Back to Back-Roads Touring Home Page IN SEARCH OF KING ARTHUR - Devon & Cornwall Mini-Tour - Four days / Three nights An ideal short-break in England's traditional holiday region.    This wonderful 4-day tour takes you into an area of Britain noted for its timelessness and variety.  These are the counties of the great prehistoric ruins such as Stonehenge, of England's great maritime tradition, of picturesque fishing villages and elegant seaside resorts.  It's here you see the great apple orchards of Somerset, the patchwork countryside of Devon, the awe-inspiring moorlands and the rugged cliff-top coastlines and famed surfing sandy beaches.   Tradition and culture have remained true to the English spirit here and you feel spirited back into another, less busy age.  It's also a land of Celtic legend and of the romantic King Arthur whose own life we'll discover. DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2005 Tour Code Depart London Return London   ART Saturday Tuesday   Every Saturday from 19 March 2005 to the end of October     Prices: £425.00 adult in twin share / £445.00 adult single / £299.00 child sharing adult room   Click here to work out prices in other currencies http://www.xe.com/ucc/ For what is included/excluded in your tour price, see Tour Inclusion This tour can be combined with our Wales, Red Dragon tour to make an 8-day, 7-night tour. We can also operate the tour for private groups departing on any day of the week throughout the year. Please, contact us for details info@backroadstouring.co.uk This tour departs EVERY SATURDAY from central London hotels below. It is your responsibility to be there in plenty of time.   The Royal National, Bedford Way The Corus Hotel, Hyde Park The Grosvenor Thistle, Victoria Station The Holiday Inn Forum The Chiswick Hotel, Chiswick   08.15 (underground Russell Square) 08.25 (underground Lancaster Gate) 08.30 (underground Victoria Station) 08.40 (underground Gloucester Road) 09.00 (underground Turnham Green) Clients should wait by the concierge desk. We can collect you from your individual hotel if you are not at one above but this attracts a supplementary cost of £10 (per party) for a central London hotel. Please, ask for prices for collection from non centrally located hotels. info@backroadstouring.co.uk Return drop-off are to any central London hotel.     TENTATIVE ITINERARY NIGHTSTOP     DAY ONE - SATURDAY   Departing London, we drive through England's oldest county, Wiltshire, across the amazing Salisbury Plain where you'll see the great prehistoric temple of Stonehenge and a landscape simply littered with ancient burial sites.  You'll also see the evidence of Iron Age hill forts, possible sites of where the great Celtic king, Arthur and his Round Table knights took on the Saxon invaders. Then to Winchester to see the great Round table in the mediaeval hall.  Then, we'll take time to explore Cadbury Castle, perhaps the site of Camelot, and some lovely surrounding thatched villages before arriving at our accommodation base. Devon or Somerset borders     DAY TWO - SUNDAY   Today, we explore the lovely, timeless country of Dorsetshire.This is real back-roads country where you'll believe time has stood still amidst the villages and harbours of the region. Jane Austen's Lyme Regis is one of the highlights of our day, as will be Thomas Hardy's cottage and monument. We'll introduce you to a few matyrs (such as the trade unionists of Tolpuddle, and those who died at the 'bloody Judge' Jefferies hand). You'll also see the famed Chesil beach and the quaint town of Dorchester. And there'll be time for shopping in the lace and antique town of Honiton. Dependent on time and group interests we might find time to include Lawrence of Arabia's home, a carved giant and England's smallest pub! This is a day that we can really call getting down the 'back-roads'. Devon or Somerset borders     DAY THREE - MONDAY   Today is a day packed with a range of memorable sights and experiences.  You'll cross the beautiful and awesome landscape of the Dartmoor National Park, en route to the north Cornwall coast.   Here, you'll visit Tintagel castle, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur.   The castle sits on top of the wild cliffs accessible only by walking.  Later, we'll visit a selection of the quaint fishing villages of the north Cornwall and Devon coasts. This is a day where photographers need to ensure a plentiful supply of film!   Finally, our day in Cornwall would not be complete if we didn't stop for a famed Cornish 'pastie' somewhere on route, perhaps in a thatched-roofed country pub? Devon or Somerset borders     DAY FOUR - TUESDAY   On today's itinerary is Cheddar Gorge and the mystic town of Glastonbury, site of Arthur's burial and 'New Age' capital of England.  Here you'll see the ancient abbey and the mysterious 'Tor'.  Next, we'll visit Wells and its famed Norman 12th century cathedral before travelling the short distance to the stunning city of Bath.  You'll have time to explore this elegant Georgian city and its Roman remains before we drive back to London partially by the old coaching road. This tour will combine with others of our Mini-tour series. Back to Back-Roads Touring Home Page