CORNERS OF

Blue-Roads | Europe

From windswept moors and wild coastlines to historic cities and picture-perfect fishing villages, the county of Cornwall is filled with evocative sights and fascinating stories. Join us as we seek out the maritime heritage, rural beauty and culinary pride of this unique corner of South West England on a scenic eight-day tour.

TOUR CODE:

BEHCCLL-1 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads

Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach!

About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Discover the enchanting medieval church and castle of St Michael’s These tour notes contain everything you need to know Mount before your tour departs – including where to meet, Enjoy the charm of historic port towns what to bring with you and what you can expect to do Falmouth and Port Isaac on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Soak up the wild, jaw-dropping vistas document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you of the Jurassic Coast on tour. Visit the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral

Please Note: We recommend that you refresh this document one week before your tour TOUR CURRENCIES departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date accommodation list and itinerary information + United Kingdom - GBP available. Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | LONDON

After meeting the group in London, we’ll come together for a welcome dinner. Here’s to the start of an incredible adventure! Accommodation: Wellington by Blue Orchid (or similar)

MEALS: Dinner

DAY 2 | LONDON – WELLS – DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, our first stop will be the tiny market city of Wells – known for its Gothic cathedral and peaceful Vicars’ Close. After we’ve spent some time wandering the cobbled streets and medieval buildings with our Tour Leader, we’ll have the opportunity to explore the magnificent Wells Cathedral at our leisure. Later, our path will take us from the quaint country lanes of Somerset to the heather and gorse-clad tors of Dartmoor National Park. Tonight, we’ll enjoy another delicious dinner together. Accommodation: Two Bridges Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner

DAY 3 | DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK – PORT ISAAC – – FALMOUTH

Today we’ll leave Dartmoor National Park for Cornwall’s northern coast – starting with a stroll around Port Isaac, the fishing village made famous by the Doc Martin television series. Next, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at The Seafood Restaurant, Rick Stein’s flagship restaurant in Padstow. Here, you can take your pick from a menu of fresh-off-the-boat Cornish seafood and international favourites. Then: we’ll take it easy as we travel further west to Falmouth. Accommodation: The Royal Duchy Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 4 | FALMOUTH – ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT – ST IVES – FALMOUTH

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll pay a visit to the iconic cliffside Minack Theatre before setting our sights on St Ives – one of England’s prettiest towns. Take some time to meander the cluster of cobblestoned streets, quaint seaside cottages and picture-perfect bays. Then, it’s back on the mini-coach for a visit to St Michael’s Mount, a tidal island just off the coast of . Here, we’ll explore the village and the medieval castle and gardens – which are full of treasures and stories from the past. Back in Falmouth, we’ll enjoy an evening spent at our leisure. Please note: St Michael’s Mount is closed on Saturdays. In the event day 4 of our tour falls on a Saturday, we will visit St Michael’s Mount on day 5. Accommodation: The Royal Duchy Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 5 | FALMOUTH – BAY

There’s a treat in store for the green-fingered today: we’re off to explore Tregothnan Estate, one of Cornwall’s largest estate and home to the first tea plantation in Britain. A member of the gardening team will give us a private tour of the grounds and the tea plantation, where we’ll learn all about the only tea grown in England – with a chance to sample some of it for ourselves. Afterwards, we’ll make our way to area where we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure. Please note: Tregothnan Estate is closed to the public on weekends. In the event day 5 of our tour falls on a Saturday, we will visit Lower Lanner Farm instead – where we’ll enjoy a cream tea and plantation tour. Accommodation: Bay Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 6 | ST AUSTELL BAY

We have no set plans today, leaving you free to explore the sandy beaches and boutique shops of the St Austell Bay area at your leisure. You could visit the world-famous biomes of the Eden Project or uncover the world’s largest private collection of maritime paraphernalia at the Charleston Shipwreck Museum – you certainly won’t be short on things to do here! Accommodation: Carlyon Bay Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast DAY 7 | ST AUSTELL BAY – DEVON – DORSET – SALISBURY

Today we’ll make our way south along the coast, before our road takes us through picturesque Devon and Dorset. We’ll have some free time to follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen’s heroines and take in sweeping views of the Jurassic Coast. Enjoy some free time hunting for fossils along Lyme Regis’s sandy beaches before we move on to Salisbury – where a farewell dinner awaits. Accommodation: Milford Hall Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner

DAY 8 | SALISBURY – LONDON

After one last breakfast together, we’ll have the opportunity to explore the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral. Our journey will conclude upon returning to London.

MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information

Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS

Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page

Other Information

Finances

CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders.

Insurance Passports and Visas

You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you keep these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport

We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring

Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:

Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear

Other things to pack:

Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin

OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER:

Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm

That's it!

We look forward to seeing you on tour.