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UK & Ireland Brochure 2017

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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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