Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours Spring 2017
Holiday Choices UK and Irish Gardens
Overseas Garden Tours
Scenic Scottish Holidays
Archaeology
Berlin
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The Gardens of Costa Rica
Gardens of the Far North
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Bonnie Prince Charlie
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Yunnan - Footsteps of the Plant Hunters
Durham – Arts & Gardens
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A Grand Tours of the Outer Hebrides
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Arts & Gardens in Cornwall
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Mull, Staffa & Iona
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Arran - Scotland in Miniature
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Islay & Jura
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Spring in the Dutch Bulbfields
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Highlands & Islands
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Galicia’s Camelia Route
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Wildflowers of the Hebrides
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Patios of Córdoba
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Naples & Gardens of the Amalfi Coast
The Best of Angus Private Gardens
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Madeira at its Best
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Gardens of the Loire
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Private Gardens of Caithness & Sutherland
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The Genius of Monet
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The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll
24 St Kilda - Voyage to the Edge of the World
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Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown
Shetland & its Outer Isles
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Gardens of Herefordshire
Scenic Scottish Railways
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Scotland’s Northern Edge
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Tresco Abbey Gardens RHS Chelsea Flower Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show & Classic English Gardens
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Highgrove & the Cotswolds
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Charles Rennie Mackintosh
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Gardens of the Lake District
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Orkney & Shetland Highlights
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Handa & the Summer Isles
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Scotland’s Extreme North West
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Malta’s Archaeological Heritage
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Up Helly Aa
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An Archaeologist’s View of Orkney & Shetland
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Portuguese Archaeology
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Albania Archaeology
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Bulgarian Archaeology
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Prestigious Partnership
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A Celebration of Scottish Architecture
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The Isles of Skye & Raasay
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Lord of the Glens Cruises
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Brightwater Holidays has close ties with many of the most prestigious horticultural and conservation societies in the UK. These include the RHS, NGS, the National Trust for Scotland, NADFAS and Scotland’s Gardens. Look out for the RHS logo in this brochure for details of our RHS-affiliated tours.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Enjoy a sneak preview of early 2017... Welcome to Brightwater Holidays We’re hard at work in our Cupar office, finishing our full 2017 Brightwater Holidays brochure. As the Summer days melt into cooler Autumn nights, we thought it would be nice to send a wee bit of sunshine your way. We’ve put together a ‘pre-brochure’ of sorts, showcasing our early 2017 tours. There’s something for every taste across our Overseas, UK & Irish, Scenic Scottish, and Archaeology tours, including some great new tours that have the whole office buzzing. Find out more about ‘The Young Pretender’ Bonnie Prince Charlie across the ‘stuffed to the turrets’ Brodie Castle, and Culloden battlefield – site of the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite rising. Take in the iconic sights of one of Europe’s greatest cities during our Berlin tour, which also includes entrance to the city’s tremendous International Garden Exhibition. In the north-eastern corner of England we explore one of the country’s least-explored regions – Durham, with its rich history, culture and gardens. There are also a select number of RHS tours for you to browse, and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the WAFA (World Association of Floral Artists) show in Barbados. We look forward to you joining us.
All of the tours featured in this brochure are ready to book now. If you think you’ve found the perfect holiday for you, but have your heart set on a later departure, don’t despair! Although we’re still working on our full brochure, you can still book your place now on many of our autumn tours. Further departures and full date and pricing details for all of our 2017 tours can be found at our website: www.brightwaterholidays.com And, as always, if you have any further questions...
Call our helpful staff on 01334 657155 Brightwater Holidays has been based in Fife’s county town of Cupar for the last 25 years, providing quality garden and special interest tours to individuals, private clubs and societies. We work hard to ensure that we have interesting and creative itineraries by talking with our well-informed Tour Managers, our many partners and industry colleagues and, of course, our customers. Our reservations team is always happy to answer any questions or queries, and if they don’t know, they’ll find out and call you straight back.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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What can you expect from a Brightwater Holiday?
To go on a Brightwater Holiday is to join a group of like-minded, mature adults with enquiring minds, who are all looking for that bit more from a holiday package. Our holidays are all well-planned and well-paced, and often include a twist or an interesting theme. We work hard to arrange innovative and special tours. To walk with the owner of a private garden that has opened especially for our party and hear the secrets and stories of their garden; enjoy an ice-cream cone while standing in the shade of the walls of a UNESCO World Heritage Site whilst listening to an expert guide, or feeling the cold water from Tresco’s Pentle Bay as you kick off your socks and shoes and go for a paddle – go on, be a devil – it is all part of the Brightwater holiday experience.
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“Pauline our Tour Manager was a wee star, her personality and knowledge make the Highlands come alive.”
“I was also lucky in being with a friendly group of people so it didn’t matter at all that I was travelling alone.”
“First visit to Arran – 10th trip with BW. Lovely holiday, wonderful terrain, wildflowers and birds. Enjoyment enhanced by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.”
“We would do it all over again, it was excellent. Our guide made the whole trip a treat!”
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Different ways to travel with Brightwater Holidays
Overseas Garden Tours
UK & Irish Garden Tours
Going further afield, gardens are discussed and spectacular sights remembered - the soaring cypresses of the Amalfi Coast, the timeless landscape of the Loire Valley, and the unforgettable sight of the Dutch countryside passing before your eyes during a river cruise.
The world is full of beautiful gardens, but there are few better than those in Great Britain and Ireland. From the northern isles of Orkney to the High Peaks of Derbyshire, from the valleys of Wales to Cornwall’s rugged coves – we’ve got the lot.
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Scenic Scottish Holidays
Archaeology
Call us biased, but we have an unrivalled collection of Scenic Scottish tours covering the Highlands, the Lowlands and the Islands, all escorted by the best Scottish guides. Once you have experienced Scotland’s scenic majesty, your heart can never leave.
We explore Neolithic houses, Bronze Age cemeteries and 2000-yearold brochs; discover bog bodies and Minotaurs, castles and palaces, colourful frescoes and standing stones. The past is ever-present on our archaeology tours – which start at £895pp and 5000 BC.
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Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Overseas Garden Tours
Overseas Garden Tours The heavenly scent of a hundred different flowers fills the warm air as you chat with your travel companions, who you meet as strangers but become fast friends... Berlin....................................................................................................p.6 Gardens of Costa Rica...................................................................p.7 Yunnan - In the Footsteps of the Plant Hunters...............p.7 Spring in the Dutch Bulbfields..................................................p.8 Galicia’s Camellia Route..............................................................p.9 Patios of Córdoba............................................................................p.9 Naples & Gardens of the Amalfi Coast..................................p.10 Madeira at its Best..........................................................................p.10 Gardens of the Loire......................................................................p.11 The Genius of Monet....................................................................p.11
Further departures and full date and pricing details for 2017 can be found online at www.brightwaterholidays.com
Berlin Berlin, the historic and handsome city that sits at the heart of Europe, plays host in 2017 to an International Garden Exhibition providing a diverse and visionary celebration of garden culture and urban nature. A full day will be set aside to explore the imaginative and colourful exhibition during our tour of the endlessly fascinating capital city. What’s included • 3 nights’ bed & breakfast at Hotel Berlin Lützowplatz • Full day at IGA Berlin 2017 • Services of a professional tour manager and a local English-speaking guide
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Departs 20 June, 2017 3 nights from £695 pp Single Room Supp £120 Flights from London to Berlin. Other travel options on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Gardens of Costa Rica Overseas Garden Tours
Costa Rica, Spanish for ‘rich coast’, is perfectly named when you consider the extraordinary wealth of plant life found within the small Central American country. 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 truly spectacular scenery and a laid-back, happy people to the mix, and you have the makings of a life-affirming holiday experience. We visit a range of gardens — including the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden, with its world-class collection of plants and private gardens — and take in the spectacular natural features of the country, such as Lake Arenal and the Poás Volcano. What’s included • 12 nights’ bed & breakfast at a selection of comfortable hotels • 7 dinners and 10 lunches
• Services of Julia Corden of the Explorers’ Garden as Tour Manager and local English-speaking guides
Departs 7 February, 2017 12 nights from: £3,295 pp Single Room Supp £660 Flights from London to San José. Other options on request.
Yunnan - In the Footsteps of the Plant Hunters In 1904, herbarium assistant George Forrest set off from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for an adventure on the other side of the world to the south-west of China. For this intrepid Scot, his first journey would start his love affair with the tough, challenging existence of a plant hunter, and with the landscape of Yunnan. For British gardens, this trip and Forrest’s subsequent expeditions would mean a wealth of scientific discoveries and new botanical gems. Thanks to its unique topography, Yunnan has not only glaciers and snow-capped mountains with high altitude plants, but also sub-tropical basins and hot valleys, which are home to lush tropical vegetation. It is clear why Yunnan has for generations been known as ‘the kingdom of flora and fauna’.
What’s included • 14 nights’ accommodation with all meals included - 3 nights Kunming; 2 nights Dali; 4 nights Lijiang; 3 nights Zhongdian • Internal flights from Kunming to Dali
and from Zhongdian to Kunming • Chinese Tourist Visa • Services of a botanical expert guide, and a local English-speaking guide
Departs 6 June, 2017 14 nights from £3,995 pp Single Room Supp £480 Flights from London to Kunming. Other options on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Overseas Garden Tours
Spring in the Dutch Bulbfields There could be no more relaxing way to enjoy the Dutch countryside springing into life at the start of the year than travelling through its many fascinating cities. The most important thing about spring in Holland is, of course, flowers - and there will be flowers galore. We will visit the world-famous Keukenhof — over 7 million bulbs are planted here annually, making the garden home to a magnificent display of different tulip, daffodil and hyacinth varieties. The grand gardens of Het Loo Palace, meanwhile, are now recognised as one of Europe’s finest formal gardens — a late Dutch interpretation of the Italian-French garden dating from the first quarter of the 17th century. We will also take the opportunity to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, home to one of the world’s greatest art What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at the 4* Hotel NH Noordwijk Conference Centre, Leeuwenhorst • Entrance to Keukenhof Gardens, Het Loo Palace and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam 8
• Services of a professional tour manager
collections. The museum has 8,000 objects of art and history on display from an astonishing total collection of 1 million, collected from the years 1200 to 2000. Discover iconic works of the world-famous Old Masters – including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals. We will also pass through attractive towns and historic cities such as Amsterdam – ripe for rambling, with its compact core, atmospheric lanes and iconic canals. That’s not to mention Arnhem, the city of ever-evolving names; Nijmegen, on the Waal river; medieval Utrecht; and Holland’s oldest city, Dordrecht.
By coach or Eurostar 7 April, 2017 By coach or air 27/28 April, 2017 3 nights from £695 pp Single Room Supp £75 Air, Eurostar and coach options are included, see website for full details.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Galicia’s Camellia Route With a milder, wetter climate than the rest of Spain, the gardens in Galicia have a luxuriant air, accentuated by the fact that many belong to grand country mansions.
Overseas Garden Tours
Camellias thrive here, and in the spring sunshine of March they provide a welcome splash of colour, blooming exuberantly in shades of white, pink and red. In the company of garden expert Trevor Edwards we will follow the length of the camellia route, which extends from La Coruña in the north to Vigo in the south. Along the way, we visit a collection of splendid gardens, including the outstanding Castillo de Soutomaior, while enjoying some spring sunshine and the uplifting sight of one of the gardening world’s favourite flowering plants in full bloom. What’s included • 5 nights’ bed & breakfast • Visits to Santiago Cathedral, Castillo de Soutomaior, the Monasterio de San Lorenzo de Trasouto and the ‘pazos’
of Jaz, Mariñan, Oca, Santa Cruz de Rivadulla, Rubianes and Quiñones de León
Departs 8 March, 2017 5 nights from £795 pp Single Room Supp £165 Flights from London to La Coruña. Other travel options on request.
Patios of Córdoba with Carmona and Seville The Festival of the Patios is very much a traditional Spanish affair when locals wander from house to house admiring the astonishing displays. You’re sure to meet those responsible for the displays a proud owners keep a careful eye on their handiwork. Prior to our visit to Córdoba we will stay in the vibrant and colourful city of Seville, where we see the Cathedral and the Orange Tree Courtyard that belonged to the old Mosque; the Maria-Luisa Park, the Plaza de España and the Gardens of Murillo. We will also spend an afternoon in nearby Carmona, where we will see more richly decorated patio gardens and visit the intriguing private garden of Moratalla, which has elements of both French and Neo-Sevillian style.
What’s included • 2 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Eurostar Regina & 2 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Hotel Conquistador • Visits to the Cathedral, Alcázar, Orange Tree Courtyard and Gardens of Murillo (Seville) patio gardens and the
Alcázar (Carmona); Moratalla private garden; visits to selected patio gardens (Córdoba) • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 7 May, 2017 4 nights from £895 pp Single Room Supp £140 Flights from London to Seville. Other travel options on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Naples & Gardens of the Amalfi Coast Southern Italy has a beautifully warm climate combined with a rich and fertile soil, ideally suited to olives, oranges and lemons... and a wide range of tender exotics.
Overseas Garden Tours
We visit classic Amalfi gardens, laid out on terraces where umbrella pines and cypresses shade geometric beds and boxes filled with modern flowers. Villa Cimbrone on a clifftop promontory overlooking the sea is beyond compare. In Naples itself, we enjoy tours of the historic botanical gardens and view Caravaggio’s great painting at Pio Monte della Misericordia. We also visit a local family-run vineyard and travel to the north of the city to spend a day at the impressive palace of La Caserta — once the largest royal residence in the world.
Whats included • 3 nights’ bed & breakfast at Hotel Graal & 3 nights’ bed & breakfast at Hotel Santa Lucia
evening plus one lunch • Services of a professional tour manager
• Dinner and welcome drink on first
Departs 14 April, 2017 6 nights from £1,595 pp Single Room Supp £480 Flights from London to Naples. Other travel options on request.
Madeira at its Best Set in a bright blue sea some 400 miles off the coast of Africa lies the lush, volcanic Portuguese island of Madeira.
Just 36 miles long and 14 miles wide, Madeira is an island of outstanding natural beauty. We are delighted to offer a comprehensive tour escorted by local Funchal man, João Camacho, who takes great pride in showing the very best that Madeira has to offer. The Portuguese island boasts beautiful botanical gardens, stupendous scenic seascape views, and gentle levada walks. Afternoon tea at the famous Reid’s Palace, which overlooks the sea cliffs in Funchal, is included. This holiday will be equally enjoyable to a first time visitor to the island or a returning regular, with three half-day excursions included as well as plenty of time to relax in the hotel or explore the surrounding area. What’s included • 7 nights’ bed & breakfast at the 5* Pestana Casino Park Hotel including a welcome and farewell dinner • Visits to the Botanical, Palheiro and Monte Palace gardens; half-day levada
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walk; cable car ride and visit to Monte; afternoon tea at Reid’s Palace • Services of João Camacho (Mr Madeira) as tour manager
Departs 24 April, 2017 7 nights from £1,095 pp Single Room Supp £220 Flights from London Gatwick to Madeira. Other travel options on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Gardens of the Loire Including Chaumont Festival Travelling through the tranquil and timeless landscape of the Loire Valley, one magnificent château after another appears before you, each one striving to outdo the last...
Overseas Garden Tours
Visit some of the notable gardens of Angers, including the Château de Villandry with its immaculately maintained terraces; the intimate but well-stocked Jardin du Petit-Bordeaux; and the charming private garden of Plessis Sasnières, where we will have afternoon tea with the owner. At the Château de Valmer we will enjoy not just a tour of the gardens but a taste of their own wine, with further wine tastings in and around Saumur. In Tours, visit the prestigious International Garden Festival at Chaumont, where young landscape architects present a range of imaginative and thought-provoking gardens.
What’s included • 6 nights in comfortable hotels
Festival at Chaumont
• Visits to gorgeous château gardens
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Visit to the International Garden
Departs 9th June, 2017 6 nights from £1,375 pp Single Room Supp £330 Travel by rail from London St Pancras. Other travel options on request.
The Genius of Monet Just as the gardens at Giverny inspired Monet, who spent half his life nurturing and enjoying them, so they continue to enthral countless visitors 90 years after his death. Giverny’s lovingly restored gardens give a vivid impression of Monet’s favourite subjects. The gardens are filled with poppies, lupins, delphiniums and peonies, imparting an atmosphere of abundant colour and luxuriant growth. Arched bridges, painted apple green, are festooned with wisteria; draped fronds of weeping willow frame the water lilies, seemingly bringing Monet’s paintings to life. The perfect complement to Giverny is the collection at the Orangerie Museum in Paris whose centrepiece is Monet’s breathtaking series of murals, Les Nympheas – a moving testament to the genius of a painter at the height of his powers.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at the Château de Montvillargenne, Chantilly • Visits to the Orangerie Museum and Monet’s Garden • Visit to the Château de Chantilly
gardens designed by Le Nôtre • Spend some time in the pleasant market town of Senlis • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 19 May, 2017 3 nights from £735 pp Single Room Supp £180 Travel by rail from London St Pancras. Other travel options on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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UK & Irish Garden Tours
UK & Irish Gardens The world is full of beautiful gardens, but there are few better than those in Great Britain and Ireland. See for yourself on our affordable escorted garden holidays. Gardens of the Far North.............................................................p.12 Durham Arts & Gardens...............................................................p.13 Arts and Gardens in Cornwall...................................................p.13 Highland & Island Gardens.........................................................p.14 Wildflowers of the Hebrides.....................................................p.14 The Best of Angus Private Gardens.......................................p.15 Private Gardens of Caithness & Sutherland.......................p.15 The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll..................................................p.16 The Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown...................p.16 Gardens of Herefordshire...........................................................p.17 Tresco’s Abbey Gardens..............................................................p.17 The RHS Chelsea Flower Show................................................p.18 RHS Chelsea Flower Show & Classic English Gardens..p.18 Highgrove & the Cotswolds........................................................p.19 Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Gardens of the Firth of Clyde....................................................................................p.19 Gardens of the Lake District......................................................p.19 Further departures and full date and pricing details for 2017 can be found online at www.brightwaterholidays.com
Gardens of the Far North A journey to the far north of Scotland brings many rewards, not least the enchanting castles and gardens, we have brought together on tour — the distance travelled is certainly worth it. Walk in the footsteps of the Queen Mother at her beloved Castle of Mey and in the shadow of Shakespearean kings at Cawdor. What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel • Visits to the gardens of Inverness, Cawdor, Dunrobin Castle and the Castle of Mey • Services of a professional tour manager 12
Departs 16 May, 2017 3 nights from £555 pp Single Room Supp £180 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Durham Arts & Gardens This north-eastern corner of England is rich in history, culture and gardens, yet it still remains one of the lesserexplored regions of the country.
UK & Irish Garden Tours
Much inspiration can be taken from the glorious gardens around Durham. We will visit the 900 year old Durham Cathedral — a superb example of Norman architecture which was recently voted Britain’s most loved building. Much has been said and written, too, about the Alnwick Garden. With its Grand Cascade water feature — a magnificent tumbling mass of water, ending in an eruption of never-ending fountains, forming the garden’s central point — it is truly a garden of our time. A lesser-known but equally worthy inclusion on our tour is the wonderful Grade I listed Medieval manor house of Crook Hall.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at the 4* Durham Marriott Hotel
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Comfortable coach travel throughout
Departs 5 May, 2017 3 nights from £625 pp Single Room Supp £120 Return rail travel from London. Other travel packages on request.
Arts and Gardens in Cornwall For more than one hundred years artists have been attracted to the far western tip of Cornwall and the beautiful Penwith coastline. The harbour towns of St Ives and Falmouth are famous the world over for their art collections, which are among the finest to be seen in Britain. These include the Tate Gallery in St Ives, overlooking Porthmeor Beach, with its collection of work by 20th century artists associated with St Ives. We visit the innovative Eden Project; the award-winning Lost Gardens of Heligan; Hestercombe, one of Jekyll and Lutyens’ masterpieces, and the formal courtyard garden of Lanhydrock, rich in flowering shrubs and trees. This combination of art and gardens makes for a most enriching break for the discerning traveller.
What’s included • 4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Restormel Lodge Hotel • Comfortable coaching throughout • Visits to the gardens of Hestercombe, Trengwainton, Lanhydrock, the Eden
Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and the gardens of Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth and Penlee House • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 15 May, 2017 4 nights from £625 pp Single Room Supp £140 Flights from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Other travel packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Highland & Island Gardens The Western Seaboard of Scotland is home to some of the finest gardens in Europe. Many types of plant flourish in this gentle and moist climate.
UK & Irish Garden Tours
The Gulf Stream is very kind to this region – creating unusual exotic shrubs and trees. The great gardens were mostly conceived in the Victorian era when the huge estates in the Highlands and Islands were at their peak. Gardens were laid out to complement grand country homes or castles, while others are private and hidden on some of the most beautiful Hebridean Islands. Flowering rhododendrons and azaleas turn these peaceful locations into a riot of colour and, alongside the subtle greens from native birch, oak and pine, combine to form a wonderful natural tapestry.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Loch Melfort Hotel • Visits to Benmore Botanic Garden, and the house and gardens of Mount Stuart
on Bute; all ferry transfers • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 25 May, 2017 3 nights from £645 pp Single Room Supp £120 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Wildflowers of the Hebrides The Isle of Barra is the most southerly of the Outer Hebrides and long famed for its beauty, boasting beaches and hills, machair and moorland, all in a small island. Barra is known as the garden of the Hebrides, which makes perfect sense when you consider more than 1,000 species of wild flowers grow across the relatively small island. Named after the patron saint, Saint Finnbarr, it measures just five miles across and eight miles long. From our base at the Isle of Barra Hotel, which is superbly situated overlooking a wide, sandy beach, we will explore the wild hills and secluded bays of the island, with visits to Kisimul Castle, the 12th century stronghold of the Clan MacNeil, and the neighbouring island of Vatersay with its brilliant white beaches and stunning machair.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at the Isle of Barra Hotel • All coaching and ferry transfers • Visit to Kisimul Castle and excursions to Vatersay 14
• A full day of botanising on Barra • Services of a professional guide
Departs 5 May, 2017 3 nights from £585 pp Single Room Supp £120 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
The Best of Angus Private Gardens UK & Irish Garden Tours
The rich, fertile soil of Angus is an ideal environment for gardening — so it’s no surprise that this historic county is host to a wonderful array of gardens. The House of Pitmuies, with its lavishly planted herbaceous borders, gets our tour underway. We go on to see two grand gardens — at Brechin Castle, notable for its uniquely curving walls, and Glamis Castle, which was the childhood home of the late Queen Mother, and features fine American specimen trees. Further highlights include the semi-formal walled garden at Newtonmill House; Logie House, a herbalist’s garden set amid an 18th century walled garden with a large Victorian greenhouse; and the Gallery Garden at Montrose, a historic garden with a traditional framework of holly, privet and box.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Park Hotel Montrose • Visits to Glamis Castle, Logie House, Brechin Castle, Newtonmill House,
Gallery, Dunninald and Straton House • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 2 June, 2017 3 nights from £455 pp Single Room Supp £75 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Private Gardens of Caithness and Sutherland The spectacular seascapes and wild lands of Caithness and Sutherland, right at the very top of Britain, are home to a surprising number of stunning gardens. Travelling among the jagged headlands and shining white sands on the northern coast, our visits include two gardens both protected from the wind by high walls — Bighouse Lodge near Melvich and the House of Tongue in a spectacular setting on the Kyle of Tongue. We could not go to Caithness without including a visit to The Castle of Mey, the former summer retreat of the late Queen Mother, and we also tour the fine gardens that surround the castles of Dunbeath and Dunrobin, whose turreted structure and formal layout certainly would not look out of place in the Loire Valley.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at St Clair Hotel • Visits to the gardens of Aigas, Bighouse Lodge, House of Tongue, Castle of
Mey, Dunbeath and Dunrobin Castles • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 2 July, 2017 3 nights from £445 pp Single Room Supp £90 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll UK & Irish Garden Tours
Gertrude Jekyll was a plantswoman extraordinaire, painter and writer, however she is perhaps best remembered for her association with the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens... Our tour stretches like a colourful thread across the south of England, from the Home Counties where she lived for most of her life, into the scenic West Country where many of her commissions are located. We start on a high, visiting the two outstanding private estates of Buckhurst Park and Gravetye Manor. We also visit Godalming’s small museum, home to many of Jekyll’s original garden drawings, before looking round the distinctive garden rooms at Loseley Park and Upton Grey. Perhaps the highlight of this holiday will be the rare chance to visit Munstead Wood, Jekyll’s home for almost 40 years.
What’s included • 6 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast: 3 nights at Legacy Farnham Hog’s Back Hotel; Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster
• Admissions to all gardens • Services of a professional tour manager
• Comfortable coaching throughout
Departs 4 June, 2017 6 nights from £995 pp Single Room Supp £150 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
The Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown changed the face of eighteenth century England, designing country estates and mansions, moving hills and creating lakes. Every landscape gardener and architect who has followed Brown has been influenced by him in one way or another. Many of his finest works are located relatively close to each other within one of the most appealing regions of England. Our tour commences as we head for Compton Verney, a Robert Adam house, with grounds remodelled by Brown after 1761. From our base in the Cotswolds we continue with visits to Ragley Hall and Croome Court, both classic English stately homes with stunning parkland and gardens. Croome Court was Brown’s first landscape design and architectural project and is considered by many to be his most important and seminal work.
What’s included • 3 nights dinner, bed & breakfast Waterpark Four Pillars Hotel
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Visits to the grounds and gardens of Compton Verney, Ragley Hall, Croome Court, Bowood House, Prior Park, Rousham and Stowe
Further departures later in the year please see the website for full date and pricing details for 2017.
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Departs 30 June, 2017 3 nights from £495 pp Single Room Supp £75 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Gardens of Herefordshire Rural Herefordshire boasts some of Britain’s best gardens and most influential horticulturalists, from Kingsbury’s Montpelier Cottage to Strong’s The Laskett.
UK & Irish Garden Tours
The rolling hills of Herefordshire are home to some stunning gardens, but none more so than Montpelier Cottage, the private garden of the much revered garden designer Noel Kingsbury. By special arrangement Noel will guide us through his naturalistic garden which beautifully combines the English cottage style, German parks, and American prairie. Further highlights include Sir Roy Strong’s garden of sentiments and memories, The Laskett; Hampton Court Castle with its award-winning gardens; and the plantsman’s delight of Stockton Bury and Misarden Park, redeveloped by Sir Edwin Lutyens in his distinctive style.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Three Counties Hotel • Visits to Hampton Court Castle, Stockton Bury, Misarden Park and
The Laskett • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 3 May, 2017 3 nights from £495 pp Single Room Supp £120 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Tresco’s Abbey Gardens When you first glimpse the turquoise seas and quartz sands that surround the Scilly Isles you instinctively know your visit is going to be special. Flying into St Mary’s on the small Skybus plane is always an exciting experience. A sub-tropical paradise, this tiny island remains a magical retreat for a short break at any time of year. Tresco lies just 28 miles from the Cornish coast yet basks in a balmy climate where spring comes early, autumn stays late and winter hardly exists at all. Abbey Gardens is home to more than 3,000 species, magnificent vistas, colours and scents. There is certainly no other garden like this in the world and we will be privileged to learn of the garden’s hidden secrets, both past and present, with personally guided tours and lectures.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast • Return flights: Land’s End to St Mary’s • Boat transfers: St Mary’s and Tresco
Further departures later in the year please see the website for full date and pricing details for 2017.
Departures throughout March, April, May 2017 3 nights from £845 pp Single Room Supp from £75 Return train from London to Penzance. Other travel packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show & Classic English Gardens
UK & Irish Garden Tours
This extended tour combines the excitement of the show with some of the south of England’s finest gardens. A wide range of horticultural excellence awaits you on this tour. We begin with visits to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the unmissable gardens of RHS Wisley, Sissinghurst and Great Dixter. We then head west, to visit Wilton House and ‘Capability’ Brown’s famous landscape garden of Stourhead. We continue with visits to the ancient Bishop’s Palace at Wells, the Harold Peto-designed garden at Iford Manor and Hestercombe, one of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens’ greatest masterpieces. We conclude with a wander round Tyntesfield with its glorious walled garden. What’s included • 6 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast • All day ticket to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, admission to the gardens of RHS Wisley, Sissinghurst, Great
Dixter, Hestercombe, Iford Manor, Stourhead and Tyntesfield • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 25 May, 2017 6 nights from £1,095 pp Single Room Supp £180 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show The Chelsea Flower Show is the world’s leading horticultural event and every year produces gardens and exhibits of the highest quality. Once again you will be able to marvel at an international collection of magnificent blooms, brilliant displays and perfect specimen trees alongside a wide range of exhibition gardens, all vying for a coveted Gold Medal. Whether you go for inspiration, gardening advice or simply an exhilarating day out, the Chelsea Flower Show is an unforgettable experience. Our tour also visits a selection of classic gardens including Sissinghurst, one of the most copied flower gardens in the world; RHS Wisley, where the highest standards of horticulture are practiced in a splendid setting and Tatton Park with its sunken and Japanese gardens.
What’s included • 2 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Holiday Inn Farnborough • All day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, admission to the gardens of Sissinghurst, RHS Wisley and Tatton Park. 18
• Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 25 May, 2017 2 nights from £435 pp Single Room Supp £90 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Highgrove & the Cotswolds UK & Irish Garden Tours
You are unlikely to meet His Royal Highness, but there’s nothing to stop you talking to his plants!
Our tour of the Cotswolds features an exclusive visit to Highgrove House, the country home of HRH The Prince of Wales. Enjoy a rare opportunity to see fascinating gardens, cultivated using wholly organic methods. Some of the finest gardens in England are to be found nestled among the green and rolling hills of Gloucestershire. Our tour begins at the calm and soothing Abbey House garden at Malmesbury, home to a stunning rose collection. Hidcote Manor’s contrasting garden rooms and Kiftsgate’s splendid views are justly famous. We shall also visit the small, private garden of Misarden Park and our final visit is to Westonbirt, the National Arboretum. What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed and full breakfast at a comfortable hotel in the Cotswolds • Entrance to the gardens of Abbey House, Misarden Park, Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate, Westonbirt Arboretum and
Highgrove House • Services of a professional tour manager
Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Gardens of the Firth of Clyde Take a guided tour of the Glasgow School of Art, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s iconic masterpiece. Of course no Mackintosh tour would be complete without a visit to the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow, where we will enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.
What’s included
Departs 21 April, 5 May & 23 June, 2017 3 nights from £485 pp Single Room Supp £90 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Gardens of the Lake District As well as being an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Lake District has some stunning gardens. The lush planting of the gardens is often offset by glorious natural backdrops of lakes or fells. Few gardens can match the setting of Holehird Gardens, ten acres of vibrant planting within an outstanding landscape overlooking Lake Windermere, though Brantwood, reached by an elegant steam gondola on Lake Coniston, comes very close.
What’s included
• 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at a 4* hotel • Comfortable coaching throughout
• 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal
• Visits to Hill House, Glenarn, Ross Priory, Mount Stuart, Ascog Fernery, the Hunterian Museum and House for an Art Lover; guided exterior tour of Glasgow School of Art
• Comfortable coach travel throughout
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 14 June, 2017 3 nights from £495 pp Single Room Supp £90
Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
• Visits to the gardens of Levens Hall, Holehird, Windy Hill and Holker Hall and the houses and gardens of Dalemain, Hutton in the Forest and Brantwood
Departs 12 June, 2017 3 nights from £795 pp Single Room Supp £175
Rail travel London to Oxenholme. Other travel packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Scotland Tours
Scenic Scottish Holidays Regardless of the weather... one thing that you can always rely on with Scotland is the beautiful scenery and the warm welcome from its people. Bonnie Prince Charlie..................................................................p.20 A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides....................................p.21 Mull, Staffa & Iona..........................................................................p.22 Arran: Scotland in Miniature....................................................p.22 Islay & Jura.........................................................................................p.23 Orkney & Shetland Highlights..................................................p.23 Handa & the Summer Isles.........................................................p.24 St Kilda: A Voyage to the Edge of the World......................p.24 Shetland & its Outer Isles............................................................p.24 Scenic Scottish Railways.............................................................p.25 Scotland’s Northern Edge............................................................p.25 Scotland’s Extreme North West...............................................p.26 A Celebration of Scottish Architecture................................p.26 The Isles of Skye & Raasay.........................................................p.26 Lord of The Glens Cruises..........................................................p.27
Further departures and full date and pricing details for 2017 can be found online at www.brightwaterholidays.com
Bonnie Prince Charlie Trace the tale of Charles Edward Stuart or ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ as he is more affectionately known. Highlights of our tour include: Linlithgow Palace, where a fountain was allegedly made to flow with wine in honour of his visit; and Holyrood Palace where Charlie held evening balls in the gallery during his brief occupation. What’s included • 2 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Inverness Palace Hotel; 3 nights’ bed & breakfast at Golden Lion Hotel • Visits to the National Museum of Scotland, Stirling Castle, Brodie Castle and Urquhart Castle • Services of a professional tour manager 20
Departs 26 May, 2016 5 nights from £795 pp Single Room Supp £250 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Scotland Tours
A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides This extended tour of the Hebrides has proved extremely popular, offering as it does a unique opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the Western Isles. Our grand tour takes in all the beauty and diversity of this very special environment. From our base at the comfortable Cabarfeidh Hotel we explore the rolling moorland of Lewis, with visits to the remarkable Standing Stones of Callanish, the tranquil little Norse Mill at Shawbost and the distinctive Black Houses at Gearrannan. A captivating journey follows as we travel south through the magnificent mountain scenery of Harris and by ferry to North Uist, continuing via the causeway that links the islands of Benbecula and South Uist, pausing now and then to admire the superb scenery of mountain, moor and machair, visiting the Kildonan Museum along the way.
Another short ferry crossing from Eriskay takes us over to the Isle of Barra and the hotel of that name, with its outstanding location on Tangasdale Beach and stunning ocean views, including visits to Kisimul Castle and the fantastic sandy beaches of Vatersay. The good ships of Caledonian MacBrayne take centre stage in this enchanting itinerary. If the weather is fair do try and go deck-side to enjoy the Hebridean breeze in your hair; enjoy the sight of a receding island chain, perhaps a sunset, or the wheel of a herring gull as it follows the churning wake of the ship steaming ahead. This is all part of the “Tangle of the Isles”.
What’s included • 2 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Caberfeidh Hotel & 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Isle of Barra Hotel (Dark Island Hotel in March) • All coaching and ferry transfers
• Visits to the Standing Stones of Callanish, the Gearrannan Black Houses and the Norse Mill; Kildonan Visitor Centre; Kisimul Castle, Cockleshell Beach and Vatersay • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 26 March, 7 & 28 May, & 18 June, 2017 5 nights from £655 pp Single Room Supp £175 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Mull, Staffa & Iona The Isle of Mull is a place of tumbling burns, high peaks, dramatic views and a silent, lonely beauty. Visit two more beautiful islands on tour – unique Staffa and historic Iona.
Scotland Tours
The multi-coloured buildings that line the waterfront of the Mull’s principal town, Tobermory, will be familiar to many. We also tour Duart Castle, the 13th century building has stunning views across the Firth of Lorn to Ben Cruachan. Lying just off the Ross of Mull, the sacred isle of Iona is famous the world over for its peaceful Abbey, a place of calm and contemplation, while on the little island of Staffa we find a natural cathedral of basalt columns known as Fingal’s Cave, one of the wonders of the west coast and inspiration for Mendelssohn’s famous overture.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Isle of Mull Hotel • Visits to Tobermory, Staffa, Iona and Duart Castle
• All coaching and ferry transfers • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 14 April, 12 May & 2 June, 2017 3 nights from £485 pp Single Room Supp £75 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Arran – Scotland in Miniature If you had just a few days to experience the beauty and diversity of Scotland’s scenery, there could be no better place to go than Arran. With majestic mountains, rushing rivers, sandy beaches, lush farmlands and picturesque little villages, it’s no wonder that Arran is often described as ‘Scotland in miniature’, as you will soon discover for yourself. Arran has a rich heritage stretching back into ancient history as can be seen at Machrie Moor standing stones. Once part of the Kingdom of Dalriada, Arran was victim to Viking raids, clan feuds and had its fair share of Highland Clearances. More peaceful days prevailed and now Arran has a reputation as a wonderful holiday destination.
What’s included • 4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Kinloch Hotel • Guided tour of Arran and visit to Brodick Castle and Gardens; and optional excursion to the little island of Gigha including a visit to Achamore 22
Gardens. • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 19 May & 26 June, 2017 4 nights from £495 pp No Single Room Supp Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Islay & Jura Islay represents the southern extreme of the Inner Hebrides. The ancient home of the Lord of the Isles has always been popular with archaeologists and historians...
Scotland Tours
Islay has a softer southern feel to it than other Hebridean islands and is perhaps better known for its distinctive malt whiskies, its sandy beaches and its diverse birdlife. An old Islay proverb says if “a chough lands on your roof, tie it by the leg and it will bring you wealth”. To the north-east is Islay’s neighbour Jura, an untamed and rather mysterious island with just 200 human inhabitants and a landscape dominated by three peaks known as the “Paps of Jura”. George Orwell spent his last years writing at the northern end of the island, where he completed his masterpiece 1984. What’s included • 4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Port Askaig Hotel
• Services of a professional driver/guide
• Visits to the Bowmore Distillery, Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve and Jura
Departs 3 April & 5 June, 2017 4 nights from £675 pp Single Room Supp £80 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Orkney & Shetland Highlights Sail away to lands steeped in history, wildlife and stunning scenery, far from the jostling crowds to the haunting beauty of the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Many people landed on these isles, long before we had the chance to — some as early as 3000 BC. Of course, most famous of all were the Vikings, but they were not alone— all around, you will find a pastiche of historical treasures from passing cultures. Both Orkney and Shetland have their own identity; Orkney is green and fertile, while Shetland has more rugged cliff and sea loch scenery. Both, however share a colourful history of ancient antiquities, buried treasure and seafaring legends, bound up with a fierce spirit of independence that renders them a little different from the rest of Scotland.
What’s included • 5 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast: 2 nights aboard Serco Northlink Ferries; 1 night at Queen Hotel Shetland; 2 nights at Kirkwall Hotel • Two full day coach tours of mainland Orkney including Skara Brae and
Maeshowe; two full day coach tours of mainland Shetland including entrance to Jarlshof • Services of a professional tour manager
Departures: 8 May & 5 June, 2017 5 nights from £995 pp Single Room Supp £225 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Handa & the Summer Isles Scotland Tours
Handa Island and the Summer Isles lie off the north west coast of Scotland, a remote and unspoilt area of outstanding beauty. The lack of human settlement (only one of the Summer Isles is inhabited) means that birds, plants and sea mammals thrive here; indeed, they have flourished in this beautiful, untamed landscape. Handa, managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, comes alive each summer when nearly 200,000 seabirds gather here to breed. The Summer Isles offer the chance to see a wide variety of seabirds, along with porpoises, seals, dolphins and Minke whales, as well as the ruined remains of the former herring fishing station.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Royal Hotel, Ullapool • Visits to Corrieshalloch Gorge and the Falls of Measach, Handa Island, the
Summer Isles and Inverewe Gardens • Services of a professional tour manager
St Kilda – A Voyage to the Edge of the World The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest part of the British Isles, lies 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, and has been described as “the edge of the world”. Along with a full day visit to St Kilda, we tour the contrasting islands of Harris and Lewis, enjoying a combination of rugged scenery and intriguing archaeology.
What’s included
Departs 18 May, 2017 3 nights from £455 pp Single Room Supp £75 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Shetland & its Outer Isles If you want to get away from it all, Shetland is the place to be. As close to Norway as it is to Scotland, Shetland is rugged and remote, with a raw natural beauty, a unique culture and wonderful wildlife. There are over a hundred islands here, only 16 of which are inhabited, each with its own individual character. We visit four, providing a real taste of the diversity of this amazing archipelago, not to mention the simple pleasure of travelling by boats.
What’s included
• 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Cabarfeidh Hotel • Visits to Callanish, The Broch of Carloway, Blackhouse village and St. Clement’s Church
• 4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast: 2 nights aboard Serco Northlink Ferries in Shetland; 2 nights at Queens Hotel Shetland
• Comfortable coaching and all ferries
• Comfortable coaching throughout
• Services of a professional driver/guide
• Guided coach tours of mainland Shetland and the islands of Yell, Unst, Jarlshof and Mousa Broch
Departs 28 June, 2017 3 nights from £835 pp Single Room Supp £90 24
Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Departs 10 June, 2017 4 nights from £795 pp Single Room Supp £200
Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Scenic Scottish Railways The north of Scotland is blessed with some wonderfully scenic railways that carve through long deep glens and purple hills of sweet-blooming mountain heather.
Scotland Tours
The challenge of building railways through some of the most difficult terrain in the British Isles was taken up by the great engineers of the Victorian age. Their legacy is in the sweeping curves and majestic viaducts of the single-track lines which remain, crossing wild moors and fragrant glens to provide important links to the north and west Highlands. We will travel northwards to Wick, through the wild landscapes of Sutherland, and westwards to Kyle of Lochalsh on one of the great railway journeys of the world. Enjoy an authentic taste of the Golden Age of rail travel in the Highlands...
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Highland Hotel, Strathpeffer • Rail journeys from Dingwall to Wick (single) and Kyle of Lochalsh (return); from Fort William to Mallaig (return)
on the Jacobite and a return journey on the Strathspey Line • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 9 June, 7 July & 20 August, 2017 3 nights from £425 pp Single Room Supp £45 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Scotland’s Northern Edge The coastal views and landscapes are breathtaking – often quite literally – as the wind whips in off the Pentland Firth and snatches the very breath from your mouth. Standing on the northern edge of mainland Britain, you are moved to reflect on the awesome power of the sea and the equally indomitable strength of the ancient rock beneath your feet, the two locked together in a timeless and never-ending battle. We begin at Duncansby Head, the north eastern tip of Caithness and continue to the Queen Mother’s Castle of Mey. Travelling west we continue through lonely Strathnaver to our hotel at Kinlochbervie. We seek out such gems as Smoo Cave and Balnakeil plus a trip by ferry and minibus to Cape Wrath, Britain’s most north-westerly point.
What’s included • 4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast: 2 nights at St Clair Hotel; 2 nights at Kinlochbervie Hotel • Visits to Duncansby Head, Strathnaver Museum, Castle of Mey, Dunnet Head, Cape Wrath, John O’Groats Museum
and Smoo Cave • Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 5 June & 23 August, 2017 4 nights from £565 pp Single Room Supp £100 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Scotland’s Extreme North West Scotland Tours
The rugged and remote north-west coast of Scotland takes on a majestic character as Mother Nature lays on a spectacular display of beauty. Enormous waves roll in from the Atlantic and hurl themselves against the shore in an awesome display of raw natural power. The coastal views and landscapes are even more breathtaking and the warmth of our highland hotel even more welcoming at this time of year. From Kinlochbervie we seek out some of the gems of the north west coast, such as Oldshoremore, an exquisite beach of white sand and Smoo Cave at Durness, a huge sea cave with a waterfall and a ‘blowhole’. In the evenings we can enjoy fine food, good company and a fireside dram.
What’s included • 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Kinlochbervie Hotel
Loch Eribol and Loch Shin • Services of a professional driver/guide
• Visits to Durness, Oldshoremore Beach, Smoo Cave, Assynt, Loch Inver,
A Celebration of Scottish Architecture Mackintosh, Adam, Hadid, Lorimer and Thompson – not, as you may be forgiven for thinking, the midfield line-up of a famous Scottish football team, but a selection of the country’s most distinguished architects, whose work, among others, is celebrated in this special tour marking the créme de la créme of Scotland’s architecture and design.
What’s included
Departs 10 March, 2017 3 nights from £295 pp Single Room Supp £90 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
The Isles of Skye & Raasay The Isle of Skye has a romantic history and a scenic beauty all of its own. It is particularly famous for its mountain scenery, and although the peaks are often obscured by a veil of mist, the resulting magical, haunting effect stays long in the memory. A particular highlight of our tour is the restored Eilean Donan Castle with its impossibly romantic setting on Loch Duich.
What’s included
• 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Gleddoch House
• 3 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast at Dunollie Hotel
• Comfortable coaching throughout
• Visits to Eilean Donan Castle; Eilean Ban; Dunvegan Castle and Portree; Armadale Castle Visitor Centre
• Guided tour of Glasgow with exterior views of selected buildings; visits to Ardkinglas House, Hill House, Dumfries House, Culzean Castle, Pollok House and Holmwood House
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Services of a professional tour manager Departs 23 May, 2017 3 nights from £495 pp Single Room Supp £105 26
Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Departs 18 May, 2017 3 nights from £465 pp Single Room Supp £90
Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Flight packages on request.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Scotland Tours
Lord of The Glens Cruises The Lord of the Glens has proved enormously popular, with its winning combination of comfortable cruising and breathtaking scenery. We are delighted to offer a selection of cruises which feature the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness as well as the many delights of Scotland’s wonderful west coast. The cruises include a complete transit of the Caledonian Canal between Inverness and Banavie. Among the highlights of this section of the cruise are Urquhart Castle; the perfect photo opportunity on Loch Ness; Laggan Avenue — a tree-lined, man-made section of the canal — and Neptune’s Staircase, the longest staircase lock in Britain. Designed by Thomas Telford, this engineering masterpiece enables boats to navigate the steep
Highlands. Having negotiated the Caledonian Canal, the ship glides out into Loch Linnhe in the shadow of Ben Nevis and cruises among the remote and breathtakingly beautiful scenery of the west coast. Depending on the cruise you choose, ports of call can include the Isle of Mull, featuring the famous harbour town of Tobermory and photogenic Duart Castle; the peaceful, sacred Isle of Iona; colourful Portree and the Clan Donald centre on the Isle of Skye; the remote village of Inverie, which can only be reached by boat, and the tranquil little island of Eigg.
What’s included • Full board in a lower deck twin cabin
Highlands & Islands Cruise
Heart of the Highlands Cruise
• All shore excursions and visits
Departs 18, 22 & 28 April, & 3 May 2017 5 nights from £935 pp Single Cabin on request
Departs 8 & 15 May, 2017 5 nights from £1,845 pp Single Cabin on request
• Services of a professional tour manager • Return coach transfers are included between Inverness and the ship. Rail or air connections to Inverness are available on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Archaeology Tours
Archaeology The past is ever-present on our popular escorted archaeological and historical holidays.
Malta’s Archaeological Heritage..............................................p.28 Up Helly Aa.......................................................................................p.29 An Archaeologist’s view of Orkney and Shetland..........p.29 Portuguese Archaeology..............................................................p.30 Albanian Archaeology..................................................................p.31 Bulgarian Archaeology.................................................................p.31
Further departures and full date and pricing details for 2017 can be found online at www.brightwaterholidays.com
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Departs 4 April, 2017 7Departures: nights fromOct £1,175 pp 26, 2016 Single Supppp £150 5 nightsRoom from £995
• further At autarchaeological untis dolupid quatemqui sites occulpa necto quam nostiunt doluptas • Services of a professional tour manager
Flights from London to Valletta. Other travel packages available.
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Single Room Supp £150
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Up Helly Aa Archaeology Tours
A wander through Lerwick is normally a quiet experience, but take a walk at the end of January and it’s sure to be quite unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before... How many tours offer the chance to bump into a squad of very large, very bearded Vikings, resplendent in gleaming chain-mail and winged helmets? As the sky over Lerwick shimmers with heat and light, fireworks explode, brass bands play and the gloom of winter is lifted for another year. This is Up Helly Aa, the annual winter festival of Shetland, which celebrates the lengthening of the days and the coming of another year, not to mention the chance of a good old knees-up. It’s run by Shetlanders for Shetlanders, but that’s not to say visitors aren’t welcome and the island hospitality will be as warm as ever.
What’s included • 6 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast
• Free day to enjoy Up Helly Aa
• Two full day tours of mainland Shetland and the islands of Yell and Unst, entrance to Jarlshof
• Services of a tour manager
Departs 28 & 29 January, 2017 6 nights from £715 pp Single Room Supp on request Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
An Archaeologist’s View of Orkney and Shetland Our expert archaeologists share their extensive knowledge and bring to life the fascinating ancient relics that litter the islands of Orkney and Shetland. People first came here over 5000 years ago and many of their remains survive. New architectural sites are discovered every year. Some, such as Skara Brae, were buried under sand, only to be exposed by a winter storm thousands of years later. Skara Brae presents a fascinating glimpse of Stone Age life — from the beds, with their little shelves and cubby holes, to the remains of jewellery and medicine. During our time on Shetland, we visit the uninhabited island of Mousa with its 2000 year old full size broch; the prehistoric and Norse settlement of Jarlshof; St Ninian’s Isle with its 6th century church and the ruined castle of Scalloway. What’s included • 5 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast – 1 • Two full-day coach tours of mainland night in Shetland, 2 nights in Orkney and Shetland including Jarlshof and Mousa 2 nights aboard Serco Northlink Ferries • Services of a specialist guide • 2 full-day coach tours of mainland Orkney including entrances to Skara Brae and Maeshowe
Departs 22 May, 2017 5 nights from £1,095 pp Single Room Supp £225 Coach pick-ups from various locations are included. Other travel packages on request.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Archaeology Tours
Portuguese Archaeology History, great food and idyllic scenery are all part of the lifeblood of Portugal. Join us on an Iberian adventure featuring a host of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With the roar of the Atlantic Ocean and the tranquillity of the Iberian hillsides as our constant companions, we will travel through time stopping off at Megalithic standing stones, Iron Age settlements, Roman ruins and Medieval plazas. We will enjoy a host of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the city of Evora, where its monuments and defensive walls stretch back over twenty centuries. Then there’s Sintra, a magical town in which exotically coloured palaces rise out from the dewy forests. Guimarães is a particular highlight – an immaculately preserved Medieval town and the birthplace of Portugal’s first king, Alfonso Henriques.
An experienced archaeologist will guide us through our tour. Other highlights include the Almendres Stone Circle from the Megalithic Age; the Gothic masterpiece of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos; the Roman settlement at Conímbriga; the Iron Age hilltown of Citânia de Briteiros; and of course Castelo de Pena, one of the seven wonders of Portugal. It isn’t just archaeology on tour – we will also explore the vibrant maritime city of Lisbon, and Porto, a mecca for connoisseurs of wine.
What’s included • 8 nights bed & breakfast: 4 nights at Holiday Inn Lisbon; 1 night at Tryp Hotel Coimbra; 3 nights at Holiday inn Porto; 3 dinners are also included • Visits to the archaeological sites of Almendres Stone Circle, Museu 30
Calouste Gulbenkian, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Palacio Nacional de Sintra, Citânia de Briteiros • Services of archaeologist Clive Warsop as tour manager
Departs 11 April, 2017 8 nights from £1,395 pp Single Room Supp £300 Flights from London to Portugal. Other travel packages available.
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Albanian Archaeology After 50 years of political isolation, Albania is only just emerging as a holiday destination, with a refreshing lack of modern development and a unique, timeless quality.
Archaeology Tours
In archaeological terms, Albania offers some of the best sites in Europe, with a host of classical cities on a par with those celebrated in Greece and Italy. A dramatic landscape of high mountains and rugged coastline adds to the experience as we tour the country and visit the best of the sites. These include Durres on the Adriatic coast, one of the largest amphitheatres in the Balkans; Apollonia, the second largest Greek colony in Albania; the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Butrint dating from the 7th century BC and the remote mountain-top city of Byllis. A most interesting tour with most engaging guides. What’s included • 7 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast • Visits to Tirana, Llogara National Park, Gjirokastra, Antigonea Archaeological Park, Berat and more
• Services of a professional tour manager and a local guide
Departs 2 May, 2017 7 nights from £1,295 pp Single Room Supp £175 Flights from London to Tirana. Other travel packages available.
Bulgarian Archaeology For decades after the Second World War Bulgaria lay firmly behind the Iron Curtain and had little contact with the outside world – but that’s all changed. Now this fascinating and hospitable country is opening up once again and we are delighted to be able to visit a wide range of well-preserved archaeological sites, five of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the famous Rila Monastery, set high in the mountains; Boyana Church with its outstanding frescoes; the Horseman rock relief at Madara; the historic town of Nessebar, beautifully preserved with over 80 churches, and the Kazanlak Tomb, just one of a series of remarkable tombs to be found in the ‘Valley of the Thracian Kings’. Further highlights include Nicopolis ad Istrum, an ancient city site, and the Neolithic dwelling houses at Stara Zagora.
What’s included • 8 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast in comfortable hotels • Visits to Nicopolis ad Istrum,Veliko Tarnovo, Madara, Devnya, Varna, Nessebar, Kazanlak, Karanovo, Stara Zagora, Plovdiv and Rila Monastery
• Services of a professional tour manager
Departs 18 April, 2017 8 nights from £1,365 pp Single Room Supp £160 Flights from London to Sofia. Other travel packages available.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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Booking conditions Data Protection
Passports
Brightwater Holidays will only share your data with companies within our group, or with the RHS if you are booking on an RHS Garden Holiday. If you do not wish to be contacted or to share your details please let us know at the time of booking.
A full passport is essential for travel to all destinations outside of the UK. All passports should have at least three months left to run from the date of return to the UK, although some countries require you to have up to eight months validity on your passport. It is the responsibility of travellers with non-EU passports to obtain the necessary visas, documentation etc. for all overseas holidays.
Booking form and payments Your completed booking must be made with the appropriate deposit and the premiums for any insurance if required. If you choose to take our insurance we would ask that you read all sections of the policy document fully. There is a 14 day cooling off period in which you can return the policy for a full refund if it does not meet with your requirements. The person making the booking warrants that he/she has the authority of all other persons included in the holiday to make the booking on their behalf and confirms that everyone is fit enough to participate in the tour. Upon receipt of your booking we will reserve your holiday, if available, and send a confirmation/invoice which will advise you of the balance due.
If we change your holiday It is unlikely that we have to make any changes to your holiday, but we do plan the arrangements many months in advance. Sometimes we do need to make changes which we reserve the right to do at any time. Most changes are minor, but where they are significant you will be informed as soon as is reasonably possible. Please note pick-up points are subject to minimum numbers and will be confirmed when we send out joining instructions. If you change your holiday
YOU MUST PAY THE BALANCE IN FULL EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE UNLESS OTHERWISE STIPULATED. VISA/MASTERCARD/BARCLAYCARD/SWITCH/DELTA/ MAESTRO/ VISA DEBIT are accepted for deposits with no surcharge. Balance paid by credit card will be subject to a 2.5% administration charge. Balances may be paid by debit card, cheque or bank transfer without surcharge. If you cancel your holiday In the event of a member of your party wishing to cancel their holiday, we must be advised in writing by the person who made the booking. In order to compensate our expenditure we charge a cancellation fee as a percentage of the holiday price, according to the following scale: More than 56 days’ notice: Deposit only 31 – 56 days: 50% 15 – 30 days: 95% 0 – 14 days: 100% The cancellation charges will apply from the day we receive written confirmation. You may make a claim on your Holiday Insurance if the reason for the cancellation falls within the terms of the insurance policy.
If, after we have accepted your booking, you wish to change details of that booking, we will make every effort to satisfy your requirements, although this cannot be guaranteed. When a request has been met, an amendment fee of £35 per person will be charged and a revised invoice will then be issued. If we cancel your holiday We reserve the right in any circumstance to cancel your holiday. In the unlikely event of this being necessary we will offer you an alternative available holiday or a full refund of all monies paid. A minimum of 20 passengers is required to operate a tour with a Brightwater Holidays representative. The price of your holiday It is our policy to calculate holiday costs at prices which include any increase planned by hoteliers, transport companies or other suppliers known at the time. Prices in the brochure are valid until the production of our full 2017 brochure in November 2017. We are proud to offer a no surcharge guarantee. If the cost of your holiday increases for any reason, including governmental action, airline surcharges or fuel or currency fluctuation we will not pass on these costs to you.
Complaints In the unlikely event that you have a complaint please inform your tour guide immediately so that action can be taken on the spot. If the matter cannot be resolved complaints should be submitted in writing to us within 20 days of your return from holiday. We cannot accept liability for claims reaching our office more than 20 days after the conclusion of the holiday concerned.
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Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
Our responsibility to you
Financial protection
Brightwater Holidays will accept responsibility for the proven negligent acts and omissions of: employees or agents and suppliers, sub-contractors, servants and/or agents of the same whilst acting within the scope of or in the course of their employment in respect of claims arising as a result of death, bodily injury or illness caused to the lead passenger and/or any other named persons on the booking.
Flight inclusive tours: we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s License issued by the CAA (ATOL No. 4498) which provides for your protection in the event of Brightwater’s insolvency. The price of your air holiday packages includes the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.
Brightwater Holidays do not accept responsibility or liability to any person for loss of baggage, money or other property whatsoever. Brightwater Holidays do not accept liability for any loss or additional expenses caused by delay or interruption to travel services through weather conditions (such as fog), civil disturbance, strikes, wars, floods, sickness or any circumstances amounting to Force Majeure. While there are no age limits or health requirements on our holidays, please note that for certain destinations, for example the smaller Scottish islands and some botanical tours, a good degree of mobility is required to get the most out of the holiday, for example getting in and out of boats, ascending steps and standing for a degree of time.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Brightwater Holidays, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: 1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK. 1 and 2 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled while clause 1 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Brightwater Holidays.
Insurance It is a condition of booking that you have adequate insurance protection for all overseas holidays and we strongly recommend insurance cover for all other holidays. We strongly advise you to take out Brightwater Holidays’ recommended travel insurance. A full set of Brightwater Holidays booking conditions is available on request or on our website.
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com | Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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UK, European & Worldwide Garden Holidays These tours are run jointly with the RHS. With such rich inspiration, we hope that you find the holiday for you, and look forward to welcoming you on one of our RHS Garden Holidays very soon. Here is a small selection of our early 2017 tours.
The holidays have been created using the expertise of a whole host of RHS staff, from curators, botanists and garden writers to RHS advisory team and committee members, and draw on their knowledge, expertise and contacts around the world. All of the holidays are led by an experienced and knowledgeable tour manager. Many are also accompanied by an RHS host, drawn from various areas of the RHS, to add an extra layer of horticultural expertise.
What’s Included – Return flights (where applicable) – Hotel accommodation – All breakfasts included – Some lunches and dinners – Private coach travel throughout – A professional Tour Manager
January 2017
March 2017
Chile: A Botanical Adventure
Tresco’s Abbey Gardens
Extraordinary scenery, amazing wildlife and a feast of native flora — it’s no wonder that Chile is so often described as a bio-geographical island. Departs 10 January - £6,225
On arrival on Tresco you are enveloped in almost total silence. Leave behind the stress of everyday existence... and start to enjoy island life. Departs throughout March - £795
Gardens of New Zealand
Seasonal Gardens of Japan
Somebody once said that a trip to New Zealand is the next best thing to space travel - discover an extraordinary landscape of strange plants and greet the weird and wonderful wildlife... Departs 17 January - £6,395
Whether decked with cherry blossom or cloaked in autumn glory, the gardens of Japan are always exquisite. Trees and plants are carefully chosen to create an atmosphere of calm and contemplation. Departs 28 March - £4,195
February 2017 Gardens of the French Riviera The French Riviera has retained its allure for over a century – its elegant gardens and dazzling azure skies inspired a generation of artists. Departs 23 February - £1,195
The Cornwall Spring Flower Show This is one of the first events of the English gardening year, a colourful treat to look forward to at the end of winter. Travel with Mike Nelhams, curator of Tresco’s Abbey Gardens. Departs 31 March - £415
To book or to obtain further information Tel: 0203 735 1855 Email: rhs@brightwaterholidays.com Fax: 01334 657144 www.rhsgardenholidays.com 34
Visit brightwaterholidays.com to obtain a full day-by-day itinerary of all our tours and to view further departure dates.
tailor-made group travel
Tailor-Made Group Travel Since its inception, Brightwater Holidays has provided tailor-made travel arrangements for many private groups and societies. Packages have ranged from a short city break to a grand 21-day tour of South Africa. Typically, tours include all transport, accommodation and entry costs, visiting gardens, stately homes, art galleries and other specialist attractions to suit the group’s individual requirements. On most occasions we also provide an experienced Tour Manager. We like to try and fully understand the requirements of your group. Ellen Walker, our Group Travel Manager, puts considerable time and effort into the preparation of every proposal. The level of service we offer our Group Tour Organisers was recently acknowledged in a glittering Group Travel Awards ceremony in London’s West End when Ellen collected rather a splendid award for her efforts. Remember — it’s your tour, and we will always strive to supply the perfect holiday to match your requirements and budget. Call our Group Travel Manager Ellen Today
01334 657155
Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com
Quality Garden & Special Interest Tours 2016/17
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WAFA Barbados 2017 After the great success of the World Association of Floral Artists show in Dublin in June 2014, it was announced that the next show will be held on the sun-kissed Caribbean island of Barbados. Coming in June 2017, if the show is to be anything like the one in Ireland it will be a spectacle not to be missed for anyone interested in the art of floral arrangements. The Show will include flower-arranging demonstrations and lectures, along with magnificent displays of floral art created by professional, amateur and novice flower arrangers from all around the world. A full day’s visit to the Show is complemented with a series of guided excursions and visits featuring both public and private gardens and other local attractions. See Hunte’s Garden, a lush tropical garden filled with the vibrant colours and textures of rare exotic plants; Orchid World, which houses a dazzling display of more than 20,000 orchids; Harrison’s Cave, a crystalline limestone cavern which is one of Barbados’ greatest wonders, and George Washington House, a historic plantation house where the United States’ President-to-be resided in 1751. But it doesn’t have to stop there — your Caribbean excursion can be as full or as laid back as you want it to be. Opt for further excursions including a full-day tour visiting Cherry Tree Hill viewpoint, Bathsheba beach, the Andromeda Botanical Gardens and the Sunbury Plantation, a half-day Island Safari tour, and a Catamaran Lunch cruise. Above all, there’s ample time simply to enjoy the tropical paradise of Barbados, with its near-perfect weather and stunning, palm-fringed beaches. There is plenty to occupy those whose interests may lie elsewhere, such as golf, sailing, cricket, scuba-diving, and game fishing, so why not persuade your spouse, partner, or a friend to come too? 8 nights from £2,095 pp | Single Supp £490 | 21 June 2017
What’s included •
7 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast in an Island View room at the 4* Accra Beach Hotel and Spa (ocean view at supplemented price)
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Return scheduled flights from London Gatwick to Bridgetown, Barbados (other airports on request)
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Ticket for WAFA 2017; visits to Harrison’s Cave, St Ann’s Fort, George Washington House, Orchid World, Hunte’s Garden and a private garden
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Services of a professional tour manager
Call today 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com www.brightwaterholidays.com | Brightwater Holidays Ltd, Eden Park House, Cupar, Fife KY15 4HS