The Travel Diaries

Monty Don

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Episode notes

Today's guest is truly beloved figure in British television - someone who many of us feel we already know so well - Monty Don. 


For over two decades, Monty has been the heart and soul of BBC’s Gardeners’ World, inspiring millions to embrace the joys and therapeutic benefits of gardening. His connection to nature has taken him all over the globe, all in search of the profound ways that different cultures engage with the land.

Alongside Gardeners’ World, Monty has brought us stunning travel series like Around the World in 80 Gardens, Monty Don’s Italian Gardens, Adriatic Gardens and most recently, Spanish Gardens. This latest series, which is accompanied by a beautiful book, delves into the country’s breathtaking historic and contemporary landscapes, from Moorish-inspired patios to vibrant urban greens paces, revealing the depth and diversity of Spanish garden design.


It was also fascinating to hear about Monty’s journey to TV stardom, and how he had a completely different and hugely successful career in the fashion world, before, somewhat by chance, getting a new break into gardening and TV.


From the gardens that stole his heart to the wild landscapes that left a lasting impression, here are Monty's travel diaries.


Destination Recap:


  • Leominster, Herefordshire, England
  • The Black Mountains, Wales
  • Hydra, Greece 
  • Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England 
  • Mevagissey, Cornwall 
  • Provence, France
  • London, England
  • Annapurna, Nepal 
  • Native Tree Fern Forests, New Zealand
  • The Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
  • Iran
  • Chile
  • Japan
  • Summer Palace, Beijing, China 
  • Galicia, Spain
  • Ninfa Gardens, Italy
  • Wollerton Hall, Shropshire, England
  • Finland through Eastern Europe to Trieste


Spanish Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore, BBC Books, £39.99 out now.


*COMPETITION* Head to my Instagram, @hollyrubenstein, for a chance to win a 3 night full board stay at one of the Maldives’ most luxurious hotels, Kuda Villingili. Good Luck!


With thanks to Skyscanner - The full travel trends 2025 report is available on Skyscanner app/site and of course you can always look for your 2025 trip whether it’s flights, hotels or car hire on Skyscanner too.


And to Airbnb - Your home could be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/host.


Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com


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