New Departures! Three of our best-selling tours are back by popular demand in the latter half of 2017 — our Arran trip, Scottish Steam Break, and Outer Hebridean grand tour are all returning for round two, so be sure not to miss out! Turn to p.9 for the full details.
Are you available?
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2017 is Brightwater’s 25th anniversary, and we’re celebrating all year round — so why not join us? In these pages, you’ll find all the places you could YEARS still jet off to in 2017. Fancy yourself a NN botaniser? Join us in Yunnan Province A IVER SA R Y this October. Is an afternoon at leisure in Rome just what the doctor ordered? We’ll see you there. All this, and more, awaits inside...
Autumn Tints of Arran As you board the ferry at Ardrossan, you see the distinctive silhouette of Goat Fell rising dramatically from the clear waters of the Firth of Clyde giving a foretaste of your destination, whose unique magic never disappoints.
A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides The concept of a Grand Tour might seem almost at odds with the famously laid-back pace of life in Scotland’s Western Isles, but bear with us: on these remote islands, you’d be hard-pressed not to discover a new archaeological gem at every turn. Whether discovering Norse mills or ancient hills, this is truly a place where time is on our side — even on our new, shorter 5-day tour.
Classic Scottish Steam Break Chart a course and set the propeller going, it’s full steam ahead on our Classic Scottish Steam break! Discover firsts, lasts, exclusives and superlatives on this unique tour which will take us back to the heady days of the era of steam.
Special offers for special getaways If what you’re looking for is a collection of enjoyable tours with enthusiastic guides, amazing sites and gardens, and convivial company, then we’re pleased to announce that you’ve found it. But occasionally, we’re presented with the golden opportunity to make a good thing even better — and as luck would have it, this is one of those times. It’s our 25th anniversary, and the celebrations are just getting started! For full members of the RHS, we have a real sparkler of an offer when you book your place on one of our 2018 tours. Simply turn to pages 10 and 11, find the tour of your dreams, and head back here sharpish to find out the full details of what’s in store. And as our previous travellers will know, we’re nothing if not inclusive, so there’s something for everyone too. All bookings made before the end of August bring with them the chance to travel like a millionaire for nothing at all. For full details of both offers, and more about our transfer service, see the boxes below.
Free Door-to-Door Transfers
Discounts for RHS Members
If you haven’t heard about our brand new service, allow us to introduce you: we’re now offering luxury door-to-door transfers from your home to the departure lounge (or hotel, or pick-up point). Book your place on any of our tours before the end of August, and we’ll give you a complimentary chauffeured trip for up to 100 miles — who says there’s no such thing as a free ride? Not us...
If you’re a member of the RHS, we have a blooming good deal to share — how does a £50 discount on any of our 2018 UK & Ireland garden tours sound? Or a £100 discount, as well as a sumptuous bottle of English sparkling wine, hand-picked by us, when you book your place on any of our 2018 overseas tours? Simply let us know your membership number when you call up to book, and we’ll do the rest.
What you need to know: valid on all bookings made between 21/07 and 31/08/17; applicable to trips up to 100 miles; quote D2D-AUGUST.
What you need to know: applicable to full members of the RHS; English sparkling wine subject to availability.
More on our door-to-door service... Imagine it: no more faffing around with ticket machines or tokens, no more labyrinthine airport websites to contend with, no more arguing about the best time to leave to beat the traffic. With our brand new door-to-door service, you need imagine no longer — instead, you can just sit back and daydream about your holiday to come as we whisk you from your front step to the airport in Club Class luxury. Just give us a call on 01334 657155 to find out how you can make your holiday arrangements with us even easier — and, more importantly, start your trip off on the right foot. Aaaand relax...
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Travelling with Brightwater It’s as true today, in our 25th year, as it has been from the start: book your place with Brightwater, and you’ll get so much more than just a holiday. What you get is our guarantee: that you’ll discover more, laugh more, learn more, and relax, safe in the knowledge that we’ve got it all sorted.
Every Step of the Way
A Safe Pair of Hands
Clear and comprehensive information, communication and troubleshooting are our hallmarks. For anything you need, at any time, just get in touch. We know our destinations like the back of our hands, and we’re here to help make your holiday the best it can possibly be.
We’re AITO, ABTOT and ATOL verified, and proud members of the Association of Group Travel Organisers. Put simply, it means that your investment in your holiday will always be protected, and that when it comes to supplying that holiday, our standards will always be high.
Little Extras
Everyone’s Welcome
Personal tours from private garden-owners, specially-arranged access to superb sites across the globe, even VIP service from your front door to the departure lounge — we’re always looking for those little extras that make your holiday a little extra special.
Casual weekend potterers, newcomers with a budding interest, even botany professors — no matter who you are, there’s a place for you on a Brightwater holiday. Likewise, travel solo, with a partner or with friends, and in any case, you’ll be in for a warm welcome.
More than Garden Tours
Insiders and Open Doors
Think it’s all about gardens? Think again. Our tours offer something for everyone, whether you’re a steam train enthusiast, an archaeology buff, or have an enduring love for Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. Whatever you’re into, you can get into it on a Brightwater holiday.
We pride ourselves on having friends in high places (as well as low places, hot places, cold places — you get the idea). Our globetrotting guides have the contacts to open garden gates and greenhouses all over the world, so look no further for holidays that take you...well, further!
Full Financial Protection
How to Book Once you’ve browsed these pages at your leisure, drawn a circle here, dogeared a corner there, and finally made your choice, there’s only one thing left to do — get in touch and book your place. Once you’re ready, give our friendly team a call on 01334 657155, or send them an email at info@ brightwaterholidays.com.
For more details on any of our tours, including day-by-day itineraries, a full list of what’s included, and any added extras, head to our new-look website, the fabulous (even though we do say so ourselves) brightwaterholidays.com.
All our holidays are fully bonded and protected. The air holiday packages in this brochure are ATOL Protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 4498. ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services in this brochure. Holidays without flights are protected by ABTOT. This means that in the unlikely event of our insolvency, your holiday would be completed or refunded.
Happy browsing, and we look forward to hearing from you!
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High Time for a Holiday Here at Brightwater, we’re a pretty organised bunch (see p.10 for Exhibit A, our fabulous 2018 tours). But sometimes, even we have to admit that it feels good to throw caution to the wind. So if your plans for high summer are fluid at best (or at worst, nonexistent), then allow us to be the bearers of good news — it’s not too late to join us in August. Where can you see yourself this time next month? In the rolling hills of Tuscany, perfumed glass of Chianti in hand; in idyllic
Normandy, among the draping willows and serene lily ponds of Monet’s garden; or tracing the curiously curved bays of Arran, looking out over a still blue sea?
Last Chance to Book
It might sound like the stuff of dreams, but it’s all well within reach. Just give our friendly team a call to book your place, we’ll do the rest. Before you know it, you could be boarding a ferry bound for Brodick, cloaked in late afternoon sun, or gliding above the clouds as you prepare to descend into the southernmost reaches of Africa. And for full details of what that adventure entails, you need only pay a visit to the new-look brightwaterholidays.com. There you’ll find day-by-day itineraries, a breakdown of what’s included in the price of your tour, and some wanderlust-inducing images to boot.
Highgrove & the Cotswolds Get up close and personal with the Prince of Wales’ adventures in organic gardening on a specially-arranged visit to his beautiful country home. From wildflower meadows and orchards to a kitchen garden and even a “stumpery”, horticultural high notes are everywhere you look at this stately abode. Departures: 21 August 2017 4 days from £485 Single room supplement: £90
See you on tour!
Selling Fast
Limited Availability
Gardens & Wildflowers of the Western Cape
Arran in Miniature
South Africa is world-renowned for its stunning scenery, cultural diversity, rich variety of wildlife and, in particular, its indigenous flora. Our tour is at a time when the wildflowers should be putting on a dazzling spring display and we will also enjoy a mixture of famous and private gardens, estates and vineyards. Departures: 24 August 2017 16 days from £4,395 Single room supplement: £520
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‘Scotland in miniature’ might be the most apt way to sum up the nation’s seventh largest island — separated into Highland and Lowland, ecologically diverse, and full of history, it shares more in common with the mainland than you’d think. The big difference is its size, squeezing all of its charms into one bijou package. Departures: 28 August 2017 5 days from £495 No single room supplement!
The Gardens of Florence & Tuscany There are treats aplenty in the Italian heartland, both on the beaten track and off it. The red-roofed Renaissance city of Florence, with its world-class galleries and iconic skyline, needs no introduction. But it’s perhaps the lesser-known (albeit no less wonderful) gardens that make this trip magical. Departures: 31 August 2017 7 days from £1,795 Single room supplement: £420
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September: Latest Availability Fully Booked
Highgrove & the Cotswolds Get up close and personal with the Prince of Wales’ adventures in organic gardening on a specially-arranged visit to his beautiful country home. From wildflower meadows and orchards to a kitchen garden and even a “stumpery”, horticultural high notes are everywhere you look at this stately abode, where our tour is by special (although sadly not royal) appointment. Of course, Highgrove’s beauty is given a helping hand by its picturesque situation in the endlessly charming Cotswolds.
And in this area of outstanding beauty, it certainly doesn’t begin and end with princely pads — we’re taken behind the garden gate by a passionate private gardener, to the stunning rose collection at the idyllic Abbey House Garden, to splendid views at Kiftgate, and to the venerable National Arboretum at Westonbirt. From colourful cottage gardens to world-class collections, the Cotswolds has it all. Departures: 1 September 2017 4 days from £485 Single room supplement: £90
A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides The concept of a Grand Tour might seem at odds with the famously laid-back pace of life in Scotland’s Western Isles, but bear with us: on these remote islands, you’d be hard-pressed not to discover a new archaeological gem at every turn.
impregnable Kisimul Castle; on the Isle of Lewis we see Shawbost Norse Mill and Kiln, a fascinating insight into a way of life once common on the island; and at Callanish, we walk among mysterious standing stones to rival Stonehenge.
Whether discovering Norse mills or ancient hills, this is truly a place where time is on our side — up and down the island chain, ancient sites meet modern life with pleasing dissonance.
Prehistoric sites, windswept beaches, artists’ hideaways, imposing castles — it’s all in the Outer Hebrides. See you there!
Just off the coast of Barra, we journey by boat to ‘The Castle in the Sea’, the
Selling Fast
Departures: 3 September 2017 6 days from £785 Single room supplement: £175
Orkney & Shetland: An Archaeologist’s View Scotland’s Northern Isles are imbued with an allure that’s difficult to pin down. Surrounded by sparkling seas, you get the feeling that you are separated from the mainland by more than just distance — by time itself, in fact. Timelessly stark landscapes, strewn with ruins from a distant Nordic past, go a long way to maintaining this illusion. Join us as we gain a fascinating insight into Stone Age life at Skara Brae, enjoy a uniquely hands-on experience at the Tomb of the Eagles, and marvel at the Departures: 4 September complexity of the former Norse 6 days from £1,095 settlement at Jarlshof. Single room supp: £225
Arts & Gardens of Cornwall Artists have been attracted to the western tip of Cornwall for over a century, finding inspiration not just in its shimmering seas and coastal towns, but in its wonderful gardens. As with all great artistic destinations, this remote peninsula is essentially a study in contrasts: from the steamy, otherworldly eco-domes of the forward-thinking Eden Project to esteemed galleries in beachy St Ives; abandoned Victorian gardens reborn in a flourish of whimsy and wilderness to formal gardens dotted with modern sculpture. A creative Departures: 4 September combination tailor-made for art 5 days from £625 aficionados and garden lovers. Single room supp: £140
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September: Latest Availability Limited Availability
Selling Fast
Rome, Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo
Charles Rennie Mackintosh & the Firth of Clyde
Just south of Rome, we find two gardens epitomising horticultural perfection: Ninfa, with its romantic, flower-covered ruins, and the former papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, with its stark geometry. And we can’t forget the Eternal City itself, of course — there’s plenty of time to explore its streets at your leisure. Departures: 5 September 2017 4 days from £1,195 Single room supplement: £330
From his domestic creations to his urban icons, Mr Mackintosh’s body of work is a varied one indeed, and is an unmistakable feature of Scotland’s architectural landscape. Join us for a scenic tour of the visionary’s very best bits, taking in bustling city streets, remote islands, and much more besides. Departures: 6 September 2017 4 days from £495 Single room supplement: £90
Gardens of Devon & Cornwall Welcome to the West Country, where the landscapes are lush, the scones sublime, and the gardens glorious. Look no further for great green valleys bursting with rhododendron, for Jekyll-designed Edwardian follies, for almost-tropical ravines rampant with giant foliage, and even a Camellia Garden of Excellence. Departures: 7 September 2017 6 days from £815 Single room supplement: £175
Last Chance to Book
with Special Guest
The Gardens of the Isle of Wight
Mull, Staffa & Iona
From the thunderous waterfalls of Shanklin Chine that so impressed the Romantic poets, to Osborne House, which endeared Queen Victoria, this little island has a history of winning the hearts of its visitors — and we’re sure you’ll be no exception to this tremendous track record.
Arrivals on Mull are greeted with the bright bustle of Tobermory, with its pastel-coloured waterfront houses, shops and taverns; on Iona, with a reverent hush befitting of the ‘sacred isle’; on Staffa, by the towering Ben More. For a trip full of contrasts, you need look — and travel — no further.
To top it all off, as a special treat from our friends at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, we’re joined for the day by none other than the wonderful Alan Titchmarsh, who will lead us on a guided tour of Osborne’s royal Departures: 8 September grounds. As the Queen herself put 4 days from £1,195 it, “it is impossible to imagine a Single room supp: £150 prettier spot”. Quite right!
We like to think that the wildly differing moods of these three isles represent the best of what the Inner Hebrides has to offer. Join us for a tour that takes in mysterious sea caves, medieval castles, and magnificent scenery, Departures: 9 September and we’re sure you’ll agree: good 4 days from £525 things really do come in threes.
Private Gardens of East Anglia From the moment our East Anglian odyssey begins, it becomes readily apparent that the adjoining counties of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk are home to some very special gardens indeed — some well-known, some secret. There’s the venerable RHS Garden Hyde Hall, of course, with its rose and Mediterranean gardens. But it’s behind the garden gates and hedgerows of the plant-growing public that we find pure magic. Explore East Bergholt Place, a wonderful nursery and garden owned by an RHS committee member; and take a rare and privileged peek at Raveningham Hall, Departures: 13 September 2017 4 days from £495 the personal garden of esteemed RHS Single room supplement: £90 President Sir Nicholas Bacon OBE. 6
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Single room supp: £75
“Pauline our Tour Manager was Gardens of North Wales Bid farewell to your expectations and ‘bore da!’ to the whimsical, wonderful, and oftentimes wild gardens of the North of Wales on this very special tour.
a wee star, her personality and knowledge make the Highlands come alive.
”
Enjoy a little slice of Portofino on the Gwynedd coast with a visit to the surreal Italianate village of Portmeirion; discover a whole jungle’s worth of exotic plants at the incomparable Bodnant; and marvel at the makeover of Plas Cadnant, a former abandoned wilderness in the manner of Cornwall’s Lost Gardens of Heligan. These gorgeous Departures: 15 September gardens, combined with a striking 4 days from £425 Snowdonian backdrop, make for a Single room supp: £60 truly unforgettable holiday.
Highlights of Orkney & Shetland Among Orkney and Shetland’s many charms — and they really are many — is one peculiarity that makes them stand out from anywhere else in the British Isles: the uncanny sense that they are at once shrouded in prehistory and here in the present. And on tour, we take it all in — from the standing stones of Brodgar and Stenness, mysterious remnants of Orkney’s Neolithic past, to the Churchill Barriers, constructed in response to wartime German U-boat attacks, via Tingwall Valley, political home to the former Viking kings of Scotland’s Northern Isles. It takes a special vantage point to be able to fully absorb these islands’ majesty though. If you ask us, we think a couple of evenings Departures: 18 September 2017 overnighting on a ferry in the quiet of the 6 days from £995 North Sea ought to do it... Single room/cabin supplement: £225
Architecture & Gardens of Andalucía
Gardens of West Wales
There are gardens aplenty in the southern Spanish region of Andalucía, but not as we know them. Ancient courtyards alive with the scent of orange blossom and the ringing music of fountains; lucid pools, intricate carvings and snow-capped mountain vistas — these spaces are nothing short of magic. Departures: 19 September 2017 8 days from £1,275 Single room supplement: £210
Tucked away in the rolling countryside of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire are parks and gardens large and small, ancient and modern, all invariably wonderful. The centrepiece of our tour is the National Botanic Garden of Wales, the first garden of its kind to be created in the United Kingdom for 200 years. Departures: 25 September 2017 5 days from £625 Single room supplement: £120
Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes The fabulous scenery and warming climate of the northern Italian lakes have attracted eager aristocrats and the wealthy for years. The beguiling beauty of this Mediterranean landscape of colour, with its scarlet camellias, pink oleanders and cerulean waters, shows absolutely no signs of waning. Departures: 25 September 2017 8 days from £1,895 Single room supplement: £385
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September: Latest Availability Limited Availability
Naples & the Gardens of the Amalfi Coast A trip to the Amalfi Coast is a treat for all the senses — the decadent mouthfeel of local wines tasted under a shady terrace; the air heavy with the scent of ripening lemons; hot terracotta under your feet; and seemingly infinite views of a sea as clear and blue as a sapphire. So it should come as no surprise that the region’s gardens are just as tantalising, from the historic botanical gardens of Naples to the idyllic island garden of La Mortella, with its groves of ilex and arbutus. Top off with ferry Departures: 25 September rides and ancient Roman cities 7 days from £1,595 for a true taste of la dolce vita. Single room supplement: £480
A Grand Tour of the Inner Hebrides Gentler, lusher, and less wild than their Outer cousins, the Inner Hebrides still have more than their fair share to offer travellers — in fact, they have been enchanting visitors, from composer Felix Mendelssohn to monarchs Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, for centuries. The sheer drama of sea caves and castles, the friendly warmth of locals, and more than a hint of myth and magic: it’s all out there to be enjoyed on a Grand Tour of this wonderful, westerly archipelago. So what Departures: 28 September 2017 are you waiting for? Join us 7 days from £1,095 and discover it for yourself. Single room supplement: £120
“One of the most enjoyable, fascinating and challenging holidays of my life! It has been the journey of a lifetime. Not sure how to follow this — a trip to the moon, perhaps… — Guest, Yunnan
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October: Latest Availability
Tresco’s Abbey Gardens
Bulgarian Archaeology
While this jewel-like island is set just a stone’s throw from the coast of Cornwall, you could be mistaken for thinking it’s half a world away from England’s oft-blustery shores.
Between its soaring mountains and curious towns, it’s not difficult for Bulgaria to capture the imagination of any traveller. Throw in millennia of archaeology, and it becomes nothing short of enchanting.
The inhabitants of Tresco’s magnificent Abbey Gardens are gently buffeted by the Gulf Steam, creating a microclimate that’s all the island’s own. With it, we are rewarded with colour and charm that last all year ‘round, although as you’re sure to find on this October departure, autumn is a particularly special time to visit. The beautiful reds and Departures: 2 & 9 October golds of seasonal foliage against 4 days from £845 a backdrop of proteas, aloes and Single room supp: £75 camellias is pure delight. 8
Undoubtedly the jewel in our tour’s crown is the Rila Monastery — set in forested mountains, its remarkable frescoes are a sight to behold. But it doesn’t stop there: with extant ruins crowning hills and peppering cities, rock-carved monasteries, amphitheatres, reliefs, tombs, and Departures: 3 October more, there’s much to discover 9 days from £1,365 in this little-known pocket of the Single room supp: £160 Balkan Peninsula.
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October: Latest Availability New Date
Yunnan: In the Footsteps of the Plant-Hunters
A Classic Scottish Steam Break
On this exceptional tour to south-west China, we follow in the footsteps of George Forrest, the herbarium assistant who bravely traded the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for the remote region of Yunnan back in 1904. Now, over a hundred years later, we are delighted to offer this botanical and cultural adventure, reviving the grand tradition of the plant-hunters. Discover the otherworldly Stone Forest of Shilin Yi, see the rare flora of Xishuangbanna’s Departures: 8 October 2017 Botanical Garden, and ascend 15 days from £4,995 Single room supplement: £585 the Shika Snow Mountain.
The term “full steam ahead” was seemingly made for this varied Scottish break — take to the waves in the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, cross the most northerly frontier of the Roman Empire, and chug across the instantly recognisable Glenfinnan Viaduct on what must be one of the most picturesque rail journeys on Earth. From the gently sloping Argyll hills to the lucid Kyles of Bute, via famous feats of Scottish engineering, there’s simply no better way to Departures: 12 & 13 October explore the many scenic gifts that 4 days from £395 the country has to offer. Single room supp: £60
A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides Our flagship tour returns in a brand new incarnation for October, but this ever-so-slightly shorter trip is by no means short on the important stuff. Ocean sunsets, mysterious standing stones, fantastical castles seemingly floating on the waves, the unmistakable feeling of soft sand between your toes — it’s all present.
New Date
As we travel around this one-of-a-kind island chain, we gain a privileged insight into a way of life once common throughout the British Isles: mills, kilns, crofting settlements and other relics of ancient artisans make for enlightening and emotive visits. Elsewhere, there are strongholds of Gaelic tradition (as on South Uist), historic landing sites (as in the case of Prince Charlie’s Bay), and wildflower meadows (all the better for species spotting) to be discovered. But a trip to the Outer Hebrides is by no means just about the sites — far from it. Here, the journeys themselves are just as much of an event. Enjoy a scenic southward drive from Lewis, punctuated by mist-cloaked hilltops, green expanses and steely seas; a serene early morning ferry ride on the Sound of Harris, and many more inspiring transfers besides as Departures: 15 October 5 days from £675 we explore these fascinating islands. Single room supp: £100
New Date
Albanian Archaeology
Autumn Tints of Arran
Albania, bordered on one side by the Ionian Sea and sheltered on its others by Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece, is a true sleeping beauty. Having emerged from almost five troubling decades of Communism, it is slowly opening its doors to the world, and behind those doors lies a bevy of wonders, from ancient Greco-Roman theatres to medieval towns, 8th century castles and archaeological Departures: 17 October parks, all via the bustling, colourful 8 days from £1,295 Single room supp £175 capital of Tirana.
At no time are we more assured of diminutive Arran’s bijou beauty than in the autumn months, when its wild woods and wide open heaths are all aflame in a riot of red and gold foliage. Just 56 miles around its coastline, Arran’s small villages are aptly compared to ‘jewels on a necklace’ — amid a landscape alive with wonderful autumn colour, we take a grand tour of these little beauties, as well Departures: 23 October 4 days from £395 as impressive castles, imposing No single supplement! mountains, and idyllic bays.
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October / November Fully Booked
Seasonal Gardens of Japan
Malta’s Archaeological Heritage
In today’s Tokyo, one of the world’s busiest metropolises, we still find idyllic zen gardens where no detail is too small for consideration, from the precise particulars of a traditional tea ceremony to the fine lines raked in the gravel beds. It is this contrast that lends Japan’s gardens their enduring allure, not to mention their breathtaking borrowed landscapes and devotional architecture. Being lucky enough Departures: 24 October to visit among the riotous colour of 13 days from £4,795 Single room supp: £990 autumn foliage is an added bonus.
Arriving in Malta, with its golden limestone-cliff coasts, lucid seas, beautiful laid-back towns and heart-stirring views, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ve already seen everything. But take a peek beneath the surface, and you’ll be astounded by the wealth of wonders to be found there. Among them are catacombs, sea caves, and cities, but perhaps most startling of all are the mysterious Departures: 7 November 8 days from £1,175 ancient sites, left by civilisations Single room supp: £150 we’re only just getting to know...
Early 2018: What’s in Store You’d think that as people who trade in the kind of wonderful relaxed breaks that we do, we’d be remarkably laid-back — not so. Here in the Brightwater office we constantly have our thinking caps on, seeing how we can improve on what we already give our guests (and that’s not easy!) But this year, we think we’ve cracked it: it’s about value, not just monetary, but experiential. That’s why our 2018 tours give you more for your money and for your memory banks.
(in the form of fanciful floats and displays) in the French Riviera, explore serene temples fringed with cherry blossom in Japan, and more. The world’s your oyster — go and explore it in 2018. Overleaf, you’ll find just a taster of our 2018 tours — for the full collection, visit our website.
There’s even better hotels with paid-for porterage, tips taken care of, complimentary bottled water on our luxury coaches, lovely lunches included in days out and wine with dinner — more of those little extras that make a big difference to your holiday. And then, of course, there’s the holidays themselves. Stop and smell the camellias along ancient Spanish pilgrimage routes, have a little taste of the tropics in Tresco, let life give you lemons
Up Helly Aa — New 7-Day Package! There is one night of the year — the last Tuesday in January, to be exact — when the ordinarily sleepy town of Lerwick undergoes an uncanny transformation. The darkened streets are lit up by the warm flicker of flaming torches as hordes of armour-clad Vikings pass through, singing uproariously. The reason? Up Helly Aa, a festival of fire held to mark the end of the yule season and usher in the just-dawning new year. Join us on our brand new seven-day experience, of which the celebration is just the start, and take in startlingly beautiful landscapes, wonderful wildlife, and a whole host of historical sites, too. Departures: 27 January 2018 7 days from £945 Single room supplement: On application
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Early 2018: What’s in Store Gardens of Costa Rica The term ‘biodiversity’ might have been coined with Costa Rica in mind, such is the range and number of different species that flourish within its pristine, tropical forests. Add some spectacular scenery — think brooding volcanoes and steamy rainforests — and you have all the makings of a life-affirming holiday. Departures: 6 February 2018 13 days from £3,795 Single room supplement: £845
The Gardens of Ecuador An abundance of horticultural treats makes for an especially enticing Ecuadorian itinerary. Think alpine flowers growing on the highest mountain slopes; nurseries bringing rare orchids back from the brink, and biodynamic rose plantations — then throw in striking volcanic skylines for good measure. Departures: 13 February 2018 15 days from £5,495 Single room supplement: £880
with Special Guest
Gardens of the French Riviera
Galicia’s Camellia Route
Menton’s zesty Lemon Festival brings a vibrant burst of colour to our tour of the French Riviera. Exotic gardens, cacti collections, and clear azure seas complete our sparkling itinerary, making it abundantly clear why this perfectly picturesque area of the world inspired a whole generation of artists.
Encounter the ‘Japan Rose’ in the temperate terrain of northern Spain. In pazos and pueblos, we travel, wine, dine and unwind, experiencing all this remarkable region has to offer. Our tour takes us the length of the camellia route from La Coruña to Vigo, encountering some splendid gardens along the way.
The Gardens of Madeira with Joe Swift Thanks to its balmy subtropical climate, Madeira takes the cake for its beautiful gardens — and exploring these horticultural heavens in the company of the UK’s top garden designer, writer and TV presenter Joe Swift is the cherry on top. Join us and discover the charms of this little volcanic island for yourself.
Departures: 22 February 2018 6 days from £1,350 Single room supplement: £215
Departures: 7 March 2018 6 days from £1,350 Single room supplement: £215
Departures: 19 March 2018 6 days from £1,670 Single room supplement: £275
Gardens of Sicily
Tresco’s Abbey Gardens
Seasonal Gardens of Japan
In gardens both private and public, we breathe the exotic scents of Sicily’s many diverse and flourishing plants, learn the secrets of horticultural masters, and taste our way around the island’s home-grown offerings — after all, no pilgrimage to Sicily would be complete without a side serving of its outstanding local produce. Departures: 20 March 2018 8 days from £1,895 Single room supplement: £175
While this jewel-like island is set just a stone’s throw from the coast of Cornwall, you could be mistaken for thinking it’s half a world away from England’s oft-blustery shores — the inhabitants of Tresco’s magnificent Abbey Gardens thrive all year ‘round in its gentle, almost tropical microclimate. Departures: 23 & 26 March 2018 4 days from £975 Single room supplement: £175
Whether decked with ‘sakura’ or cloaked in autumn glory, the gardens of Japan are always exquisite. On this March getaway, we await the former with great anticipation — see imperial grounds and public spaces overflowing with delicate pale pink blossom, the perfect backdrop to ornate pavilions and hushed temples. Departures: 28 March 2018 13 days from £4,995 Single room supplement: £1,390
Call today on 01334 657155 | www.brightwaterholidays.com
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Consider us for Christmas On a Brightwater Christmas break, there’s always room for one more around the table. So if you haven’t yet firmed up your festive plans, why not spend the holidays with us? The laid-back luxury of a lovely hotel, the pleasure of like-minded company, not to mention oodles of good cheer — it’s all present. Will you be?
Christmas in the Borders
Christmas in the Cotswolds
When a Scottish staycation means waking up in the sheer luxury of a grand country house hotel, looking out over a landscape brimming with the promise of powdery snow and bracing frosty walks (followed with the promise of a warming dram by a crackling fire) why would you want to celebrate the season anywhere else?
We can think of few places better suited to a truly tranquil Christmas getaway than Oxford and the Cotswolds. For an enviably stress-free way to celebrate your Yule, be sure to join us on this three-night trip. With congenial company and a cosy hotel, you’ll want for nothing — except the chance to do it all again next year.
What’s included • Traditional Christmas carvery lunch with all the trimmings • Optional scenic coach tour of the Border country • Plenty of free time to kick back and relax in festive style
Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £595 Single room supp: £150
Moffat at Christmas
What’s included • Traditional four-course Christmas Day lunch • Gala dinner with live entertainment • A buck’s fizz Boxing Day brunch
Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £745 Single Room Supp £375
The Cotswolds village of Broadway
Christmas in Perthshire
New Year in Perthshire
What do you get when you bring together a festive afternoon tea, live jazz, a scenic tour of the bonny Perthshire countryside, nightly piano music, a rip-roaring Ceilidh, and an authentic Scottish piper? A very Merry Celtic Christmas, of course! For a cosy Christmas with all the trimmings, look no further.
Bring your black-tie finery for a Happy Hogmanay of drinks, dinner and dancing in the heart of Highland Perthshire. Swap swarming streets for natural forests; the stress of the taxi ranks for comfortable coach transfers, and the same old chatter for the convivial company of your like-minded fellow Brightwater travellers.
What’s included • Full Christmas lunch accompanied by jazz trio • Festive afternoon tea on arrival at our hotel • Boxing Day excursion to the House of Bruar
Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £300
A frosty day on the River Dochart
What’s included • Scenic coach tour of Perthshire • Special drinks reception with accompaniment from a piper • Optional walks in the beautiful local countryside
Departures: 30 December 2017 4 days from £1,195 Single Room Supp £425
Queen’s View at Loch Tummel, Perthshire
Brightwater Holidays Ltd, Eden Park House, Cupar, Fife KY15 4HS Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com Visit: www.brightwaterholidays.com
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