Groups & Coaches

IF YOUR GROUP IS GREATER THAN 10, PLEASE DO NOT BOOK USING OUR ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM AS THIS BOOKING WILL BE CANCELLED AND REFUNDED. PLEASE EMAIL SALES@COWDENGARDEN.COM FOR A BOOKING FORM. COMPLETED FORMS CAN BE RETURNED VIA EMAIL.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO GROUPS CAN BE ACCEPTED AT THE WEEKEND OR ON BANK AND LOCAL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND OCTOBER. IF YOU ARE UNSURE IF YOUR DATE IS WITHIN ANY OF THESE EXEMPT DATES PLEASE CALL BEFORE COMPLETING THE BOOKING FORM.

Group Booking Terms & Conditions & Pricing

(Please read before completing the booking form)

General Information, Garden Accessibility and Facilities

The full circuit of the Japanese Garden from the car park is 560 metres, however for those with limited mobility there is the possibility of a drop off point with just a 60 metre walk to the nearest bench, from which the majority of the Japanese section of the garden is visible. The main garden paths are hard surfaces and include some gentle slopes. There are further paths through the woodland garden to explore; these vary in surface finish from whin dust, to bark chip and rough mown grass.

Depending on your speed of walking, we advise that 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes is sufficient to explore the Japanese garden and Christie Walk. If you wish to include the outer woodland walks, please allow an additional 1 hour.

We have a tearoom with indoor and outdoor seating as well as a small shop and plant sale area.

Opening Times

Summer:   10.30am - 5pm

Winter:      10.30am - 4pm

Last entry to Garden & Tearoom:   1 hour before closing

Please see our full opening times for further detail and garden closures.              

 

Group Size

We are unable to accept groups greater than 30. Our tearoom can only accommodate groups of 15 at any one time, groups of more than 15 will need to alternate with a garden tour or garden visit. Please factor in this additional time if you are planning to visit more than one garden or attraction in the same day.

We would recommend a minimum visit time of 1hr and 30mins for a group of 15 and 2hrs for a group of 30.

Payment

All group booking payments must be made in advance by either cheque or bank transfer, this includes payment for refreshments and group tours. 

Garden Tours and Introduction Talks

Garden tours can be booked in advance and can accommodate up to 15 people per tour. They take approximately 45 minutes and are led by one of our trained volunteers. While there are benches on route, visitors on the tours must be happy walking at a slow pace, and able to stand comfortably to listen to the guide.

Garden tours cost £30 per group of 15 people, therefore if your group has 22 people then two tours are required at a cost of £60.

Refreshments

We operate from a small tearoom facility and are unable to offer individual menu choices to group bookings. Thank you for your understanding.

Refreshment options for group bookings are as follows:

  • Tea/Coffee & Biscuit: A cup of tea or filter coffee plus refill and a homemade biscuit. 
  • Cream Scone with Tea/Coffee: A cup of tea or filter coffee plus refill and a homemade scone with jam & cream.
  • We have two light lunch choices:
    • Soup with bread, cup of tea or filter coffee plus refill and a biscuit or scone
    • A platter of sandwiches (selection based on dietary requirements), cup of tea or filter coffee plus refill, and a biscuit or scone

    Seating at any one time is limited to 15. Larger groups can be accommodated and served consecutively, alternating with a garden tour, if required.

    Changes to initial bookings and final details

    Final numbers and refreshment details must be confirmed 14 days prior to the planned visit and an invoice will be sent by email following this confirmation with payment required 7 days prior to the date of your visit. Please provide both a landline and mobile phone number to allow us to contact you easily. 

    If the booking numbers or details change significantly after the cut off, we must be informed as soon as possible. We may not be able to accommodate these changes and we may have to offer an alternative date if the changes involve an additional tour or significant increases to the refreshment numbers. No adjustments can be made to numbers on the day.

    Cancellation Policy

    The Garden operates the following cancellation policy for all group bookings:

    Any cancellation within the 7 days prior to your booking will incur a 50% cancellation fee, however if the visit is re-booked at the time of cancellation this fee will be reduced to 25%. Cancellations on the day of booking will incur a 100% cancellation fee. The Garden is a Charity and operates purely on the support of its visitors; the cancellation fees are to cover loss of potential bookings, staff and catering costs that have been incurred.

    In the event of high winds the garden may close to visitors. We will endeavour to inform booked groups and tours of this with as much notice as possible.

    Access to the Garden for Groups:

    Car

    The Garden is accessed from the A91 by following the tourist brown signs. We do not advise taking the back road up through Dollar, although sat nav may attempt to direct you this way.

    Off the A91 there is a 1km section of single track road with passing places. Please observe the speed limit of 30mph and be aware of pedestrians and cyclists on this designated walking and cycling friendly road.

    Coach

    Our car park is small and we are unable to accept coaches at the weekend, on public holidays and during our local school holidays. If we are notified at the time of booking that a coach will be required, a partial bay will be coned off to allow access. 

    Coach/Minibus Companies

    All groups visiting by minibus should ensure that the following information is passed on to the relevant coach/minibus companies.

    The Japanese Garden is located approx. 1 km along a single track walking/cycling friendly road, maximum speed 30mph.

    The track verges are soft with some narrow sections. There are 5 passing places.

    The entrance gate has a maximum height of 14ft and is 5m wide. Please turn slowly into gate.

    Maximum recommended coach size 53 seater, 40ft long. No double axle coaches please.

    The coach/minibus parking area is coned off, however there is restricted turning space within the Car Park when the Car Park is full. Please ask for details.