This tour from the
Macdonald Alveston
Hotel is an opportunity
to visit Warwickshire's
hidden gardens and
historic treasures.
The two days are
filled with variety
from the magnificence
of Coughton Court
and the art collections
of Compton Verney,
to medieval "hospital"
buildings and exceptional
gardens both great
and small. The hotel
is ideally placed
to be able to the
enjoy Shakespeare's
Stratford-on-Avon.
Tuesday 24 June:
Arrive and check
into your rooms.
Welcome drink followed
by dinner in the
main restaurant.
Wednesday 25
June: The coach
will depart for
Warwick. The first
visit is to the
Mill Garden found
in the tranquil
setting below the
walls of Warwick
Castle where in
the medieval times
all the traffic
crossed over the
River Avon by the
old bridge or ford.
This delightful
garden, with the
historic remains
of the Castle Mill
and Old Bridge,
is filled with an
abundance of plants,
shrubs and trees.
Return to the coach
for the short distance
to the Lord Leycester
Hospital. One of
Warwick's medieval
gems - these historic
timber framed buildings
dating back from
the 14thC, originally
the home of Warwick's
Medieval Guilds
and then in the
reign of Elizabeth
1, a place of retirement
for ex-servicemen
as it remains today.
The Master, Colonel
Lesinaki has kindly
agreed to give a
tour and relate
some of the history
behind these unusual
and exceptional
buildings. Hidden
behind is The Master's
Garden. An historic
walled garden, beautifully
maintained and lovingly
restored full of
shrubs, herbaceous
planting with climbing
roses and clematis.
There is the opportunity
then to find lunch
and explore Warwick.
The day continues
with a visit to
Compton Verney.
Warwickshire's largest
international gallery
of fine and decorative
art housed in a
Grade 1 listed mansion
designed by Robert
Adam surrounded
by 120 acres of
Capability Brown
landscaped parkland.
Philanthropist Sir
Peter Moores acquired
the mansion with
a view to transforming
the elegant country
house into an art
gallery and it now
houses collections
of paintings from
Naples, British
portraits, and Chinese
Bronzes. There will
be an introduction
to the gallery on
arrival and then
the opportunity
to view the collections
at your leisure
and enjoy the landscaped
grounds. Return
to the hotel for
dinner.
Thursday 26 June:
Today is for gardens
- first to Elm Close,
a Þ acre cottage
garden full of ideas
and inspiration
on the smaller scale
but with so much
of plant interest,
variety and hard
work! 300 species
of clematis, peonies,
shrubs set around
twisting grassy
paths. Then Woodpeckers,
created by retired
doctors Lallie and
Andy Cox - this
inspirational and
superb garden, featured
in many garden publications,
contains a wide
range of design
and planting ideas.
Old roses and clematis
climbing through
an attractive potager,
a knot garden, arboretum
and colour themed
mixed borders are
just a hint of some
of the surprises
to be found in 2
Þ acres. Finally,
Coughton Court -
the great Tudor
family seat of the
Throckmorton Family
with past associations
to the Gun Power
Plot. The house
contains a fascinating
collection of Catholic
treasures, fine
furniture, porcelain
and paintings but
the gardens are
outstanding designed
by Christina Williams,
daughter of the
owner Mrs Throckmorton.
Breath-taking features
of the 'hot' and
'cold' borders with
a fantastic display
of plants, the labyrinth
with 200 different
varieties of climbing
and rambling roses
and the red and
white gardens all
add to the horticultural
"wow" factor of
this Warwickshire
jewel. Lunch can
be found in the
restaurant before
visiting the house
and gardens. Return
then to the hotel
for departure.
Price per person
£375 Single Supplement
£40 Non refundable
deposit £100 - extra
nights maybe available
at the hotel - if
required please
enquire when booking.
Includes:
• 2 nights
accommodation with
full English breakfast
and dinner
• Welcome reception
• All garden
entries and tours
Professional guide
and executive coaching
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