Gardens Tour & Botanical Crafting – United Kingdom (2024)

Depart on overnight flight to Edinburgh, Scotland

Arrive in Edinburgh and check into hotel or Airbnb and rest. After a delicious late morning brunch, we will head out for some sightseeing with a local guide of Edinburgh gardens and stunning architecture. We will then have an early welcome dinner to be held at a local Edinburgh restaurant.

After breakfast we will go to the incredible Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, one of the world’s leading centers on plant science, conservation, horticulture and education. After touring the gardens, we will have a light lunch on site. In the afternoon, one of the Edinburgh scientists will teach us about Plant use as medicine and poison through the Renaissance through modern times.
Then, we will go to the Botanical garden’s private conference room where we will make Rose Water,
A popular remedy since the Middle Ages. All ingredients and instructions will be supplied. Each tour member will have rose water to use and take home.
Dinner at one of the Edinburgh restaurants together.

Early breakfast at hotel
Leave together in van/bus from hotel to Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (2 hours travel).
Arrive Alnwick Castle for the Poison Garden tour with head gardener and possibly Duchess Percy, owner and creator of the Poison Garden and owner of Alnwick Castle
Light lunch at Alnwick castle
Afternoon tour including gardens as well as castle locations where both Harry Potter as well Downton Abbey were filmed. Group welcome to explore castle independently but be back at 4pm for bus ride back to Edinburgh.
7 pm dinner in Edinburgh

Breakfast
Distillery and Garden Tour Experience with the Secret Garden Distillery. Listen as guide takes you through distilling, bottling, labeling plus you will learn how floral ingredients are used and how gin was once used medicinally.
Lunch
Afternoon. At Home With Herbs course introducing preparation, growing and use of herbs you can plant in your garden. To be held on garden premises in Edinburgh outside or indoors depending on weather.
Dinner
Treasures of Edinburgh Ghosts, Myths, and legends Private night tour

Breakfast
Morning. Design your own perfume making class using botanicals and plant oils while learning
About the history or aromatics and perfumery through the ages. You will create and take away a 5ml bottle of perfume.
Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh around 4 pm.
Group walk around Edinburgh to Ramsay Garden, Princess Street Gardens, etc.
8Pm later dinner in Edinburgh restaurant.

Breakfast
Botanical Society of Scotland Lecture: Getting Inside Carnivorous Plants, a walking lecture around the Royal Botanical Gardens glasshouses of insectivorous plants!
Lunch
Gather in conference room at Royal botanical society to make “ witch bell wreathes .” Learn the legends and history of these wreaths and bring one home with you. All supplies included including dried Scottish wildflowers.
Farewell Dinner At Edinburgh Restaurant

Morning departure from Edinburgh to Boston.