Grand Houses and Gardens of Yorkshire & the Lake District
This delightful, high season tour features the finest country houses and gardens of Yorkshire and the Lake District. We explore York, one of England’s greatest historic cities and travel through the spectacular landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Lake District National Parks visiting iconic stately homes and hidden, private gardens.
- Garden tours at Newby Hall, Littlethorpe Manor, Levens Hall, Holker Hall and Lowther Castle.
- Private house tours at Newby Hall and Castle Howard.
- Meet the owners and tour their gardens at three exquisite private gardens.
- Walking tour of York, medieval capital of the North and a visit to the mighty York Minster.
- RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr.
- Exclusive visit to multi-award-winning, landscape designer, Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s own garden.
- Private Lake Cruise on Windermere.
- Stunning scenery of three National Parks – the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and the Lake District National Park.
- The Dan Pearson garden at Lowther Castle.
- Private tour of a Tom Stuart-Smith garden with fabulous views over the Vale of York.
Photo credits:©Littlethorpe Manor; ©Lowther Castle; Harlow Carr ©RHS; Windermere ©VisitBritain; ©Castle Howard; York ©VisitYork; all other images ©Sisley Garden Tours.
Our tour starts in the early afternoon at the 5-star Grand Hotel in the heart of historic York. You can have lunch independently before meeting the group.
We depart by coach to visit the Royal Horticultural Society’s northern home, Harlow Carr. There is time to explore these fabulous and extensive gardens and the excellent shop.
Dinner is in the hotel’s Chairman’s Suite (included).
Sunday 28th June
This morning we visit a private garden in the rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds where we meet the owner to hear about the creation of their wonderful garden.
Later we visit Scampston Hall for lunch (included) and an introductory talk from the head gardener. We’ll learn about this contemporary walled garden designed by Piet Oudolf, founder of the new perennial movement.
In the afternoon we continue onto one of the most recognised and loved of Britain’s stately homes, Castle Howard – made famous by its central role in the filming of Brideshead Revisited and more recently, Bridgerton. We enjoy a private tour of the house followed by time to see the gardens before returning to York where your evening is at leisure for dinner (independent).
Monday 29th June
We begin our day with an exclusive visit to Newby Hall, a delightful Queen Anne-style house with award-winning gardens. We have a tour of the garden followed by a look inside the house with its stunning ‘Robert Adam’ interiors before enjoying a traditional English Afternoon Tea (included).
Afterwards, we visit one of Yorkshire’s finest private gardens at Littlethorpe Manor. The head gardener will take us on a tour of the garden which recently enjoyed a major redesign.
We return to York, stopping en route for dinner (included).
Tuesday 30th June
Our first visit today is to a fascinating private garden hidden in a beautiful valley in the North York Moors with the perfect walled garden created on its south sloping valley side. We will meet the owner who will show us around.
We continue on to the pretty market town of Helmsley for some free time before visiting a stunning private garden that was designed by Tom Stuart-Smith. This masterpiece incorporates a vast, productive walled garden, stepped parterres and a deep gorge woodland garden.
We enjoy dinner in a local country pub (included).
Wednesday 1st July
This morning we take a walking tour of the delightful city of York. We will explore medieval streets such as the ‘Shambles’, see the city walls and make a visit to the mighty, medieval York Minster. We have lunch in the 14th century Bedern Hall (included). Your afternoon and evening will then be at leisure to further explore York and its excellent museums and shops (dinner independent).
Thursday 2nd July
After checking out we travel west through the scenic Yorkshire Dales National Park making a stop at the charming village of Grassington for lunch (independent). For fans of the famous vet, James Herriot, you will recognise the village.
In the afternoon, we travel onwards to the Lake District – England’s largest National Park. We make a stop at the inspiring private garden of Chelsea gold-medal winning garden designer, Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd, at Gresgarth Hall.
We check in to the 4-star Low Wood Resort and Spa overlooking Lake Windermere, near Ambleside. Dinner is at the hotel (included).
Friday 3rd July
After a leisurely start there will be some free time in the lakeland town of Ambleside for shopping and lunch (independent).
From here we visit a fabulous private garden designed in the Arts & Craft era. We tour the garden with the owner before making our way to the Elizabethan Levens Hall with its unique and ancient collection of topiary figures. The gardens were laid out in the 1690s and have changed little since. We have a tour of the garden with the head gardener followed by an early supper (included) in the garden restaurant.
Saturday 4th July
This morning we take a scenic drive through the northern Lakes to visit Lowther Castle. We have a tour of this intriguing contemporary garden designed by Dan Pearson and set within the dramatic ruins of the castle. There is time for lunch in the castle cafe (independent).
We continue onto the pretty town of Grasmere before taking a private lake cruise on Windermere back to our hotel for our final night dinner together (included).
Sunday 5th July
Today we explore the impressive Holker Hall and the south Lakeland Peninsulas. We enjoy a garden tour and have time to see the magnificent Jacobean stately home before enjoying a private lunch (included).
We then return to York, making a stop en-route at Oxenholme Lake District train station, arriving in York in the late-afternoon.
NOTE: Some garden visits await final confirmation at the time of publication. Our tour starts and ends in the city of York. We can provide advice on travel planning.
Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of this itinerary, please click here.
Our Hotels are 4 and 5-star and are selected for their high standards of comfort and service. All rooms are ensuite and offer free wifi access.
The Grand was once the HQ for the North Eastern Railway Company, one of the wealthiest businesses of the Edwardian era. Now reborn as a luxury 5-star hotel, but retaining its original splendour, The Grand, features beautiful public spaces, spacious rooms, two restaurants, bars and indoor swimming pool and a delightful spa.
This luxury Lake District spa hotel is nestled on the Windermere shoreline in the heart of the Lake District National Park. We stay in the exclusive Winander Suite of rooms with pale-grey woods, stylish copper lighting and huge windows. The comfortable lounges and roof terrace have views over the Langdale Pike hills and Windermere. Guests can enjoy the indoor swimming pool, resort gym and fitness facilities. However, the indoor & outdoor thermal spa areas and treatments are available by prior booking at additional cost.
| Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room) | Single supplement (for single occupancy of a double room) |
| £5,950 (GBP) | £950 (GBP) |
PRICES INCLUDE:
- 8 nights’ accommodation at 4 and 5-star hotels with en-suite facilities.
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 6 dinners.
- Assistance with luggage at the hotels.
- All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
- Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
- An information pack with detailed booklet about the gardens we will be visiting.
- Services of your Sisley tour director throughout.
- All tour gratuities (driver, tour director and hotels).
PRICES EXCLUDE:
- Airfares.
- 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 required to secure your place(s) on the tour. Your balance payment is due 120 days prior to the 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.
To book your place(s) please complete our online booking form at www.sisley.co.uk/booking-form/ or click the BOOK NOW button below. As soon as we receive your booking form, we will confirm availability on the tour of your choice and arrange collection of your 10% deposit which secures your booking.
BOOK NOWHOW TO PAY
There are three ways to pay for your tour and you will be asked on the booking form which you prefer:
With our travel partner in North America: You can book your tour in USD$ or CAD$ by credit card or check with our partners at DHTour – a London and UK specialist travel agent who can assist with all aspects of your trip. Find out more about DHTour here.
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 via secure online payment link.
With your own travel agent: We are happy to work with your preferred travel agent. Just provide us with their contact details on the booking form and we will take care of the rest.
TRAVEL INSURANCE AND BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS
It is mandatory for all overseas visitors to the UK to have travel insurance before joining our tours. Full details of our booking terms & conditions can be found at www.sisley.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section on our website for further information www.sisley.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/
We very much look forward to welcoming you, but please email tours@sisley.co.uk if you have any queries.
