charming Elizabethan manor, which offers good food 

and hospitality – the perfect base for the tour. 

Arundel Castle 

28

Programme 

Day 1 

The tour starts at Haywards Heath railway station at 12pm to take 

advantage of the train service from London. Those who wish to drive 

can park at Ockenden Manor, to be collected at 11.30am by the coach 

en route to the station. You journey together to Gravetye Manor, 

former home of William Robinson, ‘Father of the English Flower 

Garden’.Laid out in classic Arts & Crafts style, the property is now a 

hotel of distinction. A delicious lunch will be served followed by a 

garden tour with head gardener Tom Coward. These mature gardens 

are wonderfully renovated. You will arrive at Ockenden Manor in time 

to settle in before dining together. 

Day 2 

Start the day visiting the gardens of Arundel Castle. Designed by Isabel 

and Julian Bannerman, the gardens were conceived as a light-hearted 

tribute to Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (1585-1646), known 

as ‘The Collector’ as he was one of the first great art collectors. Parham 

is one of the country’s finest Elizabethan houses. Situated in ancient 

parkland at the foot of the South Downs, its beauty and tranquillity 

have changed little over the centuries. The beautiful pleasure grounds 

and four-acre walled garden are today cared for and developed by head 

gardener Andrew Humphris (ex-Wollerton Old Hall). Lunch is included 

at Parham. 

Day 3 

To avoid the crowds, you will benefit from a special ‘early bird’ visit to 

the garden and house at Great Dixter, the former home of gardener 

and author Christopher Lloyd (1921–2006). Lloyd devoted his life to 

creating one of the most exciting and experimental gardens of our 

time. The garden is now managed with sensitivity and skill by Fergus 

Garrett. Following lunch at a good local inn, you visit Fairlight End, 

a private 21st-Century garden in the Sussex Weald, just a mile from 

the sea. Here you will discover wildflower meadows with extensive 

views over natural ponds. Modern corten steel features reflect back 

to the days when the region was alive to the sights and sounds of iron 

foundries. 

Day 4 

Start the day visiting Eldenhurst, Helen Yemm’s own garden. Though 

the smallest garden on the tour, it packs a hefty punch for its skilful 

planting. Nearby Frankham Manor is a large garden in the making 

where you’ll enjoy lunch together. Next you’ll visit Balmoral Cottage, 

where Charlotte Molesworth has made good use of extensive topiary as 

a backbone to her cottage garden. 

Day 5 

Marchants Hardy Plants is a nursery selling an array of unusual 

and stalwart plants, many grown in the adjoining garden. This living 

catalogue provides innovative ideas for plant combinations. You 

are then invited for lunch at the 17th-Century Clinton Lodge, where 

Lady Collum will share her knowledge and passion for the wonderful, 

compartmentalised garden. In the afternoon, visit the 17th-Century 

farmhouse at Town Place, whose garden contains 800 roses, colourthemed 

borders and topiary, as well as a hornbeam ruined priory 

church and cloisters. You then return to Haywards Heath railway 

station for 4.30pm and travel onward to Ockenden Manor for 5pm. 

An exclusive Telegraph tour hosted by 

garden expert, Helen Yemm and 

led by Sophie Piebenga 

Tour Dates 

27 June - 1 July 2022 

4 days 

Tour Prices 





• All transportation from Haywards Heath Railway Station 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the three-star 

Ockenden Manor, West Sussex 






and waiters 


Ockenden Manor, West Sussex 

Ockenden Manor is a fine Elizabethan manor house 

with 28 luxurious rooms, an outstanding spa and an 

award-winning restaurant set in eight acres of grounds 

overlooking Cuckfield Park. With its history and character, 

elegant sitting room warmed by a log fire and cosy, woodpanelled 

bar, Ockenden Manor is a wonderful place to 

escape to less than an hour from London. 

Great Dixter 


29


Devon on the Wildside 

Contemporary Private Gardens Making New Waves 

Tucked down in the southwest corner of England, Devon is a county tailor-made for the garden-visiting connoisseur: 

a dramatically contrasting landscape of moorland, wooded coombes, seascapes and rich, red earth. Here, we have 

chosen a selection of contrasting gardens that in their own way are all pushing boundaries and breaking the mould. We 

have found some exceptional gardens, including Wildside, described as ‘the most innovative, daring and vibrant new 

garden in Britain’; Plaz Metaxu, an ambitious, contemporary, and challenging, intellectual garden; and Mothecombe 

where we visit a garden planted to attract bees as well as butterflies, slow worms, frogs, and dragonflies. To cap it all, 

we stay at the enchanting Hotel Endsleigh overlooking the fast-flowing River Tamar with stunning gardens thought to 

be one of the last commissions of renowned, early 19th-Century landscape gardener Humphry Repton. Originally a 

hunting lodge belonging to the Dukes of Bedford, the house has been beautifully renovated and adapted by hotelier 

Olga Polizzi of the famous Forte family; all in all, the perfect base for a tour of the gardens of this beautiful region. 

Wildside 

30

Programme 

Day 1 

This tour starts at Tiverton Parkway Railway Station at 11:00. From 

Tiverton, we drive the short distance to view a private garden encasing 

an old farmhouse. A garden of colour and perfume, lovingly cared for 

by garden designer and plantoholic Alasdair Cameron and his wife 

Tor. Lunch follows in a local inn before driving to Hotel Endsleigh with 

plenty of time to settle in before meeting up for a pre-dinner talk given 

by Tour Host, Keith Wiley. Keith will share with us his horticultural 

journey and explain his approach to gardening. Dine together at Hotel 

Endsleigh. 

Day 2 

Step out the door for a special tour of the gardens at Hotel Endsleigh 

with the Head Gardener Ben Rushcombe-King through wooded 

walks, past the old dairy, round to the Shell House and along stunning 

terraced borders. Following a light lunch at the hotel we travel together 

to the village of Buckland Monachoram to visit Wildside, created 

by Keith Wiley and his late wife Ros. Using an excavator, Keith has 

sculpted a completely new landscape from a gently sloping field and, 

with great skill and daring, planted it with a thriving abundance of 

wonderful plants. Return to the hotel with time to change before 

dining together. 

Day 3 

We travel southeast to the English Riviera to visit Coleton Fishacre, 

an Arts & Crafts house and gardens that sweep down to the sea, now 

famous for rich sub-tropical plantings that come into their own in the 

summer. Further along the coast, Mothecombe House nestles in a 

wooded fold behind the sandy mouth of the River Erme. Here we find 

a clutch of walled gardens, one of which has become bee attractive. 

Among the swathes of predominantly blue and purple bee-attractive 

plants we find eighteen different lavender species. After lunch at 

Mothecombe we travel on for a very privileged visit to a private garden 

with elevated panoramic sea views, designed by Dan Pearson ten years 

ago, comprising ornamental walled garden, productive garden, herb 

terrace, glasshouse and domestic orchards. Return to Hotel Endsleigh 

to dine together this evening. 

Day 4 

As we move eastwards away from the Tamar Valley we are invited to 

another special garden, Plaz Metaxu (‘the place that is in-between’) 

where owner Alasdair Forbes will introduce us to his challenging 

symbolic garden, one of the most ambitious in the country. After a 

delicious lunch together, we return to Tiverton Parkway for 15:00. 

Keith Wiley, pioneering plantsman, creator 

of Wildside and regular contributor to 

Gardens Illustrated will host this special tour 

accompanied by Tour Leader Sophie Piebenga 

Tour Dates 

4 – 7 July 2022 

4 days 

Tour Prices 





• All transportation from Tiverton Parkway Railway Station 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star Hotel 

Endsleigh, Dartmoor 

• Three evening meals at the hotel and four lunches 

with wine 





and waiters 


Hotel Endsleigh, Dartmoor 

Situated on the border between Devon and Cornwall in the 

Tamar Valley, this fairy-tale hotel is the country cousin of 

the seaside Tresanton in Cornwall and The Star in Alfriston. 

Endsleigh is set in 100 acres of gardens, woodlands, follies 

and grottos created by Humphry Repton. Endsleigh has 

19 rooms each individually designed with uncluttered 

elegance. The furniture is a mix of old and new, with some 

unusual pieces. 

Mothecombe House 


31


Belgian Gardens 

Featuring the Plant Fair at Kasteel Hex & Private Gardens of Flanders 

Belgian gardens, like Belgian chocolates, are intricateand exclusive. In recent years, garden culture in Belgium has 

evolved greatly, largely due to a wave of first-class designers such as Jacques Wirtz, Daniel Ost and Chris Ghyselen. 

They have all built on a strong tradition of plantsmanship and horticultural excellence. Structure and design are 

important in their gardens, which feature hedges, trellises and tight clipped topiary. On this tour you will admire 

fine collections as well as a specialist nursery and the delightful plant fair at Kasteel Hex. The tour is mostly set in 

Flanders, the north-western half of Belgium, where Flemish, a dialect of Dutch, is spoken. Sophie Piebenga will be 

your guide to this fascinating region.Well known to regular Boxwood travellers, Sophie is renowned for her charm 

and professionalism.You will stay for two nights in the heart of historic Antwerp at Hotel ‘t Sandt, and two nights in 

beautiful Bruges at Grand Hotel Casselbergh. These two stylish townhouse hotels are both within walking distance of 

the major sites in these cities. 

Kasteel van Oostkerke 

32

Programme 

Day 1 

Depart by Eurostar from London St Pancras, arriving in Brussels Midi 

Station at midday. Transfer by luxury coach to De Uil, where lunch 

is included. This was the former residence of artist Karel Aubroeck 

(1894–1986), now occupied by interior designers Marc Massa and 

Roger Liekens. The garden was designed by renowned floral artist and 

garden architect Daniel Ost and includes a beautiful wild shade garden 

and stylized formal garden. Continue to the stylish Hotel ‘t Sandt where 

you will stay for the next two nights, dining together this evening in a 

local restaurant. 

Day 2 

A day in Antwerp starts with a slow ride through the Art Nouveau 

district of Cogels Osylei, Zurenborg, where the finest architects of the 

early 20th-Century defined the grandeur of the Belle Époque. Dutchborn 

artist and landscape designer Ronald van der Hilst moved to 

Antwerp in 1993, bringing with him a great love of tulips. You will see 

his Tulip gallery before visiting the small, enclosed garden of Hortus 

Conclusus where Ronald and his partner Marcel have created a flower 

filled heaven. At Rubenshuis Museum you’ll see where the artist Peter 

Paul Rubens lived and painted. What you see today is a reconstruction 

of a garden from Rubens’s era, taken from his painting A Walk in 

the Garden. The afternoon is free for you to find your own lunch and 

further explore this vibrant city. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the famous 

restaurant Sir Anthony Van Dijck in the shadow of the cathedral. 

Day 3 

Travel into Zeeland, Netherlands, and meet Frans and Franny Geijsels 

at their small garden and nursery, In Goede Aarde (In Good Earth). 

Franny tends the gardens and Frans propagates and designs. They have 

a great reputation in this region for selling high quality plants along 

with sound advice on cultivation. Cross the border back into Belgium 

to visit the garden of landscape architect Chris Ghyselen. Known for his 

use of fine grasses and perennials, his garden leads through billowing 

borders down narrow paths that softly blend into the surrounding 

countryside. A simple lunch is included. You’ll then drive into the heart 

of Bruges to Grand Hotel Casselbergh where you’ll stay for the next 

two nights. Check in before enjoying a free evening in Bruges. 

Day 4 

Start with a stroll through Bruges on a guided tour of this intriguing 

city. You have free time for lunch before heading to a region renowned 

for polders and pollarding. Explore the flower-filled gardens that 

surround the 14th-Century moated Kasteel van Oostkerke. At the 

end of the Second World War, the garden was practically lost in a great 

flood. In 1946 Baron van der Elst commissioned Dutch landscape 

architect Mien Ruys to lay out a new garden. Today it is still much 

loved by the family. Return to Bruges for dinner together at a good 

local restaurant. 

Day 5 

Today you visit Kasteel Hex where the specialist plant fair is held 

twice a year. September is the perfect time to visit the famous kitchen 

gardens in the castle grounds, as well as the wonderful array of stalls. 

You’ll meet nurserymen from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and 

Germany. Return to Brussels Midi Railway Station for your journey 

back at in London St Pancras. 

An exclusive Telegraph tour hosted by 

garden expert, Helen Yemm and 

led by Sophie Piebenga 

Tour Dates 

6 - 10 September 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 


‘No flight’ price £2,580 per person 




• Return Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels 


• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Hotel 

‘T Sandt, Antwerp 

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star The Grand 

Hotel Casselbergh, Bruges 






and waiters 


Hotel ‘T Sandt, Antwerp 

Hotel `t Sandt is an elegant 17th-Century neo-roccoco 

mansion has been converted into a luxurious contemporary 

hotel with 29 rooms. ideally located in the heart of the historic 

city centre just around the corner from most of the stylish 

design stores, funky restaurants, and the trendy South quarter. 

Guests may enjoy a beautiful Italian courtyard and summer 

terrace which offers an appealing view of the Cathedral. 

The Grand Hotel Casselbergh, Bruges 

Grand Hotel Casselbergh is the ideal place to start your 

visit to Bruges. Centrally located, next to the Burg and the 

Main Market Square. This unique hotel is a perfect blend 

of historic and modern luxury and takes you back to a 

time of ecclesiastical and noble atmospheres. Grand Hotel 

Casselbergh boasts 118 elegant rooms which combine 

contemporary luxury with the authentic charm of 18th- 

Century Bruges. 


33


Goes to South West Scotland 

Discover Gardens of Dumfries and Galloway 

The Dumfries & Galloway region lies in the south westerly corner of Scotland. It may well be off the beaten track 

but with its mild oceanic climate it is enriched by some of the loveliest gardens in the country including high profile 

contemporary gardens, award winning restorations and nationally renowned specialist plant nurseries. September is 

a great time to visit these gardens which grow a wide range of subtropical species and late summer perennials. For the 

first night we stay at Dumfries House Lodge and dine in privacy in the prestigious Dumfries House. For the following 

three nights we have exclusive use of The Knockinaam Lodge, located on the Rhins of Galloway, a five-star restaurant 

with rooms with breath-taking views out to the Irish Sea with its own private cove to explore. Adam Wilkinson joins us 

as the Tour Host, chosen by David Wheeler to be the Hortus representative. Adam is a seasoned traveller, passionate 

gardener and charming host. 

Portrack 

34

Programme 

Day 1 

The tour starts at Glasgow Paisley International Airport at 11:15 to 

coincide with flights from London Heathrow (and trains to Glasgow 

Central from London Euston). Travel together by coach to Dumfries 

House, one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes saved in 2007 

by the intervention of His Royal Highness, The Prince Charles, Duke 

of Rothesay. The house combines the neoclassical architecture of 

Robert Adam with the furniture of Thomas Chippendale and leading 

18th-Century Scottish cabinet makers. In addition, the Queen 

Elizabeth walled garden is the flagship project of the estate restoration. 

Following lunch and a visit to the gardens and house we check in at 

the Dumfries House Lodge and dine this evening in the privacy of the 

Dumfries House Library. 

Day 2 

Dunesslin House is about as close to ‘the back of beyond’ as can be 

found in Dumfriesshire. Here we meet owner Zara Milligan who has 

created a romantic Anglo-Scottish Garden with the help of architect 

Charles Morris who introduced a strong structure to support Mrs 

Milligan’s intensive planting. On the hillside above are three pieces 

by the artist Andy Goldsworthy who lives locally. Lunch is included 

today at Drumlanrig Castle, the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and 

Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. Lastly a visit to The Garden 

of Cosmic Speculation, created by the late Charles Jencks and his 

wife Maggie Keswick. This is a garden of outstanding land-art, some 

inspired by cutting-edge science in the form of DNA, fractal geometry, 

wave forms and quantum theory. Continue to Knockinaam Lodge with 

time to settle in before dining together. 

Day 3 

Logan Botanic Garden, a satellite to Edinburgh Botanic Garden, has 

been named Scotland’s most exotic garden as it enjoys an almost 

subtropical climate because of the Gulf Stream. A wide range of 

species from Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America and 

South Africa thrive and will be introduced to us by the Curator Richard 

Baines. Richard will also join us at the hotel this evening to give a 

pre-dinner talk. Following a light lunch in the gardens return to the 

hotel with time to wander on the beach or walk along the cliffs before 

dining together. 

Day 4 

Cally Plants is a specialist perennial nursery & display garden that 

was established in an 18th-Century walled garden by adventurer 

Michael Wickenden It is now run by Kevin Hughes who has an 

additional passion for wildlife. We then journey to the pretty town 

of Kirkcudbright to see Broughton House with its intricate garden 

next to the bustling River Dee. Created by one of the artists known 

as ‘The Glasgow Boys’, Edward Atkinson Hornel, the garden has 

strong Japanese influences. Free time to explore and have lunch in 

Kirkcudbright before visiting Elizabeth MacGregor’s garden and 

nursery that specializes in, amongst others, Japanese anemones and 

cottage garden plants. 

Day 5 

The 18th-Century walled garden of Woodfall was a productive fruit 

and vegetable garden up to the first world war. In more recent years it 

has evolved into an atmospheric haven of scented plantings. Wigtown 

holds the title of Scotland’s National Book town – a book lover’s haven. 

Free time to find a book and some lunch before returning to Glasgow 

Paisley International Airport for 17:00 in time to catch the flight to 

London Heathrow or to transfer to Glasgow Central Railway station for 

the service to London Marylebone. 

Led by Sophie Piebenga and hosted by 

Adam Wilkinson 

Tour Dates 

19 - 23 September 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 





• Transfers from Glasgow Paisley International Airport 

• One night’s bed and breakfast in the four-star Dumfries 

House Lodge, Cumnock 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star 

Knockinaam Lodge, Stranraer 

• Four evening meals and three lunches with wine 






and waiters 


Dumfries House Lodge, Cumnock 

Sitting on the edge of 2,000 acres of the Dumfries House 

Estate and only a few hundred metres from Dumfries 

House itself, Dumfries House Lodge is an exclusive five-star 

Country Guest House offering luxury accommodation. 

Built in 1750 and brought into use a few years prior to the 

completion of Dumfries House, the ‘Garden Cottage’ as it 

was known in the 18th-Century, became the Factor’s House 

and remained so for over 200 years. 

Knockinaam Lodge, Stranraer 

Knockinaam Lodge is an intimate 10-bedroom hotel 

and the only luxury boutique hotel in Dumfries and 

Galloway, with a great history to tell. This historic hunting 

lodge featured in John Buchan’s The 39 Steps, was the 

boyhood home of Royal Navy submarine ace, Lieutenant 

Commander Malcolm David Wanklyn VC, and the secret 

meeting place for Churchill and Eisenhower as they 

planned the D-Day landings. 


35


The Lakeland Collection 

Featuring Lowther Castle and Gresgarth Hall 

The English Lake District is renowned for its dramatic beauty including England’s highest mountains and finest lakes. 

Previous home to William Wordsworth, The Lakeland Poets and Beatrix Potter, we also find a contrasting range of 

wonderful gardens, especially in the warmer south of the region. We are honoured to include a tour of Lowther Castle 

gardens where award winning Garden Designer, Dan Pearson designer of the new gardens and visit the home of 

garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd. The Lakeside Hotel sits on the lower reaches of Lake Windermere, a very 

welcoming, friendly hotel with our selected rooms overlooking the lake and gardens. The seamless blend of countryhouse 

character and contemporary four-star luxury with fine dining inspired by local produce ensures complete ease 

and comfort. 

Levens Hall 

36

Programme 

Day 1 

The tour departs from Lancaster Railway Station at 12:00 heading to 

the atmospheric formal gardens of Holker Hall where, following lunch 

we will have an exclusive introduction to the grounds before time to 

explore the garden in more detail. Fine topiary and colourful flower 

borders give way to extensive woodland gardens. Both Lord & Lady 

Cavendish are very much involved with the gardens, with a passion for 

collecting trees and shrubs. We travel on the The Lakeside Hotel with 

time to settle in before an evening meal together. This is our base for 

the next three nights. 

Day 2 

Our first stop is Levens Hall, known for its remarkable topiary. We will 

we meet head gardener Chris Crowder who will show us the ancient, 

clipped yews, holly, beech, and box that frame the wonderful, richly 

planted borders. After a special welcome lunch we visit Yewbarrow 

House with its sensational panorama of Morecambe Bay and miles of 

tidal sands, grassy salt flats and glinting sea. Here the owner Jonathan 

Denby has filled richly planted southfacing terraces with glorious 

exotic species, at their best in late summer. 

Day 3 

Today we travel North to Lowther Castle, an exciting new project 

designed by Dan Pearson. We are honoured to be joined here by 

by Head Gardener Martin Ogle who will spend the morning unveiling 

the story of the rejuvenated and reinterpreted historic gardens, the 

ruined castle remains and the wider landscape. Here you will discover 

the Courtyard dominated by clipped hornbeam sentinels, their 

sculptured shape reflecting the castle architecture; the Parterre planted 

with bold combinations of herbaceous perennials, woolly grasses and 

clipped yews; the Garden-in-the-Ruins, a fine example of naturalistic 

planting with a collection of botanical rarities; a new Orchard and, 

further afield, The Rose Garden, inspired by Sleeping Beauty. The 

impressive 17th-Century ‘prospect’ terrace, one kilometre in length, 

offers an unparalleled view across parkland and the River Lowther 

towards the Northern Lake District. After lunch together at Lowther we 

travel the short distance to Chapelside, a charming one-acre garden 

wrapped around the small 18th-Century farmhouse. The dramatic 

fell-side setting contrasts with intimate skilful planting surrounding 

the dwelling. 

Day 4 

Time this morning to call by Tom’s own nursery, Abi & Tom’s Garden 

Plants at Halecat. Both Tom and Abi are genuine plant enthusiasts 

who propagate, grow, sell, write and advise on, eat sleep and breathe 

herbaceous perennials with an additional in-depth knowledge of 

plants that thrive in the Lake District. After a light lunch in a local 

inn, we visit Gresgarth Hall. This rare and wonderful garden is the 

country home of Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd, an Italian born garden 

designer with an international reputation. Every detail is carefully 

thought through with much to see at all times of the year, including the 

fine productive kitchen garden. We then return to Lancaster Railway 

Station for 16:00. 

A garden tour hosted by Tom Attwood, 

writer, nurseryman, garden designer and 

joint owner of Abi & Toms Garden Plants 

and led by Sophie Piebenga. 

Tour Dates 

27 – 30 September 2022 

4 days 

Tour Prices 





• All transportation from Lancaster Railway Station 

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star 

Lakeside Hotel, Windermere 

• Three evening meals at the hotel plus four lunches 

with wine 





and waiters 


The Lakeside Hotel, Windermere 

The Lakeside Hotel is a four-star Superior Hotel resting 

exclusively on the southern shore of Lake Windermere. 

With restful bedrooms, delicious fine dining inspired 

by fresh local produce and indulgent treatments in the 

luxury spa and pool, Lakeside is the perfect place to 

escape. A seamless blend of country-house character 

and contemporary four-star luxury will make you 

feel completely at home – whether taking tea in the 

conservatory, relaxing in the pool, or enjoying a glass of 

Champagne on the lake terrace. 

Lowther Castle 


37


Tuscan Gold 

Gardens for Gourmets in Southern Tuscany 

This golden late-summer tour has been carefully designed to include some of the most beautiful and exclusive gardens 

of Southern Tuscany. We visit some Renaissance gardens dating back to the in the 15th-Century as well as important 

gardens of the early 20th-Century including La Foce, designed by Cecil Pinsent for Iris Origo – arguably Pinsent’s best 

garden-set in the dramatic landscape of the Val d’Orcia. This tour includes opportunities to taste local specialities and 

special invitations to dine in private villas with the owners. We will be spending four nights at the luxurious five-star 

Grand Hotel Continental in the historic heart of Siena, just a short walk from Piazza del Campo and the magnificent 

Duomo cathedral with fine dining included in the hotel’s own gourmet Ristorante Sapordivino. 

Tuscany 

38

Programme 

Day 1 

Depart London Heathrow, arriving in Pisa Galileo Airport. Journey 

through the Chianti region of Tuscany stopping at Badia a Coltibuono 

to visit the formal garden and to taste their organic wines and enjoy a 

light lunch. Then journeying on to Siena we receive a warm welcome 

at The Grand Hotel Continental in the heart of the old city, with time 

to settle in before dining together at the Ristorante Sapordivino, the 

hotel’s acclaimed gourmet restaurant. 

Day 2 

Start the day visiting the gardens of Villa Vico Bello, owned by the 

Chigi family since the 1500s, before travelling south to the Val d’Orcia, 

a beautiful and miraculously intact valley in Southern Tuscany. In 

the heart of this beautiful region, we discover the gardens of La Foce 

where we are invited to lunch and on a special guided tour with the 

owner, Benedetta Origo. When Antonio and Iris Origo bought the estate 

of La Foce in 1923, they engaged the English architect Cecil Pinsent 

to restructure the main buildings and create a garden to enhance the 

Renaissance house and expand the spectacular view over the valley. 

The perfect harmony between buildings, garden and nature ensures 

that La Foce stand out as one of Pinsent’s best works. Return to Siena 

for a free evening. 

Day 3 

We are privileged today to be accompanied by Antonella Piredda, 

an official guide to Siena as well as an accredited cheese and olive oil 

taster and wine aficionado. Antonella will accompany us on her tour 

of Secret Siena that opens the doors to the city’s hidden or forgotten 

treasures and masterpieces. This is followed by free time to find lunch, 

continue exploring or enjoy the proximity of our luxurious hotel. Later, 

in the afternoon we travel out of Siena to meet Count Bianchi Bandinelli 

of Villa di Geggiano where we are invited to an early evening meal 

together in the villa and the opportunity to view the beautiful 18th- 

Century frescoes representing the twelve months of the year created 

by Austrian artist, Ignazio Moder and have time to stroll around the 

garden to enjoy the famous green theatre and walls decorated with 

vases and monkey grotteschi. Return to the Grand Continental Hotel in 

the evening. 

Day 4 

La Ferriera is a garden designed, created, and loved by Contessa Giuppi 

Pietromarchi, who discovered the romantic villa more than fifty years 

ago when looking for an Italian home for her wandering diplomatic 

family. The family restored the house and Giuppi created the garden on 

the site of a 15th-Century foundry, including many plants collected on 

her extensive travels. We are invited to lunch with her, before visiting 

Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, a fantastical sculpture garden designed by 

Nikki de Saint-Phalle, inspired partly by the Parco Güel of Antonio 

Gaudi. Return to Siena to dine in La Corte di Sapordivino at the hotel. 

Day 5 

Leaving Siena we drive to the most celebrated of the Antinori family 

wineries: a contemporary, cathedral-like structure set within the vineclad 

hillside and offering breath-taking views of the soft rolling Tuscan 

hills scattered with olive groves and historic churches. A seasonal 

lunch, accompanied by a selection of Antinori wines will be served in 

the stunning rooftop restaurant. Return to Pisa Galileo Airport. Check 

in for our flight to London Heathrow. 

We are privileged to have Charles Quest-Ritson 

& Kirsty Fergusson to host and lead this special 

tour, both contributors to COUNTRY LIFE 

Tour Dates 

3 – 7 October 2022 

5 days 

Tour Prices 


‘No flights’ price £4,070 





to Pisa Galileo 


• Four nights’ bed and breakfast in the five-star Hotel Grand 

Continental, Siena 

• Three evening meals plus four lunches with wine 





and waiters 


The Hotel Grand Continental, Siena 

Within easy walking distance of Siena’s famous Piazza 

del Campo and mediaeval cathedral, the Grand Hotel 

Continental occupies a magnificent 17th century palazzo, 

carefully restored to its original splendour. Discerning 

visitors will find the same hospitality and comfort as their 

19th century predecessors who favoured this hotel on 

their Grand Tour of Italy. 

Villa La Foce 


39

Art History Tours 

Embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment with Art Pursuits Art History Tours. Since 2003, we’ve been taking 

passionate art, history, architecture and culture enthusiasts on unforgettable tours throughout Europe, designed and 

led by experts. 

• Tailormade tours and itineraries, uniquely crafted 

• High quality accommodation in the stylish and unique hotels 

• Exclusive site visits on many tours, including churches, private houses and collections 

• Small group sizes to enhance your experience 

Marrakech - City of Palaces, Gardens, 

Artists & Artisans 

20 February 2022 - 7 days from £4,095 

Stroll labyrinthine alleyways laced with the aroma of spice 

and perfume, take in architectural wonders of heartstopping 

beauty and surrender to the timeless romance of 

this captivating city, where Africa, Europe and the Middle 

East converge. Stroll the city’s UNESCO-listed; including 

the Medina (old city), souks, historic mosques, madrasas 

and Museums. 

• Private visit of the Villa Oasis with lunch 

• Learn about Moroccan culture as you talk to artisans, 

stallholders, and Moroccan cuisine 

• Experience Morocco’s high mountain 

• Learn how the local Berber women extract argan oil 

• Visit the Berber market and village of Setti Fatma 

Regensburg - A Mediaeval Metropolis 

On The Banks Of The Bavarian Danube 

29 April 2022 - 7 days from £2,550 

This tour focuses on the riches and often hidden treasures 

of mediaeval art and architecture in Regensburg, some 

of which are only accessible by special appointment. 

Discover this less well-known, yet culturally rich part of 

Bavaria. 

• Exclusive visits to crypts, chapels and cloisters opened 

especially for us 

• Relax during a cruise on a private boat along the Danube 

• Take a boat through the nature reserve of the Danube gorge 

to our destination of the Benedictine monastery of 

Weltenburg 

Georgian Arcadia 

11 April 2022 - 4 days from £1,400 

Take advantage of incredible private tours of Yorkshire’s 

finest Georgian country homes and landscape parks. 

From Castle Howard and Newby Hall, to Fairfax House 

and a wonderful stroll through the exquisite landscape of 

Studley Royal. 

• Enjoy exclusive private tours of many of Yorkshire’s finest 

Georgian country homes 

• Stroll the grounds of Studley Royal, one of Britain’s most 

captivating landscapes 

• Take a fascinating private tour of Castle Howard, one of 

Britain’s finest historic houses, in the company of its curator 

• Experience the most complete Chippendale interior in 

existence in the spectacular Tapestry Room at Newby Hall 

Franconia 

17 May 2022 - 6 days from £2,150 

Franconia is perhaps the Bavarian region less travelled. 

Nestled amongst beautiful vineyards, river valleys, forests 

and hills, it is here that we explore the inspiring limewood 

statuary of Tilman Riemenschneider. The incomparable 

beauty of Bamberg provides a magnificent base for our art, 

architectural and historical explorations. 

• Delve into the history, landscape, and art of all forms in 

Franconia, heir to the mediaeval Kingdom of the Francs 

• Enjoy a private visit to the home of the Prince of Schönborn 

and the Palace Weissenstein at Pommersfelden 

• Revel in a visit to the magnificent Cathedral of Bamberg, 

combining Romanesque and Gothic elements, and 

embellished with fine sculpture 

40 For our full collection of Art History Tours visit www.artpurtsuits.com

Small Ship Cruising 

Arena Voyages collection of cruises, aboard small ships, represent some of the best exploration and coastal cruising 

available. Smaller ships are the perfect way to navigate and anchor in some of the world’s most unique, unspoilt, and 

inspiring destinations around the world. 

• Access to exclusive deals and the best prices 

• We can take care of all your travel arrangements 

• Choose from some of the best small ship cruise lines 

• Offer a broad range of cruise types 

Expedition & Adventure Cruises 

The adventure of a lifetime starts right here, on one of 

our unforgettable adventure or expedition cruises! Ideal 

for visiting off the beaten track locations, you will see 

the rarest wildlife and reach far corners of the world on 

board our luxurious small ships. 

• Discover Panama Canal & Costa Rica 

• Antarctica Cruise 

• The Best of Japan 

Island & Coastal Cruises 

Whether it is rustic vistas, white sandy beaches, or a 

wildlife wonder, whatever you are looking to enjoy on 

your small-ship island cruise, we are sure we have the 

voyage for you! 

• Croatian Coastal Cruise 

• Jewels of Corsica 

• Seychelles Island Hopper 

Winter Sun Cruises 

Hang up your winter coats and put those gloves away, 

we have plenty of winter sun escapes available on 

board our small ships to whet your appetite for warmer 

climes. 

• Legends of the French Polynesia 

• Historical Greece 

• Puerto Rico & the Islands of the Lesser Antilles 

For our full collection of small ship cruises visit www.arenatravel.com 

41

ARENA TOURS LIMITED BOOKING CONDITIONS SUMMARY 

FOR FULL BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE 

Our full Booking Conditions, together with our privacy policy and any other 

written information we brought to your attention before we confirmed your 

booking, form the basis of your contract with Boxwood Tours, a trading 

name of Arena Tours Limited (company registered number 02431120) with 

registered office 2 Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3RH (“we”, 

“us”, “our”). Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights 

and obligations. In these Booking Conditions references to “you” and “your” 

include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose 

behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added 

or transferred. By making a booking, the first named person on the booking 

agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that: 

a. he/she has read these Booking Conditions and has the authority to and 

does agree to be bound by them; 

b. he/she consents to our use of personal data in accordance with our Privacy 

Policy and is authorised on behalf of all persons named on the booking 

to disclose their personal details to us, including where applicable special 

categories of data (such as information on health conditions or disabilities 

and dietary requirements); 

c. he/she is over 18 years of age and resident in the United Kingdom and 

where placing an order for services with age restrictions declares that he/she 

and all members of the party are of the appropriate age to purchase those 

services; 

d. he/she accepts financial responsibility for payment of the booking on 

behalf of all persons detailed on the booking. 

Booking & Paying For Your Arrangements 

A booking is made with us when you pay us a deposit (or full payment if you 

are booking within 90 days of departure (42 days where you are booking a 

UK based trip), or such other number of days as you are informed at the time 

of booking,) and we issue you with a booking confirmation. We reserve the 

right to return your deposit and decline to issue a booking confirmation at 

our absolute discretion. A binding contract will come into existence between 

you and us as soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation that 

will confirm the details of your booking and will be sent to you (or your 

travel agent). If your confirmed arrangements include a flight, we (or if you 

booked via an authorised agent of ours, that agent) will also issue you with an 

ATOL Certificate. Upon receipt, if you believe that any details on the ATOL 

Certificate or booking confirmation or any other document are wrong you 

must advise us immediately as changes can not be made later and it may harm 

your rights if we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within 

ten days of our sending it out (five days for tickets). 

The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any applicable 

surcharge) is due not less than 90 days (42 days where you have booked a UK 

based trip), or such other number of days as you are informed at the time of 

booking, prior to scheduled departure. If we do not receive this balance in full 

and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in 

which case cancellation charges will become payable. 

Any money paid to an authorised agent of ours in respect of a booking 

covered by our ATOL is held by that agent on behalf of and for the benefit 

of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times, but subject to the agent’s 

obligation to pay it to us for so long as we do not fail financially. If we do 

fail financially, any money held at that time by the agent or subsequently 

accepted from the consumer by the agent, is and continues to be held by that 

agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust 

without any obligation to pay that money to us. 

Pricing 

The price of your travel arrangements has been calculated using the exchange 

rates relevant to the countries visited in your package. We use prevailing 

rates published at the time of production of our brochure or ahead of our 

promotions. This includes the major currencies of the Eurozone along with 

other major international currencies depending on where your holiday is 

based. 

We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at any time and 

correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays. We also reserve the right to 

increase the price of confirmed holidays solely to allow for increases which are 

a direct consequence of changes in: 

(i) the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from the cost of fuel or 

other power sources; 

(ii) the level of taxes or fees chargeable for services applicable to the 

holiday imposed by third parties not directly involved in the performance 

of the holiday, including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or 

disembarkation fees at ports and airports; and 

(iii) the exchange rates relevant to the package. 

Such variations could include but are not limited to airline cost changes which 

are part of our contracts with airlines (and their agents), cruise ship operators 

and any other transport providers. We will absorb and you will not be charged 

for any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, 

which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/ 

or additional services or travel arrangements. You will be charged for the 

amount over and above that. However, if this means that you have to pay an 

increase of more than 8% of the price of your confirmed holiday (excluding 

any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/or additional services or 

travel arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another 

holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher quality you 

will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the 

difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid 

to us, except for any insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/ 

or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel for 

this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 7 days from the issue 

date printed on your final invoice. We will consider an appropriate refund 

of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer 

or reuse your policy. Should the price of your holiday go down due to the 

changes mentioned above, then any refund due will be paid to you less an 

administrative fee of £10. However, please note that travel arrangements are 

not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no 

impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in 

place. There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed holiday 

within 20 days of your departure nor will refunds be paid during this period. 

If You Change Your Booking & Transfers of Bookings 

If you wish to change any part of your booking after our confirmation invoice 

has been issued, you must inform us in writing as soon as possible. This 

should be done by the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will 

do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your 

requested change. Where we can meet a request, all changes will be subject to 

payment of an administration fee of £50 per person per change (subject to a 

maximum of £150 per booking reference number), as well as any costs and 

charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers in 

making this change. You should be aware that these costs could increase the 

closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us 

as soon as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish 

to proceed with the original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by 

you. A cancellation fee may be payable in accordance with the table below. 

Transfer of Booking: 

If you or any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that 

person(s) may transfer their place to someone else, subject to the following 

conditions: 

a. that person is introduced by you and satisfies all the conditions applicable 

to the holiday; 

b. we are notified not less than 7 days before departure; 

c. you pay any outstanding balance payment, an amendment fee of £50 

per person transferring, as well as any additional fees, charges or other costs 

arising from the transfer; and 

d. the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the 

contract between us. 

You and the transferee remain jointly and severally liable for payment of all 

sums. If you are unable to find a replacement, cancellation charges as set out 

below will apply in order to cover our estimated costs. Otherwise, no refunds 

will be given for passengers not travelling or for unused services. 

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred 

after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation 

charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. 

If You Cancel Your Booking Before Departure 

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel your confirmed 

booking you must notify us in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only 

take effect when it is received in writing by us at our offices and will be 

effective from the date on which we receive it. Should one or more member 

of a party cancel, it may increase the per person holiday price of those still 

travelling and you will be liable to pay this increase. Since we incur costs in 

cancelling your arrangements, you will have to pay the cancellation charges 

as follows: 

Period before 

departure in 

which you 

notify us 

Cancellation charges for all 

holidays EXCEPT River Cruise 

Line and UK based holidays 

- shown as a percentage of 

total price (excluding insurance 

premium) 

90 days or more Deposit only Deposit only 

89 - 42 days 50% of holiday cost or deposit 

(whichever is greater) 





Cancellation charges River 

Cruise Line only - shown as 

a percentage of total price 

(excluding insurance premium) 

75% of holiday cost or deposit 






Less than 14 days 100% of holiday cost 100% of holiday cost 

Period before departure 

in which you notify us 

42 days or more Deposit only 

Cancellation charges for UK based holidays - shown as a 

percentage of total price (excluding insurance premium) 

41 – 28 days 50% of holiday cost or deposit (whichever is greater) 

27 – 14 days 75% of holiday cost or deposit (whichever is greater) 

Less than 14 days 

100% of holiday cost 

Please note that insurance premiums and amendment charges are not 

refundable in any circumstances. 

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they 

have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a 

cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in 

addition to the charge above. 

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your 

insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. 

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies 

you have already paid to us. 

Cancellation by You due to Unavoidable & Extraordinary Circumstances: 

You have the right to cancel your confirmed holiday before departure without 

paying a cancellation charge in the event of “unavoidable and extraordinary 

circumstances” occurring at your holiday destination or its immediate 

vicinity and significantly affecting the performance of the holiday or 

significantly affecting the transport arrangements to the destination. In these 

circumstances, we shall provide you with a full refund of the monies you have 

paid but we will not be liable to pay you any additional compensation. Please 

note that your right to cancel in these circumstances will only apply where the 

Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to your destination 

or its immediate vicinity. For the purposes of this clause, “unavoidable and 

extraordinary circumstances” means warfare, acts of terrorism, significant 

risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel 

destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather 

conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination. 

This clause outlines the rights you have if you wish to cancel your booking. 

Please note that there is no automatic statutory right of cancellation under the 

Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) 

Regulations 2013 (Directive 2011/83/EU). 

If We Change or Cancel 

As we plan your holiday arrangements many months in advance we may 

occasionally have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve 

the right to do so at any time. Changes: If we make a minor change to your 

holiday, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you or your travel agent as 

soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure but we will 

have no liability to you. Examples of minor changes include: 

(a) alteration of your outward/return flights 12 hours or less; 

(b) changes to aircraft type; 

(c) change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard; 

(d) changes of carriers. Please note that carriers such as airlines used in the 

brochure may be subject to change; 

(e) change of port of departure, where such change does not affect your 

departure point from the UK; 

(f) change of “expert” for an arrangement where an alternative expert has 

been arranged 

Please also note that on occasion we may need to change from an overnight 

cabin on a ferry to a daytime ferry and an overnight hotel instead and 

such change will be a minor change. Occasionally we may have to make a 

significant change to your confirmed arrangements. Examples of “significant 

42 To book call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk 

changes” include the following, when made before departure: 

(a) A change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part 

of your time away. 

(b) A change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or 

classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away. 

(c) A change of outward departure time or overall length of your 

arrangements by more than 12 hours. 

(d) A change of UK departure airport except between: 

I. The London airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, London 

City and Southend 

II. The South Coast airports: Southampton, Bournemouth and Exeter 

III. The South Western airports: Cardiff and Bristol 

IV. The Midlands airports: Birmingham, East Midlands and Doncaster 

Sheffield 

V. The Northern airports: Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds Bradford 

VI. The North Eastern airports: Newcastle and Teesside 

VII. The Scottish airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Aberdeen 

(e) A significant change to your itinerary, missing out one or more 

destination entirely. 

Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 90 

days before your departure date (42 days where you are booking a UK 

based trip), except for reasons of force majeure or failure by you to pay the 

final balance or because the minimum number required for the package 

to go ahead has not been reached. We may cancel your holiday before 

this date if, e.g., the minimum number of clients required for a particular 

travel arrangement is not reached. 

Please Note: for all of the holidays that we offer, we require a 

minimum number of 30 travellers to have booked on to each holiday, 

in order for us to be able to operate it. Where we do not receive 

this number of bookings in respect of your chosen holiday, we may 

unfortunately be unable to go ahead with providing that holiday and may 

be required to cancel your booking as a result. As a result, if we do not 

receive this number of bookings for a particular holiday we reserve the 

right to terminate your booking and provide you with a full refund of 

all payments you have made to us at this point. In such circumstances, 

we will notify you not less than 20 days before the start of the package. 

Please note that in such circumstances, we will not be liable to pay you 

any compensation. 

If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon 

as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer 

you the choice of: 

i (for significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or 

ii having a refund of all monies paid; or 

iii accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements of a comparable or 

higher standard from us, if available (at no extra cost); or 

iv if available, accepting an offer of alternative arrangements of a lower 

standard, with a refund of the price difference between the original 

arrangements and the alternative arrangements. 

You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If we do 

not hear from you within 7 days, we will contact you again to request 

notification of your choice. If you fail to respond again, we will assume 

that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking 

arrangements. 

Insurance: If we cancel or make a significant change and you accept a 

refund, we will provide a full refund of your travel insurance premiums 

if you paid them to us and can show that you are unable to transfer or 

reuse your policy. 

Compensation: In addition to a full refund of all monies paid by 

you, we will pay you compensation as detailed below, in the following 

circumstances: 

(a) If, where we make a significant change, you do not accept the changed 

arrangements and cancel your booking; 

(b) If we cancel your booking and no alternative arrangements are 

available. 

The compensation that we offer does not exclude you from claiming more 

if you are entitled to do so. 

Period before departure in 

which we notify you 

More than 90 days 

Amount you will receive from us 

per person* 

90 - 42 days £10 

41 to 28 days £20 

28 – 14 days £30 

Less than 14 days £40 

Compensation for UK based trips 

Period before departure in 

which we notify you 

More than 42 days 

*IMPORTANT NOTE: 

We will not pay you compensation in the following circumstances: 

(a) where we make a minor change; 

(b) where we make a significant change or cancel your arrangements more 

than 90 days before departure (42 days for UK based trips); 

(c) where we cancel your arrangements and notify you 20 days or more 

before departure because the minimum number required for the package 

to go ahead has not been reached; 

(d) where we make a significant change and you accept those changed 

arrangements or you accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements; 

(e) where we have to cancel your arrangements as a result of your failure 

to make full payment on time; 

(f) where the change or cancellation by us arises out of alterations to the 

confirmed booking requested by you; 

(g) where we are forced to cancel or change your arrangements due to 

Force Majeure 

If we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the 

arrangements that you have booked with us after you have departed, we 

will, if possible, make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge 

and where those alternative arrangements are of a lower standard, provide 

you with an appropriate price reduction. 

Nil 

Amount you will receive from us 

per person* 

42 – 28 days £10 

27 – 14 days £20 

Less than 14 days £30 

Nil

HOW TO BOOK 

For further advice, information and to book 

Simply call us on 01341 241717 

Monday - Friday 9am to 5.30pm 

or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk 

PROVISIONAL BOOKING 

When holding a provisional booking, we understand you may 

need time to think, so once we have confirmed availability, we 

are happy to hold your reservation for one week. A provisional 

booking can be made by speaking to one of our team. 

TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING 

To make a booking, please phone the team or visit our website. You 

may confirm your booking by phone. 

BOOKING CONFIRMATION 

Upon receiving your deposit, a contract will exist between 

you; the passenger, and us; Boxwood Tours. You will receive 

a booking confirmation which we kindly ask you to check 

carefully. If you notice any mistakes, or likewise have any 

queries, please contact us at your earliest convenience. 

Balance payments are due 90 days prior to departure, so if you 

are booking 90 days before your tour departs, full payment will 

be required. We will send you a balance reminder along with a 

suggested reading list in advance of your payment date. 

FINANCIAL PROTECTION 

As members of ABTA we are a fully bonded and licensed tour 

operator, with air holidays protected by ATOL. So you can enjoy 

complete peace of mind when booking with us. 

PAYMENT 

We value your financial protection and know how important it 

is to feel confident when paying for your tour - therefore we offer 

more than one method of payment. Your tour can be paid for using 

a bank transfer or debit card (Maestro and Visa Debit cards), credit 

card (Visa and Mastercard) or cheque. There will be no charge 

applicable using any card, whether it be credit or debit. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE 

Travel insurance is a vital aspect to booking a holiday, giving you 

protection against unforeseen circumstances. It is important that 

you purchase travel insurance that properly covers your 

participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the 

time that you make your booking. We have arranged a special 

insurance scheme with travel insurance specialists P J Hayman 

& Company Limited to cover clients booking through us. The 

policy is underwritten by URV, Branch Office of Union 

Reiseversicherung AG for the United Kingdom and the Republic 

of Ireland. 

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS 

Your policy may not provide cover for re-occurring or pre-existing 

medical conditions. If you have ever had a heart related problem, 

circulatory condition, a stroke, cancer, any breathing problems, 

diabetes or had any other medical condition which has been treated 

in hospital or has been referred to a specialist in the last 2 years, 

you should phone Travel Administration Facilities on 02392 419068, 

quoting Arena Travel (Coach Plus) to see if cover is available. 

THE POLICY DOCUMENT 

This will be sent to you with your booking confirmation. 

CANCELLATION RIGHTS 

When you receive your policy, please take the time to read it 

carefully to ensure you understand what is and what is not 

covered. If it does not meet your requirements, please return the 

policy, proof of premium and any other relevant documents to us 

within 14 days of receipt and we will refund the premium in full, 

provided you have not travelled or made a claim. 

SCHEDULE OF COVER 

SECTION PREMIER EXCESS 

Cancellation charges 

or curtailment 

Emergency medical 

repatriation and associated 

expenses abroad 

INSURANCE PREMIUM per person 

Up to £3,000 £50 

Up to £5,000,000 £50 

Hospital benefit £400 (£25 per day) - 

Personal accident Up to £15,000 - 

Delayed departure £100 (£25 per each 10 hours) - 

Personal effects Up to £1,200 £50 

Personal liability Up to £2,000,000 £250 

Legal expenses Up to £15,000 - 

The main features, limits and excesses are listed above – for full details please call. 

2022 

PERIOD 

(DAYS) 

AGE 

18-50 51-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 

4 – 5 £16.00 £22.00 £40.00 £56.00 £67.00 

6 – 9 £18.00 £25.00 £46.00 £63.00 £79.00 

10 – 17 £22.00 £32.00 £57.00 £79.00 £95.00 

If you are aged 80 and over, please call to discuss an individual quote. 

Prices quoted are subject to change 


43

DISCOVER MORE 

FROM THE ARENA TRAVEL GROUP 

ART PURSUITS ART HISTORY TOURS 

Art History and Architectural Cultural Tours throughout Europe. 

Our cultural holidays combine the art of travelling with the pleasure 

of looking at and learning about art and history in beautiful places. 

Call 01280 736115 or visit artpursuits.com 

REQUEST 

YOUR NEW 

BROCHURE 

TODAY! 

COASTAL AND OCEAN VOYAGES 

A collection of small ship cruises 

Offering some unique, unspoilt and inspiring destination 

cruises around the world. 

Call 01858 438456 or visit arenatravel.com 

RIVER CRUISES 

Explore some of the classic waterways of Europe. 

Discover ever-changing landscapes whilst enjoying superb levels 

of service and excellent company on your floating hotel. 

Call 01858 438318 or visit arenarivercruises.com 

SCENIC JOURNEYS BY RAIL 

Relax and enjoy one of our expertly planned fully escorted 

holidays by rail. 

With travel into the heart of Europe by Eurostar you can choose from short 

breaks, classic tours and lakes and mountains to superb destinations. 

Call 01858 438336 or visit arenarailholidays.com 

FIRST FOR BRIDGE HOLIDAYS 

Club standard bridge holidays with EBU Masterpoints 

awarded and bridge holidays without Masterpoints. 

First for Bridge has over 20 years’ experience of organising bridge holidays 

and cruises in the UK and abroad. Our professional service and attention to 

detail sets us apart from other operators and creates the high standard our 

guests are used to. 

Call 01473 794926 or visit firstforbridge.com 

Boxwood 

1 West Street, Buckingham, MK18 1HL 

www.boxwoodtours.co.uk 

Company Registration No. 02431120 

A trading division of Arena Tours Limited

Boxwood brochure 2022

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