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..quintessential England!

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 Devon for an overnight stop.

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 could 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 one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the South West and on 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.

Lizard Point is the most southerly point in mainland Britain, and is a great place to spot wildlife.

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!

Nearby Boscastle is a lovely village, and we can stroll to the spectacular harbour. The nearby Farm shop boasts one of the best Cafes in the whole region.

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 further along the coast  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, and Greenway, The summer home of Agatha Christie. 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. There are many towns to choose from including Bibury,  Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.  We’ll spend some time viewing some of these before heading back to your drop off location.