Paull's Inside Track |
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Think Britain, Think Paull Your Personal Travel Advisor
Issue 334 | 24th June 2020
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Welcome |
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Yesterday, our Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that from 4th July, the self-distancing figure shrinks from 2 metres to 1 metre which will enable hotels, pubs, restaurants and many attractions to reopen. This is the biggest leap to near normality since the lockdown started on 23rd March. Responding to this encouraging news, I’ve created a fantastic, late June stately homes and gardens tour that combines the annual Flower Shows at Blenheim Place and Woburn Abbey with Waddesdon Manor, Hatfield House and an Edible Garden. June’s also a good month for a Doc Martin, Poldark tour to Devon and Cornwall.
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A Rothschild House and Garden |
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The French chateau-style Waddesdon Manor has just issued a newsletter which gives details of the remarkable collections of art treasures which became known as the ‘Gout Rothschild’. Surrounded by stunning Victorian gardens, it underlines why I include it in travel less, see more, value added tours that combine Oxford, Stratford upon Avon and the Cotswolds. |
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The Blenheim Palace Flower Show |
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This wonderful 3-day show celebrates the very best of gardening and is packed with inspiration and colour. The Grand Pavilion will be full of the UK’s finest nurseries and growers giving you expert advice and ideas for your garden while the Shopping Village will feature trade stands from well over 200 of the country’s leading exhibitors.
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The Woburn Abbey Garden Show |
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Known as ‘The Gardener’s Garden Show’, the event features tours around the fabulous gardens, demonstrations and talks from top experts. Don’t forget, Woburn Abbey is where The English social custom of taking Afternoon Tea was popularised in the 1840s by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, who entertained her friends here.
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On Location With ‘The Favourite’ |
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A leisurely visit to magnificent, Jacobean Hatfield House makes another great addition to this unique itinerary. Used as the location for the filming of ‘The Favourite’ the visit is timed to coincide with the infrequent opening of the elegant parterres, topiary and rare plants in the East Garden. The Formal Gardens date from 1611. |
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An Edible Garden |
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After all these grand stately homes, I’m finishing with a visit to Kathy Brown’s award-winning Manor House which includes six art-inspired gardens with inspiration drawn from Rothko, Newman, Mondrian and Matisse. The visit can include a demonstration of how to use edible flowers and an English Afternoon tea with a slice of Hedgerow Cake (pictured).
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Clovelly, Doc Martin and Poldark |
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June is a good month for a Doc Martin/Poldark tour to Cornwall and Devon where gardens at Clovelly Court are beautiful, full of colour and buzzing with wildlife. The lockdown has enabled the gardeners to catch up on a number of historical projects, re-building drystone walls, planting new borders and adding trees to the bordering fields.
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