England

Hiking the English Countryside: The Cotswolds and Cornwall

Program No. 18730RJ
Hike the English Countryside with experts, discovering sweeping landscapes, learning local history, sampling traditional foods and enjoying the vibrant culture of two unique regions.

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At a Glance

Thanks to thousands of miles of public and ancient footpaths, walking is an integral part of the British way of life. With rolling hills, scattered stone villages and a wealth of historic monuments and buildings from prehistoric times to the present day, there is no better countryside to roam than that of the Cotswolds and the Duchy of Cornwall.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Hiking up to six miles (4 hours) a day over varied terrain. Some hikes may be strenuous, with a moderate- to fast-pace.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Discover quaint Cotswold villages, wildlife-rich sandy bays and the dramatic coastline of Cornwall on expert-led hikes.
  • Learn about the Cotswolds’ designation as an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” from a Countryside Ranger.
  • Meet a local Cornwall expert to hear about the spectacular coastline and its wildlife.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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15 days
14 nights
29 meals
13 B 3 L 13 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive London, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Mickleton
D
Three Ways House Hotel

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Orientation. 5:00 p.m. The Group Leaders will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with two Group Leaders, who will accompany us throughout the program to lecture, conduct field trips, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics, as well as dealing with logistics. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: We will enjoy a 3-course plated meal in the hotel dining room, with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure to unpack, relax, and prepare for the program ahead.

DAY
3
Chipping Campden, Broadway
Mickleton
B,D
Three Ways House Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1 hour. The walk from Chipping Campden to Broadway is approximately 5.5 miles, with two steady hill climbs totaling approximately 650 feet (200 meters) of ascent; paved streets, grass and earth paths. Extent of walking and other activities during time for independent exploration according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold items such as eggs, breakfast meats, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, cereals, cheese, cold cuts, yogurts, pastries and toast, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We'll board a motorcoach and ride into the Cotswolds to the delightful town of Chipping Campden. Our Group Leader will lead a walk and a visit to Hart’s Silversmith, then will provide maps and suggestions for places to see during time for independent exploration.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Afternoon: We will regroup and walk from Chipping Campden to the village of Broadway, via the iconic Broadway Tower, led by our Group Leaders. We’ll navigate spectacular hills and be rewarded, weather permitting, with glorious views out across the Cotswolds. Broadway Tower itself stands like a monolith atop Dover’s Hill, the second highest point in the Cotswolds, and is an example of what the English affectionately refer to as a “folly” – an extravagant building constructed for no real practical purpose. We will then return to the hotel by motorcoach.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At the hotel, we'll enjoy a presentation by a Cotswold AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Ranger on the history of farming in the Cotswolds and the conservation movement in rural England.

DAY
4
Oxford, Christ Church, Free Time
Mickleton
B,L,D
Three Ways House Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, approximately 3 hours. The Oxford city walk is approximately 1.5 miles on flat ground; paved streets, some cobblestones. Please note that, due to examination timetables, Christ Church may not be available on every departure at short notice. If this is the case, we will enjoy an expert-led exploration of New College, founded in 1379. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board a motorcoach and travel to Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires. We’ll enjoy an informative and educational stroll through the city to Christ Church Meadow, a flower-filled water meadow beside the River Thames, before we take in the grandeur of Henry VIII’s Christ Church. Founded in 1546 and one of the largest of Oxford’s 38 colleges, Henry’s Lord Chancellor Thomas Wolsey planned the impressive Great Quadrangle, the Tudor Kitchen, and the Great Hall. Christ Church is the cathedral seat of Oxford and occupies a 150-acre site in the center of the city.

Lunch: Your choice of lunch with provided vouchers.

Afternoon: Free time. This block of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. We will receive information packs with maps, directions, historical notes, and suggestions for things to do. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach for dinner.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Bourton-on-the-Water, The Slaughters, Free Time
Mickleton
B,D
Three Ways House Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. The Naunton to Bourton walk is approximately 6 miles with a moderate 1100-foot (333-meter) ascent; paved streets, grass and earth paths.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We'll board a motorcoach and ride to the picturesque village of Naunton, from where we’ll explore some beautiful British pastures and riversides as we walk to Bourton-on-the-Water led by our Group Leaders. On the way, we’ll pass through Upper and Lower Slaughter, an interestingly named pair of villages that have been inhabited for over 1,000 years.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Afternoon: Free time to explore Bourton-on-the-Water. Nestled inside the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bourton has been described as “the Venice of the Cotswolds.” We will return to the hotel by motorcoach for dinner.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Kelmscott Manor, Coln St Aldwyns, Bibury
Mickleton
B,D
Three Ways House Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 55 miles, approximately 2 hours. The Coln St Aldwyns to Bibury walk is approximately 6 miles on largely flat ground; paved streets, grass and earth paths.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the picturesque village of Kelmscott. Upon arrival we’ll walk through the village to Kelmscott Manor — home to both William Morris and the hugely influential Arts & Crafts movement — where we’ll enjoy an expert-led exploration of the house and gardens.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: We will board the motorcoach and ride to Coln St Aldwyns, a charming hamlet on the banks of the River Coln, where we’ll begin this afternoon’s walk with our Group Leaders. Our route will take us through the many picturesque villages of the Coln Valley, passing peaceful and unspoiled riverside, before ending in the Cotswold village of Bibury, once described by William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England.”

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
The Duntisbourne Valley, Cirencester
Mickleton
B,L,D
Three Ways House Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. The Duntisbourne Valley walk is approximately 6 miles on largely flat ground; paved streets, grass and earth paths.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to Winstone to begin a walk led by our Group Leaders, exploring the Duntisbourne Valley, home to numerous beautiful small villages and some wonderful views. Our final destination is Cirencester, stopping en-route at Cirencester Park, home to a beautiful 16th-century manor house.

Lunch: A packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit and a drink or similar will be provided en route.

Afternoon: We’ll have time to enjoy a walk of Cirencester, a quaint market town and an important early Roman fort. Here we will enjoy a visit to the Corinium Museum, where we will explore the excellent exhibits detailing Cirencester’s Roman history together following an introductory talk.. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach after our field trip.

Dinner: At the hotel, we will enjoy a special treat tonight with a light main course followed by one of the famous “Pudding Club” evenings for which the hotel is renowned, tasting a selection of traditional British desserts and voting for our favorites.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
8
Transfer to Cornwall, The Cathedral City of Wells
Camelford, North Cornwall
B,D
Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 210 miles, approximately 5.5 hours. Extent of walking and other activities in Wells according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will transfer by motorcoach to Cornwall, in the South West of England. En route, we will pay a visit to the cathedral city of Wells. One of the smallest cities in England, Wells is packed with fascinating history and architectural splendor. Our Group Leader will orientate us to the area before we have some free time to explore at our own pace.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like in Wells.

Afternoon: Our transfer to Cornwall continues, with a lecture aboard the motorcoach on the history and cultural significance of the landscape through which we’ll be riding, and a late afternoon arrival and check-in to our next hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: We will relax after dinner as a local expert gives us an introduction to the local area at the hotel.

DAY
9
Pentire Head, The Coastal Path
Camelford, North Cornwall
B,L,D
Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 2 hours. The walk from Pentire Farm to St Enodoc Church is approximately 6.5 miles. There are several short, but sharp ascents and descents; gravel, grass and earth paths, sandy beach.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold items such as eggs, breakfast meats, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, cereals, cheese, cold cuts, yogurts, pastries and toast, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We'll board a motorcoach and ride to Pentire Farm to begin a walk through stunning Cornish landscapes, led by our Group Leaders. We’ll make our way along the coast to St Enodoc Church, marveling at the breathtaking views across the Camel estuary, followed by sandy beaches and wildlife-rich dunes. We’ll stop in Polzeath in the late morning for some free time to explore the town.

Lunch: In Polzeath, We’ll enjoy a packed lunch.

Afternoon: We’ll continue from Polzeath to complete our journey to St Enodoc Church. Laurence Binyon wrote “For The Fallen” whilst sat along this route, and Sir John Betjeman is buried in the churchyard at St Enodoc. We’ll then ride to a local family-run microbrewery close to the village of Delabole, where we’ll meet the master brewer to learn about the process of brewing with some tasters of their beers. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach for dinner.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: This evening we'll be entertained with stories from a local story-telling company.

DAY
10
St. Ives, King Edward Mine.
Camelford, North Cornwall
B,D
Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 115 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. The walk from St. Ives is approximately 3 miles, with a gradual ascent of 330 feet (100 meters); gravel, grass and earth paths, paved streets with many cobblestones.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will depart by motorcoach for the seaside town of St Ives, You may explore St Ives independently. Its cobbled streets are full of history, legend, and tradition. The town is also home to the Tate Gallery, the Cornish arm of the world-famous London gallery.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: After our time in St Ives, we’ll board the motorcoach for a field trip to KIng Edward Mine, which finally closed it's operation in 1875. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach for dinner.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
11
Padstow, Port Isaac
Camelford, North Cornwall
B,D
Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, approximately 2 hours. The walk from Harlyn to Padstow is approximately 7 miles, with an ascent of 460 feet (140 meters) and several short, sharp descents; gravel, grass and earth paths, paved streets with some cobblestones.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will drive by motorcoach to Padstow, where we will have two choices. Our Group Leader will lead a walk from Harlyn Bay to Padstow, via Trevone Head and Hawker’s Cove – a magnificent stretch of rugged coastline and a stunning tidal estuary. Those of us who would prefer a quieter morning may explore Padstow independently for fuller exploration of its charms.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: We'll take the Blacktor Ferry from Padstow to Rock, then travel onwards by motorcoach to Port Isaac for an afternoon of independent exploration. Port Isaac is a busy coastal port first established in the Middle Ages, where narrow, winding streets bordered by picturesque cottages give way to a delightful marina stretching out into the sea. Eagle-eyed fans of British television will also be able to spot the home of popular character Doc Martin, perfectly positioned above the village looking out over the bay. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach for dinner.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
12
The Cornish Riviera
Camelford, North Cornwall
B,D
Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 65 miles, approximately 3 hours. The walk from Dodman Point to Mevagissey is approximately 6.5 miles, with ascents totalling 100 feet (300 meters) over three main climbs; gravel and grass paths, paved streets.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will set out by motorcoach to explore the Cornish Riviera, with two choices for us to enjoy this picturesque part of the county. Those who prefer a slower pace may pay a visit to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a world-renowned botanical garden, for an expert-led visit to the North Garden and time for independent exploration. Those of us who want an active morning can join our Group Leader for a walk from Dodman Point to Mevagissey – a superb promontory with sweeping views along the coast in both directions, picturesque fishing villages, and sandy coves.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: We’ll all meet in Mevagissey this afternoon, where our Group Leaders will lead us on an exploration of this bustling fishing village, packed full of history, crafts and – of course – fresh fish! We will return to the hotel by motorcoach for dinner.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
13
Tintagel
Camelford, North Cornwall
B,D
Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, approximately 3/4 hour. The walk from Boscastle to Tintagel is approximately 4.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 1100 feet (335 meters) split across three climbs; paved streets, gravel and grass paths. The extension to Trebarwith Strand is a further 2.5 miles.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board a motorcoach and ride to Boscastle, a beautiful village at the head of a fjord-like natural harbor. It was scene of a terrible flood in 2004, and is a good illustration of how topography contributes to natural disasters, how communities recover, and the effects of climate change. We’ll negotiate the spectacular Rocky Valley as we walk from Boscastle to Tintagel with our Group Leaders, following a wild coastline with imposing cliffs and ancient rock formations, before taking in a dose of English mythology at Tintagel. Set high on the rugged North Cornwall coast, Tintagel Castle is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: The day continues, with an opportunity to explore Tintagel or continue our walk onwards to Trebarwith Strand. We will then return to the hotel and take some time to reminisce on our walking adventures in Cornwall.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
14
Salisbury, Transfer to London
London Heathrow Airport
B,D
Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 265 miles, approximately 5.5 hours. Extent of walking and other activities in Salisbury according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We'll board the motorcoach for our transfer to the London airport hotel, with a visit to the city of Salisbury en route. We’ll have time to independently explore this ancient city that has been welcoming visitors since 1227.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like in Salisbury.

Afternoon: After rejoining the motorcoach, our transfer continues, with a late afternoon arrival and check-in to our last hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. We’ll share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
15
Program Concludes
London Heathrow Airport
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold items such as eggs, breakfast meats, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, cereals, cheese, cold cuts, yogurts, pastries and toast, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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