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Highlights of South West England<br />
This itinerary gives you a real flavour of the region,<br />
with six counties and no less than four UNESCO<br />
World Heritage sites, historic cities, breath-taking<br />
countryside, picture postcard villages, and stunning<br />
seascapes all on your route.<br />
Exeter<br />
5 days/4 nights Suggested Self-Drive<br />
Day 1: London – Shaftesbury – Dorchester (184km)<br />
Stop at Stonehenge to marvel at the standing stones and the engineering<br />
skills of our ancestors. Thirty minutes through rolling countryside and<br />
you’re in the town of Shaftesbury, full of historic buildings and great<br />
literary connections. Continue south through Dorset villages to the<br />
Jurassic Coast.<br />
Day 2: Dorchester – Exeter – Dartmoor – Plymouth (156km)<br />
Drive into Devon to the cathedral city of Exeter to see the impressive<br />
12th century cathedral. Head inland to the Dartmoor National Park; its<br />
wild landscape is believed to be the inspiration behind Conan Doyle’s<br />
epic Sherlock Homes story, ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’. Pass by<br />
granite outcrops known as Tors as you journey to the Maritime City of<br />
Plymouth.<br />
Day 3: Plymouth – Polperro – St Michaels Mount – St Ives (123km)<br />
In Polperro stroll the narrow streets before heading further into<br />
Cornwall to the iconic St Michael’s Mount, a monastery that dates back<br />
to the 8th century. Drive through Penzance stopping at Land’s End and<br />
Botallack before reaching the beaches of St Ives.<br />
Day 4: St Ives – Padstow – Port Isaac – Bath (340km)<br />
Back up the coast past Newquay to Padstow, a pretty harbour made<br />
famous by celebrity chef, Rick Stein. Wander the harbourside and<br />
winding streets before a short trip to the tiny port village of Port Isaac,<br />
then it’s a 3 hour drive to Bath.<br />
Day 5: Bath – The Cotswolds (205km)<br />
Head through the Gloucestershire towns of Tetbury and Cirencester and<br />
into the Cotswolds. There are so many lovely towns and villages, each<br />
bursting with old-world charm.<br />
Spend more time in The Cotswolds or make your way back to London.<br />
Rental car: Hertz (Group B) from $37 per day<br />
Our favourite places to stay:<br />
• Westwood House Guest House, Dorchester<br />
• The Imperial, Plymouth<br />
• Pedn Olva Hotel, St Ives<br />
• The Slaughters Country Inn, Lower Slaughter<br />
St Ives<br />
Botallack<br />
St Michael’s<br />
Mount<br />
Isles of<br />
Scilly<br />
Port Isaac<br />
Padstow Polperro<br />
Exeter<br />
Dartmoor<br />
Plymouth<br />
National<br />
Park<br />
Highlights worth seeing along the way<br />
Stonehenge<br />
Shaftsbury<br />
Lulworth Cove – On the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, this<br />
stunning horseshoe shaped bay with its coastal walks and views is a must<br />
see.<br />
Powderham Castle – Of the Earl and Countess of Devon. The castle has<br />
been owned by the same family since building commenced in 1391.<br />
Plymouth Hoe – One of the world’s finest natural harbours and the<br />
scene of some of the world’s most iconic voyages including Sir Francis<br />
Drake fighting the Spanish Armada, to Sir Francis Chichester’s first solo<br />
circumnavigation of the world.<br />
Botallack – Follow the coast road to where the iconic engine houses,<br />
from Cornwall’s unique mining heritage, and part of the UNESCO World<br />
Heritage site perch precariously on the cliff’s edge.<br />
Isles of Scilly – Just 45km off the coast by boat from Penzance or a short<br />
flight from Land’s End, Newquay or Exeter, you can enjoy a relaxed pace,<br />
explore Tresco Abbey Gardens and wildlife watch.<br />
Bath – A unique World Heritage city where you can bathe in naturally<br />
hot spring spa water. Bath has been a popular destination for relaxing spa<br />
breaks for thousands of years and now combines stunning architecture,<br />
fascinating history and excellent restaurants and shopping.<br />
Bath<br />
Jurassic<br />
Coast<br />
Powderham<br />
Castle<br />
The Cotswolds<br />
LONDON<br />
Dorchester<br />
Bowerman’s nose, Dartmoor<br />
Polperro, Cornwall<br />
Stonehenge<br />
The price guide shown is per car hire based on 3-5 day hire rate. Price shown does not include Earlybird or other discounted offers. Specials and surcharges may apply depending on travel date<br />
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