Gardens of Rutland and Lincolnshire

This tour is now full but please let us know if you would like to be on the reserve list.

A garden tour staying in the lovely market town of Oundle at the Talbot Hotel.  A 16th century coaching inn which is so much more than just a Northamptonshire Inn with rooms! Built with stone from Fotheringhay Castle in 1630 it has comfortable (not huge) contemporary bedrooms and an excellent restaurant. There will be visits to some stunning gardens both on a grand scale and some more personal but with imaginative designs and excellent plant interest. Check into your rooms at the Talbot Hotel on Monday 17 June.

Tuesday 18 June:  Deene Park has been the home of the Brudenell family for 500 years since 1514.  The gardens have undergone a recent horticultural renaissance, the formal gardens on the south side of the historic house include long borders, old fashioned roses, specimen trees which give way to a vista of parkland and lakes.

Continue to Red Hill Lodge Oakham.  A garden of bold contemporary design with formal lawns, grass amphitheatre, herbaceous borders, rose garden and a turf mound with spectacular views of the Welland Viaduct.  As a change from lunching at a garden centre/restaurant, enjoy the scenery from the water - a light lunch will be served on The Rutland Belle for an hour cruising on Rutland Water from Whitwell on the North Shore to Normanton on the South Shore.  Finishing with a private visit to a garden in the Rutland area recently designed to provide context and connection to the surrounding countryside.   

Wednesday 19 June:  The Old Vicarage Whissendine featured on BBC Gardeners’ World 2019 is a garden packed with variety. Terrace with topiary, gothic orangery, herbaceous borders around the main lawn, large ornate greenhouse, fountain courtyard and raised vegetable beds.  Easton Walled Gardens were nearly lost forever when the original house, Easton Hall, was demolished in 1951 however the current owner took over the family property in 2001 and have restored these wonderful gardens. There’s a turf maze, yew tunnel, meadows, rose garden, orchards and renowned for its sweet peas showcasing both heritage and modern varieties.  Light lunches can be purchased in their tea-rooms before continuing to Stamford and Burghley House

Burghley House is one of the largest and grandest surviving houses of the sixteenth century and a wonderful example of the great Elizabethan ‘prodigy’ houses, built to honour the Queen. Conceived by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I and built between 1555 and 1587, Burghley is a testament to the ambition and vision of the most powerful courtier of the first Elizabethan age.  Arriving late afternoon for a leisurely visit to the gardens which will include the private South Gardens with its restored fountains, terracotta urns and David Austin roses.  The Garden of Surprises inspired by the Elizabethan fascination with astrology, astronomy and Classical civilisations and the Sculpture Garden.  There will then be an after-hours private visit to the State Rooms followed by early dinner in the Orangery before returning to the hotel.  

Thursday 20 June: Checking out of the hotel a morning visit to Abbotts Ripton Hall is a large quintessential English garden with 5 acre lake, double borders, mixed borders, old shrub roses garden, bog garden together with many follies and over 1600 plant species. Fine established trees giving the garden a good backbone and an oak tree collection where most of trees have been grown from acorns by the owners. You may wish to take your own car (approximately 35 minutes southeast of Oundle) but coach will return first to the hotel 1.30 pm and then to Peterborough Station for 2.15 pm (tbc).