Garden Gems of Devon, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly – this tour is now FULLY BOOKED. If you would like to join a waiting list for this tour please email us on tours@sisley.co.uk
Friday 12th – Friday 19th May 2023 (7 nights)
Join us on our tour of Devon and Cornwall, the most charming and quintessential corner of England. We visit private and world-famous gardens: the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Glendurgan and Hestercombe, and make a fabulous trip to the Isles of Scilly to visit Tresco Abbey Garden. The coastal and moorland scenery of south-west England is unsurpassed
- Visit to the Isles of Scilly and Tresco Abbey Gardens
- Superb hotels, one on the River Dart and one on the picturesque Cornish Coast
- See the summer home of Agatha Christie
- World famous Lost Gardens of Heligan
- Three delightful private gardens with the opportunity to meet their owners
- Private lunch with the owner and tour at Glendurgan Garden
- Lutyens/Jekyll masterpiece at Hestercombe Gardens
- A free afternoon in the Cornish seaside town of St. Ives, famous for its artists and Tate St Ives Art Gallery & Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden
- Private river cruise on the River Dart
Photo credits: Cornish coastline copyright VisitBritain; Isles of Scilly copyright Visit Isles of Scilly; other images copyright Sisley Garden Tours.
We meet at London Paddington Train Station and take the mid-morning train to Bristol. From here we visit Hanham Court Gardens, a wonderful private garden, designed by the award-winning landscape designers, Isabel and Julian Bannerman. We will have lunch (included) and time to explore the gardens.
In the late afternoon we check into the 4-star Dart Marina Hotel. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Saturday 13th May
This morning we head to The Garden House in Dartmoor National Park. The ten-acre gardens were developed in the 1940s by Lionel and Katharine Fortescue. Over the next 40 years the Fortescues created a garden which is viewed as one of the finest in Britain. We enjoy a tour with the head gardener followed by Devon Cream Tea for lunch (included).
Wildside Nursery & Garden is our next stop. The private garden of Keith Wiley is located on the edge of Dartmoor. Keith was creator and head gardener at the nearby Garden House until 2003 when he decided to set up a new garden and nursery just half a mile down the road. He is an inspiring proponent of a ‘new naturalism’ movement in gardening, which seeks to work in harmony with nature, allowing plants to thrive much as they would in the wild. He takes inspiration from natural landscapes to create areas of planting in his gardens inspired by sights from around the world.
We return to Dartmouth where your evening is at leisure to explore this charming town.
Sunday 14th May
Today, we enjoy a private river cruise from the hotel jetty along the River Dart. We then take the heritage steam train to Paignton. From here we continue on to Greenway House, former summer home of Agatha Christie. The house is exactly as she left it and contains her eclectic collections from around the world. There is time to explore the house and its collections and to stroll through the gardens. Lunch (independent).
Coleton Fishacre, a 1920’s country retreat built for Rupert D’Oyly Carte, the theatre impresario and hotel owner is our final stop of the day. With its luxuriant gardens by the sea leading to their own private beach, the house evokes the sophisticated spirit of the 1920’s. We walk through the gardens with the head gardener and have time to look inside the exquisite house.
We return to Dartmouth for dinner in the hotel (included).
Monday 15th May
After checking out, we head to Cornwall. En-route we make a visit to a wonderful private garden which is located in a sheltered valley and runs down to an enchanting beach. We will enjoy a tour with the head gardener followed by lunch (included) in the gardens.
Next we visit the The Lost Gardens of Heligan. 30 years ago the gardens were rediscovered and underwent a ground breaking restoration project.
We arrive in the late afternoon at the 4-star Carbis Bay Hotel & Spa, St Ives. This stunning coastal retreat, located close to St Ives, has its own 25-acre beach. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Tuesday 16th May
The morning is at leisure to enjoy the facilities at the hotel which include the spa, outdoor heated pool and 25-acre beach. Alternatively you can take a walk along the south-west coastal path.
At lunchtime we make a visit to the pretty seaside town of St Ives where there is time to explore the shops, museums and have lunch (independent). Tickets are included for a visit to the Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden. We return to the hotel for dinner (included).
Wednesday 17th May
Today we make an early start. We take a short flight from Land’s End airport to the Isles of Scilly, nestling just 35 miles off the coast of Cornwall these islands are like nowhere else in England. Outstandingly beautiful, uncrowded and unspoilt, they seem like a world apart from everyday life.
We take an inter-island boat to the island of Tresco to visit Tresco Abbey Gardens. This tropical garden is home to species from 80 countries, ranging from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa – the diversity of plant life to be found within the Abbey Garden is extraordinary. There will be time for lunch (independent) at the garden before the return flight to the mainland. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Please note: If you prefer not to join the tour this day, please let us know at the time of booking and we may be able to adjust your tour price. Flights are subject to fair weather conditions. If travel is not possible, another garden visit will be substituted.
Thursday 18th May
Today we begin with a visit to Glendurgan Garden – a valley garden with outstanding spring displays of rhododendrons. Here we enjoy a tour with a member of the gardening team followed by lunch (included) at Glendurgan House – home of the owner.
In the afternoon, we enjoy a wonderful private garden on the Lizard Peninsula. Here we meet the owner and enjoy a guided tour of the gardens which surround the elegant Georgian house that have been skilfully developed over the last 20 years. Your evening is at leisure
Friday 19th May
We check-out in the morning and make a visit to Hestercombe Gardens. The formal Edwardian Garden has been described as ‘Lutyens at his best’. We have a tour of the gardens followed by time for lunch (indcluded).
In the mid-afternoon we board the train for the return journey to London Paddington Train Station where we expect to arrive around 6pm. From here, you can take the Heathrow Express train to the airport if needed.
Please note: Some of the gardens on this tour are large and have steep slopes with uneven paths and steps. Please speak to us if you are unsure if this tour is suitable for you.
Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of this itinerary, click here.
Our Hotels
Our hotels are 4-star and selected for their high standards of comfort and service. All rooms are en-suite and offer free wi-fi access.
Dart Marina Hotel, Dartmouth (3 nights)
A tastefully modernised 4-star hotel, beautifully situated overlooking the River Dart and just a 10-minute riverside stroll into Dartmouth. All bedrooms have lovely river views, comfortable furnishings and the restaurant is award-winning. The hotel is situated in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This superb coastal retreat offers access to its own 25-acre beach and breath-taking views of the beautiful Carbis Bay. There are smart, individually designed bedrooms, a luxurious spa and award-winning dining. The hotel is located on a 125-acre estate just outside the picturesque town of St Ives and hosted world leaders at the G7 conference in June 2021.
| Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room) | Single supplement (for single occupancy of a double room) |
| £4,900 | £600 |
PRICES INCLUDE:
- 7 nights’ accommodation at 4-star hotels with en-suite facilities.
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 5 dinners.
- All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
- All tour gratuities (driver, tour director and hotels).
- Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
- Flights and boat transport to and from the Isles of Scilly.
- Gift information pack with detailed information about the gardens we will be visiting.
- Services of your Sisley tour director throughout
PRICES EXCLUDE:
- Airfares (Isles of Scilly flights included).
- Passport and/or visa fees if applicable.
- Meals not included in the tour, drinks, laundry, and telephone calls.
TOUR PAYMENT: A 10% non-refundable deposit is requested at the time of booking to secure your place on the tour. Your tour balance payment is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION: You can get an idea of the cost of the tour in your local currency by using a currency converter. Conversion rates are based on institutional or inter-bank daily rates. Retail conversion rates include fees and will generally differ from these rates.
You can book and pay for your tour in three ways:
With your own travel agent: You can book a Sisley Garden Tour in your local currency through your own travel agent. Just provide us with their contact details in your booking form and we will take care of the rest.
With our travel partner in the USA: After 20 happy years of partnership, Worldwide Traveler has retired as our US travel partner. We are currently seeking to appoint a new representative to work with in the US. Please contact us for details.
With Sisley Garden Tours: All clients are welcome to book a tour directly with us. We can accept payment in GBP£ by bank transfer or by credit/ debit card.
Book nowFull details of our booking Terms & Conditions can be found at here. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section for further information.
We very much look forward to welcoming you, but please email tours@sisley.co.uk if you have any queries.
