THURSDAY Outward journey with a lunch stop in Moreton-in-Marsh, before heading onwards to Sezincote, known as “India in the Cotswolds”. A 200-year-old Mogul Indian palace, set in a romantic landscape of temples, grottoes, waterfalls and canals reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. We enjoy a guided tour of the house, followed by time at leisure to explore the delightful gardens. (NB: much of the garden could prove difficult for those with mobility issues, although there are areas still accessible. The upstairs portion of the house tour involves climbing stairs.)
FRIDAY This morning we travel to The Garden at Miserden. This garden is a hidden gem, overlooking a deer park and the rolling Cotswold hills beyond. Magical features of the garden which has spanned generations, include a 200 year old Sycamore tree that has grown through a Cotswold stone wall, and an ancient mulberry tree planted in 1620. We then spend an afternoon at leisure in Cheltenham, the most complete Regency town in Britain.
SATURDAY A day of southern Cotswolds exploration commences with our knowledgeable Blue Badge Guide aboard the coach. Travelling via Cheltenham, we head to Cirencester, capital of the Cotswolds, stopping for a break in this lovely market town, full of tastefully restored courtyards, alleyways and lovely old streets to explore. Onwards to Tetbury for another break. This former wool town is home to an impressive array of architectural gems as well as being known for its antique shops and royal connections. We return to the hotel via Wotton-under-Edge, taking a scenic route looking across the River Severn and Severn Plain.
SUNDAY We depart the hotel and visit Spetchley Park Gardens, a garden for all tastes containing one of the biggest private collections of plant varieties outside the major botanical gardens. Spetchley is not a formal paradise of neatly manicured lawns or beds but rather a wondrous display of plants, shrubs and trees woven into a garden of many rooms and vistas. From here we continue our homeward journey.