South West England

Introduction
Exmoor England
Pretty Cotswold villages, Somerset Cream Teas, old English pubs, this hiking tour in the South West of England has it all!  We spend a few days in the Cotswolds, before moving to the Mendip Hills near Cheddar, and then to Dunster on Exmoor National Park, ending the tour on the Cornwall / Devon border.

Tour Highlights
- Exmoor National Park
- Dartmoor National Park
- Fascinating geology of Southwest England
- A visit to Dunster Castle
- Woodlands, Moorlands, Heathlands
- Beautiful Cotswold Villages
- A visit to the Abbey Gardens at Malmesbury
- Walks on the stunning North Cornwall coast
- Lovely cream teas in typical English teashops

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive tour so nights will be spent in different locations.

Description
All our accommodations have been carefully selected. We have chosen locations of outstanding natural beauty, so that you can enjoy the best of Irish rural life and scenery. You will enjoy top quality accommodation in small, family run guesthouses and hotels whilst being charmed by the hospitable and friendly hosts.
We stay in small hotels, guest houses, farmhouses, B & B's and occasionally castles.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1 & 2: Accommodation in Amberley
Night 3: Accommodation in Axbridge
Night 4 & 5: Accommodation in Dunster
Night 6 to 9: Accommodation in Welcombe

Room Occupancy
All rooms are en suite twin, double or single. Singles are available on request for a small supplement.


Meals:
All meals are included in your package except for dinners on day 4 and 5.

We take packed lunches for our lunch breaks during our walks. These are provided from our accommodation or from local delis.

Our evenings are a time for reviewing the day's activities and shared experiences on the hills. Evening meals are taken either in the places where we are staying or in local restaurants. You will be pleasantly surprised at the fine quality meals you will enjoy on your tour.

Riding

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
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.
Alternative Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.
Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)
Overnight: Amberley, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Cotswold
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.
Alternative 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.
Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km)
Overnight: Amberley, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Mendip Hills Hike
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.
Alternative 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.
Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)
Overnight: Axbridge, Somerset
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Quantock Hills
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 a hotel built in the 15th century in the beautiful village of Dunster on the edge of the Exmoor National Park.
Alternative Walk Options: the full walk is 7 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.
Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)
Overnight: Dunster, Exmoor, South Somerset
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5: Porlock to Bossington
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.
Walking Distance 9 miles (14.5 km)
Overnight: Dunster, Exmoor, South Somerset
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6: Lyne Gorge to Watersmeet
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.
Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km)
Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Welcombe to Morwenstow
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.
Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)
Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Clovelly Fishing Village
Clovelly is something a little different: a beautiful little 13th century fishing village, we walk into 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.
Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)
Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Welcombe to Hartland
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.
Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)
Overnight: Welcombe, Devon / Cornwall Border
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Departure
This morning we will return to Bristol to end our journey of England’s beautiful West Country.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for South West England

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Bristol
Airport: Bristol
Transfer: Bristol

Climate:
                                               Plymouth area