Antique shops and wild ponies, cream tea and fishing villages are some of the things that Devon and Cornwall do best. Those interested in myths and legend will also find plenty to discover on this tour from the windswept plains of Dartmoor to the Lands of King Artus. Sites along the way include mystifying Stonehenge and historical Bath.
This trip will be customized according to your wishes.
Broker: Sunny Cars GmbH
Company: Enterprise
Vehicle: Ford Focus or similar (CDMR)
Location: London-Heathrow Airport (Shuttle Service)
The name of the former county means “Südsachsen” and points out that Sussex was a small Anglo-Saxon kingdom from the 5th century.
In the east it shares borders with Kent, in the north with Surrey and in the west with Wessex. The landscape is mostly flat, with the hills of the South Downs and the Weald being the highest elevations. The rivers are short and of little importance. The coast is the major economic factor. Besides Brighton, Bognor Regis and Eastbourne are major seaside resorts. Inland, fruit growing and cattle breeding are of great importance. The South Downs Foopath reveals some particularly nice locations.
This piece of property originally belonged to a chivalric order and was later enclosed by a high wall. The manor house was built 300 years ago and is among the oldest of its kind in the Eastbourne area.
Mabel Lucie Attwell, the artist and illustrator of “Peter Pan,” lived here for a time. Today, guests come from around the world to enjoy the house and the gardens. Wendy, a garden enthusiast, purchased the property and turned it into a B&B that has quite appropriately been given a five-star rating. She will take your wishes into consideration when she prepares the English Breakfast and is happy to give you ideas for excursions into the surrounding area.
This leg of the tour is lined with incredible sights: the gothic cathedrals of Salisbury and Winchester, for example, are two of the most extraordinary churches in England.
Near Yeovil you can visit Montacute House, one of the island's finest Elizabethan mansions. No traveller should not neglect to take a detour to Stonehenge, those world-famous remnants of an ancient, pre-Celtic culture that have forever remained a mystery.
This historical region in southwest England was made famous by the “Hound of the Baskervilles”, a story about a demonic dog.
The setting of the story was not chosen by chance; indeed, the remote moorlands around Dartmoor abound with myths about mischievous sprites called pixies, headless horsemen and roaming packs of “spectral hounds”. Although the moors, rolling hills and granite cliffs of Devon seem quite pleasant when the sun is shining, the scene can quickly become dark and foreboding when fog rolls in. The remnants of past human inhabitants contribute to the eerie atmosphere: deserted mines, prehistoric menhirs and a mysterious burial site marked by over 70 stones lined up in rows represent a few examples. The former royal hunting preserve with its splendid footpaths was declared a national park in 1949.
This historic house on the edge of Dartmoor had been the hunting seat of the Duke of Bedford once. It is set in 100 acres of fairytale woodland, follies and grottos created by Humphry Repton, a renowned 18th century English landscape designer.
The rooms and suites are all furnished in an elegant English country house style and offer a view of the gardens, the river Tamar and the countryside. In the morning a healthy and rich Breakfast buffet is offered which is complemented by warm dishes from the kitchen. The restaurant serves regional cuisine based on fresh, local ingredients in the original dining room featuring wood-panelling and crests. Of course, in an ambience like this a traditional Afternoon Tea is almost indispensable. The romantic gardens and woods as well as the surroundings are perfect for relaxed and extended strolls.
The most southwesterly county of England is surrounded by water on three sides: the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Celtic Sea.
Rough, steep cliffs alternate with long beaches and picturesque bays. The climate is maritime and due to the Gulf Stream particularly mild in winter which has Mediterranean and subtropical plants thrive in this region. The gardens and parks around the former aristocratic estates benefit from this phenomenon. Some of them are several hundred years old and among the finest in all of England.
This award-winning hideaway near St. Austell is surrounded by a beautiful swath of the southern English landscape near the Roseland Peninsula.
The rooms are located in cottages surrounding a central lawn. The interior furnishings eschew Victorian embellishment in favor of a skillful combination of fabrics, colors and patterns. The lounge, where you can chat with guests or with your friendly hosts next to a crackling fire, is a great place to visit on cold days.
The only place in England with a spa fed by hot mineral springs, also happens to be one of its most beautiful towns.
The baths of Bath were already known during Roman times, evidence of which are the temple ruins in the area. The hilltop city experienced a resurgence in the 18th century, the period when many of the community's over 500 historical heritage buildings were constructed. The entire city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. Nearby Malmesbury is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited town in England.
Set in the Wiltshire countryside, this house is the birthplace of Reverend Awdry, a well-known pastor and children's book author.
As a child he was lying awake listening to the trains in the distance, wondering what kind of conversations they might have. Many years later these childhood memories were transformed into the worldfamous stories of Thomas the Tankengine. The current owners of the house, Mike and Fran have redecorated it with the help of a designer and turned it into a cozy B&B. Many original features are still about: the oak flooring or individual pieces of furniture. Those who wants to explore the area should seek advice from Mike. Bath is only 15 minutes by car and a bus runs directly from their doorstep.
This leg will take you through the hills of southern England. Time should be allowed for a stop at Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world.
Build on a chalk cliff overlooking the Thames, the palace has been used as the summer residence of British monarchs for over 900 years. Near Swindon a detour to the stone circles of Avebury is also worthwhile. Older than Stonehenge, the Neolithic monuments arranged in circles date back some 5,000 years.
Location: London-Heathrow Airport (Shuttle Service)
The capital of Great Britain and the Commonwealth is one of the most vibrant and exciting metropolises on earth. The 7.5 million inhabitants within its city limits make London the largest city in the European Union.
Ever since it was founded by the Romans 2,000 years ago, the city on the banks of the Thames has been a cosmopolitan mix of cultures and religions. Famous landmarks include the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace among many others, not to mention such famous institutions as the British Museum, the National Gallery and Madame Tussaud's. London is also one of the music capitals of the world, offering numerous venues for every type of music from classical performances in the Royal Albert Hall to electronic trends presented in the pubs of Soho.
The hotel with 20 comfortable rooms stands in a row of a Georgian houses in Upper Berkeley Street. The shops on Oxford Street, Hyde Park, and the Marble Arch underground station are all just a few minuteswalk away.
The centerpiece of the hotel is an elegant lounge with an open fireplace. The attentive staff will be glad to assist with the planning of daily activities.
Ph.: +49 (0)2268 92298-57
Ph.: +49 (0)2268 92298-23
Ph.: +49 (0)2268 92298-67