Exclusive for Mail on Sunday readers: Explore the gardens of the Cotswolds with Christine Walkden 

Exclusive for Mail on Sunday readers: Explore the gardens of the Cotswolds with Christine Walkden

Few places are more glorious when the leaves begin to change colour in autumn than the Cotswolds.

And on this exclusive four-day tour, you’ll have a chance to discover the gardens of some of the region’s finest homes, from cottages to magnificent country houses, and meet Christine Walkden, The One Show’s gardening expert

Christine will join you for a visit to the famous Arts and Crafts garden at Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire before giving a private talk and answering all your gardening queries in a special question and answer session.

Glorious: On The Mail on Sunday’s exclusive four-day tour you’ll explore the gardens of some of the Cotswolds’ finest homes, including Batsford Arboretum (pictured)

On the tour you'll visit the historic estate of Highgrove House, Prince Charles’s country home (pictured)

On the tour you’ll visit the historic estate of Highgrove House, Prince Charles’s country home (pictured)

Christine Walkden, The One Show’s gardening expert, will join you for a visit to the famous Arts and Crafts garden at Hidcote Manor (above) in Gloucestershire

Christine Walkden, The One Show’s gardening expert, will join you for a visit to the famous Arts and Crafts garden at Hidcote Manor (above) in Gloucestershire 

OUR SPECIAL GUEST 

Pictured above is Christine Walkden

Pictured above is Christine Walkden

Christine Walkden started her horticultural career as a ten-year-old when she grew flowers and vegetables on her allotment to sell to teachers and neighbours. She worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, before going on to present Gardeners’ World, Christine’s Garden, The Great British Garden Revival and the Royal Television Society Award-winning Glorious Gardens From Above. Christine is currently a panel member on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time.

You will also be able to explore the historic estate of Highgrove House, Prince Charles’s country home; Rodmarton Manor and its eight-acre garden; the Knot Garden at Cerney House, near Cheltenham; spectacular Broughton Grange; Sezincote’s ‘Hindu’ garden, inspired by 18th Century landscape designer Humphry Repton; and Batsford Arboretum.

It’s the perfect UK break for anyone who loves gardening.

Reasons to book

Meet Christine Walkden: Knowledgeable and engaging, Christine is the perfect special guest to join you on this superb tour. She will give a private talk about her career as a broadcaster, author and horticulturist. You will have the opportunity to ask her your own questions in a Q&A.

Explore Hidcote Manor: Christine will join you for a tour of the delightful and intricately designed Art and Crafts-inspired gardens at Hidcote Manor.

Tour Highgrove House: Since buying Highgrove House in 1980, Prince Charles has redeveloped the garden, taking on a new project each year. With the help of his friend Lady Salisbury, he has surrounded the house with scented wisteria, honeysuckle, jasmine and thyme, as well as creating an experimental wildflower meadow of some 32 varieties of endangered native plants.

Wonderful gardens: You will also explore Broughton Grange, with gardens designed by multiple Chelsea Flower Show gold medal-winner Tom Stuart-Smith, and Rodmarton Manor’s ‘outdoor rooms’, each with its own character.

Beautiful setting: You will be staying throughout at the charming four-star Oxford Witney Hotel, just a short walk from Witney’s centre. Relax in the elegant bedrooms, take a dip in the pool or unwind in the spa.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Three nights’ accommodation at the Oxford Witney Hotel.
  • Exclusive talk and Q&A and tour of Hidcote Manor with Christine Walkden.
  • Tour of Highgrove House.
  • Three breakfasts and three dinners.
  • Excursions to Rodmarton Manor, Hidcote Manor, Sezincote, Broughton Grange, Cerney and Batsford Arboretum.

YOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 Cerney House DAY 2 Highgrove House, Rodmarton Manor DAY 3 Hidcote Manor with Christine Walkden, Broughton Grange DAY 4 Batsford Arboretum, Sezincote; return to pick-up point

HOW TO BOOK

The dates: September 20 to 23, 2022. The price: From £895pp*. Call 01334 440 115, quoting MOS Christine Walkden.

To find out more, visit mailtravel.co.uk/ChristineWalkden.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: *Price based on two sharing. Single supplement: £195. Subject to availability. Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and at the tour manager’s discretion. This offer is exclusive to Mail Travel and selected media partners. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Brightwater Holidays, who are ABTOT-protected. For full terms and conditions, go to mailtravel.co.uk/christinewalkden.