Cornwall, Devon & Dorset Tour 2024

Today’s themes: Journey to subtropical England

Breakfast. Meet your driver, coach and guide and transfer to Paddington train station. Relaxing train journey from London to Exeter. Our guide and coach will meet us here and we travel on to St Ives on the north Cornwall coast. We will be staying, for 4 nights, at the rather unique Chy Morvah Country House Hotel and enjoy a welcoming Cornish Cream Tea on arrival. Dinner tonight will be as a group but on other nights at this hotel, you can mix and meet with the other, mostly British, guests. (B, T, D)

Accommodation: Chy Morvah or similar

Accommodation: Chy Morvah or similar

Today’s themes: Farming, castles, maritime history

After breakfast, we drive to the Roseland Peninsula to visit and tour the Tregothnan Tea Centre and Estate –  truly English tea grown in England and not in Asia! Across the estate, about 20,000 tea bushes are planted every year. Tregothnan is known as an expert Camellia grower but the full range of luxurious teas offered here range from black teas, green teas and a list of grown herbal infusions.

We continue on to St Mawes and visit the Tudor Castle, a four-story artillery fort built in the 1540s. We will see elaborate carvings and text on its walls and learn of this castle’s history and what castle life was like through time.

In the afternoon, we take a ferry trip to Falmouth where you have some free time before returning with the coach to hotel for dinner and overnight. Falmouth is a charming harbor town – with great shopping and delicious Cornish Pasties! Check out the National Museum or Falmouth Art Gallery. Drive back to St.Ives. (B, L – picnic, D)

Accommodation: Chy Morvah or similar

Today’s themes: Cornish Artists & sculpture, communication, landscapes

Hearty breakfast. This morning we visit Newlyn Artists Gallery, opened n 1895, with works from local artists and from around the world. You can view the exhibits and stroll around the garden.

On our way to Porthcurno Beach we stop at the almost perfect stone circle, Merry Maidens. Our guide will tell us the story of the nineteen maidens being turned to stone… perhaps we shall all dance in the circle?

When we arrive at Porthcurno Beach, time permitting you can visit the Museum of Global Communications (not included), relax on the beach, check out The Cable Hut or view above the famous Minack Theatre – an open-air theatre carved into the cliff. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, L – picnic, D)

Accommodation: Chy Morvah or similar

Today’s themes: Mining industry, charming harbor town, gardens

We check out today and, after breakfast, we journey to east Cornwall continuing our theme of mining with a visit to the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum. This indoor and outdoor museum encourages you to dig deep into the industry, the workers and the landscape.

We will travel on to Charlestown Harbour, Saint Austell for some free time to have lunch or shop. This working port is vibrant with tall ships, beaches and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Our afternoon rounds off with a visit to the world famous The Eden Project where the inter-linked biodomes are built in an old quarry, of course! The world’s largest indoor rainforest is a biodome not to be missed!

Continue on the south coats of Devon to Plymouth, check into hotel for 2 night stay. Group dinner at hotel. (B, D)

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Plymouth or similar

Today’s themes: Voyages, discoveries and gin 

Busy day in Plymouth; the famous naval and port city. After breakfast we head out on foot and discover the town trail with our guide. One of our discoveries will be the Mayflower Steps which mark the point from which 102 pilgrims departed for America in 1620. On this theme, we will also explore four floors and four centuries at The Mayflower Museum. Our next stop on the Barbican waterfront will be the Plymouth Gin Distillery to enjoy a tour and tasting. Since 1793 Plymouth Gin has been made according to the original recipe and this is the oldest working distillery in England. Free time to explore in the Old Custom House area. Time at leisure. Your guide has a surprise for you – be sure to be at the time and place advised on tour day! (B)

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Plymouth or similar

Today’s themes: Landscapes/moorlands, wildlife, rare plants, prison

Breakfast. Dartmoor National Park is roughly the same size as London and filled with things for us to do. We will visit the villages and take in the wildlife landscapes while keeping watch for wild ponies! We visit Tavistock, hometown of Sir Francis Drake. During our exploration, we will also visit the Museum at the notorious Dartmoor Prison. The prison has been home to some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals for more than 200 years.

Lunch will be taken at the Two Bridges Hotel in the heart of Dartmoor. We will take a photo stop at the ancient Postbridge Clapper Bridge on our way to Exeter for our overnight. Dinner at leisure with time to visit the nearby Exeter Cathedral if you wish. (B, L)

Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Exeter or similar

Today’s themes: Archaeology

Breakfast. Our day today takes us from east Devon to west Dorset.

Our first stop is in the seaside village of Beer which was noted in Britain’s earliest public record, the Domesday Book of 1086, as one of the earliest pre-industrial societies. The name Beer is derived from the Old English word bearu, meaning “grove.” We will visit Beer Quarry Caves which have been worked by hand from Roman Times until 1920. The underground complex has inspiring caverns, mighty halls of vaulted rooms, a cathedral, pillars of many sizes and provides a home to the rare Horseshoe bats in the winter.

We will continue into the heart of the Jurassic Coast visiting Lyme Regis. Here, we will fossil hunt in the footsteps of Mary Anning, walk the Cobb made famous by Jane Austen (Persuasion) and Meryl Streep (French Lieutenants Woman)! Onto Weymouth to check into our hotel for 2 nights. Group dinner tonight. (B, D)

Accommodation: Best Western Hotel Rembrandt or similar

Today’s themes: Markets, Sanctuaries 

After breakfast we will drive the truly beautiful coastal road from Weymouth to Bridport via West Bay of “Broadchurch” fame. Free time in the bustling market town of Bridport. perhaps visit the museum to learn the history of the town dating back to Domesday and how Bridport became the centre of the netmaking industry worldwide. Perhaps wander a local street market to get some shopping done.

This afternoon we visit the Abbotsbury Swannery. Besides being one of the best things to do in Dorset, this is the only place in the world where you can walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans. The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks in the 1040’s who built a monastery.

Return to Weymouth with free time to relax or explore the harbour area before group dinner at a local pub. (B, D)

Accommodation: Best Western Hotel Rambrandts or similar

Today’s themes: Natural habitats, medieval fortress

Breakfast. We travel along the Jurassic Coast to Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole with its natural limestone arch and distinctive rounded bay. The clear blue waters are surrounded by unique geological landforms giving us a chance to take fantastic photos of the English Channel. 

We then go to Corfe Castle where we learn of the English Civil War as we stroll the imposing ruins. There will be free time for lunch here.

Next, we take a ride on the Heritage Railway from Corfe Castle to Swanage. The railway operates full-size steam and diesel passenger trains. Upon arrival in Swanage, we rejoin the coach and return to our Poole hotel. (B, D)

Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Poole or similar

Today’s themes: Lifestyle, fossil cliffs, geology and landforms 

Breakfast. We start toady with the short trip to Dorchester, the County Town of Dorset with a history dating back to the Iron Age. It also hosts the only Roman Town House in its entirety in Britain. This is “Hardy Country” and we will visit Thomas Hardy’s cottage now a National Trust property, with its typical cottage garden and interior displays of furniture original to the period. Plus, of course, learn more about the English novelist & poet and his life.

We will rejoin the coach and return to Poole to board a cruise at Poole Quay. On the cruise we will see Brownsea Island – the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour. The island is owned by the National Trust and partly managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. The cruise will also pass by Sandbanks Peninsula and Studland Bay.

Tonight, a farewell dinner at the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) College hotel. (B, D)

Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Poole or similar

Today’s themes: Relaxed leisurely travel 

Relaxed morning with breakfast at leisure. We depart hotel at 10:00am and return to London by coach.

First drop off London Heathrow Airport, arriving approx. 12:30pm for flights departing 3:50pm onwards.

Second drop off London city center. Ask us about extending your stay in London or beyond. (B)