The Isle of Wight, Stonehenge, Cornwall & the Southern Coast
7 day tour
Enjoy the climate, culture, and cuisine of Cornwall, the Isle of Wight, and England’s beautiful south.
Quarr Abbey - Monks exiled from France to establish a monastery. Their traditions live on in this stunning abbey.
Osborne House - Queen Victoria’s favourite holiday spot looks more like an Italian Renaissance palazzo than an English palace.
Winchester - An ancient city dominated by the statue of Alfred the Great and an impressive Norman cathedral. Stonehenge - Witness the iconic Neolithic stone structure of the standing stones and gaze in awe at the capabilities of our ancestors.
Tintagel Castle - This ruined castle full of Arthurian legend is perched on cliffs above an immense cave full of magic.
Land's End - This iconic location is lined with coastal paths and cliff trails.
St. Michael's Mount - This photogenic tidal island was the perfect retreat for monks in the 11th century. Glastonbury - A significant religious and spiritual site infused with stories of early Christianity, Arthurian legend, and pagan culture.
Southern England is where legends and sunbathers lay.
In this warmer part of the country, you find King Arthur's dragons and ancient castles. You come across the incredible stone circles and Roman mounds. And it’s even where the demons of Sherlock Holmes’ mysteries can be found.
But there’s more to this region than the myths and monsters.
It’s also the country’s favourite holiday spot.
The blonde curvy beaches are perfect to play on, the food is bursting with local flavours, and Queen Victoria loved it so much she built her holiday home in the Isle of Wight.
So, join this tour; adventure to the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Southern Coast; and enjoy both the mystical and the cheerful.
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old). Get your sunglasses and sun cream ready, you’re departing London and heading to the sunny, southern Isle of Wight.
First, you head to the ancient port-city of Portsmouth. This bustling spot blends modern marvels with centuries of sea-faring stories. You can grab a bite to eat here before your guide picks you up and takes you to the ferry at Gunwharf Terminal.
Even if you’re not a sea-loving, fish-catching, ocean-dweller, you’ll still find this ferry enjoyable. It takes less than an hour and there’s plenty of onboard refreshments.
Your first stop on the Isle of Wight is the important religious site of Quarr Abbey. The building here is beautiful and combines French, Byzantine, and Moorish designs.
In the evening, you arrive at the unforgettably quaint village of Shanklin in time for an early dinner. Perhaps it’s time to try the seafood?
Today, you’re going to discover the unmissable highlights of the Isle of Wight.
You eat breakfast and then venture to the Yarborough Monument. This is the tallest monument on the island and celebrates the life of a wealthy earl from the 19th century.
You continue to a photo-stop at the beautiful views of endless green fields at Brading Downs and then head to Osborne House.
Queen Victoria said, “it is impossible to imagine a prettier spot”. And we agree. Osborne House was Queen Victoria’s holiday home and as you explore the Italian-style building, you discover pristine green gardens, ornate golden rooms, and historically fascinating artefacts.
And after that magnificent man-made marvel, it’s time to see the Isle of Wight’s most beautiful natural wonder, the Needles.
These sharp white stacks that stick out of the ocean are beautiful to behold. You can hop on a boat to get close to them and venture to an old defensive battery that’s nearby.
Your last stop today is at the cliffs of St. Catherine’s Down. As the sun starts to set, these epic cliffs and green valleys look stunning.
You travel back to Shanklin in time for dinner.
In the morning, you say goodbye to Shanklin and head on the ferry back to Portsmouth.
Now that you’ve reacquainted yourself with the mainland, we take you to one of England’s most history-soaked cities, Winchester.
But visiting Winchester isn’t easy, because there’s almost too much to do. There’s a glorious cathedral, an ancient mill, cute cafes, and more than enough museums. In this bustling city, you join a new coach and driver-guide and head to a quieter but equally profound place: the standing stone circles of Stonehenge. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stonehenge site has been skilfully preserved.
At the award-winning visitor centre, you can view the exhibition of hundreds of prehistoric items from the Stonehenge collection. By joining the land train shuttle, you make your way to the world-famous stone circles.
You then travel to Exeter*, an important fortified settlement in Roman times and your base for two nights.
*Please note all tours that depart on the 19th June, 10th July and 11th September will stay in Torquay instead of Exeter.
Explore the remote windswept magnificence of Dartmoor, where you can see strings of the native ponies grazing close to the striking rock formations.
Dartmoor is also home to an immense diversity of flora and fauna, so enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the moor’s isolated beauty.
You cross the ancient Clapper Bridge at Postbridge before heading to Tavistock, the historic market town and birthplace of Sir Francis Drake.
Arriving back in Exeter* in the early afternoon gives you a chance to explore the city’s ancient riches at a leisurely pace. The city walls, the Norman cathedral, the Royal Albert Memorial, and the Quayside all await you.
*Please note all tours that depart on the 19th June, 10th July and 11th September will stay in Torquay instead of Exeter. Arthurian legend mixes with genuine Celtic history in Cornwall, England’s most western county.
Today, you explore the ancient Cornish capital of Launceston and its 12th century Norman castle.
You head west to the North Cornish coast and the Elizabethan fishing village of Boscastle. Indulge in a cream tea, take a stroll out to the dramatic headland, or learn a spell or two in the Museum of Witchcraft.
You travel to the village of Tintagel and the ruins of its headland Castle, whose romantic cliff top setting is purportedly the birthplace of King Arthur. After lunch, you head to Port Isaac where you can get your Doc Martin’s fix and fall in love with this picturesque fishing village. You then head south to the bustling port town of Falmouth for the next two nights.
Today, we explore the most westerly tip of England. We take a brief stop to look at the island community of St.Michael’s Mount.
We then travel onwards to the unique setting of the Minack Theatre perched above a thundering ocean and the beautiful National Trust beach at Porthcurno.
You visit Land’s End before following a landscape dotted with the relics of the Cornish tin mining heritage, and now a filming location for the Poldark series. St Ives is the final stop of the day with its plethora of artists’ galleries in the maze of narrow, harbour-side streets.
You return to Falmouth for the night.
This morning, you say farewell to Cornwall and travel across Bodmin Moor, a wild moorland that’s designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.
We’ll take a break before leaving Cornwall and continuing to Glastonbury. Here you can visit the ruins of 7th century Abbey, relax over some lunch or scale Glastonbury Tor for the views across five counties.
From here, you travel back to London, a busy city far removed from the experiences you’ve enjoyed in the magical counties of Devon and Cornwall.
You stay two nights at the village of Shanklin, two nights in Exeter* and two nights in Falmouth.
*Please note all tours that depart on the 19th June, 10th July and 11th September will stay in Torquay instead of Exeter.
Your tour excludes accommodation; but when you book, you can ask us to reserve local accommodation for you, or you can choose to reserve your own accommodation in the overnight locations.
Once you've booked your tour, we'll reserve all your accommodation, and your driver will drop you off with your hosts. You’ll pay your accommodation directly. Most don’t accept credit cards, so be prepared to pay cash.
Plans can change, so we let you alter your accommodation choices for free within the first 48 hours of booking. After this time, amendments aren't guaranteed and carry a surcharge. Please contact rooms@rabbies.com if you have any questions.
You’ll need to contact us with your accommodation details. Please only reserve accommodation within the overnight towns that your tour stops in. Your driver will drop you off at your chosen accommodation as long as it’s relatively central.
If you cancel less than three days before departure, you may be liable for the cost of your first nights’ accommodation. And occasionally you may be liable for all your accommodation costs.
We try to reserve accommodation that’s no more than a 20-minute walk from the town centre. We regularly check our accommodation suppliers to ensure they reach a certain standard. The prices below are for guidance only.
B&B (Bed and Breakfast) Standard
The toilet and showering facilities are shared with at least one other room in the house, and the price includes breakfast. The cost is £35 - £50 per person per night based on shared accommodation. A single standard room is £40 - £70 per night.
B&B En suite
The showering and toilet facilities are private, and breakfast is included in the price. The cost is £45 - £65 per person per night based on shared accommodation. A single en suite is £75 - £90 per night.
Hotels
Hotels have a bar or restaurant and provide evening meals. Breakfast is included in the price. The cost is £75 - £90 per person per night based on shared accommodation. A single is £90 - £150 per night.
If you have any more questions, you can read our FAQs, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, or email rooms@rabbies.com.
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours. We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services. Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late. If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. We have a cancellation period of 48 hours for our one day tours, 15 days for two to nine day tours, and 21 days for 10+ day tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion.
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to view full terms and conditions. Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. While there are ongoing coronavirus restrictions throughout the UK and Ireland, itineraries are more likely to change than usual as opening hours and capacities at many visitor attractions are reduced and subject to change. Your driver-guide will keep you up to up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure. It's simple: you book, you go. This means we'll never cancel your tour because of a minimum numbers policy. Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view. Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks. We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click
here
to go to our accessibility guide. We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours. You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat. We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins. We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it. You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget. Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion. We advise you take out travel insurance. You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our
terms and conditions
for more information. If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email
tours@rabbies.com
, or check out our full
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