The Perfect Countryside Escape To Book This Summer
In partnership with The Newt in Somerset
In partnership with
Don’t get us wrong, we love being able to call London our home but every now and then we dream about swapping it all for a quiet oasis in the countryside. Thankfully, the UK is home to some of the most beautiful countryside destinations in the world and we might have just found our new favourite…
Introducing the Great Garden Escape, a countryside excursion from the team at The Newt in Somerset. Located near Bruton and Castle Cary, The Newt is a working country estate, home to farmland, orchards, woodland, gardens and a luxury hotel and spa. Nature and food enthusiasts are invited to be whisked away for a day filled with afternoon tea picnics, cyder tours and picturesque gardens.
Read on to find out why you should jump aboard this summer…
What’s it all about?
In an exclusive partnership with Great Western Railway, The Newt in Somerset invites you to join them for a summer’s day filled with all things Somerset.
Boarding from 6th May until 24th September running exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays, you’re invited to jump aboard a First Class carriage as it takes you from London Paddington to Castle Cary. While on board, you’ll be able to tuck into a breakfast picnic created by Estate Head Chef, Alan Stewart, filled with the likes of buttery croissants and seasonal preserves, buffalo milk yoghurt with berry compote and apple and walnut granola, washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice.
Upon arrival, you’ll be whisked away to the bucolic estate where your day of countryside surroundings and fine fare awaits. You’ll be invited to meet The Newt’s team of experts, from gardeners to beekeepers, chefs to cyder makers, while you’re guided on in-depth tours around the estate. Travel through time at The Story of Gardening; an immersive experience tracing the history and culture of gardening with cutting edge technology including virtual reality pods and interactive sensory games.
Enjoy a fresh seasonal lunch at the glass-walled Garden Café, made with ingredients grown on site and wines from Babylonstoren, and you’ll even be able to become a cider connoisseur with a tasting at their on-site Cyder Press & Cellar.
Free time will allow you to explore some of their other attractions, including the newly opened Beezantium exploring the many connections between bees, the land and humans. As well as the Home & Garden Shop, Farm Shop and Gelateria for a warm weather treat.
Every detail has been planned to perfection. The journey home will be filled with a Newt afternoon tea picnic, complete with freshly baked scones, seeded heritage loaf bitesize sandwiches and seasonal cakes, garnished with edible flowers grown in the estate Kitchen Garden.
You’ll be whisked away to the bucolic estate where your day of countryside surroundings and fine fare awaits…
Anything else?
For the first time, The Newt will be introducing seasonally themed weekends, digging deeper into some of the areas which inspire and shape what they do. For bookings in July, spend the day with Head Beekeeper, Paula Carnell, exploring hives and colonies and learning all about the wonderful world of bees.
While August’s theme ‘History & Heritage’ will allow you to explore the estate’s rich history and a special September ‘Harvest’ weekend is the finale for the 2022 season, celebrating the hard work of the Gardeners with joyful celebration and starting at Avalon Farm, usually out of bounds to the public.
What’s included?
Each Great Garden Escape ticket includes First Class travel from London Paddington to The Newt in Somerset; a fresh estate breakfast on outward journey; guided tours of the picturesque gardens and ancient woodland with their experience gardeners; seasonal lunch in the Garden Cafe; free time to explore the estate; a cyder tour and tasting with a member from their expert cyder team; and estate afternoon tea picnic on return journey. Plus, a 12-month Newt Membership for a return visit under one’s own steam.
How can I get involved?
Priced at £335 per adult and £260 per child, the Great Garden Escape will be running on Fridays and Saturdays throughout May to September 2022. It’s the perfect opportunity to see the popular Somerset estate for yourself, exploring the farmland, woodland, orchards and acres of gardens nuzzled within.
The Newt in Somerset’s Great Garden Escape returns this summer, on Friday and Saturdays from 6th May – 24th September
www.thenewtinsomerset.com
