14th July & 21st July itinerary

Sunday

Welcome recpetion and private dinner with wine followed by a talk from your host Mike Stone.

Monday

We begin our story with Ralph Scudamore, who arrived from Normandy to build a castle in Ewyas Harold in 1042, whose family moved to a moated manor at Kentchurch in the 14th century. The house you will see now was modernised by renowned architect John Nash between 1773 and 1795 and contains carvings by Grinling Gibbons and a fine collection of portraits dating back to the 16th century. Filming for Regency House Party and Country House Rescue has taken place here and as part of your visit a two-course lunch has been organised for you (included) and there will also be time to visit the gardens. On to nearby Dore Abbey, daughter house of the Cistercian Abbey at Morimond, which was founded in 1147. Large parts of the 12th to 13th century buildings of the main Cistercian abbey survive as they were incorporated into the later parish church. The abbey was dissolved in 1536 and was bought by a local landowner.

Tuesday

To Madresfield Court which began its life as a great hall in the 12th century. In 1593 the house was rebuilt and again in the 19th century it was substantially remodelled to resemble a moated Elizabethan house. The Court chapel was decorated in the Arts & Crafts style and the Lygon family have owned the house and estate for several centuries. The novelist Evelyn Waugh visited the house and may have based the Flyte family in Brideshead Revisited on the Lygons. After lunch (not included) you visit Eastnor Castle. In the 16th century the Cocks family purchased land and married into the Somers and Nash families. Between 1812 and 1820 an imposing medieval castle was built to the designs of the architect Robert Smirke and has been used to film Oscar Wilde's 'The Canterville Ghost' and 'The Box of Delights'. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.00pm.

Please note: Extra nights are available at a supplement

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 49 passengers.

20th September itinerary

Friday

Welcome recpetion and private dinner with wine followed by a talk from your host Mike Stone.

Saturday

To Madresfield Court which began its life as a great hall in the 12th century. In 1593 the house was rebuilt and again in the 19th century it was substantially remodelled to resemble a moated Elizabethan house. The Court chapel was decorated in the Arts & Crafts style and the Lygon family have owned the house and estate for several centuries. The novelist Evelyn Waugh visited the house and may have based the Flyte family in Brideshead Revisited on the Lygons. After lunch (not included) you visit Hilles House, home of Detmar Blow and his late wife Isabella Blow, who was an icon in the international fashion world and credited with having discovered Alexander McQueen and Sophie Dahl. The house has entertained royalty and many celebrities from the music, fashion and art worlds. This striking Arts & Crafts house was built in 1913 and has been covered recently by World of Interiors magazine, and in the past by Vogue, The New York Times and The Sunday Times.

Sunday

We begin our story with Ralph Scudamore, who arrived from Normandy to build a castle in Ewyas Harold in 1042, whose family moved to a moated manor at Kentchurch in the 14th century. The house you will see now was modernised by renowned architect John Nash between 1773 and 1795 and contains carvings by Grinling Gibbons and a fine collection of portraits dating back to the 16th century. Filming for Regency House Party and Country House Rescue has taken place here and as part of your visit a two-course lunch has been organised for you (included) and there will also be time to visit the gardens. On to nearby Abbey Dore, daughter house of the Cistercian Abbey at Morimond, which was founded in 1147. Large parts of the 12th to 13th century buildings of the main Cistercian abbey survive as they were incorporated into the later parish church. The abbey was dissolved in 1536 and was bought by a local landowner.

Please note: Extra nights are available at a supplement,

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 49 passengers.

Cheltenham Chase Hotel, Brockworth (July)

Located close to Gloucester and Cheltenham, the 4-star Cheltenham Chase Hotel offers a restaurant with views across Coopers Hill, bar and lounge, health club, indoor pool and stylish bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV, telephone, air-conditioning, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel offers complimentary car parking.

Menzies Stourport Manor Hotel, Stourport on Severn (September)

Located close to Kidderminster, the 4-star Menzies Stourport Manor Hotel is situated in 23 acres of grounds overlooking the historic Georgian riverside town of Stourport. The hotel offers a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and contemporary style bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities.