Southern England Walk

Upon arrival at London Heathrow airport, transfer to our spectacular country house hotel in Castle Combe. Meet with fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception and dinner in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. 

Today we explore the local area of this idyllic English village, which has appeared in many films, including Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse. After a picnic lunch, return to the hotel on foot or by road. Dine in the charming village pub this evening.

Drive to the Vale of the White Horse to begin our walk along the ancient Ridgeway, a five-thousand-year-old road that leads us through farmland, hills, and woodlands. Visit the magnificent Iron Age fort of Uffington Castle and the enigmatic chalk hill figure on White Horse Hill. Continue our walk after lunch, stopping near Marlborough to see one of the largest collections of ancient monuments in Britain, the Avebury henge and stone circle. Return by road to Castle Combe.

Depart Castle Combe along a section of Fosse Way. This Roman road takes us through Corinium, a Roman provincial capital known today as Cirencester, to Chedworth, site of one of the grandest Roman villas in Britain. This afternoon, we drive to Bath and check in to our iconic hotel that dates to 1775.

Today we travel to the striking ridge of the Mendip Hills, pierced by the famous Cheddar Gorge. Descend from the hills to the cathedral city of Wells. After lunch, drive the short distance to Glastonbury, the cradle of Christianity in England. Steeped in myth and legend, many believe Glastonbury is the site of King Arthur’s Avalon. View the Glastonbury Tor and visit the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey where King Arthur is thought to be buried along with his wife Guinevere.

Depart Bath and head north into the Welsh Marches, which served as the border between the Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the Celtish people of Wales. Walk through Chepstow and follow the ancient route of Offa’s Dyke along the Wye Valley. Stop at the Devil’s Pulpit, overlooking the picturesque ruins of Tintern Abbey, immortalized in Wordsworth’s poem. After our picnic lunch, visit the abbey, then continue by road to our hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds.

We spend the morning close to home as we walk the idyllic path from Upper Slaughter, through Lower Slaughter, and on to Bourton-on-the-Water. Return to our hotel after lunch to rest before our evening in Stratford-upon-Avon, where we attend a theatre performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (schedules permitting).

For our walk today, drive to Broadway Tower, an iconic landmark on top of the beautiful Cotswolds escarpment. Follow footpaths across the gentle expanse of Dover’s Hill to our picnic spot. This afternoon, continue on foot to the charming market town of Chipping Camden before returning to our hotel.

Walk through the rolling hills of the Midlands, where ancient oaks, beech, and ash trees line the narrow country lanes. Stop for a visit at Broughton Castle, a medieval fortified manor house. After lunch, delve into the history of the First English Civil War as we travel to the battle site at Edge Hill. Continue to our hotel in Oxford.

Spend the morning immersed in the architectural highlights of Oxford, including the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world with nine centuries of continuous existence. In the afternoon, visit Blenheim Palace, designed at the beginning of the 18th century by Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Return by road to our hotel and gather this evening to toast our journey at a festive farewell reception and dinner.

After breakfast, depart for London Heathrow airport to catch flights returning home.