Experience the Best of Devon and Cornwall in an Exclusive 4-Day Tour

Day 1
Explore the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, the epicentre of England’s most enduring myths and legends. Gaze in wonder at Stonehenge, the powerful stone circle tribute to our ancestors’ beliefs.

Leaving central London, you travel through Wessex, one of England’s ancient kingdoms. You pass through this millennia-old setting on the way to the historic city of Winchester. The former capital of Anglo-Saxon England is synonymous with Alfred the Great and boasts a magnificent cathedral and the Norman Great Hall.

From this bustling city, you head to a quieter but equally profound place: the standing stone circles of Stonehenge. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stonehenge site has been skilfully. preserved. At the award-winning visitor centre, you can view the exhibition of hundreds of prehistoric items from the Stonehenge collection. By joining the land train shuttle, you make your way to the world-famous stone circles. You then travel to Exeter, an important fortified settlement in Roman times and your base for two nights.

Day 2
Explore the beauty of the remote wilderness at Dartmoor, where wild ponies graze in the shadow of hilltop granite outcrops. Delve into Tavistock, birthplace of Sir Francis Drake, the famed British maritime explorer. Cross the time-trodden slabs of the medieval miner’s Clapper Bridge.

Explore the remote windswept magnificence of Dartmoor, where you can see strings of the native ponies grazing close to the striking rock formations. Dartmoor is also home to an immense diversity of flora and fauna, so enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the moor’s isolated beauty. You cross the ancient Clapper Bridge at Postbridge before heading to Tavistock, the historic market town and birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. Arriving back in Exeter* in the early afternoon gives you a chance to explore the city’s ancient riches at a leisurely pace. The city walls, the Norman cathedral, the Royal Albert Memorial, and the Quayside all await you.

Day 3
Rove into the heart of Arthurian legend and the Celtic Kingdom of Cornwall. Relax in the charming Elizabethan fishing village of Boscastle. Wander the cliff top ruins of Tintagel Castle, legendary birthplace of King Arthur. Arthurian legend mixes with genuine Celtic history in Cornwall, England’s most western county. 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 to Port Isaac where you can get your Doc Martin’s fix and fall in love with this picturesque fishing village. You then head south to the bustling port town of Falmouth for the next two nights.

Day 4
Learn about the outdoor Minack Theatre, carved from a granite cliff face overlooking the sea. Stand at the most westerly point of Great Britain at the iconic Land’s End.

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. Due to availability, you may be unable to visit this theatre. Your guide will let you know as you go.

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.

Day 5
Plunge to the heart of Bodmin Moor, famous for its feared Beast, Arthurian legends, and the smugglers of Jamaica Inn. Explore the world famous site of Glastonbury, known for its association with King Arthur and the annual music festival. 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.

Tour Attractions
You are able to pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:

• Stonehenge
• Tintagel Castle
• Other attractions may be booked and paid locally during the tour.

 

Please Note
This is a sample itinerary. The tour can be tailored to suit your specific requirements.