This enchanting ten-day excursion takes you to locations across the south of England, from London to the country's most southerly point in Cornwall.
This trip has it all... from historic Roman villas, Shakespearian locales, a nod to Jane Austen, and the opportunity to visit one of the world's great academic institutions.
Each destination on this trip affords a taste of historic England, with highlights including:
Historic medieval sites including the magical court of Camelot, home to King Arthur, the round table, and the mythological Arthurian legend.
Enchanting areas of outstanding natural beauty including Dartmoor and the Cotswolds.
The spectacular coastline of Cornwall and the iconic St Michael's Mount.
Unique and memorable accommodation including historic hotels and traditional English inns offering meals made with selected local produce.
Guided walks and tours with local historians and experts.
Fitness Level 1 - Easy to Moderate
We begin with the first destination on our itinerary, Blenheim Palace, an iconic world heritage site and the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill.
Taking time to explore the palace's state rooms, gardens, stables, and Churchill exhibit, after lunch we make our way to the renowned academic city of Oxford.
There may be an opportunity to enjoy Evensong with the New College Choir where we are joined by historian Tim Burford for his insights on this magnificent and historical city.
Accommodation tonight is provided by the Randolph Hotel in Oxford.
We begin the day with a traditional English breakfast followed by a tour of Oxford University's prestigious colleges, including Christchurch College's Great Hall, the setting for some memorable scenes from the Harry Potter movies.
In Oxford, we embark on a guided tour of the prestigious Christchurch College (a notable filming location for the Harry Potter films), New College, Magdalen College, and the picturesque deer park.
Departing Oxford, we head to The Cotswolds, visiting the 'Rollright Stones', an ancient Bronze Age and Neolithic site:
From there, we head to the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water to enjoy a country walk to the hamlet of 'Lower Slaughter', rambling along the Windrush & Eye rivers.
Lastly, we depart to the town of Tetbury for the first of two nights staying at the boutique Ormond Hotel.
This morning we enjoy a gentle 4-mile countryside walk to take in tranquil meadows, vibrant wildlife, and the classic English landscape of The Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty and home to filming locations for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.
https://www.cotswolds.com
Lunch at a local pub is followed by the opportunity to explore Tetbury, which sits on the site of an ancient hill fort and is the second-largest town in the Cotswolds, having once been an important market town during the Middle Ages.
Today, Tetbury is better known for boutique shops, great food, and royal connections, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla's private residence, Highgrove, nearby.
Accommodation today is provided by a second night at The 'Ormond Hotel'.
Day four for sees us venture further towards the South West, beginning with a ramble through the English countryside finishing at historic Chavenage House.
Dating back to the 9th Century, Chavenage House has a rich and wonderful history dating back to medieval times.
The journey then continues to through the county of Somerset and to the Dartmoor National Park in the heart of Devon, home to abundant neolithic points of interest, wildlife, woodlands and wetlands.
Embracing our rural setting, tonight we stay at The Ring of Bells Inn in North Bovey.
Our stunning location on rural Dartmoor offers several options for today, including a morning Moorland hike, or to explore the villages of Moreton Hampstead and North Bovey.
After lunch we journey across the National Park to England's southern-most county of Cornwall to and a visit to the medieval Tintagel Castle, the mythical home to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
After a short hike that loops to and from the castle we journey to the pretty and iconic fishing village of Padstow where you can dine in the hotel, or look to one of the numerous restaurants, including some of the UK's finest seafood restaurants,for dinner. Today's accommodation is The Harbour Hotel in picturesque Padstow.
This morning we take a boat ride across the estuary to visit the village of Rock, with it's picturesque cove, beaches and costal paths.
A free afternoon offers the opportunity to explore Padstow, affording the opportunity to dine out at one of several celebrity chef owned restaurants, including restauranteur and TV presenter Rick Stein's restaurant, or the quirky 'Prawn on the Lawn' restaurant.
For tonight's accommodation we return to the Harbour Hotel in Padstow.
After breakfast, we journey from the north coast to Marazion in the south, with the opportunity to explore the area of St Michael's Mount.
Home to a historic castle and priory, this iconic landmark takes the form of a rocky island which, depending on the tides, can be reached by walking across the causeway or by boat.
Following lunch, we head over to explore the Geevor Tin Mine Museum and the cliffside Minack open-air theatre.
Today's accommodation is at the Godolphin Hotel.
After breakfast we journey to Sennen Cove with the opportunity to explore the picturesque fishing village and enjoy a coastal hike to the most southerly point of England, Lands End.
The afternoon takes us to the informative Museum of Global Communication.
The evening accommodation is once again provided by The Godolphin Hotel.
After breakfast, we head to the iconic landmark of Lizard Point for a coastal hike along dramatic clifftop paths to take in the rugged, rocky coastline shaped by the Atlantic Ocean.
Traveling back through Devon, we stop off in the county capital of Exeter to explore the historic 600-year-old Cathedral, home to the longest uninterrupted medieval stone-vaulted ceiling in the world.
Departing Exeter, we head to our destination of the Roman city of Bath, where we take in a tour of Bath Abbey and enjoy a city walk and evening drinks in one of the iconic city pubs.
A highlight of the day is our legendary farewell dinner, which rounds the trip out and concludes our English adventure.
The accommodation for this evening is the boutique Harrington's Hotel.
Accommodation: Harington’s Boutique Hotel.
Q. Is the accommodation listed in the itinerary guaranteed?
A. While we endeavor to ensure that the accommodation listed on our itineraries will be where you stay, on occasion it may be necessary to switch to an alternative.
When this happens, we work hard to ensure that the alternative accommodation is of the same or a better standard and type, that its location is close to the original destination, and that the overall impact on your trip is minimized in every way.
Accommodation details will be finalized and shared close to the trip departure (4-6 weeks in advance); however, they remain subject to change up to and after the trip commencing.
Q. How challenging are the treks / hikes?
A. We have graded this trip as a level 1 - Easy to Moderate.
(Please see the 'grading and fitness' section on the Live Breathe Hike website).
This trip includes walking durations of 1-4 hours and while no outdoor trekking experience is necessary, we recommend that you and your party be comfortable and capable of walking for extended periods, carrying personal possessions in a rucksack / daypack, which might include items such as:
A water bottle
Snacks
Camera / phone / electronics
Waterproof / windproof jacket / trousers
Warm top / sun hat / sun cream
...as well as any other items you would want to access while out for the day.
If you would like further advice on the suitability of this trip for you or your party, please contact us.
Q. Do I have to do the planned activities every day?
A. Not necessarily. Clients can request a 'rest day' or perhaps the opportunity to break from the scheduled itinerary.
It should be noted that on some days/trips, our excursion may form the transit between overnight locations, so a rest day may require the guest to make their way to the next location under their own initiative or at their own expense. In all cases, we will work with guests to best accommodate their request.