| West Country of England Pubs, Castles, Tearooms, Gardens and Cathedrals Featuring the Cotswolds, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Wessex July 1st - 12th, 2012 Stratford-upon-Avon, Ann Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens, Chipping Campden, The Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Avebury, Barnstaple, Cheddar Gorge, Cheddar Sweet Kitchen, Glastonbury Abbey and burial place of King Arthur, Arlington Court and Gardens, Devonshire Cream Tea, King Arthur's birthplace at Tintagel Castle, Falmouth and Lands End, Penwith Tour, Penzance, The Eden Project, Plymouth, Mayflower Stone and Step, Dartmoor National Park, Salisbury and Stonehenge, Winchester Cathedral and much more! A small intimate tour of the Cotswolds, West Country featuring Devon, Cornwall and Wessex, Winchester and Windsor. Visiting sites associated with Shakespeare, King Arthur, Jane Austen, Dame Agatha Christie's Greenway, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Dartmoor and Thomas Hardy. Our tearoom tours are always so much more - filled with castles, historic sights and entertainment of all kinds. Tea is a way of life in Great Britain with more tearooms than any other place on earth. And you have to eat someplace anyway, so we try to incorporate as many of these tearooms into our tours as possible. Each tour is designed to accommodate only 10 people for a more personal experience and to allow you to get the most of your holiday. Keeping the tour size small gives us the opportunity to veer from the beaten path and take advantage of accommodations, restaurants and sightseeing that would not be available to larger groups. You may find yourself staying in a delightful city guest house, a small country house hotel, a comfortable farmhouse and an old coaching Inn all in the same visit. You will not be rushed from venue to venue and we spend as little time on the bus as possible. Tour includes all accommodation in 4 star British Tourist Board Approved accommodations. Full English breakfast each morning. All lunches and dinners as listed in itinerary. Porterage of one suitcase per person. Minibus travel including tour guide. Knowledgeable guide for all tourist venues. All sightseeing as indicated in itinerary including any entrance fees. All taxes and service charges. $4195US per person double. $500 per person deposit required to book your tour. Deposit by PayPal Click here for route map. |
Day 1 - September 21st, 2012 - Arrive London Heathrow. As we make our way out of Heathrow our first stop will be Stratford-upon-
Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Stratford is a city steeped in culture and history sitting in the beautiful rural
Warwickshire Countryside, on the banks of the River Avon. While here, we indulge in Afternoon Tea at Benson's in Stratford.
Following tea, we visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens. This beautiful thatched farmhouse was occupied by descendants of the
Hathaway family until it's purchase by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892 and still contains many rare family items of furniture that
date back to Anne's time. We then get checked into our accommodation with some free time before a Welcoming Pub Dinner at the
Shakespeare Tavern. Overnight near Chipping Campden. (L,D)
Day 2 - This morning we visit Broadway and the Broadway Tower. Built in 1799, it is a perfect example of an 18th century Gothic folly.
At 1024 feet above sea level you can see 13 counties! We next visit Snowshill and Snowshill Manor Gardens full to the brim of
Charles Wade's collection from all over the world. The charming cottage style garden is set in 2.5 acres and has stunning views. This
afternoon we will explore the beautiful Old Cotswolds Market Town of Chipping Campden before we visit Badger's Hall for
Afternoon Tea in their quintessential English Tea Room. Chipping Campden was the centre for wool trade during the 14th and 15th
centuries and has retained its feel of a place stepped back in time. After tea we make our way to Hidcote Manor Gardens, an
internationally renowned series of smaller gardens each with its own theme. One of the most inventive and influential gardens of the 20th
century. This evening we are back in Chipping Campden for Dinner at The Eight Bells, a traditional 14th century Cotswolds Inn.
Overnight near Chipping Campden. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Today our journey will take us to Winchecombe and Sudeley Castle and Gardens. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the
Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role
in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past. We will stop for lunch at the Olde Bakery Tea Room in Winchecombe and then we
are off to Malmesbury to visit Malmesbury Abbey and The Abbey House Gardens. This unique garden is set against the
backdrop of the Abbey with the River Inglebourne flowing throughout. The 800 year old Abbey is magnificent and houses a Bible from
the year 1407! We will visit Avebury on our way to our accommodation. Without doubt, Avebury is the most impressive of all remaining
pre-historic earthworks in Europe. While Stonehenge was dedicated to the worship of the sun and moon, Avebury seems to have been
dedicated to more human themes. Pub Dinner and Overnight Bradford-upon-Avon. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - This morning we are off to North Devon. On the way we will drive through Cheddar Gorge, a narrow winding ravine with
limestone rocks rising almost vertically on either side to a height of 400 feet! In the very heart of the famous Cheddar Gorge you will find
one of the most fascinating sights in Somerset, the Cheddar Sweet Kitchen. A tiny sweet factory where visitors are invited in to watch
craftsman at work. The Mizen family have been making sweets in this area for five generations. Cheddar gives it's name to the rich cheese
that was founded here. Further on we find Glastonbury and Glastonbury Abbey. The Abbey presents itself as "traditionally the
oldest above-ground Christian church in the World" situated "in the mystical land of Avalon" and was begun in 712AD. King
Arthur is reputed to be buried here. We then take the spectacular coastal drive through the Exmoor National Park taking us through
Minehead, Culbone and to the lovely village of Combe Martin. Dinner and Overnight Combe Martin in North Devon. (B,D)
Day 5 - This morning we visit Arlington Court and Gardens, a 2700 acre estate nestling in the thickly wooded valley of the River Yeo.
The house contains model ships, tapestry, pewter and shells. The stable block houses one of the best collections of 19th-century horse-drawn
vehicles in the country and we will take a Carriage Ride around the grounds. We'll then stop for a Traditional Devonshire Cream
Tea at the Old Kitchen Tearoom before continuing on our journey to Barnstaple. As one of the oldest royal chartered boroughs,
Barnstaple has a rich history and is a delight to explore through the Heritage Centre on Queen Anne’s Walk. This beautiful Grade 1
Listed Building on the town’s historic quayside features an exhibition from medieval times to the present. We then will take a lovely coastal
drive with a stop in the lovely seaside resort of Ilfracombe before returning home to Combe Martin. Dinner on your own this
evening. Overnight North Devon. (B,L)
Day 6 - Today we start our day journeying toward Falmouth in Cornwall. We'll travel the coast line to Tintagel and the romantic and
mysterious ruins of Tintagel Castle overlooking the sea. Some believe this is the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. We will stop at
Wadebridge for Tea at Carnewas Tearoom and Garden with the most spectacular view in Cornwall. This afternoon finds us at The
Eden Project, an unforgettable experience in a breathtaking location. This global garden is a place of beauty and wonder with 1,890
different species and cultivars. We next stop in Truro, the only city in Cornwall with over 800 years of history. Truro is dominated by the
250 foot towers of Truro Cathedral. We are then off to the seaside resort of Falmouth for a Seafood Dinner at Hunky Dory.
Overnight Falmouth. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Today we will take the Penwith Tour offering spectacular, remote Cornish landscape, dotted with relics of the tin mining industry,
picturesque fishing villages and prehistoric remains. Our first stop is Lanyon Quoit, a prehistoric chambered tomb. It is probably one of
the best known of Cornwall's ancient monuments, dating from the Neolithic period. We will stop in Penzance for lunch and some
exploration. The ancient market town of Penzance is the Capital of the far west of Cornwall and is set in beautiful Mounts Bay - a body of
water dominated by the grandeur of St. Michael's Mount. A well know area of Celtic culture, outstanding natural beauty surrounds the
town. Following lunch we continue to The Merry Maidens, a circle of 19 stones said to be girls turned to stone for dancing on Sunday. We
also stop at Lands End, Britain's most westerly point before we then return to Falmouth for dinner on your own. Overnight
Falmouth. (B,L)
Day 8 - This morning we are on our way to Plymouth which is the regional capitol for Devon and Cornwall. In Plymouth we will visit
Mayflower Stone and Steps from where the Pilgrims set forth to the New World in 1620. We will stop for Traditional Fish & Chips
Lunch before continuing to Dartmoor region of Devon. We will take a Dart River Cruise this afternoon from Totnes to Dartmouth.
We will pass Sandridge House, designed by architect John Nash and the lush Greenway Estate, once the home of Dame Agatha
Christie and now belonging to the National Trust. From here we make our a way just a bit further north to Shaldon near Exeter. Shaldon
is a picturesque fishing village nestling at the mouth of the River Teign, a river renowned for its cockles, mussels and salmon. Seafood
Dinner and Overnight near Exeter. (B,L,D)
Day 9 - Today will be spent in the Dartmoor National Park which provided the eerie background for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The
Hound of the Baskervilles. Our first stop will be Buckland-in-the-Moor, one of the most picturesque thatch and granite villages in
Dartmoor. This is one of Devon's "Dream Villages" with an attractive small church dating from the 13th century and a cluster of
picturesque thickly thatched country cottages with the most "English" of country gardens. We'll drive through Dartmeet at the confluence
of the East and West Dart Rivers. We will stop for a Picnic Lunch before continuing our journey. The next stop is Grimspound, an
impressive site of bronze Age huts built 4,000 years ago! We will also stop at Becky Falls with its delightful woodland walks and a viewing
platform over the 72 foot falls. Dinner on your own and overnight near Exeter. (B,L)
Day 10 - Our first stop today is the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens. Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these
magnificent gardens are set in East Devon's picturesque Otter Valley. While here we will board the Bicton Woodland Railway,
developed in the early 1960s, it takes us on a 25 minute ride round the gardens and is the only 18" gauge railway in Britain. Our next stop is
Bennets Water Gardens. The 8 acres of gardens has one of the most outstanding displays of water lilies in Britain with a Monet style
Japanese Bridge as the centrepiece along with a Tropical House, Woodland Walks and Museum. We will Lunch in the
Tearoom well known for their Dorset Cream Tea. We then make our way to Dorchester with enough time to do some proper
exploration before we gather for Dinner in Thomas Hardy's Historic 16th Century Acorn Inn. Overnight Dorchester. (B,L,D)
Day 11 -This morning we head west with our first stop at Stonehenge just outside of Salisbury. Stonehenge is Europe's most famous
prehistoric monument dating back to 3,000BC. Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument in the whole of Britain and
we will spend some time exploring before visiting Salisbury and Salisbury Cathedral. For over 750 years pilgrims have come to seek
inspiration in the glory and peace of the Cathedral. Here you will marvel at or climb up to Britain's Tallest Spire, be awed by the beauty
and scale of the cathedral interior or study the original Magna Carta in the Chapter House. Afternoon Tea at the Polly Tea
Rooms in Salisbury before we head east to Winchester and Winchester Cathedral. Winchester Cathedral dates from 1079 with a
church on this site since 648. Jane Austen is buried here and the cathedral possesses the only diatonic ring of 14 church bells in the world,
with a tenor (heaviest bell) weighing almost 2 tons. Farewell Dinner just outside of Heathrow. (B,L,D)
Day 12 - Return to London Heathrow for the journey home. (B)
Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Stratford is a city steeped in culture and history sitting in the beautiful rural
Warwickshire Countryside, on the banks of the River Avon. While here, we indulge in Afternoon Tea at Benson's in Stratford.
Following tea, we visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens. This beautiful thatched farmhouse was occupied by descendants of the
Hathaway family until it's purchase by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892 and still contains many rare family items of furniture that
date back to Anne's time. We then get checked into our accommodation with some free time before a Welcoming Pub Dinner at the
Shakespeare Tavern. Overnight near Chipping Campden. (L,D)
Day 2 - This morning we visit Broadway and the Broadway Tower. Built in 1799, it is a perfect example of an 18th century Gothic folly.
At 1024 feet above sea level you can see 13 counties! We next visit Snowshill and Snowshill Manor Gardens full to the brim of
Charles Wade's collection from all over the world. The charming cottage style garden is set in 2.5 acres and has stunning views. This
afternoon we will explore the beautiful Old Cotswolds Market Town of Chipping Campden before we visit Badger's Hall for
Afternoon Tea in their quintessential English Tea Room. Chipping Campden was the centre for wool trade during the 14th and 15th
centuries and has retained its feel of a place stepped back in time. After tea we make our way to Hidcote Manor Gardens, an
internationally renowned series of smaller gardens each with its own theme. One of the most inventive and influential gardens of the 20th
century. This evening we are back in Chipping Campden for Dinner at The Eight Bells, a traditional 14th century Cotswolds Inn.
Overnight near Chipping Campden. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Today our journey will take us to Winchecombe and Sudeley Castle and Gardens. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the
Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role
in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past. We will stop for lunch at the Olde Bakery Tea Room in Winchecombe and then we
are off to Malmesbury to visit Malmesbury Abbey and The Abbey House Gardens. This unique garden is set against the
backdrop of the Abbey with the River Inglebourne flowing throughout. The 800 year old Abbey is magnificent and houses a Bible from
the year 1407! We will visit Avebury on our way to our accommodation. Without doubt, Avebury is the most impressive of all remaining
pre-historic earthworks in Europe. While Stonehenge was dedicated to the worship of the sun and moon, Avebury seems to have been
dedicated to more human themes. Pub Dinner and Overnight Bradford-upon-Avon. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - This morning we are off to North Devon. On the way we will drive through Cheddar Gorge, a narrow winding ravine with
limestone rocks rising almost vertically on either side to a height of 400 feet! In the very heart of the famous Cheddar Gorge you will find
one of the most fascinating sights in Somerset, the Cheddar Sweet Kitchen. A tiny sweet factory where visitors are invited in to watch
craftsman at work. The Mizen family have been making sweets in this area for five generations. Cheddar gives it's name to the rich cheese
that was founded here. Further on we find Glastonbury and Glastonbury Abbey. The Abbey presents itself as "traditionally the
oldest above-ground Christian church in the World" situated "in the mystical land of Avalon" and was begun in 712AD. King
Arthur is reputed to be buried here. We then take the spectacular coastal drive through the Exmoor National Park taking us through
Minehead, Culbone and to the lovely village of Combe Martin. Dinner and Overnight Combe Martin in North Devon. (B,D)
Day 5 - This morning we visit Arlington Court and Gardens, a 2700 acre estate nestling in the thickly wooded valley of the River Yeo.
The house contains model ships, tapestry, pewter and shells. The stable block houses one of the best collections of 19th-century horse-drawn
vehicles in the country and we will take a Carriage Ride around the grounds. We'll then stop for a Traditional Devonshire Cream
Tea at the Old Kitchen Tearoom before continuing on our journey to Barnstaple. As one of the oldest royal chartered boroughs,
Barnstaple has a rich history and is a delight to explore through the Heritage Centre on Queen Anne’s Walk. This beautiful Grade 1
Listed Building on the town’s historic quayside features an exhibition from medieval times to the present. We then will take a lovely coastal
drive with a stop in the lovely seaside resort of Ilfracombe before returning home to Combe Martin. Dinner on your own this
evening. Overnight North Devon. (B,L)
Day 6 - Today we start our day journeying toward Falmouth in Cornwall. We'll travel the coast line to Tintagel and the romantic and
mysterious ruins of Tintagel Castle overlooking the sea. Some believe this is the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. We will stop at
Wadebridge for Tea at Carnewas Tearoom and Garden with the most spectacular view in Cornwall. This afternoon finds us at The
Eden Project, an unforgettable experience in a breathtaking location. This global garden is a place of beauty and wonder with 1,890
different species and cultivars. We next stop in Truro, the only city in Cornwall with over 800 years of history. Truro is dominated by the
250 foot towers of Truro Cathedral. We are then off to the seaside resort of Falmouth for a Seafood Dinner at Hunky Dory.
Overnight Falmouth. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Today we will take the Penwith Tour offering spectacular, remote Cornish landscape, dotted with relics of the tin mining industry,
picturesque fishing villages and prehistoric remains. Our first stop is Lanyon Quoit, a prehistoric chambered tomb. It is probably one of
the best known of Cornwall's ancient monuments, dating from the Neolithic period. We will stop in Penzance for lunch and some
exploration. The ancient market town of Penzance is the Capital of the far west of Cornwall and is set in beautiful Mounts Bay - a body of
water dominated by the grandeur of St. Michael's Mount. A well know area of Celtic culture, outstanding natural beauty surrounds the
town. Following lunch we continue to The Merry Maidens, a circle of 19 stones said to be girls turned to stone for dancing on Sunday. We
also stop at Lands End, Britain's most westerly point before we then return to Falmouth for dinner on your own. Overnight
Falmouth. (B,L)
Day 8 - This morning we are on our way to Plymouth which is the regional capitol for Devon and Cornwall. In Plymouth we will visit
Mayflower Stone and Steps from where the Pilgrims set forth to the New World in 1620. We will stop for Traditional Fish & Chips
Lunch before continuing to Dartmoor region of Devon. We will take a Dart River Cruise this afternoon from Totnes to Dartmouth.
We will pass Sandridge House, designed by architect John Nash and the lush Greenway Estate, once the home of Dame Agatha
Christie and now belonging to the National Trust. From here we make our a way just a bit further north to Shaldon near Exeter. Shaldon
is a picturesque fishing village nestling at the mouth of the River Teign, a river renowned for its cockles, mussels and salmon. Seafood
Dinner and Overnight near Exeter. (B,L,D)
Day 9 - Today will be spent in the Dartmoor National Park which provided the eerie background for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The
Hound of the Baskervilles. Our first stop will be Buckland-in-the-Moor, one of the most picturesque thatch and granite villages in
Dartmoor. This is one of Devon's "Dream Villages" with an attractive small church dating from the 13th century and a cluster of
picturesque thickly thatched country cottages with the most "English" of country gardens. We'll drive through Dartmeet at the confluence
of the East and West Dart Rivers. We will stop for a Picnic Lunch before continuing our journey. The next stop is Grimspound, an
impressive site of bronze Age huts built 4,000 years ago! We will also stop at Becky Falls with its delightful woodland walks and a viewing
platform over the 72 foot falls. Dinner on your own and overnight near Exeter. (B,L)
Day 10 - Our first stop today is the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens. Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these
magnificent gardens are set in East Devon's picturesque Otter Valley. While here we will board the Bicton Woodland Railway,
developed in the early 1960s, it takes us on a 25 minute ride round the gardens and is the only 18" gauge railway in Britain. Our next stop is
Bennets Water Gardens. The 8 acres of gardens has one of the most outstanding displays of water lilies in Britain with a Monet style
Japanese Bridge as the centrepiece along with a Tropical House, Woodland Walks and Museum. We will Lunch in the
Tearoom well known for their Dorset Cream Tea. We then make our way to Dorchester with enough time to do some proper
exploration before we gather for Dinner in Thomas Hardy's Historic 16th Century Acorn Inn. Overnight Dorchester. (B,L,D)
Day 11 -This morning we head west with our first stop at Stonehenge just outside of Salisbury. Stonehenge is Europe's most famous
prehistoric monument dating back to 3,000BC. Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument in the whole of Britain and
we will spend some time exploring before visiting Salisbury and Salisbury Cathedral. For over 750 years pilgrims have come to seek
inspiration in the glory and peace of the Cathedral. Here you will marvel at or climb up to Britain's Tallest Spire, be awed by the beauty
and scale of the cathedral interior or study the original Magna Carta in the Chapter House. Afternoon Tea at the Polly Tea
Rooms in Salisbury before we head east to Winchester and Winchester Cathedral. Winchester Cathedral dates from 1079 with a
church on this site since 648. Jane Austen is buried here and the cathedral possesses the only diatonic ring of 14 church bells in the world,
with a tenor (heaviest bell) weighing almost 2 tons. Farewell Dinner just outside of Heathrow. (B,L,D)
Day 12 - Return to London Heathrow for the journey home. (B)
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