South West England Deluxe Tour • 7 Days

After collecting you from your hotel or morning flight, we’ll journey westwards to Stonehenge in Wiltshire. It is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site on the tour and the best known prehistoric monument in Europe. Marvel at the standing stones and the engineering skills of our ancestors and learn how they lived over 5,000 years ago.

Next we’ll take the short drive to Shaftesbury in Dorset. Set in the beautiful countryside, the town is full of historic buildings and has great literary connections with Thomas Hardy. There are many lovely shops and restaurants and the town boasts one of the most recognised streets in the UK, Gold Hill, which featured in the famous ‘Hovis’ TV commercial.

Leaving Shaftesbury, we’ll pass picturesque Dorset villages on our way to Lulworth Cove on the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast. This stunning, horseshoe shaped bay is a must see, and the coastal walks and views are equally breathtaking. Head to Weymouth, Dorchester or the Dorset Coast for an overnight stop.

Today we’ll venture into Devon to the cathedral city of Exeter, which was the most south westerly fortified town in Roman Britain. After a visit to the impressive cathedral, we’ll make the short journey to Powderham Castle. Prepare to be in awe of this magnificent manor!

From Powderham we’ll head inland to Dartmoor National Park. This wild landscape was the inspiration behind Conan Doyle’s epic Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles. Next, we can visit the village of Widecombe in the Moor.

Postbridge is next to see the ancient Clapper Bridge, before journeying to Princetown, which provides the location of Dartmoor Prison. You’ll get to hear the tales of some of the more notorious inmates and their daring escapes. Now we’ll head to the Maritime City of Plymouth where you’ll have a guided walk around the historic Barbican area, learning about the important history of the location. Tonight’s accommodation will be in Plymouth.

Our first destination on day three will be the iconic St Michael’s Mount. We’ll learn all about its historical significance whilst taking in some of the best sea views in the UK. Our journey now takes us through to Penzance as we follow the coast road. We’ll stop at some of the many pretty little coves as we head to the stunning Minack Theatre. This impressive theatre is carved into the cliff above Porthcurno and from here you’ll have one of the best views in Cornwall.

Next stop will be Botallack, home to the iconic engine houses from Cornwall’s unique mining heritage. This will be the third UNESCO world heritage site on our tour! This is also one of the main locations for the hit TV series Poldark. Later we’ll arrive at St Ives an old fishing port and long time haven for artists. It is home to the Tate Modern Gallery. You’ll get the chance to enjoy St Ives’ winding streets, full of shops, galleries and restaurants.

Our morning starts off in the Lizard Peninsula where we will take in spectacular sea views from Mullion Cove. From there, we cruise along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the South West and in to Kynance Cove. As well as the breathtaking views on offer, Kynance is an ideal spot for adventure seekers, with a number interconnected caves to explore.

After a lunch stop in the idyllic Cornish fishing village of Cadgwith, we will head to Helford River in search of the wide variety of wildlife on show, as well as some peace and tranquillity. Our last stop for the day will be in Falmouth, a town steeped in fascinating maritime heritage and one of the South West’s leading cultural destinations.

After a relaxing night we will set off to explore all the wonders of north Cornwall. We’ll head to Padstow which has been made famous by celebrity Chef, Rick Stein. We can wander the harbour side and through all the winding streets, soaking up the jovial seaside atmosphere. Next up we’ll take a short trip to the tiny harbour village of Port Isaac which is the setting for the hit TV series Doc Martin.

Then its onto the small town of Tintagel, a place shrouded in myths and legends and famed for its connection to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Here we will take a journey back in time and see the remains of the 13th century castle. You may also choose to explore some of the town’s other attractions such as the Old Post Office which dates back 600 years! Then its back your hotel for a good night’s rest.

Day six will see us concentrating on the South Devon coast and its surrounding countryside. Our first destination will be Bigbury-on-Sea. If the tide is in our favour, we can walk across the tidal causeway to Burgh Island.  Here we can see the extraordinary art deco hotel where Agatha Christie wrote the novel And Then There Were None. If the tides are in this will mean taking the Sea Tractor back to the mainland… a unique experience!

We’ll leave Bigbury and head to Hallsands where we’ll see the magnificent lighthouse at Start Point. Then it is onto the picturesque village of Slapton for a pub lunch. Afterwards, we’ll call in at the lovely town of Dartmouth, famed for its beautiful riverside setting and the location of the Britannia Royal Naval College.

You’ll have the opportunity to take a 60 minute boat trip on the River Dart, viewing many local attractions including the Naval College, the quaint village of Dittisham and Sir Walter Raleigh’s Boathouse. The cruise will finish at around 4.30, by which time it will be time to head to your hotel.

An early start is needed for our journey to the city of Bath, which is a must see for everyone visiting the UK. The city is the fourth UNESCO World Heritage site visited on this tour. We arrive in time for a morning walking tour of the magnificent Roman city.

Set in lovely countryside, the Georgian architecture is one of this city’s delights and the Royal Crescent is an iconic British image. There are unique shopping opportunities and the Roman Baths are a must do experience.

After sampling the delights of Bath, we’ll head north eastwards through the lovely Gloucestershire towns of Tetbury and Cirencester. Then it’s into the Cotswolds to see more quintessential English landscapes of honey coloured limestone villages set in a beautiful rural setting.

There are dozens of lovely towns and villages to choose from, each bursting with old world charm, chocolate box scenes and the tranquil atmosphere of a different age. The most popular are the towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, where we’ll spend some time before heading back to your drop off location.

Chester

We will set off nice and early ready for the drive to the beautiful town of Chester. It is home to Britain’s largest Roman Amphitheatre and a thousand-year-old cathedral. Visitors also flock here to see its Roman-era city walls. Your knowledgeable guide, James, will tell you all about the town’s exciting history while you wander through the streets to gaze at the beautiful Georgian and Tudor architecture. There are also tonnes of little coffee shops and bistros to refuel after all your exploring.

Liverpool

We can take a trip to the famous city of Liverpool. Options for the day include visiting the sites which were made world-famous by the Beatles, such as the Cavern Club and Penny Lane. The city also has a rich maritime history which you can learn about while strolling through the city’s seafront and visiting the numerous museums that reside here. Art lovers can pop into the Tate Art Gallery and there are tonnes of local eateries to stop for a bit of lunch.

York

Visit the historic walled city of York! Discover history at every turn as we navigate our way around the winding cobbled streets of this medieval city. One of the highlights of the day will surely be a visit to the immense York Minster cathedral, one of the world’s best examples of Gothic architecture. There is also the wonderful circuit of walls that enclose the city, dating back to the 13th century not to mention the plethora of traditional pubs and cosy cafes.

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Why not take a trip to the birthplace of Britain’s greatest playwright? Stratford-Upon-Avon is synonymous with the great William Shakespeare and this picturesque medieval town in the heart of the West Midlands offers a wonderful day out. Located on the River Avon, visitors can enjoy a stop at the town’s world famous theatres. There is also the chance to wander along its beautiful canal while learning all about the town’s rich cultural and historical significance.