Wales - Mid West

• Our itinerary could include:
  • Ryton Gardens
  • Ludlow & Castle
  • The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)
  • Dyfi Osprey Project
  • Ynyshir Hall
  • Cae Hir Gardens (RHS)
  • Lampeter
  • Llanerchaeron (NT)
  • Hampton Court Castle & Gardens

• Group Organiser benefits
• No single room supplements (selected tours only) 

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 - Ryton Gardens is set in the heart of England and combines 10 acres of organic gardens buzzing with wildlife, brimming with plants, bursting with flowers and abundant in fruit and vegetables. These inspiring demonstration gardens contain the world’s first public biodynamic garden; fruit gardens and an orchard; a rose garden, opened by HRH Prince of Wales. Ludlow is surrounded by the unspoilt and beautiful hilly countryside of south Shropshire and the Welsh border country, known as the Welsh Marches. Ludlow town centre's layout and architecture is evidence of the 900 year old Norman planned town’s history. Ludlow Castle is one of the finest of medieval ruined castles at the heart of this superb, bustling black & white market town.

Day 2 - The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) has over 7 acres of hands-on displays and gardens and with over 35 years of experience in sustainability practice, the Centre inspires thousands of visitors every year. The centre has 7 acres of interactive displays, organic gardens, café and shop. The Dyfi Osprey Project at Cors Dyfi (Dyfi bog) is a wonderful small nature reserve that teams with wildlife for most of the year. This is where the Dyfi Osprey Project is situated. Today the reserve is a healthy mixture of bog, swamp, wet woodland and scrub supporting a plethora of animals and plants, including the magnificent Osprey, which bred on the reserve for the first time in 2011. Ynyshir Hall has a fascinating history.  It has been cherished by a series of eminent owners including Queen Victoria who was responsible for much of the gardens as we see them today. There are camellias, magnolias and hydrangeas as well as splendid examples of sequoia and wellingtonia trees. In fact, the gardens play host to the definitive collection of Wellingtonii in the UK Persian Ironwood (Parrotia).

Day 3 - Cae Hir Gardens opened in 1989 were entirely envisaged, designed and created by just one man, Dutchman Wil Akkermans. His labour of love has matured into one of Wales’ most acclaimed gardens. In 2004 Cae Hir proudly accepted an invitation by the RHS to become partner garden. Lampeter is an essential stop on any visit to west Wales. Enjoy the ambience of a largely unspoilt Welsh market town or stroll through the grounds of the University with its neo gothic style Old Building, modelled on the Oxford quadrangle. Llanerchaeron (NT) is a rare example of a self-sufficient 18th-century Welsh minor gentry estate which has survived virtually unaltered. The villa, designed in the 1790’s is the most complete example of the early work of John Nash. It has its own service courtyard with dairy, laundry, brewery and salting house, and walled kitchen gardens.

Day 4 - Hampton Court Castle & Gardens has 12 acres of stunning gardens and parkland which feature flower gardens, highly acclaimed kitchen gardens, herbaceous borders, avenues, island pavilions, canals and a 150 year old wisteria tunnel, which leads to expanses of sweeping lawns. The 1000- yew maze, with a gothic tower at its centre, offers a panoramic view of the gardens and a secret tunnel leads to a waterfall in the sunken garden. The medieval castle dates back to Henry IV, which has 24 sumptuous bedrooms.