Cornwall, Devon & Somerset - Travel with Marion Bunnik

Home to one of the world's best-preserved Roman bathhouses, incredible architecture and a vibrant culture, England's city of Bath is an eclectic mix of old and new. En-route to Bath, we'll stop at Avebury to visit the largest stone circle in England. The Avebury henge and stone circles, built between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, lay claim to thousands of years of history. We enjoy a walk through the stones, admiring their history and the efforts of the people who erected them all those years ago. After our visit to the stones, we'll enjoy free time for lunch.

Special Experience: In Bath, drop into a local pub and take part in a traditional game of skittles.

Similar to well-known ten-pin bowling, skittles is a traditional game played inside pubs throughout the United Kingdom. Believed to date back to Ancient Egypt, today's pub version of skittles sees teams taking turns in knocking down nine pins using wooden balls. We enjoy some friendly competition and the warming atmosphere of the pub before spending our evening at leisure. (B)

We head out to explore Bath on a city tour this morning where we'll get acquainted with the city and visit the famous Roman Baths. One of the world's best-preserved Roman bathhouses, the Baths are one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world. Today, the city's thermal springs continue to rise into the Baths that flow with the natural hot water. We'll learn about the history of the Baths and admire the architecture before exploring more of the city.

After some free time for lunch, we'll travel to the quirky town of Glastonbury, famous for the Glastonbury festival attracting thousands of visitors from around the world each year. Here we will see the dramatic Glastonbury Tor. The much-loved Somerset landmark is surrounded by various myths and legends and can be seen for miles around the countryside. On top of the Tor stands the remains of St. Michael's Tower. We'll take in the spectacular views and enjoy some free time in the town to explore Glastonbury's many stores and Abbey. Returning to Bath, the evening at leisure. (B)

The quaint town of Barnstaple, set on the Taw River, is our destination today. Part of the region of North Devon and nestled near the spectacular scenery of Exmoor National Park, Barnstaple offers charming cafes and shops, and boasts terrific views over the river. We say farewell to Bath after breakfast and make our way to Montacute House, an Elizabethan mansion located in the picturesque English countryside.

Built in 1598 and inhabited by the same family until 1911, Montacute House is today a frequent filming location for movies and TV shows. We'll visit the house and its impeccably manicured gardens before continuing to the medieval village of Dunster. Here, we'll explore the village, considered to be one of England's most intact medieval villages, and walk through its charming streets, taking a look at its castle.

Special Experience: Admire the stunning scenery of Exmoor National Park during a walk along the South West Coast Path before enjoying a cup of traditional English cream tea.

The landscape of Exmoor National Park has been shaped over thousands of years and is made up of moorland, woodland, valleys, farmland, and a dramatic coast. (B)

Located on the rugged southwestern tip of London, you'll find Cornwall. With coasts lined by towering cliffs, picturesque harbours, stunning beaches and seaside resorts, Cornwall is one of England's most breathtaking regions. We head south and stop at Tintagel, home to the incredible Tintagel Castle. Set on a spectacular cliff-edge on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the scenery of Tintagel Castle combined with the rich history and the legend of King Arthur, makes for a magical visit.

We'll visit the castle and learn about its rich history as we explore the remains that have survived hundreds of years. We'll also explore Merlin's Cave, that lies beneath the castle and, legend has it, was once home to Merlin the wizard of Arthurian legend. Next, we make our way to Port Isaac, a small fishing village and popular holiday destination for locals. Here, we'll enjoy a walk along the cliffs and take in the landscape that surrounds us.

We enjoy free time to explore the village before making our way to Padstow. It's time for lunch! In Padstow, a working fishing port and charming town, we'll enjoy free time to grab a bite to eat for lunch. Home to the traditional Cornish pasty, why not indulge in this delicious pastry, endorsed by the Cornish Pasty Association. We'll continue to Cornwall and enjoy a group dinner at the hotel. (B/D)

Today we'll explore nearby towns and villages. Our first stop is in St Ives, the crown of Cornwall. This popular seaside town located on a stunning fishing harbor has a charming atmosphere with cobblestone streets, fisherman's cottages, and a vibrant range of shops, cafes and restaurants. Here, we'll enjoy free time to explore on our own before making our way to Bottallack to witness some of Cornwall's most dramatic scenery. We see the ruins of the Crown's engine houses that famously cling to the cliffs and learn more about the former submarine mine of Botallack.

Not far away in the town of Porthcurno we'll see the open-air Minack Theatre. While it looks ancient, this theatre was actually created last century thanks to the vision and determination of Rowena Cade. Take in the remarkable views and learn more about this unique cliff-top theatre which still hosts more than 200 live performances a year.

Next, it's on to St Michael's Mount, an island off the coast of Cornwall, home to a tiny village and castle that rises out of the island. We'll enjoy a tour of the castle and its gardens, as we learn about its impressive history and life of the people who called the island home. The family-run farm has been operating their apple orchard on the 150-year-old property since 1986 and produce a range of products from cyder, juice, jam and more. The farm also produces England's oldest whiskey! We return to our hotel and enjoy dinner this evening. (B/L/D)

Situated on the banks of the River Thames is the historic and royal city of Windsor. Home to the world's largest and oldest inhabited castle, and one of the Royal Family's favourite, Windsor Castle, the city is abuzz with boutiques, cafes and restaurants. During our travels to Windsor, we'll stop in the village of Cerne Abbas to view what's known as the Giant. This prominent hill figure depicts a nude male, with its origin and age still a mystery to this day.

We'll continue on to Poundbury, an urban development built in the mid-1990s according to the principles of the Prince of Wales. We enjoy a walk around the town and learn about the Prince's vision for the future of England's urban living, as well as visiting Maiden Castle, the largest Iron Age Fort in the country.

Next, we'll travel to the medieval city of Salisbury and visit its impressive cathedral. We enjoy free time to explore the city and grab a bite to eat for lunch before we continue to Windsor. Keep an eye out for Stonehenge as we pass by it during our travels. Later this afternoon we have the opportunity to explore Windsor on our own before enjoying a farewell dinner together at a local restaurant. (B/D)