In May, 2010, we did our first land-tour in England, starting out in London and going down to the West Country to see gardens in Somerset and Cornwall before heading back to London, via Gloucestershire and Oxford, for the finale – the Chelsea Flower Show.
This tour got off to a bit of a rocky start because a volcano erupted in Iceland causing all sorts of disruption to air traffic, especially jets flying from Vancouver to London.
We went to London early and missed some of this problem but a large number of people on our tour were affected, being diverted to London Stansted instead of arriving at Gatwick.
It was a minor delay but it meant these travellers arrived at our hotel in South Kensington a little ruffled by their experience. I am glad to say this upset was soon dispersed at a very fun welcoming party.
Wisley Gardens, flagship of the RHS
From London, we first went to Wisley Gardens to see the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship garden. It did not disappoint.
From there, we moved west, stopping at Stonehenge and the beautiful landscape garden of Stourhead before stopping for the night in Shaftsbury where we found a lovely pub for an evening party.
Stonehenge and Stourhead garden
From Shaftsbury, we moved into Somerset, pausing to visit the gardens of Tintinhull and Hestercombe, before pressing on into Cornwall.
Here, we visit lovely ravine gardens of Trebah and Glendurgan as well as the Eden Project, outside St. Austell.
Our time in Cornwall was also spent exploring some of the lovely fishing villages and finding time for cream teas and pub parties.
Eventually, we started to make our way back to London, stopping first in Bath and then at the gardens of Hidcote and Kiftsgate and finding time to see a little of the beautiful Cotswolds, notably Burton-on-the-Water.
Tintinhull and Hestercombe gardens
From Gloucestershire, we headed into Oxfordshire where we stopped in Oxford to visit the botanical garden.
Next, we continued on to London, where we again checked into our hotel in South Kensington and the next day we went to the Chelsea Flower Show.
As is always the case with our tours, people added a few days on to the end to do more private touring and many people enjoyed shopping in London and going to the theatre and museum before heading back to Vancouver.
swhysall@hotmail.com
Eden Garden Complex, Cornwall
Trebah and Glendurgan gardens
Hidcote and Kiftsgate Gardens
Chelsea Flower Show
