Insight - Country Roads of Wales, Devon & Cornwall - Small Group (06/2024 - 10/2024) (SB996ZN19)

13 Days From London to London 
Tour Style: Country Roads
Insight Brochure Price from $5,850.00
Brochures: Europe & Britain Premium 2023 v2, Europe & Britain Premium 2024 v1
Visits: England

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Take the country roads across England and Wales on an exploration of Dorset’s quaint seaside vistas, Cardiff’s Welsh Rugby heritage and Bath’s ancient Roman history. After taking in the grandeur of Cornwall’s manor houses, indulge in the most quintessentially English experience: learning to play croquet on a country lawn, with tips from a professional instructor. Witness the millennia-old Stonehenge and tour the stunning 8th-century ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. The rich honey color hues of the stone houses will delight in The Cotswolds, the literary legacy of Jane Austen will bring Pride and Prejudice to life in Bath, and the luxury accommodations in Dartmoor’s Bovey Castle will give you a regal taste of the high life.
Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Brecon Beacons: Visit a local kitchen garden for a peek into the freshest seasonal aromatics from the Brecon Beacons.
• Brecon Beacons: Explore the stunning flora of the Brecon Beacons, forage for edible and medicinal plants with a Local Expert.

Well-being

• : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
• : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
• : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
• : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Travel Director

• : "It's magical to see how a group of guests comes together over the course of our trip. I can always tell when that's happening because suddenly the enthusiasm is palpable."
• : "One experience that is not to be missed on this trip is a visit to the Roman Baths, because it’s an incredible relic of Roman times from 2000 years ago."

Top Rated Highlights

• Oxford: See the spires and colleges of this world-famous university town.
• Cotswolds: This breathtaking area is about as quintessentially British as it gets. Honey-coloured stone houses line the winding streets of the area’s most beautiful towns and villages, while rapeseed fields decorate this colourful part of the UK in splashes of gold. See Bourton-on-the-Water and the pretty market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, before heading to the historic city of Bath, with its Roman and Georgian architecture.
• Bath: During an orientation you will see the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey.
• Brecon Beacons: Visit a local kitchen garden for a peek into the freshest seasonal aromatics from the Brecon Beacons.
• Brecon Beacons: Explore the stunning flora of the Brecon Beacons, forage for edible and medicinal plants with a Local Expert.
• Cardiff: During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the castle and Principality Stadium.
• Glastonbury: Visit the historic Glastonbury Abbey. Founded in the 7th century, its ruins are now registered as a Grade I listed building.
• Plymouth: During an orientation tour with your Travel Director, see Plymouth Hoe and the Citadel before continuing to the Barbican and Mayflower Steps. Afterward, explore a quaint Cornish fishing village.
• Looe: Journey to the quaint coastal town of Looe. A holiday hotspot in the Victorian era, explore its comely stores and winding streets at leisure.
• Stonehenge: Walk around the strange and awe-inspiring monoliths that have reputedly stood for 5,000 years.

Authentic Dining

• Bath: After a day exploring the Roman town of Bath, indulge on a Sunday Roast at your Welcome Dinner.
• Brecon Beacons: Indulge on a hearty farm-to-table pub lunch, where a delicious seasonal menu with local ingredients will be available.
• : Experience Devonshire tea at Athelhampton and learn stories of the estate as you enjoy a delicious selection of scones, sandwiches and tea.
• Dorchester: Toast to your travels at a delicious Celebration Dinner at your hotel, Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Spa.
• Dining Summary: 12 Breakfast (B), 4 Dinner with Wine (DW), 1 Lunch with Wine (LW), and 1 Morning Tea (MT)

Make Travel Matter

• Bath: Visit the incredibly well-preserved Roman Baths. Discover 2000 years of history and learn how this hub of culture is pioneering new educational investments to benefit the community. Its school educational programme actively supports local schools and students to learn about the cultural heritage of the region. The Roman Baths experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.

Insight Experiences

• Dorchester: Visit the Manor House of Athelhampton and join a Estate Manager Owen on a guided tour to discover the beautiful Tudor architecture and Elizabethan style gardens.

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Insight Tour Itinerary

Day 1	Welcome to London
	Welcome to London. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free.
	Visits: London
	Accommodation: The Clermont Victoria, London.
Day 2	Oxford, the Cotswolds and Bath
	From lush green rolling hills to old-world villages, this pretty country surprises and delights at every corner. At 08:00, make your your way along the scenic Great West Way to Oxford. A city built to be discovered, Oxford is a wholesome image of leather-bound books, libraries, storybook buildings and picnics. Continue your journey on to the Cotswolds. Just as charming as Oxford, this breathtaking area is about as quintessentially British as it gets. Honey-coloured stone houses line the winding streets of the area’s most beautiful towns and villages, while rapeseed fields decorate this colourful part of the UK in splashes of gold. See Bourton-on-the-Water and the pretty market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, before heading to the historic city of Bath, with its Roman and Georgian architecture. Head on an orientation of the city before checking in to your accommodation for the night, the luxury Apex Hotel. End your day in the most British of manners with a Sunday roast at your Welcome Dinner.
	Visits: London, Oxford, Bath
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Apex Hotel, Bath.
Day 3	Bath through the years Relaxed Start
	After a relaxed start to enjoy the amenities at your spa hotel, begin your exploration of Bath in a rejuvenated manner. Having attained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987, this unique city is famous for its Georgian and Victorian architecture and of course its Roman-built baths. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit the incredibly well-preserved Roman Baths, also an important hub of culture and education for the area. During free time perhaps learn more about the life of the esteemed author Jane Austen, who made Bath her home?
	Visits: Bath
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Apex Hotel, Bath.
Day 4	Brecon Beacons National Park
	After a relaxed start you’ll move cities, and countries, as you make your way to Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Along the way you’ll visit the Brecon Beacons. A mountain range in South Wales, it is little surprise this striking location is a chosen destination for so many hikers and nature enthusiasts. Its old red sandstone cliffs hold a variety of plant life, including roseroot, green spleenwort and rue-leaved saxifrages, while its range of fauna includes otters, herons, kingfishers and the soaring red kite, which is the national bird of Wales. Visit the Brecon Beacons with Insight Choice. Choose to join your Local Expert for a foraging walk in the stunning surroundings of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Under her tuition she will show you how to reconnect with nature, and forage for edible and medicinal plants. Alternatively, visit a local kitchen garden for a peak into the freshest seasonal aromatics from the Brecon Beacons. After a morning in the great outdoors, rectify your lethargic bliss with a hearty Farm-to-Table pub lunch, where a delicious seasonal menu with local ingredients will be available. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Cardiff, Wales’ cultural hub.
	Visits: Bath, Brecon, Cardiff
	Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
	Accommodation: Clayton Hotel, Cardiff.
Day 5	Cardiff Relaxed Start
	Enjoy a relaxed start this morning. Join your Travel Director for an orientation of this vibrant city. See Principality Stadium, home of Welsh Rugby, and Cardiff Castle. The rest of your day is at leisure.
	Visits: Cardiff
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Clayton Hotel, Cardiff.
Day 6	Glastonbury Abbey and Plymouth
	Begin your day at the historic ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, an 8th-century monastery steeped in legend and now registered as a Grade I listed building. Continue to the port city of Plymouth in Devon, famous for its cobbled streets, gin distilleries and the Mayflower that transported the first English Puritans to the New World.
	Visits: Cardiff, Glastonbury, Plymouth
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Day 7	Exploring the Southwest
	Journey to the quaint coastal town of Looe, a holiday hotspot of the Victorian era. Admire Looe’s turquoise waters and sandy beach before continuing to St. Ives, where art galleries, surf shops and fashion boutiques line the quaint streets. Continue to Penzance, made famous by the comic opera "The Pirates of Penzance," which recounts the adventures of pirates who arrived at the city's shores in the late 18th century.
	Visits: Plymouth, Looe, St. Ives, Penzance, Barnstaple
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: The Royal and Fortescue Hotel, Barnstaple.
Day 8	Legends of Cornwall
	Admire the unspoiled maritime scenery of Cornwall as you begin your day in Tintagel, featured in the legendary tale of King Arthur and where, according to local lore, Arthur was born. Travel to Port Isaac, a pretty fishing village and popular filming location for British television programmes. Have your camera ready to capture stonework façades and coastline views during an orientation around the village. For lunch, visit Padstow and perhaps try traditional fish and chips before returning to Barnstaple.
	Visits: Barnstaple, Tintagel, Cornwall, Padstow
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: The Royal and Fortescue Hotel, Barnstaple.
Day 9	Breathtaking National Parks Relaxed Start
	Stop in the town of Lynmouth before journeying to Somerset's Exmoor National Park, a unique landscape of moorland, woodland and dramatic coastline. A protected Area of Outstanding Beauty, this stunning park is a mass of verdant open land, livestock and flora. Stop in Exmoor for lunch at your leisure. Your day ends at Bovey Castle. Nestled in the rolling valleys of Dartmoor National Park, this five-star accommodation stands amid 275 acres of picturesque countryside and offers an award-winning 18-hole golf course, two refurbished restaurants and individually-designed rooms. Unwind in this natural sanctuary as you enjoy the comforts of Bovey Castle. Tonight, catch up with your fellow travellers over dinner at the hotel.
	Visits: Barnstaple, Lynmouth, Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor National Park
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Bovey Castle, Dartmoor.
Day 10	Country houses of Dorset Relaxed Start
	Stop at Athelhampton, a 500-year-old Tudor Manor House in the heart of Dorset. Join Estate Manager Owen for a walk through one of the world’s greatest estates, and enjoy time at leisure to explore the tranquil Elizabethan gardens.  Delight in a quintessential Devonshire high tea with freshly baked scones and sandwiches.
	Visits: Dartmoor National Park, Evershot
	Meals: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant, Dorset.
Day 11	Jurassic Coast and Weymouth
	Admire England's only natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, during a visit to Lulworth Cove. Stroll with an ice cream on the pebbled beach or learn about the unique geology at the Visitor Center. Travel to seaside Weymouth and enjoy time at leisure to explore the town while snacking on traditional 'seaside rock'. Perhaps join an Optional visit to historic Nothe Fort with its ghost tunnel and rampart views. Indulge in a seafood lunch before returning to the hotel for your Celebration Dinner.
	Visits: Dorchester, Evershot
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant, Dorset.
Day 12	Salisbury and Stonehenge
	This morning, journey to iconic Stonehenge to appreciate the history, and mystery, of this prehistoric monument. The ring of standing stones is believed to have been constructed between 3000 BC and 2000 BC. It was made a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1882 and, as one of Britain’s most celebrated sites, draws visitors from around the world. Continue to Salisbury and visit the 13th-century cathedral. Witness Britain's tallest spire and see the world's best-preserved original copy of the Magna Carta. End your day in London at the hotel.
	Visits: Dorchester, Salisbury, London
	Meals: Breakfast
Day 13	Homeward Bound
	Your journey ends this morning.
	Visits: London
	Meals: Breakfast

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Available Room Types: Single, Triple, Twin, Twinshare
Child: ages 5 to 17