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Gardens Illustrated: Somerset & Bath Contemporary Gardens

4 days | £3250 per person | 10 - 13 June 24

Gardens Illustrated: Somerset & Bath Contemporary Gardens

We are privileged to have renowned horticulturalist, Troy Scott-Smith,

to host and Sophie Piebenga to lead this special tour.

This special Gardens Illustrated tour is hosted by Troy Scott Smith, head gardener at Sissinghurst and well-known to readers of the magazine. Troy has chosen some of his favourite gardens in and around Bath and North Somerset – an area with which he is very familiar from his time as head gardener at Iford Manor. Highlights include an exclusive visit to, and picnic lunch at, the private garden of well-known garden designer Dan Pearson. We’ll discover the latest developments at The Newt, including the new garden surrounding the reconstructed Roman villa. Delightful private gardens designed by top names such as Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Isabel and Julian Bannerman and Libby Russell are part of this tour too. We will be staying right in the historic centre of Bath at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, a five-star haven of elegance and tranquillity, occupying two central buildings of the world's finest crescent.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

The tour sets off at 10.45 from Bristol Parkway station where cars can be left. At the end of a tiny lane among fields is Hanham Court, the former home of garden designers Isabel and Julian Bannerman. A deeply romantic and enchanting garden, it offers a striking blend of formal elegance and natural beauty. After lunch in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Castle Combe we are treated to a privileged visit to a private garden, laid out by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and previously featured in Gardens Illustrated. From there we will make our way to The Royal Crescent Hotel in the historic centre of Bath, our base for the duration of the tour. Dinner is at the hotel this evening.

Day 2

Travelling southwards we visit the extensive gardens at The Newt. While the central, walled garden contains numerous, beautifully-trained fruit trees, beyond are plenty of exuberant herbaceous borders, some planted according to colour. The Produce Gardens lower down display beautiful fruit cages and well-maintained no-dig vegetable beds. Of a more recent date is the new garden laid out around an immaculately reconstructed Roman villa. Horticultural and architectural excellence abounds. A delicious lunch, using fresh garden produce, is served at the restaurant overlooking the garden. A visit to a nearby garden designed by one of today’s leading international garden designer follows. From there it is but a short distance to the private home of garden designer Libby Russell. Set on sloping grounds in a delightful village, its layout subtly but cleverly reflects its rural surroundings. This evening you are free to explore the many offerings of Bath for dinner at your leisure.

Day 3

We start today with a visit to Damson Farm, the 2-acre organic smallholding where gardener Alison Jenkins experiments with plants, finding a way to live in balance with nature. From there we travel on to Belcombe Court where the grounds offer a blend of restored 18th-century features and contemporary additions. We continue for a lunch and exclusive visit to Iford Manor, the former home of architect and garden designer Harold Peto who lived here from 1899 until his death in 1933. This garden offers magnificent rural views across an unspoilt valley, fabulously rich plantings and beautifully framed architectural gems and antiquities. This evening we dine together at The Royal Crescent Hotel.

Day 4

Special Plants Nursery is well-known for its huge range of excellent, well-performing garden plants. Owner Derry Watkins will guide us around her own, adjacent garden too, generously sharing her wide knowledge. After time for purchase and further perusal we travel the short distance to Hillside, the private home of renowned garden designer Dan Pearson and Huw Morgan. Here, in a secluded valley in the outer reaches of the Cotswolds, we are privileged to view the wonderful gardens that Dan has created for his own use. Hillside showcases his unique ability to harmonize with the surrounding environment while creating an inviting and inspiring space. We will sit down together for a light picnic lunch after which there will be plenty of opportunity to explore the garden at leisure. We will return to Bristol Parkway Station for 17.30.

Per Person: £3250

Single Supp: £320

Dates:

10th – 13th June 2024

Duration:

3 nights / 4 days

Your Tour Includes:

Transportation from Bristol Parkway Station
Three nights at the Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath
All breakfasts plus two evening meals at the hotel, three lunches and a pic-nic included.
Local wines included with all evening meals.
Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
Services of the Tour Leader and Hosts
Detailed programme and garden notes

Tour Lecturers

Troy Scott- Smith

Troy Scott Smith is a highly experienced horticulturalist who has worked with the National Trust since 1990. He has spent most of his career as Head Gardener at three National Trust gardens, including the renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden! After two years at Iford Manor Gardens, Troy returned to his role in Sissinghurst to help preserve its fascinating legacy.

Sophie Piebenga

Born in The Netherlands and based in the Cotswolds, our expert Sophie Piebenga has lived most of her life in the UK. Trained with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, all whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, Sophie quickly developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. Sophie has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation, and, for the last 25 years, has regularly led Boxwood tours around the UK and to Ireland, France, Spain and The Netherlands.

Hotel: Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath