Autumn Gardens and Mysteries of Devon
October 21 - 29, 2027
A dreamland of red, gold and orange in London’s Kyoto Garden; a dramatic cliffside garden on the South Devon Coast; a hotel garden with the Royal Stamp of Approval; a Roman ruin; a private tour of the most celebrated Autumn garden in England; an expert on Agatha Christie’s use of plants; follow Hercule Poriot to Burgh Island...
Join Huron Tours on the stunning English Riviera for a deluxe 11 day tour exploring incredible gardens and our fascination with the crime novelist Agatha Christie.
Devon in Autumn is a magical time when ancient woodland gardens turn brilliant shades of gold and ruby, and fewer crowds mean peaceful explorations of National Trust show stoppers, private tours of smaller garden gems, and quiet walks on local coastal paths. Harvest season brings seasonal food to the cozy pubs and award-winning restaurants on our itinerary throughout our tour. You’ll be transfixed by the autumn light dancing across the River Dart as you relax in the atmosphere of our home base in Dartmouth.
We’ll also take a closer look at Agatha Christie's gardening life and examine the horticultural side of the "Queen of Crime," casting new light on her passion for plants and, in particular, how botanicals shaped so many of her most successful stories.
Please review the details below and consider joining us on this memorable garden adventure. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions - the people you speak with on the phone will be on the tour with you.
Happy Travels! - Katie and John Kosta
Thursday, October 21
Heathrow Airport arrival, private transfer to the 100 Queen's Gate hotel, welcome dinner reception in the boardroom at Fortnum & Mason
Arrive London's Heathrow Airport and meet your tour managers (and company owners) John and Katie Kosta and official Blue Badge Guide Valery who will be with you for the entirety of your tour. Relax while your Huron arranged private airport transfer service with easy meet and greet whisks you directly to your perfectly located Four-Star 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel in London's beautiful South Kensington neighborhood. Huron Tours and the Kosta family have been staying at this historic property for generations, and the staff always go above and beyond for our travelers.
After settling in, a spectacular explosion of color awaits you at the Kyoto Garden, a hidden gem in nearby Holland Park. The garden was created by renowned Japanese garden designer Shoji Nakahara through a collaboration between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Our perfectly timed visit delivers us into a technicolor dreamland when the leaves have turned vibrant red, gold and orange. A calm pond perfectly mirrors the fiery foliage above, and the lovely waterfalls add the most soothing soundtrack to our visit.
For a memorable first evening together we’ll host a lavish welcome dinner at the historic Fortnum & Mason department store. Home to extraordinary food, joy-giving products, and unforgettable experiences since 1707, Fortnum has served 13 monarchs over its three-century history. Queen Victoria granted the store's first official Royal Warrant in 1898 and in 2024, Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla granted the first Royal Warrants of their reign to Fortnum & Mason.
The store’s exclusive Boardroom is decorated with restored antique furniture and fine artwork, and the refined and elegant atmosphere make it the perfect venue to kick off and celebrate this magnificent garden journey.
(Meals on flight, welcome dinner included)
Friday, October 22
Great Western Railway to Totnes, River Cruise to The Dart Marina Hotel, Welcome Dinner Reception
After a hearty English breakfast at our hotel, we'll make our way to Paddington Station (look out for the namesake bear!) to connect with the famed Great Western Railway for our journey to Totnes, Devon. No need to worry about your luggage - Huron will deliver your bags straight to your room at our chic waterfront hotel in Dartmouth while you enjoy the beauty, comfort and ease of travel by train.
Upon arrival, we'll cruise in typical Huron style by private vessel on the winding River Dart to our home for the next 6 nights, The Dart Marina Hotel. This is Huron Tours' favorite coastal hotel and the property's prime position in the beautiful South Hams sailing town of Dartmouth has views of the River Dart from each bedroom! Bobbing yachts with tinkling boats' bells and the cheery tooting of the Dartmouth steam train make for a blissful soundtrack as you take in the stunning views of shimmering waters. It is just a short walk to Dartmouth Castle and the charming higgledy-piggledy streets of this historic and hip harbor town. The property includes an excellent restaurant and atmospheric bar and lounge plus a spa featuring a fitness center, small pool, steam room and hot tub.
We'll enjoy a lovely welcome dinner reception together this evening in the hotel's private Belvedere Suite with amazing views.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Saturday, October 23
The Garden House, Lukesland Gardens
After breakfast in the hotel's waterview restaurant, we'll begin our Devon discoveries at The Garden House. This gorgeous 10 acre “plantsman's paradise” garden, set in a stunning valley on the western edge of Dartmoor National Park will immerse you in color, scent and spectacular views at every turn. Our visit will be followed by a fun lunch together in the cozy town pub.
Next, one of the most anticipated visits of this magnificent tour is our very special private visit to Lukesland Gardens. This 24-acre family-run garden in Dartmoor National Park is highly praised for its stunning Autumn foliage featuring a vibrant collection of acers, Japanese maples, and towering beech shelterbelts planted by the Victorians to protect the garden. The estate will be ablaze in brilliant shades of gold, copper, and bright red during our visit in October. Tranquil water features of cascading streams, waterfalls, and reflective ponds wind through the grounds, perfectly framing the autumn colors. Our visit will be extra special as the owner will give us a private tour on a day the garden is closed to the public. We'll also be treated to delicious homemade seasonal cakes.
Dinner is on your own this evening so be sure to consult our Dartmouth dining recommendations list, or make a reservation in the hotel restaurant.
(Breakfast and lunch included)
Dining in Dartmouth
If you love seafood, you are going to be in paradise! Although Dartmouth is not a large town, it is a popular destination and has a very nice selection of high-quality restaurants. Of course, as with all Huron tours, we'll provide a well-researched list of restaurants (meaning we eat a lot!) to help you plan your free evenings.
However, there is one Huron favorite worth mentioning now that previous tour members have mentioned time and again, with some we think jokingly considering a trip back to Dartmouth just to eat there again. Rockfish Restaurant, bearing the motto "Tomorrow’s fish are still in the sea" is a casual yet high-quality restaurant, and an overall nice dining experience. The waitstaff bring over a list of fresh fish and explain the available preparations for each, along with a few recommendations. The offerings change daily, but there is always something excellent. And a few non-fish dishes as well, if everyone in your party is not a fan of seafood.
Regardless of your preference, you’ll find plenty of options in Dartmouth, including the excellent and atmospheric restaurant in our hotel.
Sardines at Rockfish
Sometimes a simple preparation is the best
Sampling the local oysters
Sunday, October 24
Private Tour of Endsleigh House and Lunch, Agatha Christie Happy Hour with author Victoria Dowd
Alan Titchmarsh described today's first visit as “paradise” and it is certainly one of the most romantic gardens in England. Endsleigh House was created as a hunting and fishing lodge for the sixth Duke of Bedford at the beginning of the 19th century. Designed by Jeffrey Wyatt in the Cottage Orné style, the surrounding Grade I listed gardens were one of Humphry Repton's last completed commissions. This picturesque 108-acre garden overlooks the River Tamar on the Devon-Cornwall border and consists of formal gardens around the house, including a 100-meter long herbaceous border still showing off in October. British Magazine Tatler says “the whole thing is completely enchanting, torn straight from the pages of Hans Christian Andersen.” King Charles himself also has a real fondness for Endsleigh, and you'll see why as Autumn at Endsleigh House is a breathtaking spectacle!
After a private tour with Head gardener Ben Ruscombe-King we'll privately dine in the transformed stable block for a fairytale lunch.
After lunch we return to Dartmouth for a bit of free time before joining your fellow travelers for an incredibly special Agatha Christie Happy Hour! Victoria Dowd is the award-winning author of the acclaimed “Adapting Agatha” series, a former criminal defense barrister and Vice Chair of the London Crime Writers' Association. She is also a frequent speaker at the International Agatha Christie Festival as well as an avid gardener. Today she is all yours as she shares her unique insights on the Queen of Crime's love of gardening and use of plants both poisonous and otherwise in her beloved mysteries. As Victoria explained to me during the course of our conversations, “sometimes the simple lack of a thorn is enough.” What an exciting evening we have in store!
(Breakfast, lunch, and reception included)
Monday, October 25
River Dart Cruise, Greenway House, Coleton Fishacre
Today after breakfast, we'll embark on a short cruise of the lower part of the River Dart. We'll see the colorful homes and castles of the estuary, Britannia Royal Naval College and eventually our ultimate destination, Agatha Christie's Greenway Estate.
Greenway was the residence of Agatha and her second husband the archeologist Max Mallowan. She used the estate as inspiration for several of her novels including ‘Dead Man's Folly’, ‘Five Little Pigs’ and ‘Ordeal by Innocence.’ The interiors feature wonderful collections of silver, books, china, and Tunbridgeware in addition to a wealth of family mementoes and objects associated with Christie and her writing career. From walled gardens to a riverside woodland, the informal gardens at Greenway are peaceful and relaxing. The head gardener will give us insight into this special property.
Later this afternoon we'll visit Coleton Fishacre, a wonderful Art Deco country house set in a beautiful wooded valley near the mouth of the River Dart. Built in 1925 by Rupert D'Oyly Carte and his wife Dorothy (see book recommendation), the house is set in outstanding gardens featuring rare trees, water features and moisture-loving plants. We'll have a private tour given by the head gardener and you'll have plenty of time to explore Huron Tours' favorite manor house in England.
(Breakfast included)
Tuesday, October 26
Overbecks, Burgh Island Hotel
Christopher Lloyd’s (of Great Dixter) thoughts on Overbecks.
Nestled into the cliffs high above the Kingsbridge Estuary, we find National Trust Overbecks, a sub-tropical paradise garden. Created across three families since the start of the 20th Century and carved into the local rockface, Overbecks features exotic and tender plants from around the world and thanks to this unique microclimate, we'll experience colorful terraces, blooming autumn flowers, and sweeping panoramic views of the stunning coast.
After our garden visit, true adventure awaits! We'll celebrate Christie's beloved Hercule Poirot with lunch at the stunning Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel. The property was much loved by Christie who made the island the setting for her novels ‘And Then There Were None’ and the Hercule Poirot mystery ‘Evil Under the Sun.’
(Breakfast and lunch included)
Wednesday, October 27
Free Day in Dartmouth
Today is free for you to experience vibrant Dartmouth, one of our favorite towns in the UK. Spend the day exploring the excellent museum, visit the many art galleries and independent shops and eat in the wonderful restaurants right out our front door. Perhaps a visit to Dartmouth Castle, the most beautifully located fortresses in all of England? You can also see one of the county's most historic churches, St Saviour's, dating back to 1372 or peruse Dartmouth's Old Market.
This evening we'll celebrate new friendships and our time in Devon with a surprise send off that we know will be one of the highlights of your travels. What could it be?? For now it will have to remain a MYSTERY!
(Breakfast and farewell dinner included)
The History of America
In August 1620, the Mayflower and its leaky sister ship, the Speedwell, put into Bayards Cove in Dartmouth, Devon, UK, for emergency repairs. The 10-day stopover proved vital to history; after the Speedwell was deemed unsafe for the Atlantic crossing, the Mayflower eventually sailed onward from Plymouth.
The small but wonderful Dartmouth Museum has an excellent exhibition about the Mayflower and the Pilgrims of 1620. Read more about the museum here.
A painting of the old town of Dartmouth found in the Dartmouth Museum
Thursday, October 28
The Newt in Somerset, London Heathrow Sofitel
We depart beautiful Devon this morning for one very last visit en-route back to London. In a storybook corner of England lies the magical Newt in Somerset (exhibitor at the annual Chelsea Flower Show). At the heart of the 800-acre estate surrounding the beautiful red-gold limestone Hadspen House are 30-acres of formal gardens created by Franco-Italian Patrice Taravella - arguably one of the most exciting horticultural projects to have emerged in the UK in the last decade. The Newt is home to a Gardening Museum, the ruins of a Roman Villa, an observational lakeside apiary (Beezantium), plus a fantastical grotto housing the colony of great crested newts after which the estate is named. We'll have refreshments on arrival, a private tour of the walled garden and a wonderful lunch in the cafe with free time for your own explorations.
Once back in London, we will check into the luxurious Five-Star London Heathrow Sofitel conveniently attached to Terminal 5 and within easy transfer to all other terminals. We'll toast our travels with a canape reception in the hotel's private Zen garden.
(Breakfast, lunch, and canape reception included)
Friday, October 29
Departures to Home
Departure today is made easy as you are connected to Heathrow Airport. Be sure to enjoy the Sofitel's wonderful and extensive breakfast buffet before heading to your flight back home. You'll leave with magical memories of gorgeous gardens, stunning coastline views and some fun tidbits about the ‘Queen of Crime’.
(Breakfast included)
A $1,000 per person deposit will hold your space. Please use the link above or below to access our online shopping cart. If you'd like to reserve over the phone, we'd be happy to talk to you and can be reached at either (504) 267-2057 or (800) 734-1192.
