Devon and Cornwall

Depart London and travel out through the old kingdom of Wessex to its ancient capital – the historic city of Winchester. Having explored this fascinating gold town with its magnificent cathedral and historic Great Hall, your tour will continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge, before arriving at the historic city of Exeter*, an important fortified settlement in Roman times and your base for 2 nights. (*During July/September, this tour may stay in Torquay instead).

Your morning is spent exploring the magnificent wilderness of Dartmoor, the ancient “Clapper Bridge” at Postbridge and the historic market town of Tavistock, home to Sir Francis Drake. Return to Exeter* in the early afternoon to explore this Roman town’s underground passages, ancient walls, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and its famous 12th century Norman cathedral. Your second night is spent here. (*During July/September, this tour may stay in Torquay instead).

Arthurian legend mixes with genuine Celtic history in Cornwall, England’s most western county. Today, you explore the ancient Cornish capital of Launceston and its 12th century Norman castle. You head west to the North Cornish coast and the Elizabethan fishing village of Boscastle. Indulge in a cream tea, take a stroll out to the dramatic headland, or learn a spell or two in the Museum of Witchcraft. You travel to the village of Tintagel and the ruins of its headland Castle, whose romantic cliff top setting is purportedly the birthplace of King Arthur. After lunch, you head south to the bustling port town of Falmouth for the next two nights

Today, we explore the most westerly tip of England. We take a brief stop to look at the island community of St.Michael’s Mount. We then travel onwards to the unique setting of the Minack Theatre perched above a thundering ocean and the beautiful National Trust beach at Porthcurno. You visit Land’s End before following a landscape dotted with the relics of the Cornish tin mining heritage, and now a filming location for the Poldark series. St Ives is the final stop of the day with its plethora of artists’ galleries in the maze of narrow, harbour-side streets. You return to Falmouth for the night.

This morning, you say farewell to Cornwall and travel across Bodmin Moor, a wild moorland that’s designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. We’ll take a break before leaving Cornwall and continuing to Glastonbury. Here you can visit the ruins of 7th century Abbey, relax over some lunch or scale Glastonbury Tor for the views across five counties. From here, you travel back to London, a busy city far removed from the experiences you’ve enjoyed in the magical counties of Devon and Cornwall.