Group Travel Tour Operator & DMC for the East Midlands
Burghley, Barnsdale Gardens and Rutland Water Cruise
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Looking down the river to Burghley House ©www.visitlincolnshire.com
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Formal Pool and Knot Garden at Barnsdale Gardens in Summer ©Steve Hamilton
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River in Stamford
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Stamford and its Church
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Apple Arch at Barnsdale Gardens in Autumn ©Steve Hamilton
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The Plantsmans Garden at Barnsdale Gardens in Spring ©Steve Hamilton
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Versailles Borders at Barnsdale Gardens in Summer ©Steve Hamilton
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Geoff Hamilton Winter Borders at Barnsdale Gardens ©Steve Hamilton
On this delightful tour we enjoy a visit to Burghley House, Georgian Stamford, and also picturesque Oakham. Discover Geoff Hamilton’s famous TV garden at Barnsdale Gardens, and take a relaxing cruise on Rutland Water.
Historical art collections, early tapestries and impressive Japanese ceramics are a few of Burghley House’s wonders, you can also explore the pretty gardens. Explore the streets of Stamford, ‘the finest stone town in England’. In Rutland water enjoy a 45 minute cruise to Normanton Church, Rutland’s famous landmark, which is on one of the country’s largest artificial lakes.
Dates
April - October 2024 & 2025
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Travel to your hotel
Day 2
Burghley House and Georgian Stamford
This morning we enjoy a visit to Burghley House, described as England’s greatest Elizabethan house. Burghley is perhaps best-known for its historical collections of important works of art, early tapestries, impressive Japanese ceramics and sculptures. After your visit to the house, explore the grounds and visit the unusual Garden of Surprises and the Contemporary Sculpture Garden.
We then travel the short distance into Stamford, proclaimed by Sir Walter Scott as “the finest stone town in England”. There’s free time to explore the quaint streets and alley-ways of this historic and compact town centre that has more than 600 listed buildings of mellow limestone including five medieval churches.
Day 3
Barnsdale Gardens, cruise on Rutland Water and visit to Oakham
Our first stop today is Barnsdale Gardens, created and made famous by gardener Geoff Hamilton and the BBC programme Gardeners’ World which started filming from the site in 1983. We then travel to Rutland Water, one of the country’s largest artificial lakes, for a 45-minute cruise aboard the ‘Rutland Belle’. During the journey there’s a stop at Normanton Church, one of Rutland’s most famous landmarks and a structure that appears to float on the lake when the reservoir is full. In the afternoon we travel to the traditional English market town of Oakham, full of little shops and boutiques. Visit Oakham Castle (free entrance), the finest example of Norman domestic architecture in the country, or visit the Rutland County Museum (free entrance).
Day 4
Travel home
Greatdays offer a selection of quality hotels in Peterborough.
| Dates | 4 days / 3 nights |
| 2024 dates | Price on request |
| 2025 dates |
Price on request |
Single room supplement available upon request.
