Thursday 9th May

We meet at London Paddington Train Station and take the mid-morning, scenic train journey to Cornwall. There will be time for lunch (independent) on the train.

Our first visit is to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. The gardens were rediscovered 33 years ago and underwent a ground-breaking restoration project.

In the late afternoon we check in to the 4-star Carbis Bay Hotel & Spa, St Ives. Dinner is in the hotel (included).

Friday 10th May

Today we begin with a visit to a wonderful private garden on the Lizard Peninsula. The gardens surround the elegant Georgian house and have been skilfully developed over the last 20 years. We meet the owner who will take us around the gardens, then we have lunch (included).

In the afternoon we visit a beautiful private garden on an ancient Cornish estate. We walk through the gardens with the delightful and characterful owner.

We return to the hotel for dinner (included).

Saturday 11th May

We take a short flight to the Isles of Scilly, an outstandingly beautiful archipelago which lies just 35-miles off the coast of Cornwall. An inter-island boat transports us to Tresco island to visit the world-famous Tresco Abbey Gardens − a glorious 19th century sub-tropical garden, home to 20,000 plants from more than 80 countries. We have a tour of the gardens followed by lunch (independent). We return for dinner in the hotel (included).

NB: Flights (in small planes of approx. 15 seats) are subject to fair weather conditions. If travel is not possible, another garden visit will be substituted. If you prefer not to join the tour this day, please let us know at the time of booking and we may be able to adjust your tour price.

Sunday 12th May

This morning we visit Glendurgan Garden, a valley garden with outstanding spring displays of rhododendrons. We enjoy a tour with the owner followed by an exclusive lunch (included) in his home.

We spend the afternoon in the pretty seaside town of St Ives where there is time to explore the shops, harbour and galleries. Tickets are included for Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden.

Your evening is at leisure (dinner independent).

Monday 13th May

After check out, we wend our way into Devon and visit The Garden House in Dartmoor National Park. The ten-acre garden was developed in the 1940s and is viewed as one of the finest in Britain. We enjoy a tour with the Head Gardener followed by lunch (included).

Wildside Garden is our next stop. This is the private garden of Keith Wiley, an inspiring proponent of the ‘new naturalism’ movement in gardening.

We arrive in the late afternoon at the 5-star Bovey Castle Hotel to check in. Dinner is in the hotel (included).

Tuesday 14th May

This morning, enjoy time at leisure to use the hotel’s facilities and amenities which include the indoor pool, spa, deer park, falconry, archery and over 275 acres of beautiful grounds to explore. There is time for lunch in the hotel (independent).

In the afternoon we make a visit to nearby Castle Drogo. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, it was the last castle to be built in England. We enjoy the superb gardens and castle before heading into the pretty Dartmoor town of Chagford for dinner (included).

Wednesday 15th May

Today we begin with a visit to RHS Rosemoor. Gifted to the Royal Horticultural Society by Lady Anne Berry in 1988, and known for its many garden ‘rooms’, RHS Rosemoor now spans 65 stunning acres. We enjoy a guided tour followed by free time for lunch (independent).

Later we visit a fascinating private garden, Plaz Metaxu. Developed over 30 years by an art historian, this thought provoking garden is filled with classical references and vistas. We meet the owner for a walk through this wonderful garden.

We return to the hotel for dinner (included).

Thursday 16th May

After check-out, we make a visit to Hestercombe Gardens. The formal Edwardian garden has been described as ‘Lutyens at his best’. We have a tour of the gardens followed by a private lunch (included).

After lunch, we board the train at Taunton Station for the return journey to London Paddington Train Station where we expect to arrive in the late afternoon. From here, you can take the Heathrow Express train to the airport if needed. 

Note: This tour can easily be combined with one of our Chelsea Flower Show tours to make a longer holiday. During train travel you will be responsible for managing your own luggage on and off the train.

Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of this itinerary, click here.

Carbis Bay Hotel & Spa, St Ives (4 nights) 

This superb coastal retreat offers its own 25-acre beach, breathtaking views of Carbis Bay, individually designed bedrooms, award-winning dining and a luxurious spa with an outdoor heated pool. The 4-star hotel offers four restaurants and two bars, all with wonderful sea views. The coastal footpath passes alongside the hotel offering lovely coastal walks. NB: This hotel does not have a lift due to the historic nature of the building and most rooms are accessed via a staircase.

Bovey Castle, Dartmoor (3 nights)

Standing within 275 acres of beautiful countryside, 5-star Bovey Castle first opened as a hotel and golf resort in 1930. The 60 individually-designed bedrooms, both in the main manor house and the mews, offer luxurious surroundings with breathtaking views out across Dartmoor National Park. The hotel also has an indoor pool, sauna and spa.

TOUR PRICES: Prices are per person, based on twin/double room share, with single supplement (solo occupancy of a double room) shown separately. Tours are priced in £GBP.

Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room)	Single supplement (for single occupancy of a double room)
£5,200	£600

PRICES INCLUDE:

• 7 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.
• Flights and boat transport to and from the Isles of Scilly.
• First-class train travel to and from London at the start and end of the tour.
• 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 (Isles of Scilly flights are included).
• 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.

BOOK YOUR TOUR

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 deposit which secures your booking.

BOOK NOW

HOW 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.

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.

BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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.

If you would like to complete our online booking form, please click the Book Now button.

Please contact us if you have any queries about the tour or would like to arrange for us to call you back.

To download a PDF of the tour itinerary to print out or send to friends, please choose the Print Itinerary button.

Read through our Frequently Asked Question section to find out more about our tours, dress code, average day, tips etc.

To assist you in pre and post tour planning, you might wish to read our tour Joining and Departure Arrangements. Click opposite for further details.