Huron Tours presents:
Cornwall Spring Garden Spectacular
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Our last three Cornwall tours were fabulous sold-out successes! Huron Tours is thrilled to announce our return to the magnificent Cornwall gardens in the Spring of 2020. An incredibly scenic adventure with pure Huron style!
Featuring: Kensington Palace Gardens ~ The Eden Project ~ Bosvigo Garden ~ Trewithen Garden ~ St. Michael’s Mount ~ Pinsla Garden ~ Tregothnan Tea Plantation & Garden ~ Glendurgan Garden ~ Trebah Garden ~ Caerhays Castle & Garden ~ Lost Gardens of Heligan ~ Lanhydrock House and Garden - Killerton House and Garden - the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden ~ The Tate St. Ives ~ and more!
Please read on for all the details!
Featuring: Kensington Palace Gardens ~ The Eden Project ~ Bosvigo Garden ~ Trewithen Garden ~ St. Michael’s Mount ~ Pinsla Garden ~ Tregothnan Tea Plantation & Garden ~ Glendurgan Garden ~ Trebah Garden ~ Caerhays Castle & Garden ~ Lost Gardens of Heligan ~ Lanhydrock House and Garden - Killerton House and Garden - the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden ~ The Tate St. Ives ~ and more!
Please read on for all the details!
2020 Cornwall Tour Itinerary
Saturday, March 28 ~ Flights to London
Travel to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on your favorite air carrier.
Please give us a call for airfare prices and schedules. (800) 734-1192 or (504) 267-2057
Your air carrier provides dinner and breakfast.
Please give us a call for airfare prices and schedules. (800) 734-1192 or (504) 267-2057
Your air carrier provides dinner and breakfast.
Sunday, March 29 ~ Meet your guides, Kensington Palace & Gardens, private welcome dinner
The lovely Kensington Palace sunken garden
Arrive London and meet your Blue Badge Guide and Huron Tours & Travel tour managers who will be with you the entire tour.
Rest easy with your HTT arranged private transfer to your perfectly located, four-star hotel in London. After getting settled, we'll enjoy a lovely visit to Kensington Palace & Gardens, a royal residence for over 300 years and former home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. You will tour the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments as well as the beautiful Palace Gardens.
Early this evening we'll enjoy a private welcome dinner reception together in one of Huron's (and Duchess Kate's) favorite neighborhood restaurants.
Dinner is included tonight.
Rest easy with your HTT arranged private transfer to your perfectly located, four-star hotel in London. After getting settled, we'll enjoy a lovely visit to Kensington Palace & Gardens, a royal residence for over 300 years and former home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. You will tour the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments as well as the beautiful Palace Gardens.
Early this evening we'll enjoy a private welcome dinner reception together in one of Huron's (and Duchess Kate's) favorite neighborhood restaurants.
Dinner is included tonight.
Monday, March 30 ~ Train to Cornwall, Bosvigo Garden, Welcome Dinner Falmouth
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After an early and hearty English breakfast at the hotel, we'll travel to gorgeous Cornwall via scenic train ride. Great Western Railway transports us from London Paddington to Truro traveling along the iconic part-coastal track built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the 1830s. We'll travel in style and there is no need to worry about your luggage. With Huron Tours your bags will be delivered straight to our beachfront hotel in Falmouth, Cornwall while you enjoy the beauty, comfort and ease of travel by train.
On arrival into Truro, we'll pay a very special visit to Bosvigo Garden, Wendy Perry's fine 3 acre gem. There are a series of walled gardens with good herbaceous plantings, intense colors in the hot garden, the hellebore collection in perfect bloom and the woodland copse alive with many bulbs. A Huron Tours visit to Bosvigo is extra special as we will be treated to a private tour of the house and to tea and homemade cakes. Tea is served in the historic kitchens which have been restored to their original Georgian glory. The perfect start to our spring garden tour! After our garden visit in Truro, it is a short drive to our home for the next 8 nights, Falmouth and The Greenbank Hotel.
The charming town of Falmouth is situated at the end of the River Fal and has been an important Maritime hub for more than 500 years. This is Cornwall's coolest town and one of England's leading cultural destinations. Its attractive old shops, numerous cafés, collection of interesting art galleries and central coastal location make it the perfect home base for our garden explorations.
Our accommodations, Falmouth's oldest and finest, is the Four Star Greenbank Hotel. |
"I would be delighted to host your group for a house tour, garden visit and tea in April 2020. My spring garden will be at it's best at that time!” 
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Nestled on Falmouth harbor, this gorgeous property blends the best of coastal Cornish living with the finest in contemporary comfort. All rooms are perfectly appointed with luxurious toiletries, hairdryer, complimentary coffee and tea, flat screen televisions, 24 hour room service and free wifi. The on-site dining options include the 2 AA Rosette award-winning Water's Edge Restaurant offering truly Modern British cuisine.
This evening we toast our arrival with a private dinner reception at the hotel while enjoying panoramic harbor views.
Breakfast, Tea and Dinner are included today.
This evening we toast our arrival with a private dinner reception at the hotel while enjoying panoramic harbor views.
Breakfast, Tea and Dinner are included today.
Lanhydrock House and Gardens
Tuesday, March 31 ~ Pinsla Garden, Lanhydrock House and Gardens
After the delightful breakfast at the hotel, we begin today’s garden explorations at Pinsla Garden & Nursery, a private hidden gem set in a tranquil woodland that is a plant lover's dream. The owners will tell us about creating the garden, working with shade, the art in the garden and how to produce color throughout the year. After our tour, we'll be served tea or coffee with home-made cake beside the enchanting period cottage.
Our next stop is The National Trust's Lanhydrock House & Gardens, a magnificent late Victorian country house and beautiful spring garden. The fabulous formal parterre brings a real touch of grandeur and the blooming borders are filled with flowers and fragrant plants. A gorgeous magnolia arch by the thatched cottage, offers a beautiful gateway to exploring the higher levels of the garden. The magnificent 17th century house has many interesting rooms including a magnificent Great Hall and historic kitchens. For anyone interested in historic houses this is a must see property and offers a fascinating insight into Upstairs, Downstairs life in Victorian England.
Dinner this evening is on your own so why not try one of the fantastic eateries on our Falmouth restaurant recommendations list included with your final tour documents. Highlights include a wonderful Thai restaurant, award-winning gastro pub, and of course the freshest seafood. All within a few minutes walk of our hotel.
Breakfast is included this morning.
Our next stop is The National Trust's Lanhydrock House & Gardens, a magnificent late Victorian country house and beautiful spring garden. The fabulous formal parterre brings a real touch of grandeur and the blooming borders are filled with flowers and fragrant plants. A gorgeous magnolia arch by the thatched cottage, offers a beautiful gateway to exploring the higher levels of the garden. The magnificent 17th century house has many interesting rooms including a magnificent Great Hall and historic kitchens. For anyone interested in historic houses this is a must see property and offers a fascinating insight into Upstairs, Downstairs life in Victorian England.
Dinner this evening is on your own so why not try one of the fantastic eateries on our Falmouth restaurant recommendations list included with your final tour documents. Highlights include a wonderful Thai restaurant, award-winning gastro pub, and of course the freshest seafood. All within a few minutes walk of our hotel.
Breakfast is included this morning.
Wednesday, April 1 ~ St. Ives, Barbara Hepworth Museum, The Tate, Private Lunch, St. Michael's Mount
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We will begin today on a high note with a morning and afternoon visit to the costal village of St. Ives, The Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden & The Tate St. Ives Museum.
St. Ives, a delightful old village of breathtaking beauty, has been a busy fishing port since the Middle Ages. En-route our Blue Badge guide will tell us all about the history and tradition of this ancient town. Once there, you'll have time to explore the cobbled streets, admire the pretty cottages and peak into the interesting shops and art galleries, as well as enjoy two great museums. Barbara Hepworth, a renowned artist, lived and worked in St. Ives from 1949 until 1975. Her small house and working studios are set in a lush and secluded garden, now open to the public as a museum devoted to her life. |
Trengwainton Garden by Michael Stone
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And, just up the street, is the Tate St. Ives, recently re-opened after an extensive renovation. The galleries display works by an impressive collection of painters and sculptors associated with St. Ives, and the museum boasts some of the best water views in town.
Between gallery visits and strolling the streets, we'll find some time to sneak in a lovely private lunch together in an award-winning local restaurant. Our last stop today is a marvelous photo opportunity at St. Michael’s Mount. This dramatic island abbey was originally built by Benedictine monks and strikes a dramatic pose against the beautiful harbor. Breakfast and lunch are included today. |
Thursday, April 2 ~ Trewithen, Tregothnan Private Estate and Tea Plantation
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After breakfast at the hotel we set out for a full day of Cornish garden beauty. We begin at Trewithen Garden, an eighteenth century house with walled and woodland gardens made by the renowned horticulturalist George Johnstone. Perhaps the most beautiful woodland garden in England, Trewithen is known for its great collection of magnolias, rhododendrons, and camellias best seen in early spring. The garden's 30 acres includes many rare trees and shrubs and new plantings abound to bring an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color to this gorgeous garden delight. The head gardener will give our private group special insight.
The last stop today is a Huron Tours exclusive: Tregothnan. Tregothnan is the U.K.'s first (and only) tea plantation, and is also home to one of Britain's finest private gardens. As a botanic garden and arboretum it is unequalled in its offering of scale, diversity, rare collections, sweeping vistas and secluded groves. Although Tregothnan is not open to the public, we will be treated to a private tour guided by a member of the gardening team who will discuss the fascinating history of the garden, its impressive plant collections, and exciting plans for the future. Our tour ends with a tea sample in the Edwardian summer house. Perfection. Breakfast and Tea provided today. |
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Friday, April 3 ~ Free Day to Explore Falmouth
Iconic Cornish Tin Mine
A completely free day to enjoy the best that the seaside town of Falmouth has to offer. Perhaps pay a visit to the flagship attraction, The National Maritime Museum, or take a cruise along the Fal River for beautiful views. For a great bit of history, see Pendennis Castle, constructed by Henry VIII to defend the British mainland from Spanish and French invasion. There is shopping galore in Falmouth including Beerwolf Books, a pub and bookshop rolled into one!
You are on your own for dinner this evening so be sure to consult our extensive (and well researched) Falmouth dining guide full of excellent suggestions.
Breakfast included today
You are on your own for dinner this evening so be sure to consult our extensive (and well researched) Falmouth dining guide full of excellent suggestions.
Breakfast included today
Saturday, April 4 ~ Trebah and Glendurgan Gardens
Fifteen miles south of Falmouth lie two of Cornwall’s “showstopper” gardens. Our first stop is Trebah Garden a 25 acre ravine garden planted in 1840 by Charles Fox. After our introduction talk you'll set out to explore this incredible masterpiece of undulating color. Trebah is a sub-tropical paradise featuring a stunning coastal backdrop and its own beach (the embarkation point of 7,500 US soldiers bound for Omaha beach.)
Just across the lane is the incomparable Glendurgan Garden, founded by Alfred Fox, brother to Charles, and now owned by the National Trust. The Foxes are known for making their fortune importing exotic plants, and this garden was designed to showcase their finds. Set in a wooded valley running down the Helford river, this garden is as rich in views as it is in unusual plants. It is one of the great sub-tropical gardens in the UK. Our visit to Glendurgan will be especially meaningful today, as Charles Fox, great-grandson of Alfred, will take us around the garden sharing thoughts on its history, design, and importance. We'll follow our garden tour with a lovely visit to the Fox family home for a nice cup of tea before heading back to our wonderful hotel in Falmouth.
Breakfast is included today.
Just across the lane is the incomparable Glendurgan Garden, founded by Alfred Fox, brother to Charles, and now owned by the National Trust. The Foxes are known for making their fortune importing exotic plants, and this garden was designed to showcase their finds. Set in a wooded valley running down the Helford river, this garden is as rich in views as it is in unusual plants. It is one of the great sub-tropical gardens in the UK. Our visit to Glendurgan will be especially meaningful today, as Charles Fox, great-grandson of Alfred, will take us around the garden sharing thoughts on its history, design, and importance. We'll follow our garden tour with a lovely visit to the Fox family home for a nice cup of tea before heading back to our wonderful hotel in Falmouth.
Breakfast is included today.
2017 Tour Participant Carole Sanders collects a stone from the Glendurgan beach.
Sunday, April 5 ~ Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Sunday Roast Dinner
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This morning, we'll pay a visit to an unforgettable experience in an epic location. The Eden Project is one of Cornwall's most iconic sights, and its three giant greenhouses have been described as a wonder of the modern world. These futuristic biomes house a dizzying array of plants, trees and botanical wonders from across the globe.
This afternoon we'll visit and enjoy a history tour of one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK, The Lost Gardens of Heligan. The “Willow Tree Garden” (as translated from Cornish) is an essential visit as much for the story of its rehabilitation as for its design and contents. Once a lost and overgrown wasteland, the garden was resurrected when the garden plan, found behind a hidden door amidst World War I rubble, was uncovered in the 1990s. The garden restoration was broadcast throughout Europe and visiting is an absolute must. Dinner this evening is a traditional Sunday Roast at a well-known local landmark and popular, historic pub! Breakfast and Dinner included today. |
Planting at Eden Project
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Monday, April 6 ~ Caerhays Castle Private Reception, Lunch & Garden Tour
After breakfast we make our way to the stunning Caerhays Castle & Gardens which is located in a sheltered valley overlooking Porthluney Cove on the South Cornish Coast. Origins of the 60+ acre garden can be traced back to the Chinese plant hunters around 1900.
Home to the Williams camellia hybrids, Caerhays is perhaps best known for its huge, Asiatic magnolias, usually in their prime in early April. The Williams Family sponsored some of the great plant hunters and their discoveries have a marvellous home in this beautiful setting on the Cornish coast, north of the early 19th century castle, designed by Nash.
Our visit to Caerhays will be extra special today as Huron Tours will attend a private reception in Castle Hall followed by an informal tour of the castle with a member of the Williams Family. You will enjoy lunch in the castle’s Georgian Hall followed by a private garden tour and leisurely stroll on the lawn. A magical way to experience a truly magical place.
Breakfast and Lunch are provided today.
Home to the Williams camellia hybrids, Caerhays is perhaps best known for its huge, Asiatic magnolias, usually in their prime in early April. The Williams Family sponsored some of the great plant hunters and their discoveries have a marvellous home in this beautiful setting on the Cornish coast, north of the early 19th century castle, designed by Nash.
Our visit to Caerhays will be extra special today as Huron Tours will attend a private reception in Castle Hall followed by an informal tour of the castle with a member of the Williams Family. You will enjoy lunch in the castle’s Georgian Hall followed by a private garden tour and leisurely stroll on the lawn. A magical way to experience a truly magical place.
Breakfast and Lunch are provided today.
Tuesday, April 7 ~ Transfer to London, Killerton House
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Our time in Cornwall has come to an end but we still have one last garden visit in store. En-route back to London we will visit Killerton House & Gardens, a glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland. A fine 18th-century house features a renowned historical fashion collection.
Sir Thomas Acland wished to have gardens and parkland fit for his new family seat at Killerton. He employed the best landscaper designers and nurseryman John Veitch to turn his vision into a reality. Veitch and his son James created a network of woodland paths and planted varieties of foreign trees and shrubs, including Wellingtonia. Because of its mild climate Killerton was used as something of a trial ground for plants brought back from all corners of the globe, and many plants which are now found throughout the British Isles were first planted at Killerton. |
Wisteria at Killerton House
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The Elegant 18th century house boasts interiors featuring a wonderful mix of period styles, from Georgian to Edwardian. There is an impressive first floor exhibition of Killerton's fashion collection, the biggest in the National Trust, with over 20,000 items of clothing and accessories.
Once back in London, we will check into the luxurious 5 Star London Heathrow Sofitel conveniently attached to Terminal 5 and within easy transfer to all other terminals.
Dinner is on your own this evening but you have many options. The hotel offers two great restaurants - La Belle Epoque for fine French cuisine or Vivre for fresh thematic cooking. If you up for it, why not take the highspeed Heathrow Express into central London (just 15 minutes!) and enjoy one last night out in Britain's gorgeous capital.
Breakfast at the hotel today.
Once back in London, we will check into the luxurious 5 Star London Heathrow Sofitel conveniently attached to Terminal 5 and within easy transfer to all other terminals.
Dinner is on your own this evening but you have many options. The hotel offers two great restaurants - La Belle Epoque for fine French cuisine or Vivre for fresh thematic cooking. If you up for it, why not take the highspeed Heathrow Express into central London (just 15 minutes!) and enjoy one last night out in Britain's gorgeous capital.
Breakfast at the hotel today.
Wednesday, April 8 ~ Heathrow Departure
Make sure to leave time this morning for the included breakfast buffet at the Sofitel before your flight back to the US. It is legendary in its size and scope of offerings (Miso soup anyone?).
We know you will head home today with wonderful memories of this fabulous trip and longing to return to the glorious gardens of England, hopefully on another Huron tour.
Breakfast at the Sofitel.
We know you will head home today with wonderful memories of this fabulous trip and longing to return to the glorious gardens of England, hopefully on another Huron tour.
Breakfast at the Sofitel.
Please give us a call today if we can answer any questions: (800) 734-1192 or (504) 267-20578
2020 Tour cost:
Complete Package Price (without airfare): $4,688
Single supplement + $898 (total price for single room is $5,589)- Please inquire about our excellent roommate matching program
Price is per person, based on double occupancy. Includes airport arrival transfer.
A $1,000 per person deposit will hold your place. It is refundable until 120 days before travel (less a $100 administration fee).
Single supplement + $898 (total price for single room is $5,589)- Please inquire about our excellent roommate matching program
Price is per person, based on double occupancy. Includes airport arrival transfer.
A $1,000 per person deposit will hold your place. It is refundable until 120 days before travel (less a $100 administration fee).
Included with your tour:
The "Fox Family" welcomes you to Glenguran
- 10 nights, Four & Five Star accommodations
- All hotel taxes, baggage handling and bellman’s tips
- Private airport “Meet & Greet” transfer service - London Heathrow
- Private, deluxe motorcoach transportation
- 17 Meals including private events and breakfast daily
- Hand selected wines with all dinners
- Membership in the Royal Oak Society (the National Trust of England's American partner - one membership per family)
- Special Huron Extras: Scenic train travel to Cornwall, Private teas at Tregothnan & Bosvigo Garden, Free time in Falmouth, Free time in St. Ives, Private, hosted visit to Caerhays Castle & Gardens with castle reception
- Visits to the best gardens in the region:
- Kensington Palace & Gardens
- Bosvigo Garden (Private Tour)
- Pinsla Garden and Nursery (Private Tour)
- Lanhydrock House & Gardens
- The Eden Project
- Trewithen Garden (Private Tour)
- Tregothnan (Private Tour)
- Glendurgan Garden (Private Tour)
- Trebah Garden
- Caerhays Castle & Gardens (Private Tour)
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan (Private Tour)
- Killerton House & Gardens
- Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
- The Tate St. Ives Museum
Important Tour Information
- Walking required! Due to the topography of Cornwall, many of our garden visits on this trip are nestled in ravines, perched atop tall hills, or a long distance from the coach parking area. You must be able to walk hills and distances with confidence. If you have any questions please give us a call to discuss.
- We are more than happy to make flight recommendations. We will tell you exactly what flights to book down to the last detail.
- The tour price includes arrival airport to group hotel transfer from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) for the official tour dates and when booking pre tour nights at the group hotel through Huron Tours. We are happy to make other transfer arrangements (from other airports or locations) but you may incur a surcharge.
- We stay the last night of the tour at the London Heathrow Sofitel which is attached to Heathrow at Terminal 5. Transfer to other terminals is quick and easy and detailed instructions will be provided.
Cornish Magnolias photo by www.visitcornwall.com
