Britain

8 Days / 7 Nights — Cotswolds, Devon, Cornwall

Legendary romance, pirates and smugglers, castles and cottages, all coming alive from the timeless past and neatly packaged for an experience you'll never forget.

DAY 1 — London, Cotswolds

Once on the open road, enjoy the old world charms of the Cotswold villages. In Oxford, view the skyline from the hills surrounding the city; the turrets, pinnacles and towers rising from the colleges all have the appearance of a medieval fairytale place. Continue past hedgerows to the elegant Buckland Manor. Set in glorious grounds on a hillside overlooking magnificent landscapes, the Manor dates back to the 13th century. Lodging: Buckland Manor

DAY 2 — Cotswolds

Explore the green, rolling countryside, which is marked by gentle streams and storybook villages. These include like Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water and Moreton-in-the-Marsh. Chart your course to Shakespeare's Stratford-on-Avon and return to the peace and tranquility of the manor via the ancient Roman Road known as the Fosse Way. Lodging: Buckland Manor

DAY 3 — Devon

Rise early to begin a memorable day. In Bath, tour the remarkable remains of Roman Britain, including the "Pump Room" and the Roman Baths. Continue on to the ecclesiastical town of Wells, which is still dominated by its medieval cathedral. Next is Glastonbury where legend has it that King Arthur and Queen Guinevere are interred. Continue to the Castle Hotel at Taunton, on the site of a former 12th century Taunton Castle. The Chapman family has been running the hotel for 50 years, with its restaurant and brasserie, Brazz, considered one of the 20 best places to dine in Britain. Lodging: Castle Hotel

DAY 4 — Cornwall

From Devon you drive deep into Cornwall along the rugged coast. Continue to Tintagel where the ruins of King Arthur's Camelot still overlook the sea. Onward towards Land's End and Lodging. Lodging: Hotel Tresanton

half way through our trip, our chauffeur stopped being our chauffeur and became our friend. A man of impeccable taste and refinement, a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

DAY 5 — Cornwall

Explore the "Land's End," where the earth's wildest ocean rage. No land intervenes due west to America, nor southwest to Brazil, nor south to Spain. There are only those dots on the horizon, the Scilly Isles. Discover Penzance, a town built as a defense against pirates. See St. Ives with its narrow streets and alleys, and where fishing has been a way of life for centuries. Lodging: Hotel Tresanton

DAY 6 — Dartmoor

Today your journey continues along the south coast of Cornwall into Dartmoor, and a country house of rare distinction, Gidleigh Park. This turn-of-the-century mansion lies in a secluded valley overlooking the Teign River, and is ideal for magnificent, private walks. Paul and Kay Henderson ensure the epitome of comfort, combined with a promise of culinary excellence. Lodging: Gidleigh Park

DAY 7 — Dorset

After breakfast, continue through Devonshire into Dorset, an area made famous through the novels of Thomas Hardy. Travel the picturesque villages of Milton Abbas, Dowlish and Piddle Valley. Your day's destination, Plumber Manor, was built in the early 17th century and has remained in the Prideaux-Brunes family ever since. Plumber is very much a family home far from the madding crowd where guests can enjoy the genuine hospitality from a bygone era. Lodging: Plumber Manor

DAY 8 — London

Your return to London will be via Salisbury and Stonehenge, where you will see the double circle of enormous stones precisely positioned by ancient Druids 4000 years ago. Your remembrance of this historic sweep will be replayed many times over in your mind's eye.

: Top