Scotland: Gardens of Perthshire and the Scone Palace Garden Fair 9630

Scotland: Gardens of Perthshire and the Scone Palace Garden Fair 9630

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4 Days From

$1325

Scotland: Gardens of Perthshire and the Scone Palace Garden Fair 9630

4 Days Starting in Perth, Scotland and ending in Cowden, England

Visiting: Perth, Scone Palace, Perthshire, Cowden

Tour operator:

Brightwater Holidays

Tour code:

BGPE

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Moderate

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $1325

NB: Prices correct on 01-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Embark on a captivating journey through the enchanting gardens of Perthshire with our "Scotland: Gardens of Perthshire and the Scone Palace Garden Fair" tour. Travel in comfort by coach as you explore a series of breathtaking gardens, starting with the serene Branklyn Garden, renowned for its Chinese Hillside and Rock Garden. Delight in a full day at the Scone Palace Garden Fair, where you can enjoy gardening talks and explore the private gardens with Viscount Stormont. Discover the historic Drummond Castle Gardens, with its ancient yew hedges and Italian statuary, and wander through the exotic Cluny House Gardens. Conclude your tour with a visit to the beautifully restored Japanese Garden at Cowden, inspired by Scottish adventurer Ella Christie. This tour promises a rich tapestry of horticultural wonders, guided by a professional tour manager, and includes all site entries and meals as per the itinerary.

Highlights

  • Branklyn Garden, a haven of peace and colour with a world-famous Rock Garden and Chinese Hillside.

  • Scone Palace Garden Fair, featuring exhibitors, gardening talks, and tours of the private garden.

  • Drummond Castle's formal gardens, with ancient yew hedges and copper beech trees planted by Queen Victoria.

  • Cluny House Gardens, a wild woodland garden with rare and exotic plants from around the world.

  • The Japanese Garden at Cowden, inspired by Scottish adventurer Ella Christie and restored to its former glory.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1

Location: Perth

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

We depart from our designated pick up point and head for our first visit to Branklyn Garden, a haven of peace and colour on the outskirts of Perth. Begun in 1922, on a south-facing slope with acid soil, the garden represents a wonderful collection of woodland plants along the winding paths. A popular area is the Chinese Hillside which provides a showcase to the historic and contemporary Chinese plant collections, with the largest collection of Chinese-origin plants in cultivation. Other highlights include the world-famous Rock Garden, a new Centenary Alpine Crevice Garden and the Scottish Heath Garden with its native wonders.  It also holds several National Collections of plants, including Meconopsis and Cassiope.

Day 2

Location: Scone Palace

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

We depart this morning for a full day at the Scone Palace Garden Fair. This annual event has established itself as one of the most popular fixtures in the Scottish gardening calendar, with a host of exhibitors selling everything from rose bushes to robot lawn mowers. In the Speakers Tent there will be a series of talks on gardening topics, including a Question and Answer session with the Beechgrove Garden team. Talking of which, Beechgrove presenter and Scone Palace Head Gardener Brian Cunningham hopes to give us a welcome and introduction to the wonderful woodland gardens, which you are free to explore at leisure. Look out for some of the magnificent specimens of trees that plant hunter David Douglas brought back from North America, one species of which bears his name to this day. In the afternoon be sure to join Viscount Stormont, the heir to Scone, on one of the tours of the family’s private garden taking place, which is usually closed to the public. As well as tales from his unique childhood on the estate he will point out plants of interest, such as the tree that was planted by the future Emperor of Japan.

Day 3

Location: Perthshire

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today after breakfast we will visit the splendid formal gardens of Drummond Castle. They were first laid out in the early 17th century and re-designed and terraced in the early 19th century.  The gardens we see today were replanted during the 1950s preserving such features as the ancient yew hedges and the copper beech trees planted by Queen Victoria to commemorate her visit in 1842. The garden was principally the work of Lewis Kennedy of Vineyard Nursery in Hammersmith, who supplied plants to many of Britain’s finest gardens. We will see the famous sundial and the white Italian statuary.
We continue to Cluny House Gardens, near Aberfeldy. Wandering through this wonderful wild woodland garden we will discover rare and exotic plants from around the world. The gardens feature trees and shrubs from America, New Zealand, Japan, China and Tibet, creating the unique atmosphere of a Himalayan woodland paradise. We’ll also see Britain’s widest conifer – a giant Wellingtonia, 11 metres in girth and over 130 years old.

Day 4

Location: Cowden

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we depart for our final visit to the Japanese Garden, Cowden. In the early 20th century Scottish adventurer Ella Christie returned from a trip to Japan and was inspired to build her very own Japanese Garden. With the assistance of Taki Handa they created the seven acre site within the grounds of Cowden Castle. The garden was unfortunately vandalised in the 1960’s but over the past 60 years a program of restoration has been painstakingly carried our and continues to this day to restore the gardens to their former glory. There are successions of flowering shrubs, azaleas, rhododendrons, double thorn, lilac, syringa and iris, while there are one or two very fine maples, prunus and in particular pines, korean and otherwise, give a very good idea of the natural native growth of Japan. In the afternoon we return to our original pick up points.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation is included as part of the tour package.

  • Meals as per itinerary

    Meals are provided according to the itinerary.

  • Entries to all sites as per the itinerary

    Entry fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary are included.

  • Services of a professional tour manager

    A professional tour manager will be available throughout the tour.

  • Comfortable coach travel throughout

    Enjoy comfortable coach travel throughout the tour.

What's Not Included

Accommodation details are not provided for this tour.

Mode of Transport

Enjoy comfortable coach travel throughout the tour, ensuring a relaxing and convenient journey as you explore the beautiful gardens and sites.

Accommodation

Accommodation details are not provided for this tour.

Check out our Q&As

  • What type of transportation is provided during the tour?

    The tour provides comfortable coach travel throughout, ensuring a relaxing and convenient journey as you explore the beautiful gardens and sites.

  • Will there be any guided tours during the visit to Scone Palace Garden Fair?

    Yes, during the visit to Scone Palace Garden Fair, Viscount Stormont will conduct tours of the family's private garden, which is usually closed to the public.

  • Are there any special events or activities at the Scone Palace Garden Fair?

    Yes, the Scone Palace Garden Fair includes a series of talks on gardening topics in the Speakers Tent, including a Question and Answer session with the Beechgrove Garden team. Additionally, Beechgrove presenter and Scone Palace Head Gardener Brian Cunningham will provide a welcome and introduction to the woodland gardens.

  • What can I expect to see at the Drummond Castle gardens?

    At Drummond Castle gardens, you can expect to see splendid formal gardens with features such as ancient yew hedges, copper beech trees planted by Queen Victoria, a famous sundial, and white Italian statuary.

  • What is unique about Cluny House Gardens?

    Cluny House Gardens is a wonderful wild woodland garden featuring rare and exotic plants from around the world, creating the unique atmosphere of a Himalayan woodland paradise. It also houses Britain's widest conifer, a giant Wellingtonia.

  • What is the history behind the Japanese Garden at Cowden?

    The Japanese Garden at Cowden was created in the early 20th century by Scottish adventurer Ella Christie with the assistance of Taki Handa. It was vandalised in the 1960s, but a restoration program has been ongoing for the past 60 years to restore it to its former glory.

  • Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?

    You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.

  • What facilities do your coaches have?

    Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.

  • Do I have to go on the included excursions?

    Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.

  • Is there time to relax?

    Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.

  • Do I need to be an expert?

    Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.

  • How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?

    You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding

  • Do you have self-drive holidays?

    Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!

  • What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?

    There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.

  • Where are your departure points?

    UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .

  • What about the company that will be kept?

    For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.

  • What is a Brightwater Holiday?

    Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.

  • Why is there a single supplement?

    Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.

  • How much are your optional excursions?

    Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.

  • Can I pre-book my coach seats?

    Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.

  • How to get there? Easy!

    With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.

  • Do I need to have travel insurance?

    Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.

Reviews of this operator

Trusted Customer  

Brightwater Holidays offers great value

28-Nov-2019

I would highly recommend Brightwater Holidays. It offers excellent service and value for money. This was my first tour as I normally arrange holidays myself, but this tour - which was to the gardens of Kent and Sussex - was a very pleasant change of pace.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Brightwater Holidays Customer  

My experience with Brightwater Holidays

08-Aug-2019

The tour was well managed, the sites visited were all interesting and linked to the theme of the Picts and their place in history, the hotel was comfortable and the coach journeys were well paced. I have been with Brightwater before and will certainly travel with them again

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Alan Hawkes (Google Reviewer)  

We were on the Tour...

28-Aug-2022

We were on the Tour of the Outer Hebrides. We had a great experience, in no small part due to the excellence of the tour manager and driver.

Brightwater Holidays Custome  

Wonderful experience with brilliant information

31-Jul-2019

The most important factor was an amazing guide in Alastair Walker whose knowledge and care for clients was fantastic. The whole trips are superbly organised

Feefo Trusted Reviews
David MacLennan (Google Reviewer)  

Noted a comment on taking...

23-Aug-2023

Noted a comment on taking coaches on A814 by a local person who didn't know the facts: When the A82 was blocked and the POLICE divert you onto that road you do as instructed not what a you know are tight roads but they only way to your destination as intructed by officials. We know this route is not suitable for large vehicles but the driver does as instructed by someone in authority.

Eric Webb (Google Reviewer)  

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday...

07-Oct-2023

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday not so good. Various 'issues' to do with scheduling and organisation. I'm happy to report however that - after an interval - a letter expressing disappointment brought a full response - including a generous refund. So - with fingers slightly crossed - we'll be booking with Brightwater again in due course.

Kevin Barrett (Google Reviewer)  

The recent tour in Northumberland...

30-Sep-2023

The recent tour in Northumberland turned out to be a shambles. Our South London driver took us to Newcastle, but no guide to meet us. Next day still no guide and the bus driver attempted to salvage the tour the best he could despite having no knowledge of the attractions. Fortunately one of the passengers Googled the tides for Holy Island. No holiday guide ever showed up. Coach and hotel were fine. Do these people only offer self guided tours? Take Shearings next time.

ALEXANDRA MCQUEEN (Google Reviewer)  

Been trying to get a...

17-Oct-2023

Been trying to get a reply from them for over a week. Booked Xmas tour, confirmation said pick up subject to numbers, they never said anything when booking and theyve been paid in full. Would not recommend!

Dp Green (Google Reviewer)  

I had heard this company...

20-Feb-2024

I had heard this company was a nightmare to deal with, but thought I'd give it a go. Signed up for a tour, then emailed them about how to pay off the balance. No response to 3 emails. I've never encountered a tour company that ignored questions on how to pay off a balance. Looked into other reviews and found many complaints about cancelled tours and refusals to refund deposits.

Kieran Thompson (Google Reviewer)  

Two of your tour busses...

26-Jul-2021

Two of your tour busses used the A814 from Garelochhead to Arrochar on 24th July 2021. This route is not suitable for large vehicles and your drivers should not have taken the huge coaches that way. There are clear signs at both ends of the road indicating it is not suitable for HGV's. Our car had to go off into the soft verge to allow your coaches to pass. Please amend your routes to avoid this road in future.

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Thursday - Sunday

May 29, 2025 - Jun 01, 2025
$1325
Prices last published on 31-Oct-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.

    At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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