Historic Houses of Devon & Cornwall
Historic Houses of Devon & Cornwall
Historic Houses of Devon & Cornwall
4 Days
Visiting: Castle Drogo, Lanhydrock, Padstow, Prideaux Place, National Trust - Cotehele, Buckland Abbey, Killerton House
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BHDC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Physical rating:
Gentle
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Please contact Brightwater with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
The neighbouring counties of Devon and Cornwall offer a rich selection of historic houses across a broad expanse of English history, from medieval times through the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian eras and into the twentieth century. Buckland Abbey is the oldest property in our selection, dating back to the 13th century, and once the home of one of England’s greatest adventurers. Prideaux Place has its origins in the Norman Conquest though the house we see today dates from the reign of Elizabeth I, and we see another fine Tudor house at Cothele in Devon. Lanhydrock, designed as an ‘unpretentious’ family home, dates back to the 17th century, while the Georgian era is represented by the grand house at Killerton. While Castle Drogo has the appearance of a medieval fortress it was actually built in the early 20th century by the renowned Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Each house is steeped in family stories and reflects the uniquely colourful tapestry of English history. Please note: most of the properties included in this tour are owned by the National Trust and as many of our guests are NT/NTS members, we have not included admission costs for these properties. There is therefore a supplement of £65.00 for non-members.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Accommodation Name: Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club
Meals Included: Dinner
We depart from our pick-up points and head down into Devon, where we begin with a visit to Castle Drogo, which has undergone extensive renovation and has now been restored to its former glory. This dramatic, granite building, towering over the River Teign Gorge, was built by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the millionaire Julius Drewe and combines the grandeur of a medieval fortress with the comforts of the 20th century. Included is a guided tour of the house which tells the story of Drewe’s dream of a family home and his life of achievements, as well as the family’s tragic loss. After our tour there will be time to explore the formal garden, which has a magnificent rhododendron collection, herbaceous borders and a rose garden.
We continue to our comfortable accommodation at the Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club, a stylish, contemporary hotel with its own 18-hole golf course set in mature parkland. Dinner will be served in the evening.
Day 2
Accommodation Name: Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast we travel the short distance to Lanhydrock, a magnificent seventeenth century house surrounded by nineteenth century formal terraced gardens. When Thomas Charles refashioned Lanhydrock after a fire in 1881 he wanted to create 'an unpretentious family home'. While his idea of everyday comfort might be different from our own, there is no doubting the family is at the very heart of this house. There's a whole suite of rooms dedicated to the children, family photographs throughout and the morning room which was used by the children as a performance space for annual plays and theatricals. We will also discover the fascinating contrast between the upstairs and downstairs worlds as we explore the kitchens and servants' quarters as well as the grand family spaces. We will also have time to wander in the terraced gardens and the informal pleasure grounds beyond.
Following our visit here we head for Padstow on the northern coast of Cornwall, where there will be an opportunity for lunch (not included), perhaps at one of celebrity chef Rick Stein’s various outlets.
In the afternoon we visit nearby Prideaux Place, a charming Elizabethan manor which has been lived in by the same family since its completion in 1592. The Prideaux family is an ancient Cornish clan whose origins date back to the Norman Conquest when they are recorded as Lords of the Manor at Prideaux Castle. The house now combines its traditional Elizabethan architecture with the 18th century exuberance of Strawberry Hill Gothic. The house has 81 rooms and some of the finest are included in our guided tour. The North Wing, sadly inaccessible to visitors at the present time, remains as it was the day the 121st Engineer Combat Battalion of the American Army marched from Prideaux to take up its role in the D-Day Landings.
Dinner will be served back at the hotel.
Day 3
Accommodation Name: Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast today our attention turns to the neighbouring county of Devon as we visit two outstanding historic properties. Cotehele, near Plymouth, is a Tudor house with many stories and legends, festooned with tapestries and adorned with textiles, arms and armour, pewter, brass and old oak furniture; a magical experience awaits us where little has changed over the years. Outside, we can explore the formally planted terraces, the Valley Garden, which includes a medieval stewpond and dovecote, and Cotehele Quay, home of the restored Tamar sailing barge Shamrock. Lunch is available here (not included).
In the afternoon we visit the oldest property in our tour, Buckland Abbey, which started life as a peaceful Cistercian monastery in 1278. For over 250 years, the monks who farmed the vast estate lived in the peaceful solitude of the Tavy valley. Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries saw Buckland sold to Sir Roger Grenville, who began to modify the abbey into a house and home, and later it was sold again to privateer Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. In the course of our tour we will therefore walk in the footsteps of monks, sailors and servants, as we journey from a Tudor chamber to a cosy Georgian dining room.
We return to our hotel, where dinner is served in the evening.
Day 4
Meals Included: Breakfast
Following breakfast we check out of the hotel and depart for a visit to the house and gardens of Killerton. The Georgian house displays a magnificent collection of 18th- 20th century costumes in period rooms (originally known as the Paulise de Bush collection) and in the coursed of our guided tour we will learn of Killerton’s 400 years of history. Afterwards there will be time to explore the gardens where countless trees and shrubs thrive, including rhododendrons, magnolias, stewartias and maples.
Following our visit we will return to our original pick-up points, where the group will disperse or make onward connections.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Meals - as per the itinerary
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Drinks with Meals
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Entrance Fees
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
Check out our Q&As
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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