Cornwall & the Cotswolds Tour from London (Itinerary & Map)

MONDAY

Tour departs from Holiday Inn London, Kensington High Street.

Check-in at 8.15am. (Depart by 8.30am)

Our tour of Cornwall from London begins by departing westwards towards the iconic pre-historic monument of Stonehenge; the first stop of our tour. This is the world’s most famous stone circle, thought to be 4,500 years old, yet we still don’t understand its true meaning. Many theories exist, suggesting the stones could have been a solar calendar, burial site or perhaps a place of worship. We’ll attempt to unravel the mysteries of the stones and then make the short journey to the medieval city of Salisbury. The city’s cathedral is visible for miles around and possesses the tallest spire in the UK. It’s also home to one of only four surviving copies of the world’s oldest constitutional document: the Magna Carta. Whilst in Salisbury we’ll have time to visit the cathedral, wander the city’s charming streets and have some lunch. This afternoon we will travel to the south coast and where we’ll visit the charming seaside settlement of Lyme Regis. The town is situated on the Jurassic coast; a world-renowned part of England’s coastline that has a geological history dating back 185-million years. This location is the setting for Jane Austens’ Persuasion and John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman and is our first chance to take a stroll along the sea-front. Then it will be time for us to continue west, to the Roman city of Exeter, which is where we will spend the first night of our tour.

OVERNIGHT: Exeter

This morning we’ll leave Exeter, but it won’t be long before we are ascending into the higher grounds of Dartmoor National Park; known for its Sherlock Holmes connection and home to the legendary Dartmoor Beast. As we travel we’ll absorb the beautiful landscape, negotiate narrow country lanes and perhaps spot a native Dartmoor Pony. Next we’ll travel to the port town of Plymouth on Devon’s south coast, where we’ll have lunch. It was from here that the Pilgrim Fathers departed for the New World; now recognised as the United States of America. Take time to explore Plymouth’s harbour, the historic Barbican area and find the ‘Mayflower Steps’. This afternoon it’s time to ‘cross the border’ and enter Cornwall; a county with a unique culture based on its Celtic heritage. Here they have their own language, their own flag, and of course their Cornish pasties! Our first stop in Cornwall will be the quaint fishing village of Polperro. Follow the narrow streets into the harbour to find an active fishing community where smuggling once thrived. A short trip along the coast will bring us to our next stop, Charlestown, known popularly as a filming location in the TV series Poldark. The village centres on its port and has remained largely unchanged since the late 18th century. Now its time to travel to Falmouth; our base in Cornwall and where we will spend the next two nights.

OVERNIGHT: Falmouth

Today our journey will take us to some of the most beautiful and isolated parts of Cornwall’s coastline. We will begin by travelling to see the famous island of St Michael’s Mount. This iconic location has been home to a monastery since at least the 8th century. Next, beware of ‘pirates’ as we negotiate the town of Penzance and make our way to the Minack Theatre. This place is an inspiring story of dedication and English eccentricity, the Minack Theatre is in a spectacular location that would rival any theatre in the world. From here we continue west, to the westernmost place in Britain and our next stop; Land’s End. Here we can gaze out over the Atlantic and on a clear day we’ll be able to see the Isles of Scilly. Next up is St Ives, one of Britain’s most popular seaside towns. This charming setting was once a centre of Cornwall’s fishing industry, but is now known more as a destination for artists. Stroll along the cobbled lanes, pop into an art shop, take a walk along the front of one of the beaches and have some lunch. Now it’s time to travel back to Falmouth where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore this historic harbour town. Visit the historic Pendennis Castle, discover Falmouth’s renowned National Marimitime Museum or perhaps spend time in a traditional local pub. Tonight is our second night in Falmouth.

OVERNIGHT: Falmouth

This morning it’s time to leave Falmouth, but our Cornish adventure isn’t over yet. We begin by travelling to Cornwall’s north coast, and we’ll reach the charming fishing village of Port Isaac. For some the village may be more familiar by its fictional name ‘Portwenn’; as this is the main filming location in the hit TV series Doc Martin. Starring Martin Clunes, the series follows the life of Doc Martin, a local Doctor whose unique personality and blunt nature leads to a clash of cultures with locals that has humorous results. We’ll have plenty of time in Port Isaac to explore the village, have some lunch and you may wish to join an optional walking tour with a local village guide. This afternoon we’ll continue further north along the coast to Tintagel; once home to an ancient castle which legend says was the birthplace of King Arthur. The island on which the castle would have stood is shrouded in history, and the views of the surrounding coastline are spectacular. After this we will travel back to Exeter where there’ll be time to explore the historic city centre, visit the cathedral or stroll along the river Exe. We’ll spend the final night of the tour in Exeter.

OVERNIGHT: Exeter

The final day of our tour to Cornwall from London begins by departing Exeter and visiting possibly the most beautiful city in Britain; Bath. Founded by the Romans as a spa town, the legend of the city suggests that the water here possesses healing powers. What to see in Bath? Whilst here be sure to visit the Roman Baths and take in some of the beautiful regency architecture like the Royal Crescent & the Circus. Visit the Jane Austen Centre, stroll across the iconic Pultney Bridge and try a local delicacy: a Bath Bun. After ample time to explore Bath and have some lunch we will continue our journey into The Cotswolds; a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. This area is home to Britain’s most famous countryside, known for its beautiful scenery and historic association with sheep farming. We’ll travel through the rolling hills, passing a number of charming villages along the way. We’ll stop in at Castle Combe, arguably the most picture-perfect village in The Cotswolds region. Here you can wander around the quiet streets and admire the villages’ idyllic river setting. At this point it is time to make our way back towards London, where our tour of Cornwall & the Cotswolds concludes.

Return to London

After 5-days our tour to Cornwall from London returns to Kensington. The Cornwall & the Cotswolds tour ends at The Holiday Inn Hotel, by approximately 6:00pm.