Treasures of Cornwall

Arriving in the UK, use your complimentary rail passes to make your way to the Georgian city of Bath. The journey from London is an easy direct rail trip which takes less than 1hr 30mins. After arriving in Bath, check-in to your hotel and the afternoon is yours to explore the city at your leisure. Marvel at the city’s elegant Regency architecture at the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent or make your way to the 16^th century Bath Abbey. Using your complimentary tickets, visit the magnificent Roman Baths which date back to Roman times. By evening, meet with your tour leader and the rest of the group to dine together at a local restaurant.

Overnight – The Bird Hotel, Bath (DBB).

This morning we set out from Bath to gain a taste of English Aristocracy at the nearby Longleat House. One of England’s finest country estates, we’ll see the manicured gardens and enjoy a private tour of the opulent interiors and living quarters of the ancestral seat of the Marquess of Bath. We’ll then traverse the Salisbury Plain pausing to visit the enigmatic Stone Circle at Stonehenge to try to unravel its secrets. Later, we arrive in the historic city of Salisbury where we enjoy free-time to explore; wander the cobbled streets to the impressive cathedral which boasts Europe’s oldest operating clock and an original copy of the Magna Carta. Your evening is free to dine independently.

Overnight – Milford Hall Hotel, Salisbury (BB).

Leaving Salisbury we head South to explore the bays and cliffs of the Dorset coast; this area is named the Jurassic Coast owing to its abundance of prehistoric fossils which can be found on the beaches. We’ll pause to visit some of the impressive coastal geological features such as the sea arch at Durdle Door. Then we’ll follow the coast visiting one or more of Dorset’s elegant seaside resorts such as Dorchester or Lyme Regis – this charming region inspired literary works by Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. Later we cross the county border in to Devon passing the region’s principal city of Exeter before reaching our hotel in Dartmoor where we dine together as a group.

Overnight – Moorland Hotel, Dartmoor  – (DBB).

This morning we’ll spot wild ponies and rocky tors as we cross the eerie landscapes of the Dartmoor National Park. Arriving on the North Cornwall coast, we’ll visit the charming fishing village of Port Isaac, better known as Port Wen, the stomping ground of television’s Doc Martin. Here we’ll enjoy a brief walk through the village before free-time to explore and take lunch. By afternoon, we’ll visit Tintagel Castle, a cliffside fort steeped in Arthurian Legend and home to Merlin’s cave. Then we cross the Cornish Peninsula to the South heading for the seaside resort of Falmouth home to sweeping sandy bays and our overnight base for the next two nights.

Overnight – St Michaels Hotel, Falmouth (BB).

Today we embark on an epic excursion to explore the farthest reaches of the Cornish Peninsula. We’ll explore craggy coastlines and fishing villages such as the charming seaside town of St Ives where we’ll enjoy free-time to wander the harbour or visit the renowned Tate Art Gallery. We’ll gain views of the island monastery of St Michaels Mount and visit the enchanting Minack Theatre – an amphitheatre carved in to the Cornish cliffs over-looking the churning waters of the Atlantic Ocean. After our enjoyable day we’ll return to Falmouth where your evening is free to dine at your leisure.

Overnight – St Michaels Hotel, Falmouth (BB).

Departing Cornwall we cross back in to the county of Devon. We’ll make a stop in Plymouth to wander the famous Plymouth Hoe and see the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrim Fathers departed for the New World. Then it’s onward to explore South Devon where we enjoy a steam railway journey along the scenic valley of the river dart. Our final journey takes us along the English Riviera and over the county border in to Somerset and our final hotel where we enjoy a farewell dinner.

Overnight – Castle Hotel, Taunton (DBB).

Our final day takes us through the mellow landscapes of the Somerset hills. First stop will be England’s smallest “city” Wells where we’ll have free-time to explore the ancient market-place, Vicars Close and the elegant cathedral and green. The final leg of our journey takes us to Glastonbury, a town steeped in Arthurian legend, before we return to Bath by mid-afternoon where are tour ends. Here you can use your included rail passes to board the train back to London.