This year we shall be visiting Norfolk, staying just outside Norwich on the 2nd and 3rd July 2017.
Day 1 After an early start from Colehill or Ringwood, we shall travel to Norwich, stopping for a comfort break along the way.
We always ask you to bring along a packed lunch for the first day. That way we have the flexibility we may need if there is trouble with the traffic.
On arrival in the locality, we are visiting Elsing Hall, near Dereham. It is a moated manor house, some of which dates back to the 15th century and has over 10 acres of park and garden. Tea and cake will be served on the lawn at the back of the house. You may choose to save your packed lunch and have that there too unless you've already eaten it on the coach.
Next onto Dunbheagan, with a vast collection of rare, unusual and popular plants in this plantsman's garden of about an acre and a half. A real Hardy Planter’s garden. This is our first opportunity to buy plants, with tea and cake here too!
Next we travel to our hotel, the Best Western Brook Hotel, 2 Barnard Road, Norwich where we shall be staying for 2 nights on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis. After a short rest, it's off to our private room for the evening meal together. Visit www.brookhotel.co.uk for more details.
Day 2 and we are off to Sea Mere Garden, Hingham, a wonderful 5 acre garden with spectacular views to the water over terraced lawns and a new wetland garden. There is an ornamental potager, formal oval garden with herbaceous borders, woodland garden, shrub roses in the orchards, and a bamboo glade.
We then travel to our lunch venue, the Poacher's Pocket, where we have a private room booked, on the first floor, with stupendous views over the Norfolk coastline. The baguette lunch is included in the price of the holiday - your choice of filling will be collected nearer the time
Our final visit of the day is to East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden, a 32 acre exotic coastal garden with traditional borders, exotic garden, desert wash, sunk garden, topiary, water features, walled and Mediterranean gardens. Many rare and unusual plants, stunning plant combinations, wild flower meadows, old-fashioned cornfield, vegetable and cutting gardens, in other words, everything. We have a private visit here and the nursery and tea room will open for us.Only the entrance fee is included in the price of the holiday - you are free to spend the afternoon as you wish.
Back to the hotel for a short rest then our 2nd Evening Meal together.
Day 3 and we start our return home. First we shall visit Dale Farm, Dereham. Two acre plant lover's garden with a large spring-fed pond. Over 900 plant species and varieties featured in exuberantly planted borders and waterside gardens, including a collection of 90 species and varieties of hydrangea. Vegetable plot, fruit trees, naturalistic planting areas, gravel garden and sculptures. Tea, coffee and cake here and plants for sale. The garden is owned by the local NGS Publicity Officer with his wife propagating thousands of plants every year, we are sure you will find something to your taste.
Our next stop is at Thetford where we shall stop for approx 2 hours for you to have lunch and explore. There are plenty of pubs and cafes to choose from as well as the Dad’s Army Museum, Charles Burrell Museum and Ancient House of Thetford Life Museum, also Priory and castle ruins to visit.
We shall be taking a short comfort break on the journey home to Dorset.
We hope to be back at Ringwood/Colehill by early evening, but as you know, anything can happen!
COST PER PERSON - DORSET MEMBERS Double/Twin room £247.00 Single Room £307.00 - NON MEMBERS Double/Twin room £267.00 Single Room £327.00
If you are interested in coming along, just contact us using the Contacts page and we'll get back to you.
