Gardens of The British Isles
I always look forward to getting back to the beautiful Tresco Abbey Gardens. A cruise around the British Isles is the ideal way to reach the Isles of Scilly, and a whole host of other wonderful ports of call.
About this tour
A garden cruise around the British Isles is one of the most relaxing ways to see a great spread of gardens in a single trip. You sail along the coastlines of Britain and Ireland, waking each morning in a new port, and step ashore to explore celebrated gardens and historic estates, with the ship as a comfortable floating base in between.
I love these voyages for the variety they pack in. In one trip you can go from the sub-tropical planting of the far south-west to the stately castle gardens of Scotland and the mild, lush gardens of Ireland, with plenty of time on board to talk it all over and to enjoy the scenery from the deck.
Garden highlights
- Tresco Abbey Gardens - sub-tropical planting on the Isles of Scilly
- Mount Stewart - a celebrated garden on the shores of Strangford Lough
- Crathes Castle - historic walled gardens and great yew hedges in Aberdeenshire
Destination highlights
- Tresco and the Isles of Scilly, often a highlight of the voyage
- Scenic ports such as Cobh in Ireland and Tobermory on Mull
- Coastal scenery from the deck as you sail between gardens
- Talks and guided tours with David on board and ashore
- A comfortable floating base, so you unpack only once
Interested in this tour?
These tours come round again, and the best way to make sure you do not miss the next one is to join my email list. You will be among the first to hear when new dates are announced, with practical, seasonal gardening from me along the way.
What you'll learn
A cruise like this shows how gardens around the British Isles respond to very different conditions, from the frost-free Scillies to the colder winters of north-east Scotland. You will look at why certain plants thrive in one place and struggle in another, how the great estate gardens were designed and planted, and what any of us can borrow for a garden at home. David’s talks fill the sea days and the garden visits bring it all to life.
Gardens you'll visit
Beyond the gardens
Part of the pleasure of a garden cruise is the bit between the gardens. There is the coastline itself, the harbours and the changing light, and the simple comfort of unpacking once and letting the ship carry you to the next stop. Evenings on board are sociable and easy, with good food and the company of fellow gardeners, and the occasional sail-away sunset from the deck.
A garden cruise around the British Isles is a holiday and a horticultural journey at once, a relaxed way to see gardens you might never reach on a single road trip. My hope is that you come home with new ideas, a few new friends, and a renewed affection for the gardens that make these islands special.