Award-winning coach tour operator Brightwater Holidays (www.brightwaterholidays.com, 01344 657155) has launched a brand new product with its 3rd edition 2022 brochure, Experience Days. 

These UK-based days out offer activities not normally available to the public, memorable encounters with personalities, workshops and guided tours. Some cater to the recent trend of people taking up new hobbies such as painting and gardening, while others explore history at castles and estates. 

While Experience Days bookings are non-refundable, guests may transfer their booking to another Experience Day free of charge up to 10 weeks before it takes place, should they change their mind and wish to switch to a different experience. 

Prices range from just £75pp, which is for the Egyptian Discovery at Chiddingstone Castle day, to £285pp, which is for the Broomhall House day. The latter includes an exclusive private tour of this majestic property in the company of Lord Bruce – a lineal descendant of King Robert the Bruce.

Experience Days are bookable via Brightwater's official website and there is also a dedicated brochure for this new product, which can be seen by clicking here. Examples from the collection are described below. 

Artists Awakening

Join professional artist Mike Turpie D.A for an introductory masterclass to wonderful world of watercolour painting. This day is based at the Links Hotel in Montrose, Scotland, and it includes four hours tutelage along with a two-course lunch with wine, tea and coffee.
23rd March | £135pp

Lullingstone Castle

This day out at Kent's Lullingstone Castle includes a celebrity guest in the form of Tom Hart Dyke. Tom will give a presentation on plant-hunting overseas before taking guests on a guided tour through his incredible World Garden of Plants, and there will be a light two-course lunch served at the castle.
11th April, 5th July or 13th September | £99pp 

Berkeley Castle

Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience with exclusive access to the remarkable Berkeley Castle, a visit that includes an introductory talk from Charles Berkeley and a private guided tour of his castle. There will also be time to explore the garden along with a three-course dinner in the Long Drawing Room with wine included.
12th May | £249pp

Gardens of Dumfries and Galloway

Choose between spring, summer and autumn, or experience all three, as this day visits carefully selected gardens in Dumfries and Galloway in the distinguished company of Colin Crosbie, former Head Gardener to HM The Queen Mother and former curator of RHS Wisley. As well as visiting Colin's own garden, we visit other notable examples as well as nurseries in the area, each selected to show off the season to its advantage.
1st June, 20th July or 13th October | From £99pp

The Gardens of Scone Palace with Brian Cunningham

Head to the beautiful Perthshire countryside where we find Scone Palace, the crowning place of the Kings of Scots. Guests are joined by the head gardener Brian Cunningham, who they will recognise from BBC Scotland's gardening programme The Beechgrove Garden, as he introduces us to the grounds and garden that he has worked on for the past nine years. Depending on the date guests join us for, he will also enlighten us on a seasonal topic such as early summer blooms, the Kitchen Garden or trees and shrubs. Guests are treated to a delectable lunch followed by a private guided tour of the gardens with Brian, after which there will be some free time to explore before departing.
26th May, 9th August or 20th September | £99

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For further media information, please contact Martha Whatley: martha@specialistjourneys.com.

Notes to Editors: Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022, Brightwater Holidays is a well-established specialist in quality, escorted Garden holidays and Scenic Scottish tours. The company won a bronze prize at the British Travel Awards in 2020 for Best Coach Holiday Company, and both gold and silver in the 2019 iteration of the awards ceremony for Best Coach Holiday Company and Best Special Interest Holiday Company respectively. 

The holidays it offers feature visits to a selection of the finest gardens in the UK and Ireland, Europe and worldwide, as well as the opportunity to see plants in their natural habitat. Itineraries have been carefully crafted and timed to ensure that gardens are looking their best, and special features of the holidays often include guided tours with garden owners or designers, visits to private gardens and exclusive behind-the-scenes visits. As well as benefiting from an experienced Brightwater tour manager, there are often specialist hosts on the tours, too. It also has a dedicated Private Groups service, with the Private Groups Manager Jenni Duncan being shortlisted for Group Leisure & Travel's Excellence Award in 2021.

The award-winning Brightwater Holidays also offers a hand-picked range of scenic Scottish trips, including tours to Arran, Orkney and Shetland, the Outer Hebrides, and to Islay and Jura. Additionally, it has a growing portfolio of interesting archaeology holidays throughout the ancient world, escorted by suitably knowledgeable guides.