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Specialist Journeys brings together
Andante Travels and Brightwater Holidays
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Contact us on 1-800-759-7715

Contact us on 1-800-759-7715

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To celebrate the launch of Specialist Journeys, enjoy 15% off our 2027 tours with code Curious15. From archaeology and ancient history to remarkable gardens, follow your curiosity somewhere extraordinary. Book by 20 October 2026.

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Two nations, countless discoveries

Our UK and Ireland tours reach past the places everyone has already been. Cornwall grows subtropical planting at Tresco and Heligan, and Kent and Sussex hold one perfect country garden after another. Northumberland has Lindisfarne, Bamburgh and some of the most significant Roman remains in Britain. Anglesey packs Neolithic burial chambers, Bronze Age standing stones and Iron Age hillforts into a small island, and across the Irish Sea the Boyne Valley holds Neolithic monuments in fertile farmland while the Burren's limestone supports wildflowers found almost nowhere else.

Each tour here is built around one shared interest, whether that's gardens, archaeology, history or a flower show, and you travel with specialists who love sharing it.

Across the UK and Ireland, ancient monuments and remarkable gardens reveal centuries of belief, invention and ambition written into the landscape.

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29 results

Snowdrop Gardens of Devon

Snowdrop Gardens of Devon

Discover the impressive snowdrop collections at RHS Rosemoor, where woodland and winter gardens provide year-round horticultural inspiration, and visit the tranquil private garden of Higher Cherubeer, home to hundreds of named snowdrops alongside hellebores and winter-flowering shrubs. We also explore Knightshayes, with its celebrated displays in Sir John’s Wood, the dramatic setting of Castle Drogo overlooking the Teign Valley, and Saltram, where snowdrops, scented shrubs and seasonal planting bring the garden to life. Completing our journey is Kilver Court, an RHS Partner Garden renowned for its winter interest and its special connection to the history of snowdrop breeding.
4 days from $1,045 View Tour
Snowdrop Gardens of the Cotswolds

Snowdrop Gardens of the Cotswolds

Discover the Cotswolds at their most enchanting as winter gardens come alive with carpets of snowdrops, from rare galanthus to romantic woodland displays. This February escape is a treat for dedicated galanthophiles and anyone who loves the first signs of spring. Visit Colesbourne Park, renowned for its exceptional snowdrops, alongside Newark Park, Cerney House and Painswick Rococo Garden, home to one of Britain's largest naturalistic snowdrop plantings. Discover the Museum in the Park in Stroud and finish at Arts & Crafts masterpiece Rodmarton Manor, where around 150 snowdrop varieties create a spectacular finale.
4 days from $1,185 View Tour
Spring Gardens of Cornwall

Spring Gardens of Cornwall

Cornwall’s gardens are renowned the world over and our tour includes visits to some of the finest in the county. Spring comes early here, as trees, shrubs and bulbs bring life and colour back to the gardens. The near neighbours of Trebah and Glendurgan illustrate this perfectly, with the great Asiatic shrubs of rhododendron, magnolia and camellia all featuring, rich with blossom. The award-winning Lost Gardens of Heligan continue to fascinate, while over at the Eden Project, things have come a long way since that disused chalk pit was transformed into a futuristic microcosm of botanical diversity. If you haven’t been for a while then it’s time to revisit; if you’ve never been before you’re in for a treat! Our tour is bookended with visits to two top-class National Trust properties at Knightshayes Court and Killerton, where historic houses provide an extra dimension to your garden visits.
4 days from $1,115 View Tour
Richard III - Hero or Villain?

Richard III - Hero or Villain?

Discover one of English history’s most tragic, bloody and colourful epochs. The 2012 discovery of Richard III's skeleton beneath a Leicester car park was a global archaeological sensation. It reignited debates about his character: was he a nephew-slaying usurper or a dutiful man in the turbulent Wars of the Roses? Our four-day tour, based in Warwick, explores key sites tied to Richard III, including battlefields, castles, churches, and his striking new tomb. Led by medieval historian Dr Michael Jones, co-author of The King’s Grave, this tour is perfect for history enthusiasts intrigued by England’s tragic and bloody past – a real-life Game of Thrones.
4 days from $2,060 View Tour
Spring Gardens of Devon

Spring Gardens of Devon

In spring, gardens are a feast for the senses. The warming weather, blossoming flowers and buzzing bees make for a welcoming time of year. Devon in spring is a true paradise for garden enthusiasts, with the county renowned for its stunning landscapes and diverse plant life. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths create a vibrant tapestry of colour, while the delicate blossoms of cherry trees add a touch of elegance. On this delightful five-day tour, we explore Devon’s hidden gems, from the majestic magnolias and camellias at Coleton Fishacre to the enchanting displays of daffodils, tulips and bluebells at Forde Abbey, with each garden offering a unique and unforgettable experience.
5 days from $1,365 View Tour

UK and Ireland Tours: Your Questions Answered

England, Wales and Ireland, each with tours of their own. Scotland has its own collection, given how much of our programme is based there.

Gardens and the flower show season, archaeology from prehistory through Roman Britain, and history taking in castles, historic houses and the Tudors. Several tours combine more than one.

It depends on the subject. Snowdrops from February, spring gardens from March, the flower show season through May to July, wildflowers in early summer and autumn colour from October. History and archaeology tours run through most of the year.

Gardens are walked rather than viewed, historic houses mean standing and stairs, and archaeological sites often sit on open, uneven ground. Each itinerary carries an activity level of easy, moderate or active so you know what to expect before you book.

Yes. Every tour is fully escorted from the point you join it by a Tour Manager who travels with the group throughout and brings their own specialism to the subject.

Yes, and many guests do. Shared interest does most of the work, and conversation tends to start with whatever you have just seen.

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