Gardens of Cheshire

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Itinerary

Day 1 – Sunday 27 April 2025

We depart from our local pick-up point and head for our first visit to the gardens of Trentham Estate in Staffordshire. The contemporary revival of the famous Italian Gardens was led by renowned designer and multi-Chelsea gold-medal winner Tom Stuart-Smith. To the east of the Italian Gardens are the Rivers of Grass and the adjacent Floral Labyrinth. Both these schemes were designed by eminent Dutch plantsman, and Chelsea gold medal winner, Piet Oudolf. At the centre of Trentham Gardens is the mile long, Capability Brown designed, Trentham Lake. Take the circular lakeside walk all the way round as it takes you beside the River Trent, by the bird hide, through Capability Brown’s cascading weir and along atmospheric woodland trails. The show gardens offer further inspiration to gardeners’ on a more domestic scale. Lunch is available here (not included).

Following our visit, we continue to our hotel. Dinner will be served in the evening.

Day 2 – Monday 28 April 2025

After breakfast we will travel to Tatton Park, to explore the Mansion and gardens. During our visit we will discover how different generations of the Egerton family, over the course of 200 years, influenced the design and layout of this spectacular 50-acre garden.  We will see the different areas such as the walled kitchen gardens, famed Japanese Garden created after a visit to the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition in London in 1910, the Italian garden reminiscent of the Italian ‘grand tour’ undertaken by the young gentlemen of the family in the 19th century, Lady Egerton’s rose garden, and the arboretum which contains a substantial collection of pines dating back to the 1840’s from China, Japan and North America. Lunch is available here (not included).

We later visit Arley Hall gardens. A pair of herbaceous borders was laid out here in 1846 and they survive to this day, beautifully maintained - one of the great garden sights of England. There are also old walled gardens with good mixed borders and a simple terraced walk above a ha-ha. Still in private hands, Arley Hall preserves the atmosphere of a garden kept for its own delight. 

We return to our hotel where dinner is served in the evening.

Day 3 – Tuesday 29 April 2025

After breakfast we depart for a visit Mount Pleasant Gardens and Sculpture Trail, 10 acres of landscaped garden and woodland with impressive views over the Cheshire countryside. Steeply terraced in places, this is a traditional mixed garden featuring specimen trees, rhododendrons, azaleas, conifers and mixed and herbaceous borders. There are also four ponds and a bog garden, along with a vegetable garden, a stumpery with tree ferns, sculptures, a wildflower meadow and a Japanese garden.

Following our visit, we will travel to Chester for free time. With an abundance of restaurants, pubs and quaint cafes there are many choices for lunch (not included). You may also want to visit Chester Cathedral (open until 18.00hrs – free entry but donation recommended); or walk part of the Chester City Walls, the most complete, longest and oldest in Britain with parts which are almost 2,000 years old (there are 4 main access points onto the walls – Northgate, Eastgate, Watergate and Bridgegate); or simply go shopping at Chester Rows, unique continuous buildings with a second row of shops above those at street level.

Dinner will be served at our hotel this evening.

Day 4 – Wednesday 30 April 2025

After breakfast this morning we check out of the hotel and begin our homeward journey. Our first stop will be to Biddulph Grange, a rare and exciting survival of a Victorian garden with tunnels and pathways leading you on a miniature tour of the world. The garden boasts rare and exotic planting and architecture from an Egyptian court to elegant Italian terraces, and it even has a unique oriental pagoda garden with its own Great Wall of China. In addition, there are various Victorian eccentricities, including an upside-down tree and strange stone sculptures. 

We then continue south for a visit to Ashwood Nursery and Private Garden. We will enjoy an introductory talk before a self-guided tour around the private garden of nursery owner and Chelsea Gold Medallist John Massey, which includes informal borders, island beds and woodland dells. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, it is planted with an abundance of rare plants as well as many familiar favourites. The gardening team will be on hand to answer any questions. There will also be an opportunity to wander through the glasshouses and garden shop. Lunch is available here (not included).

Following our visit, we continue to our original departure point.

From £645.00 pp 

Included in the price:

· Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the 4-star Best Western Pinewood Hotel, Wilmslow

· Comfortable coaching throughout

· Entry to the gardens at Trentham Estate, Arley Hall, Mount Pleasant, Biddulph Grange and Ashwood Nursery; House and Gardens at Tatton Park.