ADVENTURES WITH SHANNON AND MARIO
Day 1 - We will meet at our London Heathrow accommodation this morning and then make our way to Dorset with a few stop inbetween. Our first stop of the trip will be Salisbury to visit Salisbury Cathedral. For over 750 years pilgrims have come to seek inspiration in the glory and peace of the Cathedral. Here you will marvel at or climb up to Britain's Tallest Spire, be awed by the beauty and scale of the cathedral interior or study the original Magna Carta in the Chapter House. We will have Afternoon Tea at Salisbury Cathedral before we make our way to Winchester and Winchester Cathedral. Winchester Cathedral dates from 1079 with a church on this site since 648. Jane Austen is buried here and the cathedral possesses the only diatonic ring of 14 church bells in the world, with a tenor (heaviest bell) weighing almost 2 tons. We then get settled into our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight near Dorchester. (B,L,D)
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Day 2 - This morning we make our way to Blandford Forum located on the banks of the River Stour and the most complete, small Georgian town in England. This town has stunning architecture, a charming parish church and wonderful market place. Next we spend some time in Shaftsbury, a small market town in Dorset with a fascinating history going back to Saxon times. The town is the home of Gold Hill and has magnificent views over Thomas Hardy’s Blackmore Vale. It is the gateway to the South West from where you can tour the area from Stonehenge to the east to Bath and Bristol to the north and the Jurassic Coast to the south. We then stop for Afternoon Tea at Summer Garden before making our way into Dorchester. Dorchester is not only Dorset’s county town but also the birthplace of famous author and poet Thomas Hardy. The town enjoys a rich history dating back as far as the Iron Age and is home to the Roman Town House, the finest example of its kind in Britain. You will have the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore and find some dinner on your own, Overnight near Dorchester. (B,L)
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Day 3 - We continue along the coast today taking in East Devon, another Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We will stop in Lyme Regis, situated in the Southwest of Dorset is an historic unspoiled seaside resort and fishing port on the world famous Cobb Harbour. Surrounded by beautiful coastlines and countryside, the area has now been awarded World Heritage Site Status and is famous for its geology and fossil finds. Next we make our way into the Dartmoor National Park situated in the south west of England, right in the very heart of Devon, Dartmoor is a landscape of stunning views, awe inspiring granite tors, deep wooded valleys with fast flowing rivers, and rugged, wide open spaces. We will wind our way through the center of the park taking in all the delights of this magnificent and magical area of England including Dartmeet, Buckland in the Moor and Windecomb in the Moor and stop for Afternoon Tea on our journey through. And it is not just ponies you will see, but also Foxes, Otters, Weasels, Stoats and Deer. Bird lovers will be able to spot Cormorants, Grey Herons, Owls and Peregrine Falcons. We will eventually find ourselves at our accommodation where we get settled in before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Buckland Abbey. (B,L,D)
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Day 4 - Today we take in the lovely Cornish Coast with a first stop at seaside town of Looe. Looe’s harbour and river separates east from west and is spanned by a Victorian bridge, its the ever changing focal point of the town as the tide goes in and out, boats come and go and there’s a constant flow of people going about their daily life. Our next stop further along the coast is Polperro. A surfeit of touristy gift shops do not quite manage to spoil this quaint old Cornish fishing village whose narrow streets and pretty cottages remain undeniably attractive. Many of the cottages are covered with a profusion of flowers in summer and the streets are so narrow they are banned to cars, which makes Polperro an ideal place to explore on foot. You can find some lunch on your own here before we turn inland to Liskeard, an ancient stannery and market town. The town boasts many original Victorian shop fronts and interiors in addition to a Guild Hall, a Clock Tower and a Town Hall. The recently renovated Stuart House is now a venue for the Arts with an attractive garden. And then back home before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Buckland Abbey. (B,L,D)
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Day 5 - As we head north today we make a first stop at Launceston. When you walk around the narrow streets of Launceston and you get a real sense of the town’s ancient history. Up on the hill is the Norman castle overlooking the town and rolling countryside beyond. There's the remains of a defensive wall that once circled the town, a 14th century gatehouse into the old town and tucked away below the castle is a row of grand houses that Sir John Betjeman described as the loveliest Georgian street in Cornwall. Then we visit Clovelly, a beautiful, picturesque fishing village, steeped in maritime atmosphere and history. It was once owned by the Queen of England! Originally the estate was owned by William the Conqueror, King of England, gifted to his wife and then had many royal associations until 1242 when first acquired by the Giffard family. Until the middle of the 19th century Clovelly was unknown to the outside world. It is a steep downward walk on cobbles to reach the village, so make sure you have your walking shoes on today. The village is post card perfect and well worth the walk. You will be able to find some lunch on your own here. We then continue further north to our North Devon accommodation. Dinner and Overnight North Devon. (B,D)
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Day 6 - This morning we visit Arlington Court and Gardens, a 2700 acre estate nestling in the thickly wooded valley of the River Yeo. The house contains model ships, tapestry, pewter and shells. The stable block houses one of the best collections of 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles in the country. We then head to Ilfracombe and the Hele Corn Mill and Miller's Wife Tearoom. As the Miller's wife bakes everything fresh we will Lunch in the Tearoom before a Tour of the Mill. The corn mill dates from 1525 and is a unique working watermill. Guided tours are given by the family who run the mill, and children and adults alike will enjoy learning about the history of the mill, from how flour has been made here over the centuries, to some of the mishaps which have befallen the millers! After our tour we then return to Barnstaple where you will have some time to explore on your own and then find some dinner. Barnstaple is possibly the Oldest Borough in the United Kingdom having been granted its charter in 930 AD by King Aethelstan - the grandson of Alfred the Great. It is a former river port, located at the lowest crossing point of the River Taw, flowing into the Bristol Channel. Overnight North Devon. (B,L)
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Day 7 - This morning we make our way to Bath taking North Devon's spectacular coastal drive through the Exmoor National Park and the lovely villages that make up this delightful coastline. Exmoor is a unique landscape of moorland, woodland, valleys and farmland, shaped by people and nature over thousands of years. We make our way along the coastline dotted with lovely little villages, sandy beaches, hidden coves and spectacular coastlines. Our favourite places to stop are Lynton, Porlock and Minehead. After our drive we will stop for Afternoon Tea at the historic Old Vicarage Hotel and Restaurant in Bridgwater. After tea we make our way to Glastonbury to visit Glastonbury Abbey. The Abbey presents itself as "traditionally the oldest above-ground Christian church in the World" situated "in the mystical land of Avalon" and was begun in 712AD. King Arthur is reputed to be buried here. We will have a tour of the Abbey and the grounds and then make our way to Bath where we find dinner wating. Dinner and Overnight Bath. (B,L,D)
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Day 8 - This morning we will explore all the wonders of Bath. Nourished by natural hot springs, Bath offers a unique experience with stunning architecture. While here, you will have tickets to visit the Roman Baths, a magnificent temple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water. You may also want to visit the Jane Austen Centre. We then take a short journey to Bradford-on-Avon for Afternoon Tea at the Bridge Tearooms. After tea you will have some time to wander around this lovely town. Its magical position on the banks of the River Avon gives visitors a wonderful setting for leisure, cultural and tourist activities. Bradford-on-Avon has delightful shops, restaurants, hotels and bed and breakfasts lining the narrow streets of the town centre. The surrounding hillside is covered with Cotswold Stone Houses and Cottages of every shape and size. The ancient bridge in the centre of the town remains its natural focus and the bridge still retains two of its original 13th-century arches! After a lovely days outing we then return to Bath where you can find some dinner on your own. Overnight Bath. (B,L)
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Day 9 - Our journey today will take us into the heart of the Cotswolds with a first stop at Lacock. We will explore the historic streets of this quintessential English village with timber-framed cottages and local shops. With its central grid of four streets, Lacock today looks much as it did 200 years ago. There's lots to discover in Lacock village with its quaint traditional stone cottages, the medieval tithe barn, and the village church. Our next stop is Castle Combe surrounded by Cotswolds National Landscape, this wee gem offers plenty of picturesque walks and quaint villages streets waiting to be explored! Castle Combe has featured regularly as a film location, most recently in The Wolf Man, Stardust and Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse. It was also used in the original Dr Doolittle film.The village has a rich history and the houses are made up of the honey coloured Cotswold stone, typical for a village of this area. Then we visit one of our most favourite spots in the whole of England, Chavenage House. The house was originally built in 1383 and although there have been additions and renovations to the property over the centuries very little has changed in over 400 years! Since Tudor times, only two families have owned Chavenage. The current owners are the Lowsley-Williams family consisting of Rona and her adult children George, Caroline and Joanna Gouriet. We will have a guided tour of the house by one of the family members after we have indulged in Afternoon Tea. The house has been used for filming many projects including BBC's 'Lark Rise to Candleford', 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' and as Trenwith House in the "Poldark" series. We then make our way further into the Cotswolds to our accommodation. Dinner and Overnight Cotswolds. (B,L,D)
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Day 10 - Winchcombe. Bourton. Chipping Campden. Overnight Cotswolds.
Day 11 - Lower SLaughter. Bourton. Burford. Minster Lovall. Overnight Cotswolds.
Day 12 - Moreton in Marsh. Broadway. Ann Hathaway's. Overnight Matlock, Peak District.
Day 13 - Matlcok. Bakewell. Buxton Ashbourne. Overnight Matlock, Peak District
Day 14 - Hathersage. Castleford. Knaresborough. Overnight Harrogate.
Day 15 - Ripon. Masham. Thirsk. Helmsley. Overnight Harrogate.
Day 16 - Skipton. Settle. Kirkby Lonsdale. Overnight Bowness
Day 17 - Ambleside. Bowness. Near Sawry. Hawkshead. Overnight Bowness
Day 18 - Sedburgh. Hawes. Reeth. Overnight Whitby.
Day 19 - Staithes. Redcar. Kirkbymoorside. Pickering. Overnight Whitby.
Day 20 - Robin Hoods Bay. Scarborough. Beverley. Overnight near Leeds.
Day 21 - Home
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