Somerset Snowdrop Spectacular

Day 1

We depart the local area and make our way to Welford Park. You may know Welford as the home of the Great British Bake Off but come late wintertime, you will see one of the finest snowdrop collections in the UK. The dainty droplets of snowdrops thrive amongst the 5-acre beech wood, enchanting riverbanks of the river Lambourn and the glorious gardens. We arrive at the 4* Swan Hotel with time to settle in before dinner.

Day 2

Forde Abbey Gardens is our first visit of the day. Marvel at the stunning display of the delicate white flowers spread across the drive, banks, and lawns, with clusters of snowdrops finding homes in the beds and borders in various parts of the 30-acre garden. Most snowdrops here are naturalised Galanthus nivalis with a few named cultivars dispersed across the garden.
This afternoon we make our way to Hestercombe with 50 acres of quintessential Somerset gardens, spanning three centuries of garden design. There are a unique combination and varied experience of the Georgian Landscape Garden, the Victorian Shrubbery and the Edwardian Formal Gardens. A carpet of snowdrops in the Rook Wood is followed by early daffodils, and in the formal gardens the fragrance of winter sweet (Chimonanthus praecox) fills the air around the Rotunda.

Day 3

Make the most of the hotel's location right in the centre of Wells and spend the morning at leisure exploring England's smallest city. You can visit the many shops and tea rooms, the famous cathedral, or if you need more snowdrops the Bishop's Palace gardens are a short walk from the hotel (entrance at own cost). We depart after lunch and arrive home mid-afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast