The Dormy House Hotel in the Cotswolds is turning Japanese for the launch of four residential garden tours which will feature a Japanese tea ceremony and the chance to tour a privately-owned Japanese garden with the award winning designer Julian Dowle.

The first of the courses, which cost £450 for an inclusive package of luxury room, fine dining and transport to gardens, runs on May 4 to 7, 2010. The price also includes entry and guided tours of the gardens of Sudeley Castle, Kiftsgate and Sezincote and the chance to tour Hidcote with its head gardener. Subsequent tours will run: 1 – 4 and 8 – 11 June 2010, and 7 – 10 September 2010.

The private Japanese garden that guests visit is located in the grounds of the Farncombe Estate which is home to the Dormy House Hotel, near Broadway, and owned by the late Jørgen Philip-Sørensen.

The Japanese garden was designed by Julian Dowle for Mr Jørgen Philip-Sørensen who has owned the Dormy House Hotel and the Farncombe Estate for over thirty years. Julian remains the only garden designer to win all 3 medals for a show garden at the annual Chelsea Flower Show, a feat he accomplished in 2005 for his garden “A Soldier’s Dream of Blighty”. A gold medal, the best in show and the people’s choice were the 3 accolades awarded for the scheme which was designed with the Chelsea Pensioners and sponsored by Mr Sørensen’s other business interest - Ecover.

Guests are shown around the garden by Julian himself, in addition to being treated to a special lesson in Japanese pruning and enjoying a relaxed dinner and question and answer session.

The Japanese tea ceremony will be hosted by a local expert and involve the serving of green teas and authentic Japanese delicacies.

There is also a special preferential rate offered for guests attending the garden tour wanting to arrive a day before the tour begins or an extra night after the tour comes to an end. Booking early is recommended.

Dormy House Sales and Marketing Manager Orazio Pollaci says of the decision to launch the tours “this is an exciting new opportunity being offered by the Dormy House, incorporating some of the most beautiful and picturesque gardens to be found in the country, just a stone’s throw away from our doorstep. There is plenty for other halves to enjoy too, with local walks and sightseeing either locally, or in the nearby historic conurbations of Cheltenham and Stratford”.