Teachers Travel HF Holidays Glorious Summer Gardens of Devon May 24

Teachers Travel HF Holidays

Glorious Garden Tours

Gardens of Devon

May 19 - 26, 2012

During the days of the great British Empire, plant hunters brought back countless exotic specimens from
every corner of the globe, many of which thrived in the sub-tropical climate of Devon. As a result, the owners
of grand country houses - now stately homes - engaged in elaborate planting schemes using these new discoveries. From formal to kitchen gardens and the more unusual.

Our Devon garden tour is based for a week at a country hotel where Agatha Christie wrote her first mystery novel. On the edge of Dartmoor with superb views of rolling countryside, gardens and the distant sea,
this lovely hotel offers a quiet and beautiful setting from which to explore the surrounding countryside of Devon. Each day we go out by private minibus to visit the magnificent gardens of Devon with its rich soil and mild climate. In the evenings we return to our hotel at Haytor for dinner and a little socialising.

ITINERARY:

Sat: Arrive at Moorlands in time for afternoon tea and to meet our tour leader (travel to Devon not included).

Sun: We start with Castle Drogo where we see the classic architecture of Edwin Lutyens extending out
into the garden; stepped terraces, hedges and arbours. In the afternoon we go to Coleton Fishacre .This
24 acre garden lies in a stream fed valley above the beautiful South Devon coast.

Mon: We visit the historical garden at Killerton, a plantsman’s paradise, with rare trees and shrubs from around the world, collected by the Veitch family’s plant hunters. Killerton House houses the National Trust’s finest costume collection. In the afternoon we visit Buckland - 8 acres of brilliant luxurious colour where
old meets new, from a 16th century tower to 21st century naturalistic. The Elizabethan Garden is planting with a Tudor theme carried out using plants such as heart’s ease, feverfew, primrose, foxglove and hyssop mixed in with old varieties of vegetables such as peas and beans.

Tues: Knightshayes is one of the finest gardens in Devon, with formal terraces and summer flowering borders, drifts of spring bulbs a topiary fox and hounds cut in the "garden in the wood" . There is a
self-guided woodland walk giving lovely views of the surrounding area. The Victorian Gothic house is a combination of medieval romanticism and lavish decoration.

Wed: Today is a rest day but for those who want more sightseeing there is an optional tour to visit Agatha Christie's estate at Greenway. Overlooking the River Dart, the gardens - complete with restaurant - are a haven for locals and visitors alike.

Thurs: The lovely coastal garden at Overbecks has stunning views of the Salcombe Estuary. The location
is very sheltered and is home to a wide range of sub tropical plants including palm trees. Tucked away in
the beautiful North Devon countryside is Winsford Walled Garden. In the past, there were 30 gardeners and 500 linear feet of greenhouses.

Fri: The Mythic Garden is a 5 acre garden presenting an annual sculpture exhibition amid National Collections of Birch and Alder in a landscaped water & woodland setting. The garden is situated in the Dartmoor National Park. Set amongst rolling Devon Countryside the Hillhouse garden surrounds a charming one time vicarage made famous by Edward Hyams 'an Englishmans Garden'.

Sat: Depart after breakfast.

Where we stay:
Moorlands is a four-star property exclusively used by HF Holidays for their holiday groups. Occupying 12 acres of grounds, it has sweeping views over the rolling Devon countryside and towards the coast.
32 rooms each have private bath. This hotel was the setting that inspired Agatha Christie to write her first mystery novel. There are 32 Bedrooms at Moorlands. All have private bath, complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer and clock radio. Televisions and telephones are not provided in the bedrooms.
All rooms are non-smoking. Facilities include laundry facilities, mini-shop, croquet, pool table, two lounges,
bar, ballroom and games room.

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