King Arthurs West Country Dorset, Devon & Cornwall

Prices From: $1060
Days: 4 days

Reliving the reign of the mystical King Arthur enjoy a tour so magical even Merlin would be proud. Over 4 days experience centuries of history stepping inside historic settings of romance, intrigue and honour to see legends come alive. All the while taking in the magical landscapes of England's timeless West Country.

Itinerary

Tour Itinerary

Reliving the reign of the mystical King Arthur enjoy a tour so magical even Merlin would be proud. Over 4 days experience centuries of history stepping inside historic settings of romance, intrigue and honour to see legends come alive. All the while taking in the magical landscapes of England's timeless West Country.

Day 1 - Dorset
Departing London, we drive south-west through Hampshire and to Thomas Hardy's much loved ancient kingdom of Wessex. We stop in its capital Winchester, where a replica of King Arthur's Round Table is on proud display in the only remaining part of its castle, The Great Hall. We take a gentle stroll to the city's remarkable 7th century cathedral renowned for its architecture and hidden treasures, including 12th-century wall paintings, medieval carvings, the Winchester Bible and Jane Austen's tomb. Take time for a coffee before returning to the coach for our delightful journey into the lovely, quaint county of Dorsetshire. This is real Back-Roads country, where time has stood still amidst the little villages and towns. We visit the Cerne Abbas Giant before a warm welcome in the local town of Dorchester where Thomas Hardy spent part of his working life and based a number of his famous novels. From here we travel along the 'Jurassic coast', awarded World Heritage Site status and famous for its geology and fossil finds as we continue to our characterful accommodation for our welcome meal.

(D)
Overnight accommodation: Dorset

Day 2 - Devon
This morning is a real highlight in our itinerary. We explore Jane Austen's Lyme Regis where she based parts of her novel Persuasion and which was also the setting for John Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman. Wander along its 18th century promenade, its famous Cobb and ancient harbour that continues to inspire writers and artists. We continue our journey along the south Devon coast, with its picturesque seaside towns and fishing villages. Make sure you don't leave without sampling a traditional clotted cream tea! The landscape changes as we travel through Dartmoor National Park. Get your cameras ready as we meander through beautiful country lanes, over ancient stone bridges and through dramatic rolling countryside where ponies roam wild. Tonight we might stay in the heart of the arresting Dartmoor National Park or perhaps in Tavistock on the edge of the brooding moor.
(B/D)
Overnight accommodation: The Two Bridges, Dartmoor or similar
Day 3 - Devon
Our destination today is the rocky north Cornish coast where we visit Tintagel Castle, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur. The castle sits on top of the wild cliffs and is accessible on foot along the coastline or by four-wheel drive (additional cost). Later we visit one or two Cornish fishing villages for a famed "Cornish Pasty" or fish and chips down by the harbour. We finish our day with a visit to Cornwall's ancient capital Launceston, with its legendary castle and narrow bustling streets, before returning to our accommodation in Devon.

(B)
Overnight accommodation: The Two Bridges, Dartmoor or similar

Day 4 - Glastonbury, Wells and Avebury
As we head back towards London there are still a huge number of interesting sights in store. Our first highlight of the day is the mystical town of Glastonbury and its Abbey, the reputed site of Arthur and Guinevere's burial and the "new age" capital of England with its esoteric collection of shops. We pop in to visit the tiny market city of Wells, known for its attractive Cathedral and Vicar's Close (the oldest continuously inhabited medieval street in Europe). From here we make our way to the amazing Salisbury Plain, littered with ancient burial sites and the remains of Iron Age hill forts, to the great prehistoric temple of Stonehenge. We have time to explore this ancient monument and listen to theories as to how it was constructed and its importance to the people in this region before our return to London this evening.

(B)

Optional Extras

Pre or post tour accommodation.

Private or rail airport transfers.

Make your mini-tour part of an extended London city break.

Prices

Prices

Dates and Rates

Departs London every Monday throughout 2011 season.

Departs London	Returns London	Price pp (USD$)
8th april	11th april	$1105
15th april	18th april	$1105
22th april	25th april	$1105
29th april	2nd may	$1105
6th may	9th may	$1105
13th may	16th may	$1105
20th may	23th may	$1105
27th may	30th may	$1105
3rd june	6th june	$1105
10th june	13th june	$1105
17th june	20th june	$1105
24th june	27th june	$1105
1st july	4th july	$1105
8th july	11th july	$1105
15th july	18th july	$1105
22th july	25th july	$1105
29th july	1st aug	$1105
5th aug	8th aug	$1105
12th aug	15th aug	$1105
19th aug	22th aug	$1105
26th aug	29th aug	$1105
2th sep	5th sep	$1105
9th sep	12th sep	$1105
16th sep	19th sep	$1105
23th sep	26th sep	$1105
30th sep	03th oct	$1105
7th oct	10th oct	$1105
14th oct	17th oct	$1105