BUS TOURS & COACH EXCURSIONS

Pubs, Castles, Tearooms, Gardens & Cathedrals of the Cotswolds, Devon, Cornwall & Wessex

A small intimate tour of The Cotswolds, The West Country featuring Devon, Cornwall and Wessex, Winchester and Windsor. Scottish Dream Tours' tearoom tours are always so much more - filled with castles, historic sights, and entertainment of all kinds. Tea is a way of life in Great Britain with more tearooms than any other place on earth. And you have to eat someplace anyway, so Scottish Dream Tours tries to incorporate as many of these tearooms into their tours as possible. Each tour is designed to accommodate only eight to ten people for a more personal experience and to allow you to get the most of your holiday. Keeping the tour size small provides the opportunity to veer from the beaten path and take advantage of accommodations, restaurants, and sightseeing that would not be available to larger groups. You may find yourself staying in a delightful city guesthouse, a small country house hotel, a comfortable farmhouse and an old coaching inn all in the same visit. You will not be rushed from venue to venue and as little time will be spent on the bus as possible.

Tour Details

Single supplements for solo travelers: Scottish Dream Tours offers optional, limited, extra-cost single supplements on each of their tours if you would prefer a private room of your own (prices currently range from an additional $495-$995 depending upon the specific itinerary you select; refer to Scottish Dream Tours for the most up-to-date single supplement prices). Single supplements are refundable if cancelled at least 60 days prior to the tour departure. Single supplements cancelled less than 60 days prior to the tour departure will be forfeited.

Day 1:
Depart for London, England.

Day 2:
Arrive at London Heathrow. Heading out of the city, the itinerary's first stop will be Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Steeped in culture and history, this town is located in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the River Avon. Afternoon Tea will be held at Benson's in Stratford. Later this afternoon you'll visit Anne Hathaway's cottage and gardens. The beautiful thatched farmhouse was occupied by descendants of the Hathaway family until it's purchase by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892 and it still contains many rare family items of furniture that date back to Anne's time. Enjoy a welcoming pub dinner at the Shakespeare Tavern. Overnight in Chipping Campden.(L,D)

Day 3:
This morning you will want to explore this beautiful old Cotswolds market town before your visit to Badger's Hall for Afternoon Tea in their quintessential English Tea Room. Chipping Campden was the centre for wool trade during the 14th and 15th centuries and has retained its feel of a place stepped back in time. After tea you'll visit Broadway and the Broadway Tower. Built in 1799, it is a perfect example of an 18th century Gothic folly. At 1024 feet above sea level you can see 13 counties! Back in Chipping Campden, dinner is held at The Eight Bells, a traditional 14th century Cotswolds Inn. Overnight in Chipping Campden.(B,L,D)

Day 4:
Today the journey commences to Winchecombe and Sudeley Castle and Gardens. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past. Stop for lunch at the Olde Bakery Tea Room in Winchecombe. Then you are off to Malmesbury for Malmesbury Abbey and The Abbey House Gardens. This unique garden is set against the backdrop of the Abbey with the River Inglebourne flowing throughout. The 800-year-old abbey is magnificent and houses a Bible from the year 1407! Enjoy a pub dinner and overnight in Malmesbury.(B,L,D)

Day 5:
This morning the tour heads to North Devon. On the way, a drive takes you through Cheddar Gorge, a narrow winding ravine with limestone rocks rising almost vertically on either side to a height of 400 feet! In the very heart of the famous Cheddar Gorge you will find one of the most fascinating sights in Somerset, the Cheddar Sweet Kitchen. This is a tiny sweet factory where visitors are invited in to watch craftsman at work. The Mizen family have been making sweets in this area for five generations. Cheddar gives it's name to the rich cheese that was founded here. Further on you'll find Glastonbury and Glastonbury Abbey. The abbey presents itself as "traditionally the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world" situated "in the mystical land of Avalon" and was begun in 712AD. Then it is on to Barnstaple for a pub dinner at the 15th century Chichester Arms. Overnight in North Devon.(B,D)

Day 6:
This morning you'll visit Arlington Court and Gardens, a 2700-acre estate nestling in the thickly wooded valley of the River Yeo. The house contains model ships, tapestry, pewter, and shells. The stable block houses one of the best collections of 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles in the country and you will enjoy a carriage ride around the grounds. Next stop is for a traditional Devonshire Cream Tea at Sir George Newnes Tea Room. You'll then will take a lovely coastal drop with stops in the lovely seaside villages of Ilfracombe and Combe Martin. Dinner is at the Williams Arms thatched pub. Overnight in North Devon.(B,L,D)

Day 7:
Today begins with a journey toward Truro in Cornwall. Travel the coast line to Tintagel and the romantic and mysterious ruins of Tintagel Castle, overlooking the sea. Some believe this is the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. Stop at Wadebridge for tea at Carnewas Tearoom and Garden with the most spectacular view in Cornwall. Later, this afternoon finds you in Truro where you will visit Truro Cathedral followed by a delightful exploration of Truro's cobbled streets and alleys lined with craft shops. You are then off to Falmouth for a seafood dinner at Hunky Dory. Overnight in Falmouth.(B,L,D)

Day 8:
Today you will take the Penwith Tour offering spectacular, remote Cornish landscape, dotted with relics of the tin mining industry, picturesque fishing villages and prehistoric remains. The first stop is Lanyon Quoit, a prehistoric chambered tomb. Then, stop in Penzance for lunch and some exploration. Following lunch you'll continue to The Merry Maidens, a circle of 19 stones said to be girls turned to stone for dancing on Sunday. A stop is also made at Lands End, Britain's most westerly point. Then return to Falmouth for dinner on your own. Overnight in Falmouth.(B,L)

Day 9:
This morning's route leads to Plymouth, which is the regional capitol for Devon and Cornwall. In Plymouth you will visit Mayflower Stone and Steps from where the Pilgrims set forth to the New World in 1620. Enjoy a traditional fish and chips lunch before continuing to the Dartmoor region of Devon. Take a Dart River Cruise this afternoon from Totnes to Dartmouth. You will pass Sandridge House, designed by architect John Nash and the lush Greenway Estate, once the home of Dame Agatha Christie and now belonging to the National Trust. Pub dinner and overnight near Exeter.(B,L,D)

Day 10:
Today will be spent in the Dartmoor National Park, which provided the eerie background for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles." The first stop will be Buckland-in-the-Moor, one of the most picturesque thatch and granite villages in Dartmoor. Then a drive brings you through Dartmeet at the confluence of the East and West Dart Rivers. Stop for a picnic lunch before continuing the journey. The next stop is Grimspound, an impressive site of Bronze Age huts built 4,000 years ago! You will also stop at Becky Falls with its delightful woodland walks and a viewing platform over the 72-foot falls. Dinner and overnight near Exeter.(B,L,D)

Day 11:
Arise early today as the tour heads west with a first stop at Stonehenge, just outside of Salisbury. Stonehenge is Europe's most famous prehistoric monument dating back to 3,000 BC. Spend some time exploring here before heading further east to Winchester and Winchester Cathedral. Once in Winchester a stop will be made for Afternoon Tea at Forte Tearooms. Winchester Cathedral dates from 1079 with a church on this site since 648. Jane Austen is buried here and the cathedral possesses the only diatonic ring of 14 church bells in the world, with a tenor (heaviest bell) weighing almost two tons. You are then off to Windsor for an evening free in the city. Overnight in Windsor.(B,L)

Day 12:
The town of Windsor is dwarfed by the enormous Windsor Castle. Before visiting the castle you will board an open-top tour bus for a tour of the city. Next, you will return to Windsor Castle for a tour. Windsor is the oldest continuously inhabited royal residence in Britain and makes a lovely visit. Your bus tour ticket is good for 24 hours of hop-on and off service and you may use it as you take in the sites of the city. Following the Windsor Castle tour, the group will meet for Afternoon Tea at the Harte & Garter before enjoying an afternoon free to explore Windsor. Experience a farewell dinner and performance at the Theatre Royal in Windsor. The Theatre Royal has gained a reputation for the quality of its productions and is currently one of Britain's leading theatres. Overnight in Windsor.(B,L,D)

Day 13:
Return to London Heathrow for the journey home.(B)