Filled with exquisite gardens set across its hills and valleys, beside rivers and along its iconic coastline lies some of the most beautiful places in the Southern England.
Cornwall DMC is an special interest inbound tour operator catering for private groups of garden lovers and plant enthusiasts as well as tour operators around the world to offer a complete service of ground arrangements from hotels, coaching to local guides fluent in all major languages. We use our local knowledge to create an individual itinerary including behind the scenes tours with head gardeners and access to private gardens. We are also experienced in incorporating Cornwall into wider tours across Southern England and around the UK.
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A selection of some of the gardens to include on a Garden Tour of Southern England;
Sheffield Park Gardens – located in East Sussex is a beautiful landscaped garden which is centred around four lakes with paths through the wooded areas surrounding them. With waterfalls and bridges the gardens are delightful, in the spring the gardens explode with colour, daffodils, bluebells and then the rhododendrons and azaleas are magnificent. In the summer the gardens come alive with dragonflies and kingfishers darting across the waterlily covered lakes. The gardens are also famous for their autumn colour with the leaves of its vast collection of trees and shrubs turning into beautiful autumnal shades. The Gardens are owned by the National Trust and are open every day of the year.
Brighton is an ideal place to stay at any time of year and is only 28km from Sheffield Park Gardens. As well as visiting the Gardens you can explore the pretty villages of the South Downs, eat in one of the village pubs and walk along some of the South Downs Way at Ditchling. Back in Brighton there is plenty to do, explore The Lanes with their quirky shops, walk along the promenade and the pier and for a panoramic view of the whole area take a ride on the British Airways 360i for a memorable end to you stay in Brighton.
Mottisfont in Hampshire – is a romantic 18th C house and gardens set in beautiful riverside gardens. With ancient trees, rolling lawns, carpets of spring bulbs and the world famous rose garden it is perfect to visit all year, although if you want to see the roses visit in June as this is the only time that they flower. The house and gardens are owned by the National Trust and are open every day of the year.
Winchester is about 23km from Mottisfont and is a great place to stay to explore the beautiful Hampshire countryside, quaint villages and beautiful small towns like Stockbridge which lies on the picturesque River Test. Winchester has plenty to offer the visitor, with plenty of shops, cafes, the beautiful medieval Cathedral with over 1000 years of history, there are also walks along the peaceful River Itchen which flows for 45km through Hampshire to Southampton
Stourhead – is one of the most beautiful and magical landscape gardens in England. This world-famous garden dates back to 1740 and has a magnificent lake at the centre of it. There are classical temples, mystical grottoes, towering trees and exotic rhododendrons. Beyond the landscaped gardens are 1072 ha of estate, with chalk downs, woods and farmland to explore. Stourhead House is a Palladian mansion, with a unique Regency library, Chippendale furniture and wonderful paintings. Owned by the National Trust the gardens are open all year and the House from March until December.
The City of Bath is 37km north of Stourhead and is a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside, stately homes and gardens. Bath is a perfect place to stay, with so much for the visitor to see in the city itself; the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre and Pulteney Bridge are just some of the attractions. Take a boat trip along the River Avon or the Kennet & Avon Canal for a relaxing and peaceful end to your tour of the area.
Bateman’s – in Burwash, East Sussex is Bateman’s the 17th C Jacobean House that was once the home of Rudyard Kipling. Surrounded by the wooded landscape of the Sussex countryside the house remains much as Kipling left it. The gardens at Bateman’s were designed for his family and friends to relax in and explore. Beautiful roses, wildflower meadows, paths through manicured lawns, a herb garden, a watermill and a pond make the gardens at Bateman’s a delightful place throughout the year. Owned by the National Trust the garden and house are open all year.
Eastbourne on the coast of East Sussex is 38km south of Bateman’s and is the perfect place to stay on holiday. The town has plenty to offer with its beaches, promenade and pier the seafront has something for all the family. Situated on the edge of the South Downs there is spectacular scenery along the coast at the iconic Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters Country Park. There are also the pretty villages like Alfriston to explore in the surrounding Sussex countryside.
Arundel Castle Gardens – the beautiful gardens of Arundel Castle, West Sussex are spectacularly set between a castle and a cathedral. The different themed gardens are wonderfully planted, the rose garden is planted in contemporary style, the Chapel garden with white and cool coloured plants, the renovated Victorian peach house and vinery where exotic fruit and vegetables are cultivated and the magnificent ‘Collector Earl’s Garden’ with hot subtropical borders and wild flowers is a tribute to the 14th Earl of Arundel, Thomas Howard 1585-1646. Arundel Castle is still the home of the Duke of Norfolk, whose family have lived here for over 400 years. The Castle and gardens are open from the end of March to the end of October.
Considering a group tour to explore Cornwall beautiful gardens? Here is a selection of our favourite gardens to include in an itinerary.
