South West England (10 Day Tour)

DAY 1: WALK AT CASTLE COMBE, VISIT ABBEY GARDENS, TRAVEL TO COTSWOLDS

Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)

Shortly after setting off from Bristol we will stop to walk at the pretty Cotswold village of Castle Combe. We begin on the edge of the village and then travel through the heart of what is one of England’s prettiest villages with old streets of Cotswold stone cottages and a river flowing though the main street. We then climb steadily along the banks of By Brook to open countryside and a riverside lunch break. Afterwards we will make a slight detour on our journey to the heart of the Cotswolds to visit the Abbey Gardens in Malmesbury.

Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Amberley, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Meals Included:  Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 2: GUIDED WALK IN THE COTSWOLDS WITH A PUB LUNCH

Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km)

The Cotswolds in Gloucestershire are our next destination: idyllic English villages nestling in unspoilt English scenery, an unforgettable part of the country. Our expert guide will keep you enchanted with natural history and folklore. Return to our Cotswold hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Walk Options: the full walk is 8 miles long, there is an alternative option of just relaxing and strolling from the Hotel in your own time. The hotel is located in a beautiful setting.

Overnight: Amberley, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 3: DRIVE CHEDDAR GORGE, GUIDED WALK IN THE MENDIP HILLS FROM BURRINGTON COMBE

Walking Distance 7 miles approx (11.3 km)

Our destination today is the Mendip Hills of South Somerset. We travel up through Cheddar village (yes, the cheese really is made here… traditionally it is matured in the Caves) and Cheddar Gorge. We then begin our walk at Burrington Combe where the Reverend Toplady was inspired to write the hymn “Rock of Ages”. We trek up through a valley, then woodlands and fields, and eventually out on to the open moorland of the Mendip Hills.

Walk Options: the full walk is 7 miles long, there is an alternative option of just visiting Cheddar and the Caves. Cheese-making demonstrations available. Why not visit a tea shop for a delicious cream tea with clotted cream and famous Cheddar strawberries?

Overnight: Axbridge, Somerset. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 4: WALK QUANTOCK HILLS, JOURNEY ON WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY, ARRIVE DUNSTER

Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)

A typical Quantock walk of open heath, moorland and deep combes (valleys), with views out across Bridgwater Bay to Wales and the coast of Somerset. Beginning at Holford and walking through some beautiful beech and oak woodlands, we then take a couple of long climbs with fine views to reward us at the top. If the timing is right, we will round off this lovely day with a steam railway journey from Williton to Dunster. Our next two nights are spent in an hotel built in the 15th century in the beautiful village of Dunster on the edge of the Exmoor National Park.

Walk Options: the full walk is 7 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Dunster, Exmoor, South Somerset. Meals Included:  Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 5: GUIDED WALK FROM PORLOCK TO BOSSINGTON TO SELWORTHY AND SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

Walking Distance 9 miles (14.5 km)

This is my favourite walk in the whole of southern England! Coast, woodland, streams, chocolate-box villages, moor and heathland. We begin at the ‘Lorna Doone’ village of Porlock and continue out to a pebble beach at Bossington. The roads through this village wind between ancient thatched cottages and lead us on to the next village of Allerford. We pass through the National Trust hamlet of Selworthy and ultimately climb up through the woods to the viewpoint at Selworthy Beacon. We eventually make our way down to the Southwest Coast Path at Hurlstone Point.

Alternative Walk Options: the full walk is 9 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Dunster, Exmoor, Somerset. Meals Included:  Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 6: WALK THE LYN GORGE TO WATERSMEET AND BACK TO LYNMOUTH

Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km)

We will set off today for the Devon / Cornwall border. En route we stop at the Exmoor Village of Lynmouth. The walk along the River Lyn is outstanding and unforgettable. We follow the river for the first half of the walk, then we can take a break and perhaps a “Somerset Cream Tea” at the cafe at Watersmeet where the River Hoaroak meets the River Lyn. We climb steadily to reach the high moor with magnificent sea views, then winding our way back down again to Lynmouth. We then travel off to the Devon / Cornwall border where we spend the next three nights at Home Farm in the hamlet of Welcombe.

Alternative walk options: the full walk is 8 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 7: WALK WELCOMBE TO MORWENSTOW ACROSS THE DEVON / CORNWALL BORDER

Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)

Welcombe farm is located in 500 acres of conservation land and there are rare species of flora and fauna to be found. We can enjoy fantastic coastal views and woodland throughout the walk. We then reach Morwenstow, the home of Robert Stephen Hawker: a famous 18th century poet. We can visit the magnificent church dating back to 16th century. It’s a pretty village with tea rooms, and traditional thatched pub reputed to be haunted! The walk back takes us via woodland filled with some of the more unusual varieties of orchids and wild flowers. We may also see rare butterflies and dragonflies.

Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 8: WALK TO THE ANCIENT FISHING VILLAGE OF CLOVELLY

Walking Distance 7 miles approx (11.3 km)

Clovelly is something a little different: a beautiful little13th century fishing village, we walk in to it via the main estate grounds which are a stunning setting (rather like something from Jane Austen) with views of and stunning coastal vistas. When we arrive at the village it’s a walk down the cobbled stoned streets into the heart of the village which is another chocolate-box setting: fishing cottages and a little community set against the backdrop of the coast and harbour. The walk back is through the estate grounds and woodlands, lots of local wildlife as we go through a pheasant reserve.

Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 9: WALK FROM WELCOMBE TO HARTLAND

Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)

Today we walk from Welcombe to Hartland taking in the Hartland Quay Shipwreck Museum, Hartland Abbey and St Nectan’s Church.

Alternative Walk Options: the full walk is 7 miles, there is an option of just walking 2-3 miles.

Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 10: RETURN TO BRISTOL

This morning we will return to Bristol to end our journey of England’s beautiful West Country.

Meals Included: Breakfast