Saturday, 20 September 2014

Cornwall without stress - a sample itinerary

The following 9 day trip to Cornwall is ideal for small to medium sized mature groups who would like to explore the breathtaking beauty of South West England at a leisurely pace.   



Sun:  Arrive London - Bath

Arrive in London and meet your driver and guide and transfer to Bath

Arrive in Bath check into the Francis Hotel (or similar) for two nights on a bed and breakfast basis

Dinner this evening is arranged at a local restaurant within walking distance

Mon 8th June : Bath

This morning enjoy some time at leisure before visiting the famous Roman Baths

Enjoy lunch at leisure

This afternoon visit Bath Abbey with its Magnificent stained glass windows, columns of honey-gold stone and some of the finest fan vaulting in the world

Dinner this evening is arranged at a local restaurant within walking distance

Tuesday: Bodmin Moor - Padstow

This morning depart Bath and continue to Padstow in Cornwall

En route a stop will be made for lunch at The Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor

The Jamaica Inn is Cornwall’s most famous smugglers inn. Immortalised in Daphne du Maurier's eponymous tale of smugglers, rogues and pirates, this historic coaching house has welcomed travellers crossing Bodmin Moor for nearly 300 years. Full of legend, mystery, romance and even, according to folklore, the odd friendly spirit, Jamaica Inn is set in one of the most evocative moorland locations in Britain

Check in to a local 4 Star hotel in Padstow for 3 nights
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure exploring this quaint town and pretty harbour

This afternoon enjoy a private Sea Safari departing from Padstow Harbour. This 2 hour boat trip gives you the opportunity to view a myriad of sea life that occupy the Cornish waters and coastline at different times of the year such as seals, porpoises, dolphins & basking sharks. In Spring & Summer the cliff formations are teeming with Guillemots, Cormorants, Razorbills & Oystercatchers and you may even see Puffins on our Cornwall’s very own “Puffin Island”

This evening enjoy dinner in Rick Stein’s famous seafood restaurant before returning to your hotel

Wedesday :  Tintagel and Boscastle

Today enjoy a day of myth and mystery as you discover the legend of King Arthur, Excalibur, The Knights of the Round Table and Merlin.

You will visit Tintagel Castle, Merlins Cave and King Arthurs Great Hall. The coastline in this area is spectacular and the walk out to Tintagel Castle gives some excellent views.

On return to Padstow, visit Boscastle a small village and port on the North Cornwall Coast. The theme of myth and legend continues with a visit to the Museum of Witchraft. The museum has the largest collection of witchcraft and Wiccan related artefacts in the world
Return to your hotel in Padstow for dinner.

Thursday :  Eden Project

This morning travel to the Eden Project, near St Austell. The Eden Project is a one of a kind attraction. The amazing architecture of the Biome’s houses many attractions. Some of the highlights are: the world's largest rainforest in captivity with steamy jungles and waterfalls, cutting-edge architecture and buildings, stunning garden displays all year round, world-class sculpture and art and a Rainforest Canopy Walkway, where you can take a stunning walk among the treetops.
Return your hotel in Padstow for dinner.

Friday : Land’s End and St Ives

This morning, check out of the hotel and meet with your Tour Manager, coach and driver and continue your journey westwards

Your first visit to the day will be to Land’s End – the most westerly point of the Great British Mainland. Pose for pictures with the famous signpost or simply marvel at the
crashing waves on the rocks below.

This afternoon you will be driven the short distance to St Ives, the most famous of Cornish holiday towns.  The town is crammed full of shops and cafes situated around the harbour and standing high above the wonderful Porthmeor beach is the Tate Gallery. Explore the town at leisure

Re-join the coach and travel the short distance to the Tregenna Castle Estate (or similar) where accommodation has been arranged for the next three nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. 


Saturday:  Porthcurno, Penzance and the Minack Theatre

This morning, meet with your Tour Manager, coach and driver and make the short journey to Porthcurno for a visit to the Telegraph Museum

Porthcurno has a unique historic provenance: this is where the telegraph cables that linked Britain with its Empire and other nations came ashore. The valley was the hub of international cable communications from 1870-1970 and also training college for the communications industry until 1993. Porthcurno was the largest cable station in the world.

Re-join the coach and head towards Penzance to enjoy lunch at leisure. Penzance is a popular area for fans of Rosamunde Pilcher and is featured in the films Snow Storm in Spring, Reflections, Summer on the Sea, The Empty House and Looking to the Horizon

Re-join the coach and travel the short distance to the Minack Theatre – Cornwall’s world famous outdoor theatre - where a visit has been arranged

Many visitors arrive at the Minack imagining it was built by invading Romans.  If Caesar’s legions had come this far they might have been beguiled by the beauty of the place, but the real truth is as remarkable as this enduring fiction. From 1931 until she died in 1983 the Minack Theatre was planned, built and financed by one determined woman – Rowena Cade

Depending on schedules it may be possible to see an afternoon or evening performance here

Transfer back to the hotel

Sunday :  St Michael’s Mount, Porthleven and Mullion

This morning, meet with your Tour Manager, coach and driver and make the short journey to St Michael’s Mount

You will have been catching sight of the Mount during the last couple of days but this will be your chance to visit!

Accessed by a causeway at low water, follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and discover legend, myth and over a thousand years of history.

Re-join the coach and make the journey to Porthleven

Time to browse the craft shops and art galleries and enjoy a Cornish pasty - Hot out of the oven and eaten from the paper bag it comes in

Re-join the coach and travel on to Mullion Cove
Mullion is the largest village on the Lizard and has shops, inns, cafes and restaurants, craft shops and art galleries. It has a pretty working harbour, protected from the winter gales that rage across Mount's Bay by two stout sea walls. The harbour was completed in 1895 and financed by Lord Robartes of Lanhydrock as a recompense to the fishermen for several disastrous pilchard seasons
You can still see the old pilchard cellar and net store. There are plenty of smuggling tales too
Transfer back to the hotel

Monday :  Stonehenge – Salisbury

This morning depart Cornwall and travel to one of Britain’s most iconic prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge

Enjoy time walking around the stones and exploring the brand new visitor experience. There will also be time to get lunch at the on-site restaurant

Depart Stonehenge for the short journey into Salisbury

Here you will visit the magnificent Cathedral. There is the opportunity to climb Britain’s tallest Cathedral Spire and also see the original Magna Carta in the Chapter House

The visit concludes with the Cathedrals’ evensong service where the choir will perform

This evening one nights accommodation is arranged at the Cathedral Hotel (or similar) on a dinner bed and breakfast basis

Tuesday June : London

This morning depart Salisbury and travel into London for flight home.



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