Today Emma and I enjoyed an open top bus tour of Poole and Bournemouth and then a visit to Compton Acres.

Only as a child had I been there before and flowers and gardens held no interest for me, not like now, forty years later.

Compton Acres is one of the finest privately owned gardens in the South of England.  Having undergone extensive refurbishment in the past 10 years Compton Acres is now highly regarded as one of the most important historic gardens in the UK.

Comprising a series of classical themed gardens, each providing an attractive and unique variety of ornamental plants from around the world, cared for by a team of professional gardeners.

The gardens are laid out on a circular route, like clusters of jewels on a sparkling necklace, allowing the visitor to discover each garden in turn. Highlights include the Grand Italian Garden, a Rock and Water Garden, a Heather Garden and an authentic Japanese Garden which was designed and built by a Japanese architect with many ornaments imported from Japan. 

I thought the tour £28 for the two of us was actually worth every penny as it lasted two hours and there was a recorded commentary and music along the way.

When we got off at Canford Cliffs we decided to visit the gardens at Compton Acres and as you can see above, we got some great photos.

For a late lunch, the first Wetherspoons we could just walk in and order but their chip maker was out of action so we left for the Slug And Lettuce.

There we had to do the track and trace which I found annoying because surely if one has that policy, surely they all should?

We didn’t stay there either because I didn’t like anything in the menu but in the third one I was happy with a beef Madras and some chicken wings with dips.

Then we decided to try the crazy golf which was great fun. The final scores were eight holes to me, five to Emma and five draws with almost one lost ball which I managed to retrieve from a flower bed or it would have been a fine of £1.50.

It was a great day out and with an improvement in the weather the next two days especially tomorrow we are going to the beach at the Purbecks.