South-West England and Wales: Cultural & Historic Adventure - 9 Days
This tour is a brilliant way of seeing southern England and Wales, and an absolute must for anyone with an interest in the TV series Poldark!
Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are amongst the sunniest parts of England and benefitting from fantastic beaches, warm ocean currents from the Gulf of Mexico, and plants such as palm trees and exotic flowers that you wouldn't expect to find here. Cornwall has many fishing villages and was famous for copper and tin mining for centuries. Indeed, one of the reasons the Romans invaded Great Britain was for Cornish tin, such important a resource it was 2,000 years ago.
In recent times the BBC Period drama Poldark has drawn much attention to the beautiful beaches, gorgeous coastline, lighthouses and social history of the reason, including pirating and smuggling. We'll leave London and head south west to visit this oasis of natural beauty visiting many attractions such as famous botanical gardens, aristocratic estates, cider farms, beautiful fishing villages, ports, headlands and peninsulae. The built heritage and social history of the region are equally as impressive as the spectacular landscape. One thing that also surprises many is also the culinary aspect - not just extremely tasty seafood but also excellent cream teas. We'll finish in Wales, having explored Tenby and the capital Cardiff which is home to so much culture and history.
Itinerary and Specifics
Highlights:
- See the most beautiful coastline in Britain
- Vist the Eden Project Ecosphere - a fascinating attraction focusing on Biodiversity and research on plant life in a changing global climate
- Understand the history of the South West of England - Celtic and Cornish links, tin and copper mining, Roman invasion, language and customs.
- See the most southerly point in the United Kingdom and enjoy the many lighthouses, relics of the mining industry, country mansions and much more
- Visit Poldark locations - see why the BBC Period Drama was such a success once you explore these stunning locations
- Enjoy cream tea as the British do and enjoy some of the best seafood in Europe.
- Discover Coastal Gems such as a St. Ives, home to painters, writers and romantics at heart.
Included:
- 4 Star Accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
- Meet and Greet at Airport
- Transfers to and from hotel
- Expert driver/guide
- Comfortable touring vehicle
- Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any bookings you want to make
- Porterage - 1 piece per person in and out of hotels
Not included
- Flights - purchase your own flights in and out of destination
- Gratuities - minimum recommended $20 per person per day
- Lunches and Dinners - we like our guests to be able to choose their own dining options
- Any entrances to museums, attractions and concerts - most of what you're looking for will be free entrance anyway.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1
Meet and Greet London Heathrow Airport.
Depart for Portsmouth (explore the historic Naval Dockyard if time allows) and take a ferry to the Isle of Wight, departure from Portsmouth @ 11.20, latest check-in 10.45
Arrive Fishbourne 12.05
Stop off for lunch along the way to the castle - plenty of options in Newport
See Osbourne House Listed Building - the Summerhouse of Queen Victoria where she spent the remainder of her life in mourning following the death of Albert.
Visit Carisbrooke Castle - An Elizabethan artillery fortress, a king's prison and a royal summer residence. Carisbrooke is a quintessential romantic castle. Here you'll find loveable donkeys, a fascinating museum and an Edwardian garden.
Overnight x1 night on Isle of Wight
Day 2
Breakfast Included.
Optional visit to The Needles - large chalk rock formations for a photo stop.
Head back to the Mainland by ferry at Yarmouth-Lymington,
Stop off for lunch along the way -Lyme Regis (Also a dinosaur fossil museum there if interested) - 2 hour drive
Visit the Mayflower Museum, Plymouth.
Drive across the famous River Tamar to Cornwall
Head to St Austell, Cornwall for dinner and check-in
Day 3
Breakfast Included
Drive to Pendennis Castle
See Men-an-Tol Bronze Age relic, Men Scryfa Standing Stone, Explore Nine Maidens Stone Circle and Lanyon Quoit Megalithic Tomb.
Continue to Chysauster Ancient Village
Lunch in Penzance area
See the Levant Mine and Beam Engine
Visit the Geevor Tin Mine Museum
Continue to the Count House Botallack Mine (Poldark Mine)
See the Crown's Engine Houses and the Crown Mines from the Series Poldark
Go to Land's End and Explore Sennan Cove
Dinner in St Ives before returning to via Nampara House to St Austell
Day 4
Breakfast Included
Visit Charlestown, stop for photos
Visit the Lost Gardens Heligan or Eden Project (booking recommended for the latter)
Stop off at standing stones on Bodmin - The Hurlers
Discover King Arthur’s Hall
Ivey farm - Nampara House in poldark
Stop off at Port Isaac for lunch
Head over to the Coast and Explore Tintagel Castle - 13th century site with connections going back as far as the dark ages.
Bocastle farm shop is a great stop off point for views and coffee
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast Included
Time at leisure - Option to walk along the South West Coastal Route from Ilfracombe to Woolacombe with stunning views across the Bristol Channel. Hele Corn Mill is a 16th century Water Mill with a tea room which is a lovely spot for a cream tea.
Enjoy Lunch - many good fish and chips restaurants in the area
Watermouth Castle visit
Free time in Ilfracombe
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast Included
Depart Ilfracombe for Glastonbury (2 hour drive) - King Arthur's Tomb, Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury Abbey
Lunch in a local restaurant to sample some local ciders as well
Drive to Wales
Dinner in Tenby
Day 7
Breakfast Included
Many local beaches to explore, as well as the museum and art gallery. There is also the Harbour Brewery to visit which can double up as a lunch option.
A visit to St Catherine’s island is dependent on tides and weather but is a fort and WW2 Anti Aircraft gun placement that is well worth it.
Tenby Castle Beach is stunning
Boat tours available for wildlife watching - Seals, puffins and dolphins among many seabirds frequent the area - especially if you go to Lundy!
Dinner in a British local pub
Day 8
Breakfast Included
Depart Tenby and head east towards Cardiff
Lunch Locally
Option to visit the vineyard at Llanerch for a tour and tasting (pre-booking required) alternative is White Castle Vineyard
Hensol Castle - 17th century castle complete with gin distillery for tastings and even a masterclass!
Castel Coch (pronounced Cork) - fairytale castle outside of Cardiff
St Fagans (historic info / preserved village) - National Museum of History
Free time in National Museum of Wales
See the arcades and Cardiff Castle
Dinner locally
Overnight x2 nights
Day 9
Breakfast Included
Head over to the Cardiff Bay area and see: Roald Dahl Square, Norwegian Church Arts Centre (Lutheran church), Welsh Parliament
Lunch
Cardiff Market (good for Welsh cakes) Cardiff Castle, National Museum of Wales
Day 10: Saturday 4 May 2024
Breakfast Included
Depart for London Heathrow Airport (3 hour drive)