England's South West
The Cotswolds, Devon and Cornwall
12 day Tour
Distance:
Walks cover
4 - 8 miles a day
Grading: Easy
and Easy/Moderate
Escape back to a time where villages compliment the stunning scenery that surrounds them. Old wooden stocks still remain dug into village greens, waterwheels cascade, ancient inns await. You'll discover some of the charm and the cultures of the beautiful Cotswolds.
Then you'll savor the wild beauty of Devonshire's Dartmoor, walking across moors blanketed with purple heathers and bracken, home to the hardiest of creatures the Dartmoor pony.
Finally you can delight in the pure freshness of the Atlantic air as you walk the high cliff paths of Cornwall, visiting beautiful coves, with blue-green waters and ancient fishing harbor towns, inspiration for so many writers and artists over the years.
ITINERARY
Days 1 - 4
After leaving your London hotel in the morning, you will drive to the Cotswold Hills, stopping along the way to walk a section of the Ridgeway on the Whitehorse Downs, which dates back 5000 years or more and is the oldest road in Britain.
Along this route you'll see the well known, ancient chalk hill figure, the White Horse of Uffington. You'll then stop for lunch in the village of Avebury, part of which lies within the largest ancient stone circle in Britain.
Later on you will arrive in Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds located on the Ancient Roman track the Fosse Way.
Here you will settle into your accommodation and enjoy a friendly, relaxed evening.
The next morning your walk will take you through three of the most appealing villages in the Cotswolds.
Firstly you approach the 'thankful' village of Upper Slaughter, named so for being one of the few villages in England where all the local men returned safely from the fighting in both World Wars, and where delightful cottages are clustered around a handsome Elizabethan manor and parsonage.
You cross the forded River Eye and continue along the Warden's Way to idyllic Lower Slaughter. There the River Eye flows along tree-lined streets at the edge of lovely old houses and a 19th century corn mill and water wheel.
Venturing further north, your walk will then take you along the ancient Monarch's Way, from the lovely village of Blockley, through Broad Campden and on to one of the finest Cotswold towns, Chipping Campden, in time for afternoon tea.
The following day you can explore two truly memorable villages, scattered with historic and architectural delights and set in some of the most stunning scenic surroundings, with expansive views of the Vale of Evesham from the top of the Cotswold escarpment.
Starting at Stanway with all its picturesque beauty, you'll walk up to Snowshill, a charming, little village at the top of the escarpment, where lunch can be enjoyed at the village pub, before walking on to your final destination at Broadway Tower.
In this 65 foot high tower William Morris, the famous artist and social reformer, stayed along with Pre-Raphaelites, Burne-Jones and Rossetti and there are exhibitions of their work to be enjoyed there. Situated at the top edge of the escarpment, it also provides incredible views to the north and west. You shall finish off the day, if time permits, in the charming town of Broadway for a late afternoon tea.
This leaves your final day as a day off and those who would like to can enjoy a trip to one of Britain's finest country houses, Blenheim Palace. Built for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough by order of Queen Anne and the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill in 1874, the palace and its collection of tapestries, paintings, sculptures and furniture is well worth a visit. The formal gardens and the landscaped 2500 acre park beyond them are one of the most superb examples of the like to be found in the country.
If you wish for a more relaxing day then you may prefer just to stroll around your surroundings, browse shops or perhaps enjoy a good read, it is your choice.
Days 5- 7
You will leave this morning for the county of Devon, stopping en route for lunch in the beautiful city of Bath with time to walk around some of the fascinating old Roman Baths and elegant Georgian terraces that make this city so famous.
You shall arrive at our accommodation in picturesque South Devon, located near Dartmoor and all its rugged beauty.
The next day, after a brief visit to the charming village of Chagford, a former stannery town, you shall indulge in an intimate view of the magic and mystery that is the moorland. You shall hear of the folklore and tales that abound on the moors and soak up the expansive views from the summits of granite tors.
We may see the hardy, wild Dartmoor ponies and shall picnic in the tranquil setting of babbling streams running through green glades amidst heather and bracken.
Along this route you can visit one of Dartmoor's most impressive ancient settlements dating back to the Bronze Age and you'll convene the walk at the old Warren House Inn that boasts of its hearth fire that has been burning since 1845 and will never be allowed to go out!
Days 8 - 12
On the following morning you depart for Cornwall heading first for Polperro, a classic example of a Cornish fishing village, where there will be time to wander around the narrow streets and alleys with their white-washed jumble of houses, cafes and shops before beginning your walk.
You'll follow along the South West Coast Path past old smuggler's coves with incredible views of the English Channel, its waves breaking at the base of the cliffs. Your final destination will be the delightful, ancient seaport of Fowey, where you will settle into your accommodation.
Over the next 3 days you can cover more of the South West Coast Path. Part of this will be through 'Daphne du Maurier country', the Gribben Headland, where she lived for many years at the Menabilly Estate.
Famous for writing books such as 'Jamaica Inn' and 'Frenchman's Creek', she drew inspiration from these beautiful surroundings for many of the settings in her novels such as 'Manderlay' in 'Rebecca'.
You'll walk another section of the coast path this time along the northern coast of Cornwall where you'll visit the legendary birthplace of King Arthur at Tintagel.
This dramatic headland, rich in history and legend is also stunning, with rugged cliffs and the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean beating against them.
There will be the chance to visit the delightful fishing harbor of Padstow and walk along one of the most visually captivating beaches with huge monoliths of granite rising up out of the sand.
One morning you can embark on a short ferry ride across the Fowey River to commence the 'Hall Walk'. This walk provides some of the prettiest river and estuary views you're ever likely to encounter. Your day ends with another boat ride, this time on foot ferry, back to Fowey.
There will also be a day off which can be spent either at the world famous Eden Project, a fascinating collection of giant biomes housing various climatic environments of plants from around the world or at Lanhydrock Estate.
If though, you prefer to spend the day doing something different, then of course the choice is yours.
On your final day you'll head back to London stopping for lunch in Salisbury with time to take in the wonderful sights of this historic city and its amazing Cathedral.
You can also stop once more, if time permits, at the ancient stone circles of Stonehenge before arriving at your hotel in London in time for dinner.
