Secrets of South West England & Wales

A first day on the road heading for precipitous Lynton on the north Devon coast. Wherever you’re coming from, we’ll create a personal, tailor-made route to get you here, taking in any special interests or places you might wish to visit along the way. 

The twin village of Lynmouth, Lynton is a fine place to kick off your holiday. The world’s highest and steepest, completely water-powered funicular railway links the villages and is certainly not to be missed, while each village hosts rich Victorian history, superb walking, gardens, galleries and shopping.

Your Accommodation in Lynton

Perched on a cliff 600 feet above the village, your accommodation in Lynton is a family-owned guest house of the finest quality. Concentrating on the two most important aspects of any stay – the bed and the breakfast – the attention paid to each has permeated every other detail of this cossetting property. The calming and stylish air on the inside, taking in the licensed guest lounge and the glasshouse dining room, sits perfectly alongside the drama of the fabulous sea views of the Exmoor coast. The friendly owners are as welcoming as they come and always on hand to impart their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the villages and surrounding area.

Enjoy breakfast amidst those breath-taking sea views before setting off for a short drive to the edge of Exmoor. Here, you’ll meet the very friendliest of local guides for a half-day private walk to Exmoor highlights. Before you begin, your guide will take the time to check your ability and to discover any particular interests you may have, tailoring the tour to your exact wishes. The vast moor can be intimidating – which we love! – and a little daunting for first-timers, so this is the ideal way to ease your way around. Along the way you’ll enjoy a hand-selected picnic of the very best local treats, much sourced from your guide’s very own smallholding.

Take your time today, meandering along the north Devon coast. Some of England’s prettiest coastal villages are dotted along the route, all thatch and cream teas, whispering sand and crashing seas; we’ll provide all you need to make the most of our favourite route to get you to your next base in the heart of rural Somerset.

Your Accommodation in Somerset

Equal parts bustling pub, tempting restaurant and stylish lodging, your village accommodation is a fun and relaxing place to lay the head for a couple of nights. Having spent the day on the road, we love to take the weight off with a cold glass of cider either in the garden or by the wood burner in the bar, perhaps while choosing what tempting treat to enjoy at dinner in the acclaimed restaurant. Upstairs, there are just six chic and relaxing en-suite rooms, perfectly appointed for a restful night.

A distinct holiday highlight today. After breakfast take a short drive south into deep rural Somerset, passing mystical Glastonbury on the way to the foot of Burrow Hill and a visit to one of the UK’s finest apple cider farms. Family-owned, with a history stretching back two centuries, you’ll enjoy a private guided tour of the vast orchard, with the tasting of cider at the brewing facility and cider brandy at the distillery, and a picnic lunch to enjoy at your leisure. Designated drivers won’t go away disappointed, either, with a few special treats provided to take away for later.

Head north-west this morning, to the north Somerset coast, before skirting the city of Bristol and taking the Prince of Wales Bridge over the gaping Severn Estuary to wonderful Wales. The simple change in road signs delivers an immediate impact, marking this out as quite another country. Our route takes you off the motorway, along the coast south of Cardiff, through Penarth and Barry, passing Port Talbot and Swansea on the way to the splendour of the Gower Peninsula.

Your Accommodation in Gower

Few family-owned properties can match the fascinating story of this favourite of ours. Purchased as a near-derelict Victorian country house in the 1950s, from 1964 the vast grounds housed a pony-trekking centre, and as times changed so did the business. Firmly established now as one of the best places to stay in Gower, you could meet four generations of the family while here, tending the gorgeous garden, touching up the paintwork or serving cocktails and dinner. 

A stroll across the grounds to stunning Three Cliffs Bay is a relaxing way to start the day, and you may well find you have the beach here all to yourself. Later, take a short drive to the colourful town of Mumbles for ice cream and a little shopping, and onwards to Rhosilli Point for superb views of Worms Head. We’ll provide all the tips you need to make the most of your time.

A great day on the road today, wandering west along the South Wales coast. Along the way, stop off at Burry Port, landing spot of Transatlantic pioneer Amelia Earhart and perhaps for lunch in the 13th– century walled seaside town of Tenby. From here, it’s a short distance via Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest to St Davids.

Your Accommodation in St Davids

Just on the edge of the city, your hotel in St Davids was once a windmill, evidenced by its still-standing central structure. Step inside, though, and it’s a different story. Owned and run by a local architect, every last detail of this place has been pored over and considered in terms of how much it will enhance guests’ experience. Local art is presented throughout in gallery-quality conditions, while each of the 21 rooms enjoys an appealing blend of modern tech and traditional comfort. Service is friendly and attentive, your Welsh gin and tonic served just the way you like it, before some of south Wales’s best food in the impressive restaurant.

Take a two-mile drive this morning to St Justinian’s, an evocative landing point for your boat trip off the tip of south-west Wales. Travelling as part of a small group, your local guide helps bring the water, the coastline and its wildlife into focus as you head around the RSPB reserve of Ramsey Island, with talks of shipwrecks, legends and history along the way. Ramsey enjoys spectacular scenery, with cavernous, echoing sea caves, intimidating gorges and soaring sea cliffs, at certain times of year home to breeding guillemot, razorbill and kittiwake, as well as rare species such as peregrine falcon and chough. 

Later, take the time to explore the fascinating yet tiny city of St Davids, especially its jaw-dropping cathedral, and perhaps lunch here, where there are more restaurants per head of population than any other place in the UK.