Hotels for garden lovers

There are several rows of Hunter wellies lined up outside the front door at Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds, and we were actively encouraged to grab a pair and go for a ramble. Set within 55 acres of parkland, woodland and meadows, Cowley Manor as it stands today was built in 1855 but certain parts of its Grade II listed garden are much older. Water features prominently in the design, supplied by several natural springs within the grounds. A central upper lake flows into a dramatic Victorian stone cascade that in turn feeds into a chain of brooks, home to several pairs of swans and many brown trout (you will sometimes find these on the menu). Go in the next few weeks to see the bluebell-filled meadows. In the summer months, the hotel will set you up with a hamper of food, rugs and big squishy beanbags to enjoy within the grounds. The stylish C.Side Spa, built into a hill in the garden, which has both in and outdoor pools, recently launched a new range of bath products called Green & Spring, inspired by the British countryside and made from herbs and flowers indigenous to the British Isles.