The destination for the 2026 Club Holiday was the English Riviera. A stop-off at Barrington Court had been planned for the journey south west on the Monday but, due to a long delay on the A34, this proved impossible.
The itinerary for the week included visits to gardens: the Garden House at Buckland Monachorum, the various areas of the garden constructed in and around romantic ruins and Wildside, with its three distinctive areas; The Lower Garden, The Courtyard and The Canyons. Visits were also made to the National Trust properties; Saltram House, overlooking the River Plym, and Buckland Abbey, with its connections to Drake and Grenville.
A visit to Agatha Christie’s holiday home at Greenway House took place on the Wednesday. With a memorable journey to get there; starting with a steam train ride from Paignton to Kingswear, then the ferry from Kingswear to Dartmouth, time for a coffee and a wander in Dartmouth and lastly the ferry up the Dart to land at the Greenway Quay.
On the way back to Petersfield on the Friday a visit was made to Lytes Cary, a medieval manor house restored in the early 20th century. The Arts and Crafts style Garden containing a collection of topiary, herbaceous borders and orchard.
The annual holiday, visiting different parts of the country each year, last year’s was to Lincolnshire, is a very popular part of the Club with many people returning year after year. It offers a great opportunity to travel to interesting houses and gardens in the company of a friendly group of like-minded people. Many thanks must go to Angela Snow who organised the holiday and guided us through the week. Plans for next year’s holiday to Staffordshire are already well under way.