Gardens of the South Cotswolds – Driving Tour (3 nights, 4 days)

The tour is based from Cheltenham which is believed to be the most complete Regency town in the country and combines historic charm with cosmopolitan cool, fantastic foodie scene, boutique shopping and plenty of cultural events. Cheltenham is easily accessible to great local destinations including Gloucester for example. Clients will stay in Cheltenham for the duration of their trip.

Depending on your preference, you can choose from the following trips to build your perfect itinerary.

Virtually unchanged for 400 years, Chavenage House is located in the gorgeous market town of Tetbury, which is also famous for the Prince of Wale’s Highgrove Estate. With ownership traced back to the sister of Edward The Confessor (Princess Goda), Chavenage House is loaded with history and is now in the hands of the Lowsley-Williams as a private house. It is surrounded by 35 hectares of landscape park, along with a 19th century ornamental garden. It is best known for its specimen trees, many of which are ancient. Most recently, the house has provided a backdrop for filming of the hit TV series Poldark.

Located just outside the market town of Stroud, The Gardens at Miserden are often noted for its timeless appeal and spectacular views across the deer park. It is a design that was established for peace and tranquillity and is noted for its yew hedgerows and topiary, combined with herbaceous borders which are a riot of colour. The pinnacle of the garden is a mulberry tree, believed to have been planted in 1620. It has been listed as one of the top 10 most romantic gardens in the world and is definitely not to be missed!

Dominated by a Tudor hunting lodge which has since been converted into an intriguing home, Newark Park is based just outside the town of Wotton-under-Edge. Surrounding the original lodge, the gardens are laid out over three levels, designed to accentuate the building with a walled-garden and lawns. Perhaps the best-loved walks are the Glade Walk which takes visitors down behind the folly to the rockery directly beneath Newark House and the lakeside garden which feels secluded and romantic. What’s exciting about this garden is the seasonality of the planting which changes almost weekly as new seasonal flowers emerge.

Exiting Cheltenham to the South West, the small country roads take clients out to Painswick past Cooper’s Hill – site of the famous Cheeserolling every May where brave (or stupid) competitors chase a wheel of cheese down a VERY steep slope. On past Painswick Beacon, which is worth a stop for the view, clients arrive in the gorgeous village of Painswick. Look out for the church with its 99 yew trees, before proceeding to the Rococo Gardens. The Rococo Gardens combine formal garden design with grandeur and theatre, starting out as a gentleman’s experimental creation rather than a horticultural dream. Perhaps the most famous aspects of the garden are not the flowers, although the planting is stunning, but the quirky architectural features that litter the garden setting. Rococo describes the fashionable art era of the 1700s and this garden does not disappoint.

The scenic drive to Westonbirt Arboretum will take you south from Cheltenham through Painswick and Nailsworth. Arrive at the Arboretum which includes 2,500 tree species from around the globe, including five national tree collections. You can also enjoy the recently installed canopy walkway taking you to the tops of the trees, or opt for a guided door of some of the best-loved treescapes. Westonbirt Arboretum was originally created by the Holford Family in the heyday of Victorian plant hunting, creating a collection which is both internationally renowned and breathtakingly beautiful.