Kiftsgate & Hidcote

Our second and third Gardens on the 2014 Road trip were so close together it would have been a crime not to visit them both. Kiftsgate was a lovely find with the most beautiful swimming pool I have ever seen. It was so hard not to jump in. The house is built on top of a rocky crag and as you walk down towards the pool through pine trees and mediteranian planting it is east to forget that you are in England.

What a beautiful view from the pool.

The gardens also have a nice range of plants for sale, many of which are grown in the garden. I couldn't resist a beautiful climbing rose, Rosa laevigata 'Cooperi', which I had spotted climbing up the wall of the house.

Hidcote is a well known and documented garden so I will be brief.

We enjoyed the combination of these whispy and wild areas with the clipped cones beyond.

They have mixed Astrantia, Geranium, Campanula and Cirsium rivulare over a vast area. I love the way the flowers come right around the feet of these characterfull trees.

We spent our first night of the trip in The Oak in Staplow which I would definately recommend. The rooms were very nice for the price, I had a balcony overlooking the beer garden, and the food was great.