Write Around the Finest Homes of Cornwall, Devon & Dorset

Departure from US home airport

Arrival: London Heathrow Airport

On arrival at Heathrow airport, a private transfer will take you to the Audleys Wood Hotel in Basingstoke, where we stay overnight. In the evening, join the group for a welcome drink and canapés, followed by dinner.

Jane Austen’s House Museum & Chawton House

For our first visit, we head to Jane Austen’s House Museum, the charming house where she spent the last eight years of her life. It was in this country cottage where Austen completed the majority of her mature writing, including the timeless Pride and Prejudice. The museum tells the story of the author and her family through a host of treasures, including first editions of Austen’s books, jewellery and furniture.

We continue to Chawton House, an Elizabethan manor house that once belonged to Jane Austen’s brother, Edward Austen Knight. It now accommodates a unique library of titles focusing on women’s writing in English from 1600 to 1830. We find out more during our guided tour, preceded by lunch.

Later, we check into our overnight hotel, the Belmont Hotel in Sidmouth.

A La Ronde & Exeter Cathedral

Today, we step into another world at A La Ronde, a unique 16-sided house built at the request of two spinster cousins in the 18th century. This eccentric house with quirky diamond-shaped windows and fascinating interior decoration is crammed full of extraordinary artifacts, curiosities and mementoes from the cousins’ grand European tour.

After our visit to A La Ronde, we continue our journey to the magnificent Exeter Cathedral. This stunning Gothic structure, dating back to the 12th century, has the longest uninterrupted medieval vaulted ceiling in the world. The cathedral also houses an extensive collection of historical documents, beautiful stained glass windows and intricate carvings. We will delve into its rich history and marvel at the artistry that has been preserved through the centuries.

Dartmoor drive, Buckland Abbey Garden & Tavistock

This morning, our tour manager guides us on a drive over the moor from Bovey via Two Bridges and Princetown with photo stops along the way, before we journey to Buckland Abbey. Founded in 1278, Buckland Abbey was the last Cistercian monastery built in medieval England and Wales. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Buckland became the home of Elizabethan seafarers Sir Roger Grenville and Sir Francis Drake and remained in the Drake family for around 400 years. We discover over eight centuries of history and hear stories of how Buckland went from a peaceful Cistercian Abbey through dissolution and restoration to the fascinating house it is today.

Later, we head to the market town of Tavistock for a relaxing afternoon of browsing independent shops and the historic Pannier Market, which dates back to the 12th century. We then enjoy a Sparkling afternoon tea at the Bedford Hotel.

Jamaica Inn & Lanhydrock

We visit Jamaica Inn, Cornwall’s most famous smuggling inn, located high up on the wildly beautiful Bodmin Moor. Full of legend, this historic coaching house was made famous by Daphne du Maurier’s tale of smugglers, rogues and pirates and has been welcoming travellers for nearly 300 years. The Jamaica Inn also houses a fascinating museum, showcasing a collection of artefacts, exhibits and stories that bring to life the dark and dangerous world of smugglers. We explore various displays, including smuggling tools, weapons and contraband and learn about the inn’s notorious history and connection to famous literary works. We also take time to stop for coffee and cake during our visit.

We continue to Lanhydrock, one of the most fascinating and complete late 19th-century houses in England. Here we enjoy a light lunch and explore the house and gardens. Bursting with period atmosphere and with extensive servants’ quarters, we discover two sides of Victorian life and admire the extensive gardens, with their beautiful herbaceous borders and a formal parterre.

Godolphin & St Michael’s Mount

We take a guided tour of Godolphin, which played a pivotal role in Cornwall’s mining history and its transformation of life in Britain. While evidence of human existence on this site dates back to the Bronze Age, the land was acquired in the 12th century by the rising, powerful Godolgun family, who proceeded to build a moated house here. With the exploding popularity of tin mining in the area, the family’s wealth greatly increased during the Tudor period and beyond. Today, Godolphin is recognised as a Cornwall and West Devon mining landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site and showcases a range of fascinating features, including a medieval garden, Piggery tea room, Grade II listed farm buildings and a Grade I listed house, all surrounded by 500 acres of stunning rural countryside.

A delightful afternoon tea awaits at St Michael’s Mount, one of the most iconic sights of Cornwall and connected to the mainland by a cobbled causeway. The little sister of Brittany’s Mont St Michel, this craggy island features a medieval castle which has been home to the St Aubyn family since the 17th century, a harbor and village with a close-knit island community. Depending on tide times, we either enjoy a boat ride to and from the island or a 15-minute walk along the ancient cobbled walkway.

Immersive Horticulture Experience at the Eden Project

Built into the Cornish countryside, the Eden Project is often described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. This extraordinary place offers a deep dive into the world of plants and how they shape our lives. Housed within massive Biomes, the Eden Project simulates different environmental conditions, showcasing an incredibly diverse collection of flora from around the globe. From the steamy rainforests to the fragrant Mediterranean, the Eden Project is not just a feast for the senses but also an educational journey that emphasises the importance of sustainable living and environmental conservation.

We are joined by a dedicated Eden horticulturist as we partake in the Immersive Horticulture Experience, which includes a tour, hands-on gardening and a workshop with biocontrol tips. We enjoy lunch here and receive complimentary Eden gifts.

Port Isaac, Pencarrow House & Gardens & Padstow

Any travelers who have seen the British TV series Doc Martin or the Fisherman’s Friends movies will no doubt recognise charming Port Isaac. We visit various filming locations in the small fishing village, which boasts winding streets lined with whitewashed cottages and a quaint harbor with clear waters (when the tide is in!), sheltered by rolling verdant scenery. Don’t miss the lovely pasty shop here – it’s a must when in Cornwall!

A warm Cornish welcome awaits at Pencarrow House, nestled on the edge of Bodmin Moor and the family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns for almost 500 years. Our guided tour uncovers the secrets of this magnificent house, along with hidden passageways, glorious portraits, fine porcelain and marble busts sporting a variety of hats upon the wishes of the Lady of the Manor. There is plenty to explore outside too, from a colourful Italian garden and wild woodlands to walking routes, an Iron Age hill fort and a grotto, believed to have once been a secret meeting place.

For an early dinner, we head to the charming port resort of Padstow, famous for its connection to chef Rick Stein and pretty harbor.

St Ives, Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden & Trerice House

Today, we see why artists have long been drawn to Cornwall. We begin with the holiday town of St Ives, the perfect place to stroll along one of the sandy beaches, watch the fishermen launch their boats from the harbor, wander through the maze of cobbled streets and admire the pretty cottages. Take in the artwork on display at the Cornwall branch of the Tate Gallery, showcasing stunning pieces from artists who have attracted international attention.

We then visit the nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden, the former home and studio of the eminent British sculptor. Opened in 1976 by Hepworth’s family, it contains the largest collection of her works and a stunning garden with sculptures placed by the artist herself decades ago. As we wander around here and feel the sea breeze, it’s easy to see why ‘finding Trewyn Studio was a sort of magic…here was a studio, a yard and garden where I could work in open air and space.’

Our next stop is one of Cornwall’s hidden gems, Trerice House, for a guided tour and a light lunch. This romantic Elizabethan manor house remains little changed with fine interiors, featuring the Tudor Great Hall and a lovely re-created knot garden. This seat of the Arundell family was built in 1570-1573 by the fourth Sir John Arundell, thanks to the wealth gained by the third Sir John for services to numerous monarchs. Look out for the exquisite plasterwork ceilings, vast collection of longcase clocks and unique paintings, including a self portrait by John Opie (the Cornish child prodigy), amongst other treasures here.
Later, we enjoy a fascinating talk by a guest speaker.

Charlestown & Saltram House

We enjoy some time in Charlestown, an unspoiled example of a late Georgian working port, constructed in response to the growth of the local mining industry. Other businesses were established, such as pilchard curing and shipbuilding, with many attractive period properties built up in the village. Charlestown is also a popular filming location with credits including the BBC’s hugely successful Poldark TV series, and there are often square-rigger ships in the harbor.

Later, we head to Saltram, an elegant Georgian mansion set in a rolling landscape park and one of the National Trust’s least discovered treasures. Home to the Parker family for several generations, the house is a rare survival of the period; particularly because it comes complete with its original, impressively lavish contents, including stunning paintings, ceramics and textiles. Those who dare can also find out more about the supposed Ghost of Saltram here.

Greenway & Burgh Island

After a journey on the foot ferry we arrive at Greenway, the much-loved holiday home of Agatha Christie and her family. Nestled on the side of the River Dart and surrounded by a picturesque woodland garden, this atmospheric house is set in the 1950s and contains many of the family’s collections. As you wander through the atmospheric rooms, imagine Christie reading her latest mystery novel to her guests here.

We then take a special trip to the beautiful Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel, accessed by a unique sea tractor from Bigbury on Sea Beach, where we enjoy a champagne afternoon tea. Built in 1929 and extended in 1932, the hotel has been restored to its 30s glamour and offers an opulent glimpse into the past. Previous guests include Winston Churchill, Josephine Baker, Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, and you can just visualise Agatha Christie writing two novels here (Evil Under the Sun and And Then There Were None), with the glitz of the hotel appealing to her as a literary setting.

Hardy’s Cottage & Max Gate

Leaving Cornwall, we travel to Thomas Hardy’s birthplace, Hardy’s Cottage. Little altered since the Hardy family left, this delightful cob and thatch cottage is surrounded by a typical cottage garden of honeysuckle, climbing roses and japonica, and is where Hardy wrote some of his early poetry and novels, including Under the Greenwood Tree and Far from the Madding Crowd.

We continue to the outskirts of Dorchester and the atmospheric Victorian house, Max Gate, designed by Hardy in 1885 and where he lived until his death in 1928. Hardy wrote some of his most famous novels here, including Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure.

Next, we visit Dorchester, Hardy’s birthplace, and explore the visitor centre, which offers a comprehensive insight into Hardy’s life and works through numerous exhibits, including original manuscripts, personal belongings and interactive displays.

Later, we check into the Castle Hotel in Windsor, where we enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Departure

A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow airport for your return flight home.