Coast and Countryside in Devon and Cornwall

Visit the famous prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. Believed to have been constructed between 4000 and 5000 years ago, the ring of standing stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including hundreds of burial mounds, and remain an enigma to archaeologists to this day.

Devon is a mix of rolling moorland, farmland, quaint villages and elegant cities. It is one the UK's more rural areas and is home to some incredible scenery. Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks provide ample opportunity for hiking, climing and horse riding, while the south coast is home to the pretty towns of Salcombe and Dartmouth, famous for its naval collage, as well as the port city of Portsmouth.

Dartmoor is the stuff of legends and is known to many as the setting for the famous Sherlock Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Explore this rugged landscape under the guidance of a local farmer, whose family has lived here for 500 years. You’ll learn not only about the moors and how the landscape is used, but about the people who have lived and farmed here for generations.

One of Devon’s prettiest coastal towns, Dartmouth has a long naval history stretching back to the medieval period. Its deep-water port has served many purposes over the years, not least as one of the departure points for the D Day Landings in northern France during World War Two. Today, the town preserves its strategic importance as home of Britannia Royal Naval College, Britain's Royal Navy officer training college.

Greenway was the country retreat of the famous crime writer, Agatha Christie, who would spend long summers here, using the house as inspiration for many of her novels. This a simple and elegant country house and a fascinating insight into one of Britain’s most famous authors. During World War Two, the house was requisitioned by the US Coastguard and the celebrated library frieze was painted by one of the occupying lieutenants.

Padstow is a historic fishing village and one of Cornwall’s most popular foodie destinations. Set in a little inlet that protects it from the rugged seas of the north Cornish coast, Padstow’s harbour is popular with locals and visitors alike looking to sample the fresh seafood that the region is known for.

One of Cornwall’s most elegant country mansions, Pencarrow today still belongs to the descendants of the same family who settled here in the 16th century. The historic interiors are decorated with precious antiques including a number of family portraits painted by the celebrated British portraitist, Sir Joshua Reynolds. Your private guide will reveal the mansion’s secrets before you settle down for cream tea with Cornish sparkling wine, hosted by Lady Molesworth-St Aubyn and her son James. You’ll even have a chance to explore some of the upstairs rooms, which are usually closed off to visitors.

You are never more than 20 miles from the sea in Cornwall, and the coastline itself seems to change in the blink of an eye. In a single walk you can pass golden sandy beaches, hidden coves and rocky headlands where waves crash and froth below. Picturesque fishing ports are peppered along the shore, which goes a long way to explaining the thriving food scene in this part of the UK.

Designated part of Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Roseland Peninsula encompasses some of the Southwest’s most captivating landscapes. It has some great walking routes, some of which reward the adventurous explorer with stunning secluded beaches. Its architectural history is also noted, such as the historic 13th-century church at St. Just in Roseland and the St. Mawes Castles, built by Henry VIII.

Cornwall has emerged as a foodie destination in recent years and while there are many great restaurant catering to the discerning traveller, there is no better way to sample the local delicacies than to create them yourself. Under the guidance of a local chef, you’ll learn how to make the famous Cornish pasty and while these are cooking, you’ll be shown how traditional Cornish clotted cream is made, before indulging in a Cornish cream tea.

Situated in the Roseland Peninsula, Trelissick is one of Cornwall’s most beautiful gardens. The gardens slope down to the River Fal and are noted for their rare shrubs, rhododendrons and azaleas.

Embark on a tour of the Cornish peninsula that takes in some of the key locations of the county’s art scene. The coastal town of Falmouth was a base for many Victorian artists who settled in the area to capture local life under the clear Cornish light. Our next stop is Penzance and the Penlee House Gallery where you’ll have a chance to discover the work of the Newlyn School. Head to the gallery’s art stores and explore some of the collection that is not usually on show to the public. Finally, on the north coast is St. Ives and the legendary Tate Gallery. The neighbouring Barbara Hepworth Gallery has a garden containing some fine work by this celebrated sculptor.

Cornwall’s bijou answer to Normandy’s Mont Saint-Michel, St. Michael’s Mount is no less picturesque and has also been an important place of pilgrimage. There is a small settlement on this rocky island, focused around castle and cathedral. To access the castle, you can cross the granite causeway at low tide, or at high tide, hop aboard a little sailing boat that will ferry you across.

A veritable patchwork of design, the Lost Gardens of Heligan are one of Cornwall’s most unique attractions. After a period of neglect, the gardens were rediscovered in the late 20th century and restored to their former glory. From the Italian Garden to the Kitchen Garden and the luxuriant Jungle, Heligan is full of charm and surprise.

The southern English of county Hampshire contains everything that makes this part of the UK so appealing. Rolling green hills, quaint villages, historic cities such as Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth, the stunning New Forest and a stretch of sandy coastline overlooking the Isle of Wight. Notable natives include Saxon King Alfred the Great, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and the writers Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The south coast is one of the sunniest parts of England and considered one of the best stretches of coastline in the country. You’ll board a private yacht and accompanied by your skipper and local guide you’ll cruise along the Solent, discovering some of the sights along the Isle of Wight such as the rock formation known as the Needles and the RSPB Bird Sanctuary. You can cruise as far as Portsmouth and approach his historic port city by sea while learning about its connections to America and the New World.

The New Forest is William the Conqueror’s old hunting estate and today is preserved as a national park. The unique landscape of open heaths and woodland, home to wild ponies that roam freely across villages and country roads. Accompany your local guide on a highlights tour of the New Forest including Buckler’s Hard, a perfectly preserved shipbuilding village and the region’s premier country house, Beaulieu, also home to the the National Motor Museum.

A typical New Forest village with an exceptional heritage, at the heart of Beaulieu lie the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey and the 13th-century Palace House. Combined with the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu has become one of the most exceptional sites in the region. Join your Beaulieu host on a bespoke tour which will take you beyond the regular visitor route to meet the team behind-the-scenes in some of the hidden quarters of this site and see the in-house team at work in the private workshops.