The Isle of Wight, Stonehenge, Cornwall & the Southern Coast
7 day tour

Day 1

• Learn about the monastic life at quaint Quarr Abbey
• Leave the mainland behind and travel by ferry to the Isle of Wight

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.

Then, you get to meet some real local heroes. You visit the Bembridge Lifeboat station, where the crew rescue troubled lives out at sea every year. Time to give them a salute.

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?

Day 2

• Explore the epitome of elegance at Osborne House
• Reflect upon the ocean’s power at the Needle sea stacks

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.

Day 3

• Absorb all the history you can in the city of Winchester
• Gaze in wonder at Stonehenge, the powerful stone circle that stands as a testament to our ancestors’ beliefs

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.

From this bustling city, you 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.

Day 4

• Explore the beauty of the remote wilderness at Dartmoor, where wild ponies graze in the shadow of hilltop granite outcrops
• Delve into Tavistock, birthplace of Sir Francis Drake, the famed British maritime explorer
• Cross the time-trodden slabs of the medieval miner’s Clapper Bridge

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.

Day 5

• Rove into the heart of Arthurian legend and the Celtic Kingdom of Cornwall.
• Relax in the charming Elizabethan fishing village of Boscastle
• Wander the cliff top ruins of Tintagel Castle, legendary birthplace of King Arthur

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.

*Please note that Tintagel Castle is now closed until summer 2019 for the construction of a new footbridge. Throughout the build there will be no access to the castle, beach, cafe and visitor centre.

Day 6

• Learn about the uniquely English eccentricity of the of the outdoor Minack Theatre, carved from a granite cliff face overlooking the sea
• Stand at the most westerly point of Great Britain at the iconic Land’s End

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.

Day 7

• Plunge to the heart of Bodmin Moor, famous for its feared Beast, Arthurian legends, and the smugglers of Jamaica Inn
• Explore the world famous site of Glastonbury, known for its association with King Arthur and the annual music festival

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.