A right royal visit
When it comes to gardens, you know you’re in good hands with the Royal Horticultural Society. Throw a few leading tour operators into the mix and you have an excellent offering of gardening-themed escorted tours and garden-inspired cruises.
For a short break on home turf, explore the gardens of Devon and Cornwall on a five-night mini-break, or visit the expansive rolling landscapes of Capability Brown designed gardens.
If you fancy travelling further afield, take in the breathtaking National Parks of Japan, Chile, South Africa, Sri Lanka or New Zealand with RHS and Brightwater Holidays.
Or why not combine your green getaway with crystal blue waters by taking a luxury cruise? The RHS has teamed up with Voyages of Discovery to offer a range of cruises, from Cuba and the Caribbean to Madeira and the Med. Excursions are accompanied with an RHS guest speaker and cruise ships have an on-board library with a selection of gardening tomes for browsing between tours.
Day break
If you can’t tear yourself away from your own garden for more than 24 hours, why not dabble with a day trip? Border Lines Garden Tours is highly acclaimed for its impressive selection of outstanding garden destinations. Choose from gardens in North Wales, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Somerset and Sussex. For stately home lovers, this year’s tours include the opportunity to explore the interiors of some of the houses, too, including St Paul’s Walden Bury, Cothay Manor, Yarlington House and Badminton House.
An education
Looking for something a little more educational? Brush up on your gardening skills while getting away from it all with a residential or day-trip gardening course that provides a rewarding mix of learning and leisure.
Garden designer Arne Maynard offers a diverse range of courses and workshops from Creating Atmosphere with Plants and Woodland and Shady Planting to The Kitchen Garden Through the Year and Creating Gardens with a Sense of Place – all in the idyllic setting of his beautiful Monmouthshire home. See Arne's website for more details.
