Brightwater Holidays - 2018 Preview

2018 Preview: Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

2018 Garden Tours Preview

Welcome to Brightwater Holidays Whether you’re a seasoned Brightwater traveller, keen for more great encounters with the great outdoors, or a newcomer hoping to dip your toe in the water, we’re sure we have a fair few trips to tempt you in our sneak peek at 2018!

Within this lovely little booklet is a snapshot of next year’s tours, all firmly garden-focused. From the classical countryside idylls of southern Ireland in our brand new Waterford & Cork holiday, to a jaw-dropping journey around the Seasonal Gardens of Japan, there’s plenty of inspiration to go around. We’ve also carved out a Christmas holiday corner at the front (forgive us: we do know summer’s only just here, but we simply couldn’t wait to shout about the festive treats in store).

You’ll be pleased to hear that this is only a taster of next year’s tours. There’s a whole lot more to come, and that doesn’t just go for our programme. Next year, you also get much more for the price of your tour, including porterage at your hotel — and what fine hotels they are! — even better special access, and more meals than ever before.

In the meantime, for information on all things Brightwater, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to seeing you next year!

What’s Included (It’s More than you Think) Here at Brightwater, everything we do is in the interest of making our tours bigger and better with each passing year, and we think that this one might be the best yet!

After taking a close look at our programme, we decided that the way to make our tours the best value they could be was to give you more Brightwater for your buck.

So, for 2018, you can expect hotels with more stars and paid-for porterage, lovely lunches as standard on most tours and wine with dinner, spectacular special access, expert guides with high credentials, and (last but not least) all tips included.

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Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

How to Book Once you’ve read our brochure, dog-eared the pages, and circled the tours that take your fancy, good news: it’s time to get in touch and get the ball rolling.

Getting ahead of the curve and booking your 2018 tour now has its benefits — even though we’re still figuring out some of the finer details, what you see in these pages is exactly what you’ll get.

Simply secure your place with a deposit of £100 (for coach tours) or £200 (for air tours).

And we have a special treat for our guests who also happen to be members of the RHS — how does a £50 discount on any of our 2018 UK tours sound? Or a £100 discount, as well as a sumptuous bottle of English sparkling wine, hand-picked by us, when you book your place on any of our 2018 overseas tours?

Simply let us know your RHS membership number when you get in touch to book your place, and we’ll do the rest — all that’s left to do is get the flutes out, prepare the ice bucket, and daydream about your holiday plans...

If you’re ready to book your place on tour, give us a call on 01334 657155, visit us online at our new-look website brightwaterholidays.com, or send our friendly customer care team an email on info@brightwaterholidays.com.

Likewise, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!

Full Financial Protection All our holidays are fully bonded and protected.

The air holiday packages in this brochure are ATOL Protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 4498.

ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services in this brochure. Holidays without flights are protected by ABTOT. This means that in the unlikely event of our insolvency, your holiday would be completed or refunded.

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Our new door-to-door service Imagine it: no more faffing around with ticket machines or tokens, no more labyrinthine airport websites to contend with, no more arguing about the best time to leave to beat the traffic. With our brand new door-to-door service, we’ll whisk you from your front step to the airport in Club Class luxury. Just give us a call on 01334 657155 to find out how you can make your holiday arrangements with us even easier — and, more importantly, start your trip off on the right foot. Aaaand relax...

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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Christmas 2017

Christmas and New Year Tours Why should Christmas be a chore? Put the sparkle into this year’s celebrations by joining one of our hassle-free tours to Perthshire or the Cotswolds. Treat yourself to a luxury break involving comfortable four-star accommodation, exquisite entertainment, delicious meals, and carefully-crafted itineraries designed to relax and inspire. It’s exactly the kind of Christmas you deserve.

And when the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, begin 2018 as you mean to go on: filled with fabulous food and fizz, a host of happy new friends all about you, in utterly jubilant, joyful surroundings. Let the festivities commence!

Christmas in the Cotswolds This dreamy yuletide getaway starts right in the heart of the City of Spires...

Relaxation’s the word; Oxford’s the place.

From our stylish, central hotel base we tour honey-coloured villages, gorge ourselves on festive food, and toast the Queen’s Speech with fruitcake and tea.

Time to enjoy Christmas at your leisure.

What’s included • Traditional four-course Christmas Day lunch • Gala dinner with live entertainment • A buck’s fizz Boxing Day brunch Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £745 Single Room Supp £135

The Cotswolds village of Broadway

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Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

Christmas in Perthshire A cosy Christmas with all the trimmings in the wintry woodlands of Scotland.

What do you get when you bring together a festive afternoon tea, live jazz, a scenic tour of the bonny Perthshire countryside, nightly piano music, a rip-roaring Ceilidh, and an authentic Scottish piper? A very Merry Celtic Christmas, of course!

What’s included • Full Christmas lunch accompanied by jazz trio • Festive afternoon tea at our hotel • Boxing Day excursion to the House of Bruar Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £60

A frosty day on the River Dochart

New Year in Perthshire Hogmanay’s approaching — here’s your chance to observe the occasion in style!

As 2018 arrives on the scene we’re pulling out all the stops. With a trip to the famous Queen’s View, a Black Tie Gala Dinner, the toe-tapping beats of the Ceilidh band, and a midnight toast complete with stovies, why celebrate anywhere else?

What’s included • Scenic coach tour of Perthshire • Special drinks reception with piper • Optional walks in the local countryside Departures: 30 December 2017 4 days from £1,195 Single Room Supp £60

Queen’s View at Loch Tummel, Perthshire

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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UK and Irish Tours

UK and Irish Garden Tours You don’t have to travel far for first class horticultural holidays. There’s a wonderful world of flowers, plants and trees to be explored right on your doorstep!

Our diverse short-haul selection brims with astonishing one-off moments and exclusives — even globetrotting garden-lovers will find something here to surprise them.

Don’t miss our illustrated talk from George Smith MBE, the internationally-renowned flower arrangement artist, a highlight of our new trip to the Private Gardens of Yorkshire. Or prepare your palate for an English wine tasting with the ever popular Michael Gill in Historic West Sussex — the perfect pause between visits.

Ethereal fronds, majestic lakes, historic glasshouses — all the glories of gardening are here. Add to that high-quality hotels with pre-tipped porterage, luscious lunches and wine with dinner, and exclusive access to private gardens, all in the company of enthusiastic experts, and you have all the makings of a spectacular staycation.

Tresco’s Abbey Gardens

The sub-tropical island of Tresco may be small but has so much to offer. A sparkling gem of the Scilly Isles, its Abbey Gardens flourish all year round — there’s always something magical to see.

What’s included • Scenic return flight from Land’s End to St Mary’s • Guided walk with senior garden staff • Opportunities for boat trips to other islands

Tresco from the air, a jewel off the Cornish coast

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Departures: various throughout 2018 4 days from £975 Single Room Supp £175

Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

Highgrove & the Cotswolds

Gardens of Herefordshire

The south side of Highgrove House

Bridge over the River Wye

A home fit for a prince? That’s Highgrove. Join us for an exclusive visit to Charles’s beloved gardens. This sparkling array of Cotswold gems will leave you royally spoiled for choice.

Deer descended from Tudor stock, private and personal tours of wild-style gardens, idyllic estates enhanced by Lutyens; for many, historic Herefordshire is the jewel in England’s crown.

What’s included

What’s included

• Extensive tour of the Highgrove Estate • Explore the wonderful Westonbirt Arboretum • Option to extend trip to five days

• Tour Montpelier Cottage with writer Noel Kingsbury • Visit Hampton Court’s recently completed gardens • Half-day workshop at Stockton Bury Gardens

Departures: various throughout 2018 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £150

Departures: 9 May 2018 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £150

Gardens of the Far North

Arts & Gardens in Cornwall

Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland

Nature on a gigantic scale at the Eden Project

Historic Cawdor Castle, fertile Inverewe, expansive Dundonnell — the outstanding gardens of the Far North prove that John O’Groats is by no means the only high point of this region.

The glorious gardens of Kernow await, served up with lashings of cream tea and galleries. Explore the region’s secret side with private, special access tours of Godolphin House and Tregothnan.

What’s included

What’s included

• The Castle of Mey, residence of the Queen Mother • Guided tour of Inverewe’s glasshouses • The private gardens of Dundonnell and Langwell

• Head Gardener’s tour of Trewithen • Guided visit to Hepworth Museum and Tate St Ives • Discover the new Tremenheere Sculpture Garden

Departures: 18 May & 13 Sep 2018 5 days from £975 Single Room Supp £195

Departures: 18 May 2018 5 days from £995 Single Room Supp £250

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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UK and Irish Tours The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll

The gardens at Hestercombe

The Great Pavilion at the Chelsea Flower Show

Plantswoman extraordinaire, Gertrude Jekyll’s impressionistic Arts & Crafts designs influenced a generation. We visit a selection of her most experimental and comprehensive creations.

The undisputed champion of horticultural shows, experience Chelsea in all its floral finery. We also enjoy some classical garden encounters, from the inimitable Sissinghurst to stunning Stourhead.

What’s included

What’s included

• Guided tour of Munsted Wood, Jekyll’s final home • Private tours of East Lambrook and Lydeard House • Afternoon tea at Gravetye Manor

• Full day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show • Guided tours of Great Dixter and Wilton House • Lunch at Tyntesfield estate

Departures: 20 May 2018 6 days from £1,350 Single Room Supp £245

Departures: 24 May 2018 7 days from £1,295 Single Room Supp £250

Gardens of Kent & Sussex

Private Gardens of Guernsey & Sark

The Gardens at Sissinghurst

La Seigneurie, residence of the Seigneur of Sark

Welcome to the Garden of England! From cutting-edge Lullingstone Castle to the botanical gardens and trees of Wakehurst Place, this classic selection features some of the best of British.

Star-gazing, prison gardens, orchid fields, artisanal jewellers — these two little isles are packed with surprises. A warm welcome to the Channel Islands from those who know it best.

What’s included

What’s included

• See Sissinghurst before it opens to the general public • Personal tour and picnic at the Sussex Prairie Garden • Optional garden study afternoon at Great Dixter

• Private drinks reception at the elegant Grange Court • Tour and talk at the Guernsey Clematis Nursery • A visit to the restored Victorian Candie Gardens

Departures: 27 May & 25 Jun 2018 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £150

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show & Classic English Gardens

Departures: 31 May & 13 Sep 2018 5 days from £1,395 Single Room Supp £235

Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

RHS Chatsworth Show & Gardens of Derbyshire

Gardens of North Wales

Derbyshire’s Elizabethan Hardwick Hall

Bodnant Garden, Conwy

Chatsworth’s 1,000-acre estate hosts a show not to be missed: a playground for all gardeners great and small. And don’t overlook delightful Derbyshire, replete with teas, halls, and priories...

Wales has it all: dramatic mountain vistas, champion tree collections, eclectic coastal villages, plant-buying meccas, and lush valleys.

What are you waiting for? Croeso i Gymru!

What’s included

What’s included

• Full day at the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show • Guided tours of Harlow Carr and Haddon Hall house • Private buffet lunch at the Felley Priory Farmhouse

• Discover the hidden garden of Plas Cadnant • Immerse yourself in the estates of Snowdonia • Visit extraordinary Portmeirion, set of The Prisoner

Departures: 5 June 2018 4 days from £775 Single Room Supp £130

Departures: 8 June 2018 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £195

Private Gardens of Dorset & Somerset

Dumfries & Galloway

The Palladian Dumfries House

Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, known to many as ‘Hovis Hill’

An intimate trip to Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, featuring private tours of Minterne, Hooper’s Holding and Heale House. The artworks of Kingston Lacey alone are set to stun.

Wondering what it’s all about? A trip to the Garden of Cosmic Speculation might provide the answer — if not, Scotland’s Southern Uplands have plenty more to keep you entertained!

What’s included

What’s included

• Van Dyck & Titian in the Kingston Lacey collection • Exclusive tour of Minterne with Lord Digby • East Lambrook Manor, home of Cottage Gardening

• Grand tour and two-course lunch at Dumfries House • Visit the world-renowned Logan Botanic Garden • The plantsman’s paradise of Ellenbank nursery

Departures: 11 June 2018 4 days from £750 Single Room Supp £170

Departures: 15 Jun & 17 Aug 2018 4 days from £695 Single Room Supp £170

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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UK and Irish Tours Gardens of Devon & Cornwall

The gardens at Lanhydrock

Private Gardens of Yorkshire

The palatial Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

Picturesque hamlets, lush, green hills, ragged rocks, and thriving gardens await in this superlative six-day tour of the rural South-West — a must for any horticultural connoisseur.

Take a personal tour of Yorkshire, from grand manor houses to atmospheric moor-side lodges.

A guided visit with RHS Harlow Carr’s Head Gardener brings this brilliant trip to its climax.

What’s included

What’s included

• Guided tour of Rosemoor’s vast and varied gardens • The award-winning Lost Gardens of Heligan • Private access to Lamorran House and Trebah

• Illustrated talk at Heslington House and Garden • The astounding collection of Yorkshire Arboretum • Special tour of Tom Stuart Smith’s Mount St John

Departures: 21 Jun & 5 Sep 2018 6 days from £1,095 Single Room Supp £275

Departures: 6 July 2018 4 days from £845 Single Room Supp £150

Downton Abbey & England’s Stately Homes

Gardens of the North of Ireland

The scenic Antrim Coast

Highclere Castle, which acts as the titular Abbey

Aristocrats and affluence abound in this tour of England’s scene-stealing estates. Several of our locations have starred in Downton, Pride & Prejudice, Cranford, and other TV classics.

Verdant landscapes, tranquil lakes, and a bounty of beautiful gardens enrich the north of the Emerald Isle. Join us as we follow in the footsteps of the giants.

What’s included

What’s included

• Nine stately homes and their glorious gardens • Explore some of TV’s most famous settings • Sumptuous Sezincote’s Persian Garden of Paradise

• Discover the natural wonder of the Giant’s Causeway • Historical encounters at Antrim Castle • Exclusive tour of Hampstead Hall’s private garden

Departures: 18 July 2018 6 days from £1,395 Single Room Supp £320

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Departures: 13 August 2018 5 days from £995 Single Room Supp £215

Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

Waterford & Cork

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Lismore Castle, Waterford

The Hill House, Mackintosh’s domestic masterpiece

Our bases in Cork, Ireland’s ‘real capital’, and Waterford, the country’s oldest city, make a fab foundation for a journey involving mansions, ferry crossings and the famous Blarney Stone.

We travel straight to Scotland’s creative heart with the masterpieces of Mackintosh to guide us. Visit Hill House, the Glasgow School of Art, Willow Tea Room, and so much more…

What’s included

What’s included

• See Mount Congreve: a “great garden of the world” • Encounter rare plants and trees in Fota Arboretum • Visit the palatial Curraghmore Estate

• Tour of Mackintosh-inspired House for an Art Lover • Return scenic ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute • Full afternoon tea at the Willow Tea Room

Departures: 16 August 2018 7 days from £1,595 Single Room Supp £340

Departures: 5 September 2018 4 days from £650 Single Room Supp £130

Scotland’s Finest Castles & Gardens

Historic West Sussex

Arundel Castle

Drummond Castle, near Crieff

History comes to life in this story-book tour of Scotland. Wander royal halls and lawns, luxuriate in sublime walled gardens, and experience some of the country’s finest horticultural features.

Our popular guide, Michael Gill, shares the secrets of his stomping ground in West Sussex.

Visit glorious Goodwood, magnificent Petworth, the mighty Arundel Castle and so much more…

What’s included

What’s included

• Stride into castles Stirling, Floors, Drummond & Blair • Ponder the Garden of Cosmic Speculation • Drive through scenic Sma’ Glen

• Guided tour of Parham house and gardens • Afternoon boat trip on the Wey & Arun Canal • Lunch and tastings at High Down Vineyard

Departures: 22 September 2018 7 days from £1,450 Single Room Supp £350

Departures: 4 October 2018 4 days from £895 Single Room Supp £150

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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Overseas Garden Tours

Overseas Garden Tours Let your enthusiasm for gardening take you further in our outstanding collection of overseas holidays. Whether hopping across the Channel for a short break to soak up the Genius of Monet, or embarking on an extraordinary 13-night voyage around South Africa’s Western Cape, the following trips boast all the brilliance of Brightwater abroad.

In the mood for a zesty fiesta? Then join us at the French Riviera in May, where the annual Menton Lemon Festival is certain to put us all in sparkling spirits. Fancy putting your plant-hunting skills to the test? Pack your walking boots for a perfectly paced mountain trip to Wengen in search of the rare Lady Slipper Orchid. And if you’re after stunning Scandi scenes, check out our new trip to Copenhagen & Zealand. We take a close look at the gardening gems of one of Europe’s coolest capitals.

But the destinations aren’t all that’s new — with more included than ever before, such as top hotels, fine dining and porterage (with all tips taken care of), extra-special access and expert guidance, your next faraway foray with us will surely be one to remember.

The Gardens of Costa Rica

Cloud reserves, cocoa and active volcanoes: enter the incredible natural world of Costa Rica. From forest-fringed beaches to butterfly gardens, this plant-lover’s paradise is sure to blow you away.

What’s included • Make your own chocolate at La Tirimbina Reserve • Discover the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge by boat • Hummingbirds and waterfalls at La Paz Gardens

Waterfalls at La Paz Gardens

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Departures: 6 February 2018 13 days from £3,795 Single Room Supp £845

Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

The Gardens of Ecuador

Gardens of the French Riviera & the Menton Lemon Festival

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, a monument to the Equator

Giardini Botanici Hanbury, Ventimiglia

Straddle the equator, see native llamas, and rove rose plantations in a high-altitude expedition to Ecuador. More than 4,000 wild species make this a dream destination for orchid fanciers.

Menton’s zesty Lemon Festival brings a vibrant burst of colour to our tour of the French Riviera.

Exotic gardens, cacti collections and azure seas complete our sparkling itinerary.

What’s included

What’s included

• Visit the megadiverse Mindo Cloud Forest • Travel the astounding ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ • Roam the ancient Incan ruins of Ingapirca

• Exclusive access to Clos du Peyronnet • 3,000 jungle species at Villa Thuret • Grandstand seats for the afternoon Menton parade

Departures: 13 February 2018 15 days from £5,495 Single Room Supp £880

Departures: 22 February 2018 6 days from £1,350 Single Room Supp £195

Galicia’s Camellia Route

Gardens & Villas of Sicily

Camellias: the stars of the show in verdant Galicia

Palermo Botanical Gardens

Encounter the “Japan Rose” in the temperate terrain of northern Spain. In pazos and pueblos, we travel, wine, dine and unwind, experiencing all this remarkable region has to offer.

This springtime tour of the scintillating gardens and villas of Sicily features an exclusive tour of the Giardino del Biviere in esteemed company: that of owner Princess Maria Carla Borghese.

What’s included

What’s included

• An Olive Tree Avenue at Santa Cruz de Rivadulla • Explore the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela • Lunch and wine tasting at Pazo a Capitana

• Tours of privately owned gardens • A visit to the active Mount Etna • Delicious farmhouse lunches

Departures: 7 March 2018 6 days from £1,350 Single Room Supp £215

Departures: 20 March 2018 8 days from £1,895 Single Room Supp £175

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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Overseas Garden Tours Seasonal Gardens of Japan

Surround yourself with the splendours of the Far East with an action-packed itinerary of rare gardens, bamboo forests, ancient temples, golden Buddhas and, of course, the majestic Mount Fuji.

Here, in Japan’s seasonal gardens, no detail is too small to be considered. Each plant and tree is carefully chosen for its colour and form, and — as we’re sure you’ll agree — it’s a method that works very well indeed.

Join us in March for sakura season, which sees temple gardens and street-sides alive with a profusion of pale pink cherry blossom, or in October, when fiery autumnal foliage is the undoubted star of the show.

What’s included • Tour the ornate gardens and shrines of Kyoto • Walk the otherworldly bamboo forest path of Sagano • An incredible bullet train ride to Tokyo

Sakura season in Kyoto

Architecture & Gardens of Andalucía

Departures: 28 Mar & 23 Oct 2018 13 days from £4,995 Single Room Supp £1,390

Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes

Villa Carlotta, Lake Como

The gorge-side city of Ronda

Olive trees and orange groves, medieval towns and Moorish mosques — the intoxicating sights, scents and sounds of Andalucía are sure to draw you in from the instant we set foot there.

What’s included

What’s included

• T he UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Alhambra • Full day excursion into the Sierra Nevada Mountains • Discover the dizzying heights of spectacular Ronda

• Tour with the president of Italy’s Camellia Society • A day exploring the beautiful Borromean islands • Explore sumptuous lakeside private gardens

Departures: 10 Apr, 8 May, 18 Sep 2018 8 days from £1,550 Single Room Supp £295

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La Bella Italia serenades the senses: think relaxed island cruises, romantic lakeside hotels, mysterious wooded peninsulas and elaborate villa gardens. A fairy-tale trip to the North.

Departures: 18 Apr, 2 May, 20 Jun & 26 Sep 2018 8 days from £1,995 Single Room Supp £390

Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

Gardens of Florence & Tuscany

Gardens of the French Riviera & the International Rose Festival

Florence’s iconic skyline, featuring Brunelleschi’s dome

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Ever wondered where Versailles got its inspiration? Visit the breath-taking Boboli Gardens and find out. Add stunning piazzas and Tuscan oases, and la dolce vita is yours…

Sweet fragrances suffuse the air at the International Rose Festival in Grasse, a magical mix of displays, competitions and perfumes. A sensational addition to our Riviera experience.

What’s included

What’s included

• Historical guided walk around the Piazza del Duomo • Tour of the world-famous Uffizi Gallery • Renaissance revival planting at Villa La Pietra

• Excursion to the artistic haven of St Paul de Vence • Visit to the Greek-inspired Villa Kérylos • Exclusive access to Clos du Peyronnet

Departures: 24 April 2018 7 days from £1,995 Single Room Supp £395

Departures: 3 May 2018 6 days from £1,550 Single Room Supp £380

Rome, Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo

The Genius of Monet

The geometric gardens of Villa Lante

An instantly recognisable bridge at Giverny

When in Rome... enjoy an unmissable opportunity to view the opulent papal gardens at Castel Gandolfo! The ancient gardens of Ninfa will also be open to us by special arrangement.

We don’t just take you to Monet’s paintings — we visit the gorgeous gardens and lily-filled ponds which inspired them. Giverny enchants as part of this charming tour to Chantilly and Paris.

What’s included

What’s included

• City tour of Rome’s highlights • The watery wonderland of Villa D’Este • The great Renaissance garden of Villa Lante

• Guided tour of Claude Monet’s famous gardens • See the Water Lilies at La Musée de l’Orangerie • Standard premier class return on Eurostar

Departures: 8 May, 5 Jun, 4 Sep 2018 4 days from £1,395 Single Room Supp £225

Departures: 18 May & 13 Jul 2018 4 days from £995 Single Room Supp £175

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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Overseas Garden Tours Yunnan - Footsteps of the Plant Hunters

Alpine Flowers of Wengen

Idyllic Alpine landscapes in Wengen

Lijiang Old Town, Yunnan

With lands bordering Tibet, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, you’ll soon see why this diverse corner of China has repeatedly drawn the plant hunters back for more botanical bounties...

Trains, cable cars and gentle walks take us deep into the mountains for a chance to see the wildflowers in bloom. We search for the elusive Lady Slipper Orchid — a rare, rewarding find.

What’s included

What’s included

• Travel to the extraordinary Stone Forest • Spend a day botanising on Shika Snow Mountain • Visit the traditional Naxi village of Yuhu Departures: 5 June 2018 15 days from £4,250 Single Room Supp £425

Departures: 26 June 2018 8 days from £1,995 Single Room Supp £150

Gardens of Copenhagen & Zealand

Gardens & Wildflowers of South Africa’s Western Cape

The University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden

Wildflowers thrive on South Africa’s mountainsides

An enchanting island of castles and woods; a capital city of art and kings — this terrific new tour pairs city and country in a wonderful introduction to Denmark’s great gardens.

Cable cars, historic farms, whale watching, vineyards, floral valleys, red-bellied tortoises — whatever you’re craving, South Africa’s sure to have it. A once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

What’s included

What’s included

• Visit the King’s Garden in central Copenhagen • Explore the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art • Tranquillity in the Zen Garden, Stenlille Departures: 7 August 2018 5 days from £1,475 Single Room Supp £220

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• Ride the historic Schynige Platte Railway • Incredible views at the Grindelwald Glacier • Travel by train and cable car through stunning vistas

• Visit Clanwilliam’s annual Flower Show • Spot the wildlife at Fernkloof Nature Reserve • View the top botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch Departures: 23 August 2018 16 days from £3,995 Single Room Supp £530

Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

Gardens of Normandy

Palladian Villas of Veneto

Foxgloves and waterlilies in Monet’s garden at Giverny

The 17th century Villa Barbarigo

The passion and flair of Normandy are destined to delight. This welcoming tour features local treats, friendly faces, and — most importantly — a clutch of world-class gardens.

How do you top off a day exploring refined Renaissance creations? With dinner in the frescoed rooms of Villa Valmarana, of course!

This holiday brims with exquisite exclusives.

What’s included

What’s included

• Horticultural magic at La Vasterival • Personal welcomes to Miromesnil and Bosmelet • Tour Claude Monet’s famous gardens at Giverny

• Personal tour with Count Valmarana • Extensive introduction to Palladio’s masterpieces • The exceptional Baroque gardens at Villa Barbarigo

Departures: 30 August 2018 5 days from £1,150 Single Room Supp £230

Departures: 11 September 2018 5 days from £1,495 Single Room Supp £195

Gardens & Wildflowers of Mallorca

New Zealand Garden Festivals

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

A covered walkway at Sóller Botanic Garden

In the mood for mountains, cacti, olive groves, and spectacular coastal gardens? Then you’ve come to the right place. The wildlife and gardens of sunny Mallorca beckon.

Two breathtaking islands; innumerable highlights.

We take in Taranaki and Marlborough festivals as part of this extended voyage to the ends of the earth. There simply aren’t superlatives enough.

What’s included

What’s included

• Over 2,000 plants and flowers in splendid S’Avall • Seek out rare, native plants in Formentor Woods • Discover the maritime marshlands of Albufeira Departures: 12 September 2018 7 days from £1,695 Single Room Supp £295

• Two-night stopover in Singapore with garden visits • Multiple tours and tastings in South Island vineyards • Vintage steamer cruise across Lake Wakatipu Departures: 27 October 2018 22 days from £6,995 Single Room Supp £895

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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Remaining 2017 Tours July 2017

September 2017

Private Gardens of Caithness & Sutherland 2 July

Islay & Jura - 9 September

Scenic Scottish Railways - 7 July

Grand Tour: Outer Hebrides - 10 September

Grand Tour: Outer Hebrides - 9 July

Grand Tour: Inner Hebrides - 17 September

Archaeology of Denmark & Sweden - 10 July

Orkney & Shetland Highlights - 18 September

Mull, Staffa & Iona - 14 July

Grand Tour: Outer Hebrides - 24 September

Orkney & Shetland Highlights - 17 July Undiscovered Orkney - 29 July

Naples & Gardens of the Amalfi Coast 25 September

Islay & Jura - 31 July

Grand Tour: Inner Hebrides - 28 September

August 2017

Gardens of the Isle of Wight - 9 September

October 2017

Grand Tour: Outer Hebrides - 6 August

Bulgarian Archaeology - 3 October

Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 20 August

A Classic Scottish Steam Break - 13 October

A Classic Scottish Steam Break - 24 August

Albanian Archaeology - 17 October

Orkney & Shetland Highlights - 28 August Arran: Scotland in Miniature - 28 August

September 2017 Grand Tour: Outer Hebrides - 3 September An Archaeologist’s View of Orkney & Shetland - 4 September Arts & Gardens in Cornwall - 4 September Mull, Staffa & Iona - 9 September

November 2017 Malta’s Archaeological Heritage - 7 November

December 2017 Christmas in the Cotswolds - 24 December Christmas in Perthshire - 24 December New Year in Perthshire - 30 December

Calendar 2018 February 2018

April 2018

The Gardens of Costa Rica - 6 February

Architecture & Gardens of Andalucia - 10 April

The Gardens of Ecuador - 13 February

Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 16 April

The French Riviera & Lemon Festival 22 February

Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes - 18 April

March 2018 Galicia’s Camellia Route - 7 March Gardens & Villas of Sicily - 20 March Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 23 March

Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 20 April Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 20 April Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 23 April Gardens of Florence & Tuscany - 24 April Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 30 April

Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 26 March Seasonal Gardens of Japan - 28 March

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Visit brightwaterholidays.com To obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours.

Calendar 2018 May 2018

August 2018

Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes - 2 May

Gardens of Copenhagen & Zealand - 7 August

The French Riviera & Rose Festival - 3 May

Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 10 August

Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 4 May

Gardens of the North of Ireland - 13 August

Architecture & Gardens of Andalucia - 8 May

Waterford & Cork - 16 August

Rome, Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo - 8 May

Dumfries & Galloway - 17 August

Gardens of Herefordshire - 9 May Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 11 May

Gardens of South Africa’s Western Cape - 23 August

Arts & Gardens in Cornwall - 18 May

Gardens of Normandy - 30 August

Gardens of the Far North - 18 May The Genius of Monet - 18 May The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll - 20 May RHS Chelsea Flower Show - 24 May Gardens of Kent & Sussex - 27 May Private Gardens of Guernsey & Sark - 31 May

June 2018 RHS Chatsworth Show - 5 June Rome, Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo - 5 June Yunnan - Footsteps of the Plant Hunters - 5 June Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 7 June Gardens of North Wales - 8 June Private Gardens of Dorset & Somerset - 11 June Dumfries & Galloway - 15 June Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes - 20 June Gardens of Devon & Cornwall - 21 June Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 22 June Gardens of Kent & Sussex - 25 June Alpine Flowers of Wengen - 26 June

September 2018 Rome, Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo - 4 September Charles Rennie Mackintosh - 5 September Gardens of Devon & Cornwall - 5 September Highgrove & the Cotswolds - 7 September Palladian Villas of Veneto - 11 September Gardens & Wildflowers of Mallorca - 12 September Gardens of the Far North - 13 September Private Gardens of Guernsey & Sark - 13 September Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 17 September Architecture & Gardens of Andalucia - 18 September Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 21 September Scotland’s Finest Castles & Gardens - 22 September Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes - 26 September

October 2018 Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 1 October

July 2018

Historic West Sussex - 4 October

Private Gardens of Yorkshire - 6 July

Tresco’s Abbey Gardens - 5 October

The Genius of Monet - 13 July

Seasonal Gardens of Japan - 23 October

Downton Abbey & Stately Homes - 18 July

New Zealand Garden Festivals - 27 October

Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours

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Brightwater Holidays Ltd, Eden Park House, Cupar, Fife KY15 4HS Tel: 01334 657155 Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com Web: www.brightwaterholidays.com

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