Gardens of Yorkshire

Date: Thursday 26th - Sunday 29th June, 2008

Cost: €665 per person sharing

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH GARDEN MAGAZINE

Itinerary:

This is one of our new tours for 2008 based in Harrogate which has a reputation for style, graceful architecture and is one of Europe’s classic spa towns.

Thursday, 26th June
Meet Frances MacDonald at Dublin Airport for morning flight to Leeds departing at 09.25. We will be collected by private coach and transported to the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Harlow Carr; 58 acres of formal, traditional and contemporary borders, vegetable gardens, wildflower meadows and an extensive bog garden.
Transfer in afternoon to our hotel – The Yorkshire Hotel in Harrogate. Dine together as a group. www.foliohotels.com/yorkshire/

Friday, 27th June
Our first visit of the day is to Scampston Hall. Piet Oudolf was commissioned to create this imaginative garden in 1996. His trademark prairie planting combines with formal and asymmetrical topiary and land forms. Derwent House is our next destination – a private garden on the edge of York, skilfully designed and planted to reveal its secrets one by one. Our final garden of the day is Stillingfleet Lodge, an attractive and romantic garden on a sloping site developed by the notable plantsperson, Vanessa Cook, over 30 years.
Evening free to experience the restaurants of Harrogate.

Saturday, 28th June
A free morning to enjoy a spa therapy at the traditional Turkish Baths and Health Spa or indulge in mouth-watering cakes at the famous Betty’s Café Tea Rooms – or shop! In the afternoon we travel to Newby Hall (House and Garden). Statuary, renowned herbaceous borders, woodland gardens, rockeries and roses make this a much-loved garden.
Dine in hotel as a group.

Sunday, 29th June
After a leisurely breakfast we check out of the hotel and travel through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales to Parcevall Hall Gardens – terraces, pools, rhododendrons and roses in a wonderful setting. Then on to York Gate, a garden of rare delights. Architectural features and topiary frame a variety of plants. Famous for its white borders.
As flight arrives back in Dublin at 23.10, we will stop en route to Leeds airport for dinner.

Frances MacDonald, a qualified and experienced gardener and guide, escorts this tour; she will be available at all times to help and advise you.

Further details from: Frances MacDonald (tours@thebaygarden.com)

Cost includes flights, all private coach transfers, and garden entrance fees. Bed & breakfast in hotel and dinners where mentioned.

COST: €665.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: €65.00.

Deposit: €200.00 – Payable to 'Bay Garden Tours'.

Itinerary subject to change