Devon and Dorset are neighbours on the South West coast of England, but very different from one another. Explore and
enjoy magnificent coastal scenery. Walk along dramatic cliff tops, discover spectacular coves and splendid seascapes.
Feel the sea breezes on your face, the sand between your toes, and listen to the cries of the gulls. Dorset is one of
England's most unspoilt counties. Largely agricultural, it lies in the centre of the southern coast. The villages with their
thatched cottages have changed very little even though they are no longer occupied only by those employed in rural
trades. There are quarries that contributed the stone for St. Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. Whether you have
an interest in literature, the curiosity of a naturalist, a fascination with geology or a passion for history, this county will
entice you back again and again. You may recognise the settings for many of Thomas Hardy's stories as you experience
Dorset. Devon's red cliffs are sheltered by the majestic tors of Dartmoor. These remote granite uplands give rise to many
streams which broaden into wide estuaries that characterise this area. There are wild bird sanctuaries, the Royal Naval
College and the estate of the late Dame Agatha Christie. There are waterfronts where medieval houses still stand and a
cove which was the departure point for the Mayflower. Many of the seaside towns have developed into popular resorts
which attract large numbers of British families during July and August.
Wales is a Principality of the UK and is a country of great geographical variation. There are many long stretches of rugged coastline,
rich farming valleys, and mountains. South Wales is mainly known for its industrial heritage, while North Wales is one of the most popular
tourist areas in the British Isles, with many lively coastal resorts and Snowdonia, much loved by climbers and walkers. There are 732 miles
of coastline of unspoilt beaches, coves and rugged cliffs to explore, and over 400 castles and ancient monuments to visit. There are forests,
woodlands, canals and lakes, and over 400 castles. There are also many miles of restored narrow gauge rail and railway enthusiasts from all
over the world come to ride the trains. All road signs and public building signs are bi-lingual English/Welsh. Village names descriptive
eg: Mynydd Bach means small mountain. The longest village name in Wales is on Anglesey and is:- LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYNDROBWYLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH.
In English it means: - The church of Mary in the hollow of the white hazel near the fierce whirlpool and the church of Tysilio by the red cave.
It is locally known as Llanfair PG.
Just 28 miles off the tip of Cornwall, there are 148 islands and islets making up the group we call The Isles of Scilly. The
rough Atlantic seas have eroded and sculpted them into weird and wonderful shapes. The deeply indented coastline
affords a perfect habitat for seabirds. Only 6 of the islands are inhabited. These are St Mary's, Tresco, Bryer, Gugh,
St Agnes and St Martin's. The islands are virtually treeless and are covered in gorse, bracken and heather. The shallow
coastal waters are pale turquoise in the sun and on a bright day you might be forgiven for thinking you are in the tropics.
Life of the islands is relaxed, and reminiscent of England 50 years ago, and the islanders are warm and welcoming. A
mild, frost free climate allows daffodils to grow in November, so in addition to tourism, the most important industry is
flower production.
The Channel Islands are actually closer to the French coast than to Britain's south coast, but are part of the UK.The mild winters and long Continental
summers entice visitors. There are long sandy beaches with hidden rocky coves and much to see inland. The French call these islands "Les Iles Anglo Normandes"
and they comprise the bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The bailiwick of Guernsey includes the the smaller islands of Alderney, Herm, Sark and Jethou. Until 1204, when the islands
came under the control of the British Crown, the island group was part of the Duchy of Normandy and the inhabitants are descended from Norman stock. You can still
hear the Norman - French patois on the smaller islands and many of the towns have a distinctly French atmosphere and appearance. With the fall of France in 1940
the islands were occupied by Germany as part of Hitler's plan to create an "Atlantic Wall" from Normandy to the Spanish border to protect his western front.
Most of the defensive structures have remained intact in stark contrast with the idyllic island scenery today.
DORSET VILLAGES (CIRCULAR WALKS)
and
LOW IMPACT DORSET VILLAGES (SHORT CIRCULAR WALKS)
We will walk in grassy, inland valleys where on summer days the grass is alive with chalkhill blue butterflies, and along
cliff top paths with views of white chalk cliffs as far as the eye can see. One of our walks will take us from a swan
sanctuary out on to Chesil Beach, one of the geological wonders of the world. It is a pebble barrier more than 10 miles
long, 40 feet high at Portland and 600 feet wide at its base. You'll see prehistoric remains and visit a church whose oak
pulpit has the bullet holes from shots fired by Cromwell's men when Cavalier snipers were hiding in the church.
Accommodations will be Bed and Breakfast homes, both in the rolling hills and on the coast. In the evenings we will
sample fresh seafood and hearty pub food.
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THE DORSET COASTAL PATH (LINEAR WALK)
The Dorset Coastal Path is a 73 mile, long-distance path from Lyme Regis in the West, to Shell Bay across the harbour
from Bournemouth, in the east. It is actually the last section of the S.W. Peninsular Coast Path (also called the S.W.
Way) which follows the coast for 600 miles. We will cover about 7 to 8 miles a day along an undulating, challenging
coastal path carrying daypacks so you should be in good physical condition. We stop to visit Stonehenge on our way to
or from Dorset.
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THE DEVON COASTAL PATH (LINEAR WALK)
Part of the South West Way - this 80 mile stretch of coast is just west of Dorset. We'll walk along lovely sandy beaches,
around smuggler's coves, and through quaint fishing harbours unchanged over hundreds of years and into busy Victorian
holiday resorts. Occasionally, the only way to proceed along the coast is by ferry across a river. We see Iron Age
promontory fortifications, and relics of 19th century mining and quarrying. The path, between sea and land, exposes us to
varied flora and fauna, wildlife reserves, and to some of the most spectacular cliff-top scenery in England. Fishermen
haul in their heavy nets by hand just as their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did.
FROM DEVON TO DORSET ALONG THE COAST (SHORT CIRCULAR WALKS)
Our tour begins at Dartmouth and ends in Portsmouth, allowing us to explore a 150 mile stretch of the English south
coast. Dartmouth was a prosperous deepwater seaport and is the home of the Naval College. Beyond Teignmouth trains
run between sheer cliffs and the sea. Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed this railroad in the mid 1800's and at Starcross
village on the West Bank of the River Exe, we may have a cool drink in the Atmospheric Railway Pub named after
Brunel's revolutionary but eventually aborted air driven railway. Devon's cliffs are red, and inland the rich red soil supports
prosperous farms. The villages are filled with white-washed and colour-washed cottages that were made largely of ‘cob’
(mud, straw and horsehair) not stone. On the border between Devon and Dorset we'll stay at Lyme Regis – memorable
for the film “The French Lieutenant's Woman”. Jane Austen and Bath's high society made this small resort famous, but it
is notable for much more including the first skirmish between the Armada and Drake's fleet in 1588. We proceed along
the Dorset coast noted for its beautiful white cliffs, sandy beaches and Chesil Beach, an 18 mile ridge of pebbles. There
is a 17th century village reputed to be one of the oldest centres of Christianity in Britain and some of the most dramatic
coastline in Britain. Portsmouth has been important in the history of the English Navy since Richard 1st built a dock here
in 1194. Charles Dickens was born here and his house is open to the public. We'll spend a day exploring the historic
dockyards visiting several ships including Henry VIII's “Mary Rose” and Nelson's flagship “HMS Victory”.
WALES (CIRCULAR WALKS)
Fly into Manchester and enter Wales via the beautiful medieval city of Chester.The city was established by the Romans in AD79 and much of the Roman wall remains.
The famous Rows - Chester's galleried streets - date from the Middle Ages We'll visit Portmeirion, one of the most visited show places in Wales.
It was the product of the imagination of the eccentric architect, Clough Williams Ellis in 1926, and was the setting for the cult 1960's drama "The Prisoner".
We'll drive across Telford's magnificent bridge to Anglesey. But throughout the trip, steam train rides will provide transport to or from our walks through the beautiful
Welsh countryside.
THE ISLES OF SCILLY (CIRCULAR WALKS)
We travel from Land's End to the islands and our accommodation will be on St Mary's, the largest of the islands with
over 75% of the total population. Our walks allow us to explore every part of the island including the Garrison where, in
the 16th century, an Elizabethan fort in the shape of an 8 pointed star was built. On a clear night 8 lighthouses can be seen
from St Mary's. Every week in summer gig-racing is a spectacle not to be missed. Gigs are 6 oared rowing boats - some
over 100 years old - built originally for ferrying pilots out to their ships through the treacherous channels between the
islands. Visiting the other inhabited islands during our stay, we'll admire the world-renowned, 12 acre botanical garden
built on the site of a 10th century abbey on Tresco. We may view a bird sanctuary from a boat off Annet when the sea is calm,
and on St Martin's, walk from one end of the island to the other following the coastal cliffs overlooking fine, white, sandy
beaches. The tour ends with 2 nights in Cornwall, before returning to London.
THE CHANNEL ISLANDS (CIRCULAR WALKS)
Using one Bed and Breakfast for several nights on each of the islands where we stay will afford the opportunity to fully explore before moving to our next
island. Travel between the islands is by ferry. Besides walking along the beautiful beaches, there are clifftop walks and country lanes. We'll visit coastal
castles and manor houses, museums, potteries, gardens and charming harbours. We visit archaeological sites - La Varde Dolmen and La Houge Bie to name just two.
Travel to and from the islands is by ferry from the south coast of England and is included in the cost of the trip.
