Historic Houses & Gardens of the Scottish Borders & Lake District

Itinerary

Day 1, Travelling to Scotland via Lowther Castle & Gardens, Cumbria

Departing Shrewsbury at 08.30 we will break our journey to Scotland with a visit to the fascinating Lowther Castle in Cumbria including a garden tour. A number of customers got in touch when it was featured on BBC’s Gardener’s World and suggested it as a destination. We couldn’t agree more!

Lowther Castle & Garden with Garden Tour

Built at the turn of the 19th century on the site of two previous houses, the castle was a grand affair. Its gardens were the envy of the north. But sadly, in 1957 the castle was demolished. Just the façade and outer walls remained standing – the place was empty, home only to chickens, pigs, the odd bat and the gardens were lost to wilderness.

In 2008, under the guidance of Chelsea Gold winner and international Garden Designer Dan Pearson, Lowther’s gardens were marked out for rescue with a 20-year landscape masterplan.

Visitors today will see the courtyard dotted with a series of clipped hornbeam sentinels, their sculptured shapes reflecting the castle architecture; the Parterre planted with bold combinations of herbaceous perennials, woolly grasses and clipped yews; the Garden-in-the-Ruins, a fine example of naturalistic planting with a collection of botanical rarities. The Rose Garden, inspired by the Sleeping Beauty myth and planted in the shape of an old English Rose, is Pearson’s latest addition.

Summerhouses, tree hives for wild bees, wildflower meadows and rambling woodland – all these can be found across the gardens’ 130 acres. The remarkable Western Terrace is a must for all visitors, a spectacular point from which to view the Lowther Valley and the Lake District mountains beyond.

You can either bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds or opt for lunch in the Lowther Café which you can eat in or take away. They pride themselves on using delicious locally sourced food which is freshly prepared in the kitchen.

From Lowther we will head for the Radstone Hotel, aiming to arrive for 17.30, traffic permitting.

Before dinner we will meet up for a pre-dinner drink to welcome both returning customers and those joining us for the first time.

Day 2, Dumfries House & Garden

Leaving the hotel at 09.30 we will make our way to Dumfries House which is one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes, and another much requested destination.

Private House Tour, morning coffee on arrival and lunch in Dumfries House

We will arrive at 10.30 for what promises to be a memorable experience. A member of staff will meet us from the coach and take us into the house for morning coffee which will be served in a private room in Dumfries House. After a private tour of the house, we will have a light lunch, also in the house, then you are free to explore the grounds in your own time. The Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden is a 15-20 minute walk away so a mini-bus shuttle service will be available.

Set in 2,000 acres of land, this stunning estate and 18th-century house with its unrivalled collection of original furniture, was saved in 2007 by the intervention of King Charles lll. The House combines the neoclassical architecture of Robert Adam with the furniture of Thomas Chippendale and leading 18th-century Scottish cabinet makers. There is lots to see on the estate including The Queen Elizabeth Walled Gardens, a flagship project of the restoration – a five-acre garden which is one of the biggest in Scotland and features a unique 12-metre drop from north to south. There will be time wander around the estate at your leisure.

Do leave time for the Visitor Centre and Shop. The shop has a wide choice of reminders of your visit with prices to suit every pocket from locally produced jam to a traditional crook for when you walk the grounds.

We will depart at 16.00 and aim to arrive back at the hotel for 17.30.There is time to rest up before dinner at 19.30.

Day 3, Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute

Today we will spend the day on the beautiful Isle of Bute and visit the magnificent Mount Stuart, the Victorian Gothic House built by the 3rd Marquess of Bute and his architect Sir Robert Rowland Anderson, which combines powerful architecture with intricate details and lavish designs.

Travelling by coach from the hotel we will make the 30–40-minute ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute. The coach will take us around the island to Mount Stuart. Our itinerary for the day depends upon the times of the ferry crossing, which have not yet been published.These will be confirmed on the tour.

Mount Stuart House & Garden, morning coffee and private house tour

On arrival at Mount Stuart, we will have tea or coffee and biscuits before we have a guided tour of this lavishly restored house, a restoration that continues today.

The original house was severely damaged by fire in 1877 but most of the contents survived, along with the Georgian wings of the building. These were retained as part of the new Mount Stuart, which the 3rd Marquess of Bute built in the late 19th century and the Georgian architecture presents a striking contrast to the otherwise Victorian design. Inside, the design is inspired by astrology, art and mythology including a map of the stars on the ceiling of the Marble Hall. This house is filled with innovations – from an early telephone system to our Victorian passenger lift.

After the house tour you are free to explore the gardens at your leisure. To keep your energy up visit The Courtyard Café, which uses locally sourced ingredients to create delicious hearty soups, fresh sandwiches, salads, hot ‘Bute Bakes’ and irresistible scones.

The gardens are made for exploring. Set against a striking Firth of Clyde backdrop, the 300 acres of gardens boast arboricultural and horticultural collections of global significance with a colourful show all year round. Exotic plant life flourishes, adding an unexpected hint of the tropical, while winding woodlands stretch right down to the shore.

With plant species introduced through the centuries, the Bute family’s passion for plants can be seen at every turn. Visit the rock garden, designed by the famous Victorian landscape architect Thomas Mawson. Explore the arboretum, with trees dating back to the estate’s early days. And don’t miss the pinetums – home to more than 800 towering conifers.

Depending upon the ferry sailing times we will see more of the Isle if there is time. Please note, if the weather is unsuitable for the ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute we will arrange to visit another venue.

As usual, dinner will be served at 19.30.

Day 4, A Day in Glasgow with Lunch and Blue Badge Guide

We aim to be in Glasgow for 09.45 so that we can make the most of our time. As with any city Glasgow can be noisy, busy and fast moving. Our carefully planned itinerary avoids these pitfalls and instead offers culture, history and of course, great food!

The Burrell Collection Art Gallery, Lunch at Mackintosh at The Willow Team Rooms, Blue Badge Guide ending at the Riverside and Riverside Transport Museum

The Burrell Collection Art Gallery

Our first stop this morning is the Burrell Collection Art Gallery. The Gallery is one of Europe’s most beautiful museums houses a staggering 9,000 objects. Founded by Sir William Burrell (1861–1958) who was born and raised in Glasgow who made his fortune as a shipping merchant in the family business and through clever investments. This allowed him to pursue his life’s work – collecting art and antiques. He was an active collector for over 75 years, with a passion to learn and understand more about the art and objects lasting his whole life.

By 1900, he was a respected collector and one of the largest donors of artworks to the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition. Believing in free education for all he wanted the people of the city to be able to access his fine collection which he generously gifted to the City of Glasgow.

Highlights include one of the most significant holdings of Chinese art in the UK, medieval treasures including stained glass, arms and armour and over 200 tapestries which rank amongst the finest in the world, and paintings by renowned French artists including Manet, Cezanne and Degas. This magnificent collection in its purpose-built home surrounded by beautiful parkland, is ranked amongst the most significant civic museum collections in the UK, comparable to the National Gallery and the V&A in London.

Lunch at Mackintosh at The Willow Team Rooms

We will have lunch in the stylish Willow Tea Rooms, inspired by the works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and modelled on Kate Cranston’s Ingram Street Tea Rooms from the early 1900s. There will be time after lunch to pop upstairs to visit the Mackintosh Museum.

The Cranston family were avid supporters of the temperance movement and Kate’s brother Stuart gets the credit for opening the first Tea Room. He was a tea merchant and always had the kettle on in his shop to provide samples for his customers. Stuart realised he could charge for this and set up some tables and chairs in the premises and began selling cups of tea with the optional extra of cakes. The idea proved lucrative and soon Tea Rooms were sprouting up all over the city.

Kate Cranston established her own Team Room business. She used two relatively unknown designers at that time, George Walton and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to create the interior, which was truly unique and was critically acclaimed in the newspapers and art magazines of the day. Today, the Tea Rooms continue the tradition of quality, locally sourced, homemade and home-baked food with the addition of a great range of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options.

Guided City Tour and the Riverside Museum

After lunch a Blue Badge Guide will join us for a coach tour of the city. The Guide will tell us more about the industrial history of the city and the docks, ending the tour at the Riverside Museum, Glasgow’s award-winning Transport Museum which will no doubt set us all off reminiscing about travel in years gone by.

Located at the junction of the Rivers Kelvin and Clyde, the museum houses the city’s fabulous transport and technology collections, which have been gathered over the centuries and which reflect the important part Glasgow has played in the world through its contributions to heavy industries like shipbuilding, train manufacturing and engineering. Walk through Glasgow streets and visit the shops, bar and subway. Climb aboard a train, tram or bus. Also discover Glasgow’s rich shipbuilding history. Explore the car and motorbike walls and help put out a fire with their interactive fire engine. If you prefer to take things easy visit the museum café or take a stroll along the docks. Entrance is free and donations are welcome.

Day 5, Hutton-in-the-Forest, Historic House & Gardens, Cumbria

Moring coffee, followed by house tour, lunch and free time

This might be our final day but there is time to visit just one more spectacular destination – Hutton-in-the-Forest Historic House, surrounded by its spectacular garden and grounds. There will be tea or coffee on arrival, followed by a guided house tour, a hot 2-course lunch so no cooking needed when you get home, and free time to explore the gardens.

Located on the northern edge of the Lake District in Cumbria, the house owes its striking façade to its long history. Incorporating six distinct architectural periods, spanning over 600 years, the oldest part of the house is the Pele Tower, built around 1350. It is one of many such defensive structures built in Cumberland by wealthy families, who were highly aware of the threat from the Scots to the north! The original house has been added to bit-by-bit by successive generations in the local pink sandstone and the result is a rich and unusual illustration of the development of the country house in the North of England.

Inside the house is a remarkable journey through time. From the medieval Stone Hall to the Victorian Drawing Room, the rooms represent a succession of historical eras and styles. Containing fine period furniture sitting alongside contemporary ceramics, the house also has interesting collections of portraits, including several by 17th and 18th century women artists, good examples of needlework and tapestries – some more than 500 years old – and fierce decorative weaponry!

Laid out in the 17th Century, the grounds have evolved over time. The beautiful Walled Garden has a wide-ranging collection of bulbs, herbaceous plants, annuals and roses set against the backdrop of old pear and apple tree. Fine terraces to the South and West of the house act as a plinth for the massive strength of the architecture and were considerably restored in the 19th Century. Much of the topiary dates from the 1890s, reflecting the arts and crafts revival of interest in topiary.

A decade ago the Low Garden was cleared of rhododendrons and a wild-flower meadow was planted in its place. On the south and west, the house is bounded by a beck which enabled the creation of three ponds with cascades. Recent clearing of the rhododendrons at the beginning of the Woodland Walk has allowed the magnificent American conifers, planted as a small arboretum in the 1860s, to be seen properly. The Woodlands Walk take you through a mixture of mature hardwoods and more recent planting by the present Lord Inglewood and his father.

Departing Hutton-in-the -Forest in the afternoon we aim to be in Shrewsbury for approximately 19.00, traffic permitting.

Booking your place

Two people sharing a twin or double room is £1100 per person. A supplement for sole occupancy of a double room is £150.

£100 non-refundable deposit is payable on booking. Full payment is due 10 weeks before departure.

Travel arrangements

Departing Shrewsbury 08.30 Monday 13 May and arriving back in Shrewsbury on Friday 17 May approximately 19.00. Timings for the trip will be confirmed 7-days before travel.

You are strongly advised to take out your own travel insurance to cover you for any emergency or cancellation or loss of luggage etc.

And finally…

Please look at the Hotel, Mobility & Accessibility sections further down this page where we have put links to all venues.

Radston Hotel, Lanarkshire

Staying at the Radstone Hotel located in the Clyde Valley, this is a small and spacious hotel with a modern stylish design. We have selected the Radstone for its ease of access to Glasgow, the Isle of Bute and our other chosen locations. The hotel has a lovey feel and with the added bonus of a private dining room with beautiful views.

Jacky has been to visit the hotel, which has been highly recommended to us. Please note, we usually stay at 4* hotels and this hotel is rated 3* because it does not have leisure facilities. It is situated close to main roads (which is why travel each day is so convenient) and although its surroundings are not as picturesque as some of our hotels when you are inside it is warm, welcoming and has beautiful views.

Arrangements for dinner

Dinner is usually served at 19.30. On the first evening we will meet for a pre-dinner drink to provide an opportunity to chat, relax and meet fellow travellers. Dinner is always a sociable time with tables being arranged to seat 2, 4 or 6 leaving you free to join dinner companions of your choice.

Accessibility & Mobility Information

For information on accessibility and mobility arrangements at all destinations please follow the links below. Pages often include information on the type of terrain at the venue, wheelchair access, lifts and equipment available for hire. We kindly ask you to make any hire arrangements directly with the venues.

Day 1, Lowther Castle

Day 2, Dumfries House

Day 3, Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute

Day 4, The Burrell Collection please scroll down the page to the section Accessibility and visitor facilities. Scroll down the page to the Access Guide for The Riverside Museum.

Day 5, Scroll down the page and click on ‘Disabled access’ tab for Hutton-in-the-Forest.

Historic Houses & Gardens of the Scottish Borders & Lake District

Tour Information

Historic Houses & Gardens of the Scottish Borders & Lake District

UPDATE: This tour is now full. Please email or call to join the waiting list.

Included in this tour

Visiting Lowther Castle, Westmorland in Cumbria and Garden Tour

Visiting Dumfries House, morning coffee and biscuits on arrival and lunch, served in a private dining room. Private house tour. Minibus service to the Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden

Visiting the Isle of Bute, return ferry crossing

Visiting Mount Stuart Estate, morning coffee on arrival and private house tour

A day in Glasgow

Lunch at The Mackintosh at The Willow, The Burrell Museum, Blue Badge Guided Tour of Glasgow and a visit to the Riverside Museum, Glasgow’s award-winning Transport Museum at the waterfront

Hutton-in-the-Forest Historic House and Garden with morning coffee and biscuits on arrival, guided house tour and 2-course hot cooked lunch

Tour accompanied by Wisteria Tours

4 night’s 3-course dinner, B&B at the 3* Radstone Hotel, with pre-dinner drinks on the first night

Coach travel throughout the tour with award winning Lakeside Coaches of Ellesmere.

Around Glasgow & the Lake District

Itinerary

Day 1, Travelling to Scotland via Lowther Castle & Gardens, Cumbria

Day 2, Dumfries House & Garden

Day 3, Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute

Day 4, A Day in Glasgow with Lunch and Blue Badge Guide

Day 5, Hutton-in-the-Forest, Historic House & Gardens, Cumbria

Booking your place