Trips 2026

Departing from Kilmington Village Hall, EX13 7RF (programme subject to change)

Non-members are warmly welcome to all trips – there is a small additional fee of £5 on each occasion except as noted.

All coach trip costs include a non-refundable deposit of £5. Please pay the deposit at least 4 weeks in advance to secure a place and ensure the trip is not cancelled, and in full at least 1 week in advance. Payments can be made by cash at meetings or, preferably, by BACS – see Contacts list for BACS details.

The trip cost includes any venue entrance fees/driver’s tip, etc.

To book, please contact Jaclyn Garforth; text or call 07941 095537.

Coach pickups from Axminster by prior arrangement.

Saturday, 6th June: RHS Rosemoor
COACH TRIP departs 9 am. RHS Rosemoor is a stunning 65-acre garden in North Devon, nestled in the Torridge Valley. Gifted by Lady Anne Berry in 1988, it features renowned rose gardens, vibrant “hot” and “cool” themed areas, a woodland walk, and extensive fruit/vegetable gardens. Amenities include a restaurant, café, plant centre, and gift shop.

Cost £20.

Sunday, 5th July: Hestercombe
COACH TRIP departs 9.00 am. Hestercombe is a 50-acre, Grade I listed estate near Taunton, Somerset, featuring a unique blend of three centuries of garden design. Key highlights include the 18th-century Georgian landscape garden, a Victorian shrubbery, and the world-renowned Edwardian Formal Gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens. Amenities include Hestercombe House (a 16th-century house), a restaurant, a plant centre, a watermill, and child-friendly trails.

Cost £25.

Monday 14th September: Poundbury Garden Center Shopping Evening Event
As members of the Garden Group, we have exclusive access to the garden center from 6pm – 8pm. There will be an initial topical talk with a free drink followed by 25% discounted shopping. To make this viable there must be at least 25 of us attending. Potential for a coach trip at £10 each in order to save on boot space or self drive, to be decided nearer the time.

Self drive

Saturday 9th May – Sunday 17th May : The Newt in Somerset – The Great Garden Show

A nine-day celebration set amongst the gardens in all their spring finery

The first garden show at the Newt. Open to non members £25 per person. This years theme is ‘The Story of Gardening’. See here for details. 

Friday 3rd April – Sunday 19th April: Darts Farm Tulip Festival

A unique chance to see 350, 000 homegrown tulips bursting into bloom. £9.50 weekday, £10 weekend. See here for further details. Perhaps go with a group of your Gardening Club friends?

Self drive – self organise

We’ve looked into other possible trips but for various reasons they are not suitable as an organised coach or self drive trip.  They are added below as potential options for you to visit.

Exeter University Botanical Gardens.  

A plethora of things to do and see at multiple times of the year. Worth a visit, according to your interest, allow lots of time for walking, there are steep places.

The grounds and gardens of the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus was awarded the title of Accredited Botanic Garden in July 2025. Please see here for additional details. The St Luke’s campus is also well worth a visit.

There are multiple guided walks available on the website here. 

Visiting during term time will ensure the various eateries found here will be open, but the campus may be busy.  Visiting outside of term time will be much quieter, do check to see which outlets are open or bring a picnic!

It can be difficult to park although there is a visitor car park.  The site can be quite hilly, but is beautiful with many things to see. 

There is no cost to enter and there is parking roadside at the outskirts of the campus.

They hold a national collection of Azara (see here) as well as Dierama (see here)

The Newt in Somerset

A working estate in Somerset with much to explore. See here for all the details. Usually only The Newt members can enter, however RHS members can visit the Newt for free on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and can bring up to 6 additional people at a cost of £25 each.