Glorious Gardens of North Yorkshire

The temptation to return yet again to this wonderful part of the country cannot be resisted. As ever seeking new gardens and perhaps a return to some that we rated exceptional.  Stay at the luxury Wood Hall Hotel 4*(part of the Hand Picked collection) in its lovely location surrounded by woodland and lawns at the end of a long scenic driveway, a distinctive country house hotel with award winning restaurant and very well appointed rooms.
Check into the hotel on Monday 14 July

Tuesday 15 July:  Heading north on the edge of the moors to Mount St John.  An exclusive visit to one of Yorkshire’s most private gardens belonging to a passionate gardener Mr Chris Blundell, who with the help of garden designer Tom Stuart Smith created this stunning garden overlooking the Vale of York. The garden is planted with ornamental trees, shrubs and thousands of perennials and includes a walled garden, cut flower garden, kitchen garden and an adjoining valley garden with superb planting, wonderful shrubs and immaculate in every way.   Then continuing to Helmsley to break for lunch in this lovely Yorkshire town before heading up onto the moors to Sleighthomedale Lodge Fadmoor.  A glorious south facing three acre hillside garden perched on the side of a steep wooded valley.  Wide herbaceous borders and descending terraces with beautiful informal planting of roses, delphiniums and other classic English garden perennials within the walls and paths.

Wednesday 16 July: This morning travelling east to Hutton Wandesley Walled Garden .  Redesigned and re-landscaped by the owner Sasha York.   A stunning quadrant planting scheme with emphasis given to the original design from 1874 set within the 2½ acre walled garden.  A parterre garden, cutting garden and avenues lined with Pyrus trees.  Then to Burnby Hall Gardens at Pocklington, home to the National Collection of 100 varieties of Waterlily which flower on the Upper and Lower Lakes.  The garden comprises of 8 acres with the lakes, a recent contemporary planting in the walled garden, Edwardian Rock Garden and Stumpery.  Lunch will be provided in the Waterlily Tearooms.   To finish the afternoon the gardens at Skipwith Hall.  A contrast between the historic formal gardens originally part designed by Cecil Pinsent and more recently wildflower meadows, kitchen gardens and the newly restored Italian Garden.

Thursday 17 July: Check out of the hotel before garden visits.  Firby Hall near Bedale sits in 4 acres with a walled garden to the north and two lakes to the south, one featuring a folly.  The walled garden and greenhouses were recently restored and ongoing renovation is focused on other parts of the garden under the very talented and renowned garden designer Alistair Baldwin.  Finally…to Newby Hall – flowing from this elegant 17thC Wren house, 25 acres of award-winning gardens that include one of Europe’s largest double herbaceous borders. Then a series of formal gardens off the main axis each designed to show rare and beautiful plants at their best for every season.  Lunch can be purchased in their tea rooms before returning to the hotel around 2.45 pm.

It is suggested for those requiring the railway station at York rather than returning to the hotel - a taxi is booked to collect from Newby Hall direct (45 minutes) or Harrogate – which we can organise and can possibly share with others.