Our Houses in Dorset & the Cotswolds
Not hotels, but private houses perfectly designed to host our ‘country house week’ tours, Symondsbury Manor, The Old Rectory and Bruern Cottages have been chosen for their comfort, amenities and style.
The Manor is a rambling 17th century house with Georgian and Victorian additions. Overlooking the medieval village church, the manor’s gardens and orchard are a delight, and behind its mellow stone walls and mullioned windows lies a surprising discovery: a fresh, creative interior full of colour and playful charm.
Our two June 2026 tours are based at the Old Rectory in Symondsbury, reputedly England’s largest rectory, a fine Georgian house with 11 large and comfortable bedrooms, drawing room, billiard room and dining room.
Each house has the picture-postcard perfect village of Symondsbury on their doorstep, with a thatched pub, grocery shop and cafe a two minute walk.
Only a mile along the road lies bustling Bridport, famed for its street market of antiques, artisanal craft and local produce.
A thoroughly English oasis of tranquillity and ease, Symonsbury makes the perfect base for a week exploring the outdoor glories of Dorset and Somerset.
In the Cotswolds, we stay at the award-winning and deeply luxurious Bruern Cottages, close to Burford and the enigmatic Rollright Stones. As well as being extremely comfortable and fully ensuite, Bruern comes with an indoor swimming pool, gym and its own lovely gardens.
The Food
Simon and Jason take food seriously.
Their guests enjoy amazing lunches, dinners and teas, every day.
For breakfast, freshly squeezed orange juice, Alexa’s patent muesli, yoghurt, berries, toast, jam, marmalade, and lashings of tea and coffee.
At lunchtime, we will have a table at one of Dorset’s finest restaurants. Dorset is a foodie heaven, with plenty of great destinations to choose from – Brassica, The Green, the Seaside Boarding House, @Holm over in Somerset, to name just a few of the award-winning restaurants where we feast each day. Or perhaps it’ll be a picnic on the lawn, with salads and asparagus and Scotch eggs, fresh mayonnaise, bread from Wobbly Cottage, strawberries and cream…
Back from the gardens, there’s always a fresh cake baked by Dorset’s best cake maker, a high accolade which goes to Hayley, Darcey’s mum. Victoria sponge, scones and cream, a towering coffee and walnut cake with just the right proportion of icing to cake… every day is a new revelation!
And then, after tea, after evening drinks, it’s time for dinner.
Need we say more?
Caroline and Claire are possibly the best chefs in the county. Their top-restaurant-level suppers bring guests back to G&T year on year.
Claire’s hugely successful vegetarian/vegan restaurant, f.east, recently moved to lovely new premises in Bridport. She uses the freshest seasonal herbs and vegetables, much of it picked daily from her own Dorset kitchen garden, to create delicious and colourful dishes which draw on influences from Asia, North Africa, South America and the Mediterranean.
Her style of cookery is light, delicious and always beautiful.
Caroline brilliantly conjures up delectable dinners, whether it’s lamb cutlets or delicate venison, mouth-watering medallions of pork, or elegant slices of beef; they are served with all the trimmings and fresh, seasonal vegetables.
For pudding, something sophisticated and fresh.
And in the Cotswolds…
For breakfast, freshly squeezed orange juice, Alexa’s patent muesli, yoghurt, berries, toast, jam, marmalade, and lashings of tea and coffee.
Oxfordshire is a rich and sophisticated county with plenty of fabulous restaurants to choose from, including the classic, tiny 5 North Street in Winchcombe and The Hare in Milton-under-Wychwood. There’ll be picnics, home lunches and a special feast at Ham Court.
Back for tea and cake, followed by the usual sundowners and delicious suppers created for us every evening by Dave Cross, a talented young chef who also works for the circus, Fool’s Delight.
In every house, the wines will be selected for us by our friend, master clothier and sommelier manqué, Johnnie Boden.
Of course, all our great meals are seasoned with the companionship and good spirits of your fellow garden-lovers, people from all over the globe who appreciate beautiful things: beautiful English gardens, gorgeous food, inspiring landscapes, unlimited stories, and the pleasures of good conversation.
