For over a decade, Louisa Jones has conducted exclusive visits to private gardens in Provence, drawing on a personal network established in connection with her books and articles. These visits include properties otherwise inaccessible and meetings with owners, designers and artists. Excursions are accompanied by Louisa and move out from Avignon as from the hub of a wheel, averaging three visits a day. These tours are like no others, personally designed and with different content every time according to how the gardens evolve and what new work is ripening. Participants sometimes return, bringing spouses and partners. In a part of the world where houses and gardens are inseparable, inside visits are often included. Many participants are themselves owners of fine gardens or professional architects, designers, interior designers. Many people find that their whole sense of what gardens can be has been changed by this trip – click here to see sample testimonials.

Former visitors who have been delighted by this experience include Kathryn Bradley Hole (of Country Life) Joanna Fortnam (of the Telegraph) and designers Dan Pearson and Fernando Caruncho.

La Mirande Hotel is a period town house painstakingly restored to its 18th century essence with its own garden just underneath the mighty walls of the Popes’ Palace.

It is family run; staying there is like visiting friends. See their website at www.la-mirande.fr

Additional note: Stephen Anderton, garden correspondent of the London Times will join the April tour

   

Itineraries based on arrangements with private people may change, though these contacts are confirmed.
There is a great deal of choice. If anything is removed, something comparable will be substituted.

Our long-standing, popular visit to Basel in Switzerland for a feel of Christmas-to-come and particularly fascinating for decorations with foliage seen in depth on our visits to local flower shops.

Candles, St. Nicholas, frosty mornings, Gluhwein, Christmas market and the secrets of the botanic gardens this is the atmosphere in medieval Basel. Advent is the season of spiced biscuits, evergreen garlands and wreaths made with fir cones and candles, and festive floral decorations.

This long weekend is based in the luxurious 4-star Hotel Basel in the old town. All the visits as well as the shops, markets and restaurants are within easy walking distance. The tour will be both interesting and relaxing.

 

Our annual Wine Tour will depart from Leeds/Bradford airport returning by coach via Hull. A wonderful opportunity to taste, meet the grower, and personally import your chosen wines.

The itinerary will be decided early 2011 and full details sent to all interested in participating.

Please contact us to put your name on the list.

 

Our annual Wine Tour will depart from Leeds/Bradford airport returning by coach via Hull. A wonderful opportunity to taste, meet the grower, and personally import your chosen wines.

The itinerary will be decided early 2012 and full details sent to all interested in participating.

Please contact us to put your name on the list.

 

The Western Cape is renowned not only for its magnificent scenery and superb climate but also its unique flora – about 6000 endemic species grow in the region. Deep blue agapanthus and jacaranda herald early summer in the Cape Province, and the King Protea in full flower is a highlight on one of our wild flower walks – a perfect escape from winter in the northern hemisphere.

Our botanist, Adrian Moehl, knows the Cape well and has worked for four winters at Kirstenbosch gardens on their Protea Atlas project. Adrian set up this tour and will lead it for the seventh year.

We have chosen comfortable, good 3-star and 4-star hotels in typical Cape style. In order to enjoy the flora of different areas we change hotels a couple of times; this has been kept to a minimum to alleviate too much coach travel. For the first three nights we stay at D’Ouwe Werf Hotel, Stellenbosch, a boutique hotel in the heart of this historical town, within safe walking distance of museums, art galleries and shops. We move on to our hotel in Constantia, near Cape Town. Our final three nights are in Hermanus at the Auberge Burgundy, a delightful guest house set above the picturesque old harbour in the historic centre, with views over Walker Bay and a chance to see the whales.

The Western Cape enjoys a Mediterranean climate and November is early summer. The temperatures are 20–25°C on the coast, with pleasant breezes off the sea. Inland is somewhat warmer during the day and cooler at night.

South African Airways direct overnight flights from/to London Heathrow to Cape Town. The flights are in economy class – upgrades are available.

 

The attractive village of Cannero lies on the shores of Lake Maggiore, an area well-known for its delicious food and excellent wines. October is a month to discover and feast on local, seasonal, dishes while visiting colourful markets and wine producers. Autumn vegetables, juicy fruits, funghi, and sweet chestnuts (marroni), are just a few of the ingredients to be found during this week of discovering local dishes.

The head chef, Giuseppe Saglio-Ponci, joined Hotel Cannero after experience under Hans Nussbaumer at the Kulm Hotel, St Moritz, and in Tuscany and Japan. Now back in his native Piedmont, he is keen to develop his style combining traditional local dishes with contemporary fusion. He will demonstrate and assist during each course and join us to visit Luino market.

Participation in the kitchen is encouraged but not essential and recipe sheets will be provided. The group will be small, 12 people.

The welcoming Hotel Cannero is owned and run by Signora Gallinotto and her family. Comfortable and relaxing, it lies on the lakeside with beautiful views across the lake to the mountains. We enjoy dinner each evening in the restaurant.

 

The hinterland of this fascinating part of eastern Liguria, bordered by the Mediterranean, is interspersed with valleys aptly named Valli dell’Olivo. Hillsides covered with terraces of silver-grey olive trees of the much acclaimed Taggascia variety, and hill-top villages with their baroque churches illuminated in the evening provide the setting for a few days walking. Bright colours and legendary luminosity add to the landscape of mountains to the north and the sparkling sea.

Quality olive oil is an important product of the Liguria region, and life in these hills is well described in Annie Hawes’ book ‘Extra Virgin’.

Based in the hills, with a treasured way of life, bright skies and terracotta colours, we aim to provide a few days to unwind in a relaxed atmosphere, walk in superb countryside and enjoy the conviviality. We stay in a comfortable country hotel, Hotel Liliana, in the hill-side village of Diano Serreta, amid the olive groves. We are welcomed by Silvano and his family and enjoy delicious meals. With the grape harvest over and the olives ripening on the trees, enjoy warm mellow days and crisp air in the hills while walking with Sandro, our local enthusiastic guide.

 

Protected to the north by the Alpes Maritimes, and facing the Mediterranean, Menton enjoys a warm, gentle microclimate which encouraged plant collectors in the early twentieth century to create beautiful gardens in the hills, among terraces of olive groves and citrus trees. Well planted, with species brought for acclimatisation from many parts of the world, these gardens provide a fascinating insight into the influence of Thomas and Daniel Hanbury, Ellen Willmott, the Waterfield family and Lawrence Johnston. They were part of a gardening fraternity who exchanged plants and ideas.

Strong elements of Italian design have influenced Menton’s villas and gardens, close as it is to the border with Italy. Our itinerary includes some rarely opened and secluded gardens of exceptional beauty and with superb plant collections. Gardens enjoy a second spring, the scents and colours and the backdrop of the sea and mountains being most inviting. Included are visits to a perched village and its medieval garden, and over the border in Italy we visit the La Mortola garden.

We stay overlooking the old town of Menton in the very comfortable and welcoming Hotel Napoleon in Garavan bay, which was recently renovated to a high standard.

 

Concentrating on the wealth of beautiful gardens around Lake Maggiore in Italy and Lake Lugano in Switzerland, this tour offers a balance between interesting botanic gardens and those of classic Renaissance and later Italian style. Sheltered by high Alps to the north, the sharply varied seasonal temperatures and the humidity of the lakes provide excellent growing conditions.

We stay in the very comfortable Hotel Cannero with its pretty garden on the quiet Maggiore lakeside. Of a high standard, it has recently been beautifully renovated by the architect Mauro Bissattini, and is owned and run by the Gallinotto family who are most welcoming. The restaurant overlooks the lake and mountains beyond and specialises in north Italian cuisine. Cannero, a delightful, typically Italian village, is a perfect base.

 

The beautiful unspoilt northern coast of Brittany between Roscoff and St Malo enjoys an exceptional climate due to the Gulf Stream. Alongside the rocky coastline through deep-cut inlets and in the inland wooded valleys, we will discover some extraordinary gardens in secret locations. Most gardens have been extended beyond their original farm or manor house walled area by their present owners inspired by the climate, good soil and the ability to acclimatise plants from other parts of the world.

Our base is the contemporary, stylish Hôtel les Costans situated above the town of Perros-Guirec has impressive views to the seven islands off the coast which are home to colonies of seabirds. Delicious local dishes can be enjoyed in the excellent hotel restaurant each evening.

Travel by train from London St Pancras is proposed.