South West England Highlights Tour

Next we’ll take the short drive to Shaftesbury in Dorset. Set in 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 features 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  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.

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.

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..

Then it’s 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 it’s on to nearby Boscastle, a delightful village with a dark secret..and one of the best places  in Cornwall to sample a delicious Cornish clotted cream tea at the fantastic Boscastle farm shop and cafe  before returning to your hotel.

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 also 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. Some of the most popular towns include Stow-on-the-Wold, and as well as Burford and Bibury. We can visit some of these beautiful spots before heading back to your drop off location.