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Devon and Cornwall (Tour 222) |
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DAY ONE -
SATURDAY Arrive London where you'll be met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this beautiful city. Dinner is not included tonight and you're free to sample one of the many excellent local pubs or restaurants of the neighbourhood, or perhaps to go into London's West End. DAY TWO - SUNDAY We leave London through southwestern suburbs, following the Thames through the ancient Royal boroughs of Richmond and Kingston. Then across The Weald to the ancient town of Chichester. Nearby there are the finest Roman villa remains in Britain, at Fishbourne. Finally, we'll cross into the county of Hampshire and visit maritime Portsmouth. DAY THREE-
MONDAY We'll begin our day with an early morning visit to Stonehenge, then tour the magnificent Wilton House before a lunch stop in Salisbury. Here we'll see the first of several incredible cathedrals to be seen on our tour. What makes Salisbury so distinctive is not simply its great age and soaring early English architecture but its amazing spire and, of course, the fact that it houses a copy of the Magna Carta. This afternoon we'll tour the New Forest and the South Hampshire coast. DAY FOUR - TUESDAY We commence our explorations of Thomas Hardy country with a visit to Corfe Castle and the delightful Lulworth Cove. The coastline here is famed for its fossils and they may be easily discovered on walks along the cliff tops and beach. Then to Dorchester. Dorchester will forever be associated with Hardy (and we'll visit his home (opening times permitting). But the area also has connections with 'Bloody' Judge Jefferies and T E Lawrence (of Arabia) and we'll visit homes and museums associated with each. DAY FIVE - WEDNESDAY This is an area of Southern England that many miss on their rush to far south - to their regret. We have a wealth of places to visit and what we do see will depend on you as a group participant. This is a day where we can mould the day's attractions to the interests of the group and adapt to whatever climate England's notoriously unpredictable weather decides to grant us. There are the seaside Seaton, with its Victorian tram ride, the seaside resort of Sidmouth, an otter sanctuary, lovely coastline and 'hidden' villages (like Ottery St Mary with its exact half sized replica of Exeter cathedral). There's Honiton, an ancient centre for lace-making and full of antique shops. Or, slightly north, there are a selection of wonderful homes and gardens such as Knightshayes Court. Or we could watch barges on the Grand Western Canal, or visit a cider farm. Or perhaps explore an iron-age hillfort reputed to have been Arthur's Camelot. Alas, you'll not be able to see or experience it all. But decisions as to the day's choices will be certain to enliven your dinner on the prior evening when your guide discusses options with you! DAY SIX - THURSDAY
DAY SEVEN - FRIDAY There's so much to see in this region. There are the wonderful harbours of St Ives and Penzance, the coastal walks along cliff tops and beaches, the prehistoric village at Chysauster, the famous open-air Minack theatre, some of the most beautiful gardens in Britain, old lead mining museums, castles and of course, Land's End itself. And then, of course, we've afternoon cream teas to take and Cornish pasties to eat! Our flexible touring concept will allow tour participants to decide on the day's priorities in consultation with their guide. DAY EIGHT -
SATURDAY Continuing our Cornish adventures. Today we'll spend enjoying the atmosphere of St Ives itself. There's plenty to entertain. This is an artists' harbour and you'll delight at the range of local galleries, but perhaps of even greater interest will be the extension of the prestigious Tate Gallery. There are also some fine walking opportunities. The sailors or deep sea fishers amongst you might just find the opportunity of taking to the water just to good too pass up! DAY NINE - SUNDAY We turn north, following the north Cornwall and Devon coasts. Our itinerary today will include Padstow, King Arthur's Tintagel , the impossibly pretty village of Clovelly (where donkeys are still used to haul goods and people up and down the narrow cobbled street to the sea) and the Devon countryside north of Dartmoor. DAY TEN - MONDAY The Maritime mediaeval city of Exeter will be at the centre of early morning discoveries, and then we follow the coast road through the English Riviera towns of Torquay and Dartmouth. One surprising find will be an American Sherman WW2 tank on Slapton Sands, remnant of a D-Day training exercise which went disastrously wrong. We complete our day's explorations with a drive over the famed Dartmoor itself.
DAY ELEVEN - TUESDAY We tour today through Somerset. This is a county famed for its cider apples and so we must, of course, visit a cider farm and sample the wares! There are also the mystic town of Glastonbury, where Arthur is said to have been buried, and the magnificent Wells cathedral. If time permits, perhaps we can also visit the massive gorge and caves at Cheddar. It's yet another day when we're spoilt for choice!
DAY TWELVE -
WEDNESDAY We spend the morning discovering the splendour of the Roman/Georgian city of Bath. The Roman baths and pump rooms are, of course, a must. As is the famed Royal Crescent. Perhaps you'll want to tour the typical Georgian house to see how our well-heeled 18th century forebears lived, or maybe the literary minded may enjoy following the Jane Austen trail and local museum. Then there's the shopping! Bath is noted for its excellent shops. Whatever you decide, your guide will assist you in getting the very best out of a morning of organised independence. This afternoon we take our leave of Bath and take the old coaching road back to London. En route we've still another couple of wonderful sights including lunch at Lacock, a perfectly preserved mediaeval village (and home of modern photography) and a truly fitting climax to a great tour, time at the great prehistoric temple at Avebury, Stonehenge's less-well known 'little sister'. We arrive back into London at approximately 5pm and you'll be dropped off at your hotel. Tonight you're free to pack or join fellow companions in independent arrangements for a last night dinner.
DAY THIRTEEN - THURSDAY Transfers to the airport. Your tour price includes all transportation, accommodation in three star or equivalent style lodgings. All rooms en suite, unless specifically informed at the time of booking your tour. Full English breakfasts on every morning. Three course dinners every evening. All tips and taxes included on group bills, excluding those you may wish to give to your guide/companion and any additional tips you may feel desirous of giving to locals for exceptional service (your guide will advise). All entrance fees when accompanied by the guide, excluding any itemised as optional in the itinerary. |
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Our
first stop of the day will be at Plymouth, and here we'll
see the harbour from which the Mayflower set sail. Next, we
follow the Cornish coast through delightful fishing villages
and harbours stopping en route, perhaps, to visit the pirate
museum at Looe or the shipwreck centre at St Austell.
Readers of Daphne Du Maurier will also enjoy our time at
Fowey and discovering the real Jamaica Inn. 
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