Day 1 – Southampton – cruise embarkation

Cruise aboard Regal Princess – 8 nights to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Day 2: Portland England
Day 3: Guernsey (St Peter Port)
Day 4: Cork Ireland (Cobh – For Blarney Castle)
Day 5: At sea
Day 6: Glasgow (Greenock) Scotland
Day 7: Holyhead (Wales)
Day 8: At sea
Day 9: Southampton (London) England.  Post cruise enjoy a transfer from Southampton to your 4* London hotel

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.

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 travel on to Padstow: a picturesque port town with a charming centuries-old harbour. Here we’ll have time to wander the winding streets and admire the sweeping estuary views, before enjoying a spot of lunch wherever takes our fancy. A traditional Cornish ice cream is a must for dessert! Finally, the lively seaside town of Falmouth awaits – our base for the next two nights. Accommodation: The Royal Duchy Hotel (or similar)

After a hearty breakfast we’ll pay a visit to Land’s End – England’s most westerly point – before setting our sights on St Ives. One of England’s prettiest towns, take some time to meander the cluster of cobblestone 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 Penzance. Here we’ll discover the village and its medieval castle and gardens – which are full of treasures and stories from the past. Back in Falmouth, we’ll enjoy an evening meal together and toast to a full day’s worth of exploring!

There’s a treat in store for the green-fingered today: we’re off to explore Tregothnan Estate, one of Cornwall’s largest estates 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 the St Austell Bay area where we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure.

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!

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.

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

Meals: Full English Breakfast