Splendour of England, Chelsea Flower Show and Lord of the Highlands

Depart The May Fair Hotel London at 8.30 am for the trip west to Bowood House and Gardens. The property features a Grade I-listed Georgian country house with interiors by Robert Adam and a garden designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Lunch is enjoyed here before we spend some free time exploring Bath this afternoon. A Welcome Dinner awaits this evening.

This morning we travel to the Newt in Somerset for lunch, before continuing to Stourhead. Enjoy the breathtaking 18th-century landscape garden with its lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples. Stourhead is renowned as being one of England’s most scenic gardens.

Travel to Cornwall, the countryside location of the TV series Poldark. Explore the charming town of Tavistock, home of cream tea, before spending time at the unique Eden Project. This top garden and eco-attraction, renowned for its innovative environmental programs, is also home to the world’s largest greenhouse.

This morning, visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years. Heligan is one of England’s most mysterious estates and possesses a fascinating history. Today it’s home to the gloriously restored, award-winning and internationally acclaimed botanical gardens. Continue to Padstow, home to the famous English chef and television personality Rick Stein. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Rick’s flagship seafood restaurant before exploring the quaint fishing village of Port Isaac, where the popular television series Doc Martin was filmed.

Visit the subtropical paradise of Trebah Garden, which is set against an amazing coastal backdrop. Records of the garden date back to the Domesday survey of 1085. Continue to St. Ives, which exhibits a captivating blend of artistic heritage and coastal beauty. Enjoy free time here before visiting Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden. Barbara was a pivotal figure in 20th-century sculpture and one of Britain's most important artists of her time. She is known for her abstract forms and her exploration of the relationship between sculpture and the natural world, which can be seen demonstrated in her own garden.

Today, visit the RHS Garden Rosemoor, which we find nestled in one of Devon’s valleys. The garden blends formal and informal plantings to magical effect. At Somerset’s Hestercombe House & Gardens, discover 300 years of garden design on one inspiring estate. Wander along the lakeside paths of the Georgian Landscape Garden, admire the views from the Victorian Terrace and see the stunning Edwardian Formal Garden, one of the finest examples of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens’ famous partnership.

Today, visit the world-famous Kew Gardens. As London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site, it also houses the world’s most diverse collection of living plants. Continue to London and check into your hotel. This evening, enjoy a special dinner and lecture on the ‘Chelsea Flower Show Gardens’, which will give you great insight into the exhibits you will see at the remarkable Chelsea Flower Show.

Enjoy a full day to experience the famous Chelsea Flower Show. For more than 140 years, the show has been delighting visitors from all over the world with its amazing show gardens and floral exhibits. See the latest garden designs, learn about recent plant and floral releases, and take the opportunity to talk to some of the exhibitors. This is the ‘mecca’ of all garden shows, and one that every gardening enthusiast should attend at least once in their life. You will then be transferred back to the hotel at approximately 2.30 pm.

Sit back and relax today as you travel by train from London to Glasgow. On arrival in Glasgow, check into your hotel and enjoy free time before dinner this evening.

Travel south of Glasgow to the estate of Dumfries House. Here, 600 acres of gardens and well-designed landscape are set within a 1,400-acre farm. The main five-acre Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden was restored as part of a project to make Dumfries House a focal point for heritage-led regeneration. The garden was opened in 2014 by Her Majesty The Queen after two years of renovation and replanting. It is one of the most ambitious and significant gardening renovation projects to be carried out in Scotland.

Depart Glasgow this morning and travel north to Kyle of Lochalsh, where we board our privately chartered vessel, Lord of the Highlands, late this afternoon. Enjoy a seven-night all-inclusive cruise, as we explore Scotland’s famous lochs and countryside.

Visit Attadale Gardens, which were skilfully restored by their owner, Nick MacPherson, following storms in 1980. The artist’s garden boasts long-range views to the Isle of Skye. The property also features a waterfall and pond, while an impressive sculpture collection can be seen extending across the 20-acre site. We then sail the coast of Sutherland to Gairloch, where we berth overnight.

From Gairloch, we travel to Dundonnell Private Garden, the exquisite estate of Lady Jane Rice, wife of renowned English lyricist and author, Sir Tim Rice. Widely considered one of Scotland's finest private gardens, this breathtaking Highland haven features a series of enchanting outdoor spaces, a productive kitchen garden, vibrant flowerbeds, and a stunning water feature designed by William Pye. This evening, we cruise to Inverie, on the shores of Loch Nevis. Before dinner, take a short walking tour with a local ranger to learn about forest maintenance. We dock here overnight, with the opportunity to visit Britain’s most remote mainland pub, the Old Forge.

Cruise to Armadale Castle on the Isle of Skye. Here, we discover the epic history of Clan Donald. The 40-acre gardens of the castle grounds complement the Gothic mansion ruins, sheltered by 200-year-old trees. We then cruise around the most westerly point of the British mainland, Ardnamurchan, to Mull’s capital, Tobermory, where brightly painted houses line the waterfront. Enjoy free time to explore Tobermory’s pretty town. We then dock nearby at Craignure on the Isle of Mull for the night.

Visit the private garden of Lip na Cloiche, which illustrates the wide range of plant varieties that can be successfully grown, thanks to the island’s mild climate. Then spend a relaxing afternoon on board as we sail Loch Linnhe, passing mysterious lochs and islands until we reach the Caledonian Canal at Corpach.

Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William boasts Britain’s only mountain gondola, which transports us more than 2,000 feet up the north face of Aonach Mòr. Later we ascend Neptune’s Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks which lift the vessel 64 feet to Banavie. Cruise onward through picturesque Loch Lochy and Loch Oich before transiting the tranquil, tree-lined Laggan Avenue to our overnight berth at Fort Augustus.

We set sail along the Caledonian Canal, which connects the four lochs of the Great Glen. Entering Loch Ness, we pass the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle. This afternoon, choose to visit Cawdor Castle Gardens, immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The castle boasts three very different gardens, each with their own unique history and appearance. Displaying a wealth of flora and fauna, the gardens at Cawdor Castle change with the seasons. Alternatively, take a walking tour of Inverness and learn about the history of the Highland capital. Berth overnight in Inverness where we enjoy a farewell reception and dinner.

Disembark this morning in Inverness and travel to Glamis Castle, which was the inspiration for Macbeth. More recently, it was also the childhood home of the Queen Mother. Continue to Edinburgh, where we enjoy our final Farewell Dinner.

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning.