England's Royal Gardens Walk
Four days of gentle walks in the most inspiring countryside with secret valleys and royal gardens that have been used by Royalty as their country retreat for hundreds of years.
Day 1:
A day of arrival and pick up at Kemble Station near Cirencester. Accommodation will be at one of three lovely country houses situated in their own parkland, bordering on Prince Charles’ Highgrove estate at Tetbury.
Day 2:
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Coln Valley, one of the escape routes used by King Charles after his defeat at Worcester in 1651. You will take the old Salt Way from Ablington to Chalcot, and so to Coln St Denis, from where we can see the ancient Roman Fosse Way.
You will be transfixed by the deep calm and stillness of the valley, which has been used by monks and religious communities for more than 1,000 years. You visit a Norman church (880 years old), and follow the river's winding path towards Bibury, described by William Morris as England's most beautiful village. Situated in a classic English pasture, you admire the Saxon church which was built more than 1,000 years ago. The day ends with a visit to Lord Bathurst's deer park, where today's Royals play Polo. Walk: 6 miles. In the evening you are invited to a gourmet dinner at David and Jennie's home.
Day 3:
After breakfast, you will be driven to Stanton, the most perfect and distinguished of villages in the Cotswolds. With agricultural communities dating back to 2500 BC, an Iron Age hill fort lies just above the village (Shenberrow, 700 BC). You will walk past houses that date from Tudor times, many with thatched roofs, and you will cross a royal deer park that was owned by Cenwulf, King of Mercia in 794 AD. Note the medieval ridges and furrows that tell of its ancient agricultural heritage. You will walk to Stanway, a village of corn mills, fulling mills, paper mills and cider mills. And observe Stanway House, which has changed hands only once since the 8th century. You lunch at the ruins of Hailes Abbey, and travel on to Sudeley Castle, given by King Henry VIII to Queen Katherine Parr. She is buried in the Queen's chapel and you will spend a couple of hours discovering the delights in the ten royal gardens - the White garden, the Queens garden, the Secret Garden and many more. Walk 6 miles. In the evening, you dine at The Bell at Sapperton voted one of the 10 Best Pubs in Britain.
Day 4:
After breakfast, you will be driven to Sapperton, where you start your walk by descending into the Golden Valley, so called because in autumn, the whole valley turns to gold as hundreds of streams reflect light through the trees. This is where King Edward III (1327 - 1377) imported weavers, dyers and fullers from Flanders to set up the wool trade - a perfect marriage between Cotswold wool, a constant supply of water with the right natural salts, and the people with skills in arts and crafts. Certainly this valley has inspired generations of artists and craftsmen. In the 19th century, devotees of William Morris set up "The Sapperton Craftsmen" with artists, designers and architects like Ernest Barnsley, Sidney Barnsley and Ernest Gimson. More recently, it has inspired Lynn Chadwick and Damian Hurst to set up workshops here. At Chalford you meet and talk to local artists and craftsmen, and then you are driven south to Tetbury to visit Prince Charles' National Arboretum at Westonbirt, on the border of his Highgrove estate. This cathedral of trees creates an unforgettable experience, and in high summer, there is a chance to visit the world famous 'avant gardens' exhibition of futurist designs in gardens. Walk: 6 miles. In the evening, you dine at The Bear at Bisley - an old village court house which became a pub in 1766.
Day 5:
After breakfast, you will be driven to Chalford, where you discover an old Salt Way that takes you to the village of Bisley-with-Lypiatt. You visit the famous 'seven wells', the Norman church and the Victorian lock-up. Then you discover a secret valley and follow its path over streams and dingle nooks, through beech forests and over hills until - surprise! You are standing before the gates of another royal residence - Nether Lypiatt House*. This is home to Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and you have special permission to make your own private view of the estate. The Princess's rose garden has nearly 1,000 roses but it's rarely on view to the public. *In the event that the Kents are in residence, a visit to another Royal Garden of equal attraction will be arranged. You return by the secret valley to catch the early evening light on Chalford. Walk: 6 miles, followed by a special dinner at Chalford.
Day 6:
After breakfast, you spend a couple of hours visiting Cirencester, the old Roman capital of Britain. There is a famous museum, an abbey and an old marketplace with plenty to do before being driven to Kemble Train Station for the 12:17 train to Paddington.
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