Exceptional Hidden Doorways Hotel Gardens
April 19, 2023 by Perrie Hartz
Spring has finally sprung! To celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of the season of blossoms and blooms, Hidden Doorways has rounded up some of the most beautiful hotel gardens from properties all over the world, from the bucolic English countryside to Spain’s sunny Costa del Sol to the rolling hills of California’s wine region and Israel’s Golan Heights.
Ellerman House | Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town’s gorgeous art-filled hotel Ellerman House boasts stunning gardens that are inspired by Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden as a magnificent display of South African flora and horticulture. Situated on the slopes of Lion’s Head, the gardens offer sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the bustling city below and are impeccably manicured, with a colorful array of indigenous plants, including proteas, fynbos, and succulents. The garden’s centerpiece is a stunning infinity pool, surrounded by lush greenery, and providing a perfect spot for sunbathing or simply taking in the breathtaking views. There is also a terraced vegetable garden, providing fresh produce for the hotel’s award-winning restaurant.
Heckfield Place | Hampshire, England
Situated in the bucolic English countryside, Heckfield Place is a stunning Georgian manor-turned-hotel that boasts gardens that are a magnificent example of 18th-century landscape design. Heckfield’s gardens span over 438 acres of rolling countryside, featuring ancient trees, wildflower meadows, and peaceful lakes, and are divided into several areas, including the walled gardens, the arboretum, and the orchard. While the gardens are beautiful year-round, it is during springtime when they are truly at their most spectacular, as there is an explosion of rhododendrons around the lake and woodlands and bright peonies blooming in the walled gardens. The walled gardens are a particular highlight, featuring a vast array of organic produce, grown on site and used in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Rose lovers should visit this particular part of the garden in high summer, where there is an impressive variety on display, from David Austins to tea and China roses and more. In the lush woodlands, you can find everything from a copper birch tree to oaks and monkey puzzles, many planted in the late 1800s by Heckfield Place’s former Head Gardener William Walker Wildsmith.
The gardens also host regular workshops, ranging from gardening and flower arranging to wild swimming and forest bathing, providing guests with a chance to immerse themselves in the natural world and learn new skills.
Villa Bokéh | Antigua, Guatemala
Situated in the charming city of Antigua, the gardens at Villa Bokéh are a stunning display of Guatemala’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, offering a peaceful oasis of lush greenery, colorful flowers, and fragrant herbs. The gardens are designed in a traditional Guatemalan style, featuring stone pathways, intricately designed fountains, and local flora such as heliconia, papyrus, hibiscus, bougainvillea, clivia nobilis, red bottlebrush, platanillo, and ruellia. The gardens also offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and volcanoes, providing a perfect backdrop for a romantic evening or a tranquil afternoon spent reading. Guests can walk around and take a tour and there are gnomes hidden throughout the garden for children to discover as a scavenger hunt. Other special experiences in their garden include living out your “Notebook” dreams by gliding through their lagoon on their wooden boat or enjoy a curated picnic with assorted goodies to share your loved ones, family, or friends.
The Goring | Belgravia, London
An exquisite floral oasis hidden within the hustle and bustle of London, The Goring’s garden is also one of the city’s largest private gardens. Harmonizing the refreshing tranquillity of open green space with the intimacy of a secret garden, it is pristinely snow-topped in winter and delicately scented and bursting with blooms during the warmer months. Many of the hotel’s suites look out over the manicured grass, and guests love relaxing in this peaceful haven with a book and a cup of tea, or sipping on a refreshing Pimm’s cup under the summer sun. A complete redesign of the garden space in 2019 saw more than one hundred herbs planted in the garden to create home-made botanical infusions for the Goring Cocktail Bar, and to provide the freshest flavors in the The Dining Room kitchen.
Finca Cortesin | Casares (Marbella), Spain
A palatial Andalusian gem on Spain’s sunny and glamorous Costa Del Sol, Finca Cortesin is known for its superb golf course and tennis courts, splendid ocean and mountain vistas, and luxurious amenities, but it also has 23,000 sqm of spectacular, perfectly-manicured Mediterranean gardens. A true oasis of tranquility and natural beauty, the gardens are a perfect example of Mediterranean landscaping, with a plethora of local flora and fauna divided into several areas, including the Japanese Garden, the Palm Garden, and the Flower Garden. Meander through ivy covered archways, discover hidden paths, and take in the heavenly scent of the rows upon rows of lush roses as you gaze out towards the sparkling sea.
Son Net | Mallorca, Spain
From its impeccably manicured lawns and flowerbeds to its private Malvasia vineyard and organic orchards bursting with life, Son Net’s Mallorcan landscape is a lush paradise. This new luxury property also has a garden steeped in history which has been lovingly restored to all of its original splendor. The aim was to maintain the essence of the existing garden and to create new landscaped areas, including 57,000 square meters of native Mediterranean plants and over 1000 square meters of orange and lemon trees.
The Madrona | Healdsburg, California
Deep in California’s famed wine country you’ll find The Madrona, a recently-revamped boutique hotel that offers gorgeous scenery, spectacular cuisine, and of course, lots of wine. Though guests should not miss the property’s lovely gardens, which are situated on eight acres of lush greenery, featuring a wide array of exotic plants, towering trees, and vibrant flowers. Designed in classic English style, there are manicured lawns, elegant topiaries, and meandering paths that lead visitors on a journey of natural discovery. Guests will also find a koi pond, a rose garden, and a wisteria-draped arbor, providing a serene and romantic backdrop for weddings and other special events.
Pereh | Golan Heights, Israel
Situated in the Golan Heights region in northern Israel, the gardens at Pereh Hotel are a true marvel, offering a unique glimpse into the country’s diverse and rich natural landscapes. The gardens are meticulously designed, with a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern elements with fragrant herbs (lavender, mint, thyme, coriander, parsley, and rosemary), olive groves, colorful wildflowers, and fruit trees (ruby grape fruits, lemons, anonas, oranges, pomelo, cumquats).
Contact:
Hidden Doorways
Email: mail@hiddendoorwaystravel.com
Website: https://hiddendoorwaystravel.com
