Gardens Illustrated: New Dorset Gardens
From fossil-stacked cliffs to rolling chalk hills and rich pastures, countless travellers, artists, novelists, and poets have been inspired by Dorset. On this holiday, we visit little-known gardens, many linked to a plethora of small manor houses; then, by digging deeper, we find links with personalities who contribute much to the greater world of gardening. The tour is based at the 5-star Georgian Summer Lodge Country House Hotel in the village of Evershot, the heart of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex. **Please note:** The tour pick-up points are Yeovil Railway Station at 12:00 and Summer Lodge Hotel 12:30, where you will be collected by coach and taken to your first visit.
Your Tour Includes
- Transportation from Yeovil Junction Railway Station
- 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in the 4-star Summer Lodge Hotel, Dorchester
- 3 evening meals with wine at the hotel plus 4 lunches
- Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
- Services of the Tour Leader and Hosts
- Detailed programme and garden notes
Keith Wiley
Keith Wiley was head gardener/manager at The Garden House, a 10-acre garden on the edge of Dartmoor between 1978-2003, where his creations were described as ‘one of the most exciting and innovative gardens in Britain today’. Keith has lectured widely on both sides of the Atlantic and is a regular contributor to horticultural and lifestyle magazines. He has written 3 books 'On the Wild Side', 'Shade' and 'Designing & Planting a Woodland Garden'.
Sophie Piebenga
Trained with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, she developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. She has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation. Born in The Netherlands, now based in the Cotswolds, Sophie has lived most of her life in the UK. For the last 25 years, Sophie has regularly led tours for Boxwood to Ireland, France, Spain, The Netherlands and within the UK.
Itinerary
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Overview
This tour starts at Yeovil Junction Railway Station at 12:00 or at Summer Lodge at 12:30 for those who prefer to join us at the hotel. After a light lunch, we make our way to Pugin Hall for an introduction to Dorset’s gardens. The house was designed by the Victorian architect Augustus Pugin (also architect of the Palace of Westminster) and its garden features a walled kitchen garden. Nearby is Broomhill, a farmyard turned garden where the richly planted borders are filled with unusual herbaceous plants and roses. We then return to Summer Lodge with plenty of time to settle in before an evening meal together.
Includes Lunch
Includes Dinner
Overview
The Old Rectory in the village of Litton Cheney enjoys a magnificent setting, with views out to rolling hills and vineyards beyond. Steep paths lead to natural woodland with many clear springs, streams, and pools, one a natural swimming pool planted with native plants. We see the hand of garden designer Arne Maynard in a pleached crab-tree screen and topiary, complemented by soft planting of peonies and roses. As we walk past the small kitchen garden, we will glimpse a designed rose nursery: the owner has a passion for producing rose bouquets. There follows a special invitation to lunch before travelling on to Chideock Manor, a Regency manor surrounded by varied gardens, including a parterre and rose arches. Our third garden today will be a beautiful private country garden in a charming South Dorset village, surrounded by a large cider orchard. We return to the hotel with time to change before dining together at The Acorn Inn, a few steps down the lane in Evershot.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Lunch
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
We start the day with a private garden on the edge of the coastal town of Lyme Regis. Laid out on a slope, this garden is brimming with exotic plants and has far-reaching views out to sea. Just across the border into Devon we visit River Cottage HQ, the old farmhouse, garden, kitchen classroom and headquarters of writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his enthusiastic team. We explore the organic smallholding with its beautiful, productive ‘no-dig’ walled garden before sitting down to a delicious lunch, straight from the garden. In the afternoon we return via Charles Chesshire’s Rare & Special Plant Nursery which offers a wide range of plants including clematis, species hydrangeas and intersectional peonies. We then travel back to Summer Lodge for our final dinner together.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Lunch
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
Our first visit today is John and Jennie Makepeace’s garden, The Farrs, hidden behind a topiary hedge in the centre of Beaminster. This is a garden in two parts: ‘hers’ is floriferous and sweet-smelling, while ‘his’ is a contemporary creation of simplicity and beauty. Lunch is at Slape Manor, where the garden transformation is being designed by the Urquhart and Hunt partnership who won ‘Best in Show’ at Chelsea 2022 for their rewilding garden. We also meet its head gardener, Hannah Gardner, a regular contributor to Gardens Illustrated. Finally, we head to Upper Sydling House, a richly planted garden in a remote valley designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman and further developed by its current owner. Return to collect cars at Summer Lodge at 15:45 and to Yeovil Junction Railway Station for 16:00.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Lunch
Single Room Supplement from £400.00 (4 days).
Accommodation
You will stay for three nights at the Summer Lodge Hotel.
Summer Lodge
Intimate and special, and surrounded by beautiful countryside, our country-house hotel offers a cosseting experience in the heart of Dorset. With genuine warm service, innovative and delicious menus and fragrant landscaped gardens. The Summer Lodge offers a world-renowned restaurant and bar, a heated indoor pool, spa and beauty treatments, bicycles, a croquet lawn and an all-weather tennis court. We are also a 25 minutes’ drive from the Jurassic coast, providing guests with ample opportunity for outdoor pursuits. this is the quintessential luxurious escape.
Hotel Facilities
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General
- 5 Star
- Restaurant
- Indoor Swimming Pool
Room
- TV
- Air Conditioning
- Free Wifi
Service
- Room Service Available
Hotel
- Swimming Pool
- Restaurant
- WiFi Available
