Scotland in Bloom!

ITINERARY

AT A GLANCE

June 25, Tuesday – Arrive in Edinburgh and the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Edinburgh City Centre

June 26, Wednesday – Shepherd House, Free Time in Dunbar, Tyninghame House

June 27, Thursday – Carolside Gardens & Floors Castle

June 28, Friday – Jupiter Artland, An Evening of Scottish Entertainment

June 29, Saturday – Broadwoodside, Free Time in North Berwick, Boat Tour at Bass Rock

June 30, Sunday – Portmore Gardens, Pub Lunch, Stobshiel House

July 1, Monday – Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Free Time in Edinburgh

July 2, Tuesday – Depart or continue travels

DETAILS

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate strives to operate according to our published itinerary. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or opportunities that would enhance the itinerary, adjustments may be necessary.

Day 1, Tuesday, June 25: ARRIVAL

Tour members arrange their own transportation to Edinburgh and to the DoubleTree Edinburgh City Centre, where a reservation has been made for them.

We will gather for a welcome dinner this evening (included in tour price).

Day 2, Wednesday, June 26: SHEPHERD HOUSE, TYNINGHAME HOUSE

Our first garden is the cozy 17th-century Shepherd House, which sits in the rural village of Inveresk surrounded by a garden for all seasons. Owners Charles and Ann Fraser have lived here for decades and designed the garden themselves. The show starts in May with bulbs and other spring-flowering shrubs and perennials. Roses and perennials are next: Borders and climbing plants produce a riot of colors during the summer months. The formal pond with fountain and statue gives a nice contrast with the abundance of flowers. Walls protect this garden against winds and frost, so they are able to grow a surprising number of less-hardy plants than you might expect here.

At midday we’ll stop in the seaside village of Dunbar, the birthplace of naturalist John Muir, for some free time and lunch on our own.

In the afternoon, we’ll make our way to the 17th-century Scottish baronial manor, Tyninghame House to take in the extensive walled gardens. We’ll see a parterre, large herbaceous borders, a formal rose garden, a wild garden, a Victorian-era glasshouse and more.

Day 3, Thursday, June 27: CAROLSIDE GARDENS, FLOORS CASTLE

We’ll start our day with a guided tour of Carolside Gardens’ walled garden. Here you’ll find one of the best rose collections in the United Kingdom, with hundreds of different bourbon roses, as well as a beautiful romantic perennial border. All this is sequestered behind walls that protect the garden from wind and harsh temperatures (and coincidentally, block the view from the 18th-century house…a unique Scottish feature).

At midday we’ll travel to Floors Castle, the largest inhabited structure in the United Kingdom. Again there’s no garden to be seen from the castle, but as soon as we pass the gate of the walled garden, we’ll be surrounded by numerous perennial borders with different color schemes and an extensive kitchen garden. In the French formal Millennium garden, you can see the initials of the Lord and Lady grown into a boxwood hedge, surrounded with espaliered fruit trees. The large property also includes a charming woodland walk and a path along the River Tweed. While here, we’ll start with lunch together, then have plenty of time to explore.

Day 4, Friday, June 28: JUPITER ARTLAND, SCOTTISH EVENING

Today we’ll visit Jupiter Artland, an amazing garden at Bonnington House dedicated to contemporary art. This sculpture park and art gallery established by collectors Robert and Nicky Wilson features sculptures spread throughout 100 acres of woodlands, meadows, and gardens, creating an immersive and dynamic experience. Artists from around the world have contributed to the collection, resulting in a wide range of artistic styles and mediums. The Wilsons worked closely with landscape architects and designers to shape the land, create paths, and incorporate water features that enhance the experience and encourage visitors to explore the grounds. We’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this unique landscape, and will share a lunch here as well.

At the end of the day we’ll have a bit of free time before participating in an evening of traditional Scottish entertainment.

Day 5, Saturday, June 29: BROADWOODSIDE, NORTH BERWICK, BASS ROCK

Today we’ll visit Broadwoodside, a 17th-century estate that had fallen into neglect when the current owners purchased it just over 20 years ago. Since then, using the footprint of the original farm as the basis, they’ve developed one of the best contemporary gardens of the United Kingdom. Innovative plant combinations highlight foliage and form and whimsical elements intermingle with more traditional hedges and structures to create a must-visit Scottish destination.

We’ll stop for lunch and some free time in North Berwick, a charming harbor town with scenic views.

In the afternoon, we’ll board a boat for a tour around 107-meter-tall Bass Rock. We’ll hope to see masses of sea birds, such as gannets, guillemots, auks, puffins and gulls, and other North Sea wildlife.

Day 6, Sunday, June 30: PORTMORE GARDENS, STOBSHIEL HOUSE

In this morning’s garden visit, we’ll get a private tour and hear about Portmore Gardens’ original Victorian garden’s renovation and the new gardens’ development. Meticulously-cared-for rose gardens. A potager. Double perennial borders in soothing colors of blue, white, purple and green. Victorian glasshouses and Italianate grotto. All protected within stone walls. Outside the wall you can visit the woodland walk and water garden. Lots to see here!

At noon we’ll stop for a traditional pub lunch before traveling to our next destination.

After lunch we’ll tour the gardens at Stobshiel House, whose original walled garden was established in the 19th century. We’ll see colorful perennials surrounded by boxwood hedges, wander paths that take us through woodland and water gardens, and enjoy formal and naturalistic plantings alike.

Day 7, Monday, July 1: EDINBURGH BOTANIC, EDINBURGH

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is considered to be one of the best botanical gardens in the world. Here you’ll find extensive botanical collections, beautiful herbaceous double borders, an arboretum, amazing glasshouses and much more. Its historic Alpine House and Rock Garden are some of the best in the world. And thanks to cooperation with other botanical gardens across the world, you’ll likely see plants you’ve never encountered before. Take your time exploring the parts of this extensive garden that interest you most, and have lunch at your leisure in the café.

Finally, spend your last afternoon exploring Edinburgh. Tour the famous Edinburgh Castle. Visit the National Museum of Scotland. Peruse the shops on Princes Street. Stop at one of Edinburgh’s many pubs. The possibilities are endless!

Day 8, Tuesday, July 2: DEPARTURE

Our time together has ended, but garden lovers always find fresh inspiration wherever they are. Tour members can choose to return home or carry on the adventure.

Contact 800-341-4769 or gardentravel@aimmedia.com for more information.

PRICING

Tour price:

$5,645 (USD) per person, double occupancy

$6,995 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Tour price includes:

• All 4-star hotel accommodations
• All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 7 dinners, including tips
• Admission to all gardens, including tips
• Comfortable coach transport
• Friendly and knowledgeable professional tour coordinator
• Design and botanical expertise of your Horticulture & Garden Gate hosts

Tour price excludes:

• Airfare. Each tour member books their own flight to arrive at the Edinburgh Airport by 3 p.m. local time on 6/25/24 and depart from the same airport on or after 7/2/24.
• Travel Insurance (required)
• 3 lunches, all drinks, including water, and snacks
• Breakfast & lunch on arrival day, and lunch & dinner on departure day
• Tips for coach driver & tour coordinator

Payment schedule:

A $1,000.00 (USD) deposit is due when you book your tour.

Final payment, in full, is due on May 7, 2024.

After May 7, please contact us to confirm that there are still spots available on this tour. If we are able to accommodate your reservation, full payment, reservation form and proof of insurance will be due immediately.

NOTE: Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate offers thoughtfully arranged garden tours. Each tour is guaranteed to proceed as soon as the minimum of 15 reservations has been met. If our reservation minimum is not met, Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate reserves the right to cancel the tour. Deposits/payments will be refunded in full if the tour is canceled.

If you need to cancel your reservation, the deposit and final payment are fully refundable until the deposit deadline, April 2. After April 2, we are not able to refund the deposit. After May 7, no refunds for deposit or final payment will be issued.

Please DO NOT make your airline reservations until Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate has guaranteed (by email) that the tour will proceed.

Contact 800-341-4769 or gardentravel@aimmedia.com for more information.

ACCOMMODATIONS

4-Star Relaxation & Comfortable Coach Travel

Hotel Accommodations

After a day filled with garden inspiration and botanical discoveries, we will retire to the comfort of 4-star accommodations.

June 25 – DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre

June 26-29 – Peebles Hydro Hotel

June 30-July 2 – DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre

Coach Travel

Daily transportation will be provided by a modern, comfortable coach operated by an experienced driver.

Contact 800-341-4769 or gardentravel@aimmedia.com for more information.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Responsibilities:

As the hosting organization, Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate provides reservation services and has chosen Garden Tours, a professional tour operator, as its designated tour operator. As the designated tour operator, Garden Tours arranges for the actual tour of the garden sites. Garden Tours also acts as an agent for services connected with specific tours hosted by Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate, such as ground transportation, lodging, accommodations, and meals. Each service provider is solely responsible to the participant for providing their respective services.

By making a reservation for a tour hosted by Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate, the participant certifies that she/he does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate and Garden Tours reserve the right in their sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant on a tour hosted by Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate.

Price:

The tour prices in this agreement are based upon current exchange rates, tariffs, and taxes. Fluctuations in these rates could result in a price adjustment without prior notice until the tour is paid in full. Once the price for the tour is paid in full, the fee will not be adjusted due to any later change in exchange rates, tariffs or taxes.

Liabilities & Booking Conditions:

Garden Tours is established in the Netherlands, and rights and responsibilities for all tours operated by Garden Tours will be governed by Dutch and EU laws only. Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate and Garden Tours will have responsibility only for the proven negligent acts and omissions of its employees or agents and suppliers, subcontractors, servants, and/or agents of the same while 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 signatory to the contract and/or any other named persons on the booking form.

Smoking:

All participants in tours hosted by Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate agree to comply with a non-smoking policy on all coaches, in restaurants, and in all lodging places.

Liability:

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate and Garden Tours have no responsibility or liability to any person for loss of baggage, money, or other property whatsoever. Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate and Garden Tours have no responsibility or liability for any loss or additional expenses caused by delay or interruption to travel services through weather conditions (such as rain, wind, or fog), civil disturbance, riot, illegal acts of third parties, strikes, wars, floods, sickness or any circumstances amounting to Force Majeure.

Complaints:

In the unlikely event that you have a complaint, you must promptly notify the Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate host or the Garden Tours tour coordinator directly, so he/she can take remedial action on the spot. If the matter cannot be solved directly, any complaints must be submitted in writing to Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate within 20 days after the date of your return.

Your tour canceled by us:

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate aims to provide your tour as booked. We reserve the right to cancel your tour under any circumstances, but if we cancel your tour, except where this is because you have not paid, you will receive a full refund.

Changes in itinerary details:

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate and Garden Tours strive to operate according to the published itinerary. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or opportunities that would enhance the itinerary, adjustments may be necessary or appropriate. Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate and Garden Tours reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the agreed-upon itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of participants. Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate will let you know about any significant changes as soon as possible if there is time before your departure. Otherwise, we will announce changes on the tour.

Cancellations:

If you should need to withdraw from the tour for whatever reason, you must notify Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate in writing. Cancellation becomes effective when written notice is received. Deposits and final payments will be refunded for cancellations made before the deposit deadline (April 2, 2024). Deposits are nonrefundable for cancellations made between April 2 and the final payment deadline, May 7, 2024. There will be no refunds from Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate on or after the final payment deadline.

Insurance:

Travel insurance is required in case you need to cancel your trip after the final payment deadline, you have health emergencies while on the tour, or other unforeseen issues arise. Squaremouth and Insure My Trip are two travel insurance search sites. If you are under 70 years old, World Nomads is usually an economical travel insurance choice. You will be required to provide your travel insurance declarations page to Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate by May 7, 2024.

Health & Safety:

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate follows COVID-19 safety updates from the CDC and our destination countries.

Photography notice:

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate will be taking photos and videos of the gardens for future editorial and promotional use. Tour participants may occasionally appear in these images.

Contact 800-341-4769 or gardentravel@aimmedia.com for more information.

RESERVATIONS

Secure your reservation:

To reserve your spot on this tour:

1. Fill out and submit the online reservation form.
   Reservation Form
2. Submit your tour deposit of $1,000 USD by calling 800-341-4769 or completing a checkout through our online store.
   Pay Deposit Online

Questions? Contact us at gardentravel@aimmedia.com or 800-341-4769. We would love to chat with you about this exciting trip!

Note: After May 7, 2024, please contact us to confirm that there are still spots available on this tour. If we are able to accommodate your reservation, full payment, reservation form and proof of insurance will be due immediately.

Payment details:

Deposit amount: $1,000 USD

Full payment:
$5,645 (USD) per person, double occupancy
$6,995 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Note: For reservations made after May 7, 2024, the full payment will be due immediately.

Additional information about the Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate tour costs, including details about inclusions and exclusions, can be viewed under “Pricing”.

PLEASE NOTE: Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate reserves the right to cancel the tour. Deposits/payments will be refunded in full if the tour is canceled.

Garden Travel with Horticulture & Garden Gate follows COVID-19 safety updates from the CDC and our destination countries.

Contact 800-341-4769 or gardentravel@aimmedia.com for more information.

YOUR TOUR HOSTS

Contact 800-341-4769 or gardentravel@aimmedia.com for more information.