Autumn Trip To The National Arboretum | Westonbirt

Itinerary

An Autumn Treat: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire

The Arboretum’s story begins in the 1870’s with the wealthy Victorian landowner, Robert Holford: an ambitious man with a passion for the natural world. Holford financed plant collecting expeditions all over the world on a quest to find the rare, the beautiful and the extraordinary, and the arboretum still contains many of the original plants brought back from these trips.

Westonbirt has 15,000 specimens, and 2,500 species of tree from all over the world. The arboretum plays a vital part in research and conservation, as well as being a beautiful place to visit and explore rare, interesting, and spectacular plants from the furthest corners of the globe. It has one of the most beautiful and important plant collections in the world.

This is a day to stroll around the woodland and explore as little or as much you like. Be sure to take time to sit, listen and relax on one of the many seats dotted amidst the trees throughout the arboretum and soak up the atmosphere created by so many ancient trees.

Accessibility

Westonbirt has created some short walks to suit anyone who may benefit from some additional support in order to enjoy the arboretum. There are four short walks to try all under 1 mile in length. There are plenty of benches along each route should you wish to take a break and enjoy your beautiful surroundings. For more information click here.

Copies of the map are available from the Westonbirt information desk or you can download one from the black information box.

There is also a shuttle bus which drives in a circle around The Downs from the Welcome Building to the central facilities area and back again. You can be picked up or dropped off at any of our shuttle bus benches to assist with your short walk. The shuttle bus is run by volunteers and there may be times when the shuttle bus will not be running.

Refreshments

When you need refreshments, the restaurant serves hot drinks, snacks and light meals with ingredients sourced locally as far as possible.

Travel arrangements

09.30 Depart Shrewsbury

11.30 Arrive Westonbirt

16.00 Depart Westonbirt

18.00 Arrive Shrewsbury

Timings will be confirmed 7-days before travel.

Booking your place

The cost for the day is £76 which includes return coach travel from your pick-up point and entry into the Arboretum with a Guided Tour.

A non-refundable deposit of £20 per person is payable when booking. Full payment is due 10 weeks before departure.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire

Tour Information

This magical tree garden, where you can explore trees from all over the globe, is one of our favourite Autumn destinations. It is always a popular trip so do book early.