We fly from New Zealand to our overnight stop.
We continue our journey to London Heathrow.
From Heathrow, we travel down to the coast and take the Boat from Portsmouth to Cowes on the Isle of Wight and settle into our comfortable beach side accommodation. Flight times permitting, we will visit Osbourne House, the island’s most visited attraction - Victoria and Albert's beloved rural retreat and the place of Queen Victoria’s death. We take the Chain Boat Ferry from East to West Cowes, home of international yachting.
We ease ourselves into this beautiful island with a gentle familiarisation tour and will take in Carisbrooke Castle. Originally built in Norman times, “he who held the castle held the Isle of Wight”. Charles 1st was held at Carisbrooke Castle for a year or so before he was beheaded in 1649. The Castle contains the Island’s museum and if we time it right we’ll see the donkeys turning a massive water wheel.
Today we will visit the delightful picture postcard village of Godshill, with its charming thatched roofs and beautiful medieval church. On our way to Ventnor we call into the Donkey Sanctuary, then drive through the picturesque wooded undercliffs and visit the Botanical Gardens before carrying on to Ventnor seafront for lunch. Onto Bonchurch Old Village and visit the tiny church which is mentioned in the Doom’s Day book. After which we will view the Devil’s Chimney before carrying onto Shanklin Old Village – a supremely picturesque village of thatched roofed cottages that sums up olde England. Time to browse.
We have an early start this morning as we say good-bye to the Isle of Wight and head for the Cotswolds. As we near our destination we drive through the ‘gateway’ to the Cotswolds – Our accommodation for the next four nights is in delightful stone cottages in the grounds of Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe. We will stop off in Swindon for shopping, the fascinating Railway Museum and a look at the amazing Magic Roundabout.
No visit to the Cotswolds is complete without venturing into Stratford Upon Avon - Shakespeare country. Here we visit Ann Hathaway’s Cottage then you are free to wander the town and take in some of the Shakespearean landmarks and have lunch. We travel on to Warwick and visit the amazing castle with 18th century landscaped gardens, armour, dungeons with torture chamber and ghost tower. If we have time on our way back, we will pop into Hidcote Manor Gardens - one of Britain's most extraordinary gardens and finest examples of Arts and Crafts landscaping.
Today we will take you to Boughton-on-the-Water then Lechlade for morning tea, the last navigable point on the Thames. Here we can see a small part of the canal system of Britain’s Industrial past. Today also takes in the other main Cotswold villages of Burford, and beautiful, tranquil Bibury – each one a specific delight and of historical interest.
Today we are going to Royal Bath, the city known for its Ancient Roman Baths. You cannot fail to be impressed by the foresight of the Romans. You have a couple of hours free to wander here. We highly recommend a visit to the Grand Pump Room with its ornate ceilings showing the four seasons. For lunch we recommend Sally Luns “the oldest house in Bath”. This is just one minute stroll from the Abbey. Bath was the home of the famous author Jane Austen whose house is open to the public. On our way back we visit the Caen Hill flight of locks in Devises then on through Wootton Bassett for a view of the stilted Council Offices.
Leave Cotswolds to Yorkshire Dales Today we leave the picturesque Cotswolds and travel to the stunning rural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. En-route we will stop for comfort and lunch breaks and should arrive at our country town accommodation in Hawes by 4.30pm. Your 7 night stay allows you to soak up the atmosphere of its quaint cobbled streets and historic buildings.
This morning we will first travel to Burnsall, stopping for photographs before continuing to Kettlewell at Grassington for lunch. Kettlewell was featured as the fictional “Knapley” in the popular film “Calendar Girls”. In the afternoon we return to Hawes via Aysgarth and Bainbridge.
Today we enjoy the magnificent scenic tranquility of England’s Lake District, where we visit Keswick and Derwent Water, traveling via the famous dramatic Kirkstone Pass. Time permitting we may visit poet William Wordsworth’s cottage at Grasmere.
This is a free day to enjoy the bustling town of Hawes, which received its Royal market charter in 1669. Taking its name from the River Hause that flows through it, the cobbled streets come alive on market day bringing gypsy caravans pulled by Clydesdale horses. You can also visit the Wensleydale Creamery to taste the renowned local cheese, or discover the fascinating rope factory.
Enjoy browsing at your leisure in the historic city of York. You may choose to visit the National Railway Museum, walk the Roman city walls or medieval shambles, visit the exquisite cathedral, York Minster or immerse yourself in the re-created Viking village of Jorvik beneath the city streets. We return to Hawes at approximately 4.30pm.
We return to the Lake District today to Bowness on Lake Windemere. This is Beatrix Potter country, where we visit the charming “World of Beatrix Potter” Attraction. Continuing to Hawkshead, we view Coniston Water where Sir Donald Campbell died trying to beat the world speed record on water in the 1960’s.
Today we will see as much of the Dales as we can, we will take in Muker (pronounced Mooka) where “All Creatures Great and Small” and “A Woman of Substance” were filmed. We stop at the woolen mills and art and craft shop. We will drive through Gunnerside, Langthwaith over to Askrigg and back to Wensleydale.
Travel to North Wales Yorkshire Dales to North Wales, arriving in Llandudno in late afternoon. Our hotel in Victorian Llandudno is right on the seafront, where we can enjoy strolls along the wide promenade with its beautiful sea views. Llandudno is on a curving bay flanked by Great Orme, a 700ft high limestone headland.
Free morning then at midday we visit Llangollen, which gained worldwide fame as home to the International Musical Eisteddfod which has been held every year since 1947. The buildings in this delightful town are clustered around the River Dee, which is spanned by one of the Severn Wonders of Wales – Llangollen bridge which dates back to 1345. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the best known features of the Llangollen Canal, built by Thomas Telford. We are free to wander the morning here and have lunch, before returning to our accommodation.
Crossing the impressive Menai Suspension Bridge onto the Isle of Anglesey, we stop at Beaumaris, a resort town of elegant Victorian character. There is time to visit the nearby Beaumaris Castle, which was built in 1295 by Edward I, and features a moat which fills with tidal sea water. We also call at Llanfair PG, Britain’s longest place name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogery- chwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – meaning ‘St Mary's Church in a hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and St Tysil's Church of the red cave.' Time permitting we will also visit the market town of Llangefni, where the first market was held in 1785.
Explore Llandudno today at your leisure. Stroll the wide promenades or golden sands or take a cruise around the pier to the other side of Great Orme. Perhaps visit the house called “Rabbit Hole” where famous author Lewis Carroll set his story Alice in Wonderland. For splendid views, take the Great Orme Tramway to the summit of the headland.
Today we cross the Wales/England border to explore Roman Chester. Chester is one of Europe’s top heritage cities and boasts a complete circuit of walls, which is still guarded at times by Roman soldiers. Chester is a photographer’s dream with its dazzling black and white buildings, and restored two tiered shops called “The Rows”. You will have time to enjoy the sites and shops. On our way we stop at St Margaret’s (Bodelwyddan) – a beautiful Marble Church where fourteen different types of marble have been used, and its mysterious graveyard. The return journey takes us along the coastal road, through Prestatyn, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay and onto Llandudno.
View wonderful mountain scenery in Snowdonia National Park, before travelling along the Vale of Conway to Betws-y-Coed. We stop at the beautiful Swallow Falls, then view Mt Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain, from the spectacular Llanberis Pass. Later we call at the ancient walled town of Caernarfon where Caernarfon Castle overlooks the Menai Straight and was the venue for the investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Today we visit Llangollen, which gained worldwide fame as home to the International Musical Eisteddfod which has been held every year since 1947. The buildings in this delightful town are clustered around the River Dee, which is spanned by one of the Severn Wonders of Wales – Llangollen bridge which dates back to 1345. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the best known features of the Llangollen Canal, built by Thomas Telford. We are free to wander the morning here and have lunch, before returning to our accommodation.
Travel to Cornwall Today we have a long drive from Wales to our comfortable rustic accommodation in Cornwall. We will stop for photo opportunities, morning tea and lunch along the way.
After a later start we go to Polperro’ a delightful fishing village dating from 14th century which reverberates with the echoes of smugglers past. Then onto Fowey, a tangle of hilly streets full of flowers and handsome old houses above the estuary; a mass of flitting sails and ocean-going ships all summer and Luxulyan. We stop for lunch at the impressive Victorian mansion of Landhydrock with its 50 rooms on show and then onto Bodmin for some free time before returning to Stithians.
We drive to picturesque Boscastle where thatched and whitewashed houses severely affected by flooding in 2004 straggle along the crumpled slate walls of a winding sea inlet. Then onto Tintagel to see the ruined castle perching over a wall of sheer cliffs and Tintagel Post Office - a fine old long-house, dating back to medieval times. After the small fishing village of Port Isaac, we go to Padstow where you can view Rick Stein’s restaurant or pick up a pastie from one of the shops in the quaint streets surrounding the working fishing harbour.
An early start is called for as the Eden Project gets very crowded by mid morning. This incredible set of three enormous biome conservatories can’t fail to impress gardeners and non gardeners alike. Once we have taken in this wonderful complex, we travel on to Mevagissey a charming unspoilt Cornish fishing village and then onto the fishing village of Portloe before returning to our cosy lodges.
Today we travel through Truro, Redruth and then following the coastal road to St Ives where you are left free to discover this exceptionally pretty fishing village with its an outpost of the Tate Gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and to have lunch. The narrow hilly streets around the harbour contain many other galleries and craft studios. Our day is rounded of with a visit to Penzance and the quaint sea town of Mousehole. We will also stop at St Michael’s Mount for photo opportunities.
The imaginative restoration project that has resurrected a neglected Victorian 80-acre garden site at Heligan is where we start off the day. You may have seen the documentaries on TV. After which we will cross on the King Harry Ferry to Falmouth.
Today we head to the Poldark Tin Mines near Helstrom. The fascinating tour of the mine is optional. On then to Truro which has a beautiful Cathedral, the only one in Cornwall. Here you will have your own time for lunch, browsing, shopping and time to view the Cathedral. We get back in reasonable time for packing.
Leaving Cornwall, we travel through Tavistock, then cross Dartmoor National Park and then stop briefly at Widecombe–in-the-Moor. Much of the National Park’s scenery is wild, but man-made influences emerge in the form of ‘leats’ (mini-canals) abandoned tin mine workings and grazing wild ponies. We continue up to Heathrow, London, and flight times permitting; we will view the Houses of Parliament, Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch and drive down Pall Mall to Buckingham Palace. Photo time!!
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