The Pleasures of Cornwall & Englands

London, Bath, Devon & Cornwall: 11 Night – 12 Days

Hotel Options:
2 Nights – Belgravia, Hotel London The Goring
2 Nights – Pensford Near Bath, England, Hotel THE PIG-near Bath
3 Nights – Devon, England, Hotel Endsleigh
4 Nights – Cornwall, England, Hotel Tresanton

Think Cornwall and think of its dramatic coastal cliffs and dunes, of lazy afternoon walks through small fishing villages with restaurants serving the freshest of seafood. From its myths and legends to stunning landscapes, Cornwall is simply magical.

Description

Begin in London, a city that no matter how many times you visit can offer something completely new. You can explore London with a private guide, being driven around town in a traditional London Black Cab – and the places you can visit will be totally up to you and we will design the day around your interests.

Pick up your hire car and drive to Bath (we can of course provide a permanent driver/guide). You might want to stop-off at Highclere Castle (famous for Downton Abbey) and Stonehenge en-route, and we certainly suggest taking the more remote roads through picturesque English villages. Stop for lunch in a quiet countryside pub. Spend two nights in Bath and a day walking around the town never disappoints. From its Roman remains to its fantastic Georgian architecture, Bath is certainly worth a visit.

Continue into Devon, and it might be worth passing through Glastonbury, inhabited from Neolithic times and notable for time-old myths from the Holy Grail to King Arthur – and some have said it could have been the famous island of Avalon.

Continue through the Mendip Hills, possibly stopping at Cheddar Gorge which is famous for its dramatic limestone scenery but also its cheese. You then cross into Devon, and spend two nights at the amazing Endsleigh Hotel. You might want to walk or ride through the dramatic Dartmoor National Park, try your hand at fly-fishing on the River Tamar or learn a little about falconry. Nearby is Buckland Abbey, once home to Sri Francis Drake. You then continue into the heart of Cornwall, and we suggest visiting Tintagel Castle en route – again famous for its association with King Arthur. Work your way down the coast and stop at Padstow. This lovely fishing village is a mecca for foodies and Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant is a must. You then arrive into St Mawes on the south coast, and an ideal base to explore this part of Cornwall. Why not spend a day heading into St Ives, maybe take a walk along the coast or wander over the Eden Project. We can arrange special experiences such as a day sailing along the coast where you can arrive at remote beaches for a picnic lunch. We love the idea of taking a RIB speedboat to lunch on the Helford at the Ferryboat Inn, or just walking along the coastal path from St Mawes Castle, built by King Henry VIII, to the 13th century church of St Just in Roseland.
Finally, return to Newquay and drop off the car and fly back to London.

When to travel
It is very difficult to predict the weather in the United Kingdom – in the summer from May to late September is generally seen as the most pleasant time to visit. Rainfall is difficult to predict – but the UK does not receive as much as many are led to believe! In the winters, temperatures do fall, but there is nothing better than finding a remote pub with a roaring fire to sit beside after a long walk in the country.