North Devon

Day 1

Departing the local area, we have a lunch stop on route before arriving at our hotel in time to settle in before dinner. Expect nothing but luxury from The Imperial Hotel, with some of the best accommodation you could find anywhere in the world. Enjoy beautifully decorated rooms, some with stunning river views, each with it's own unique style and ambience. The hotel is part of the renowned "Brend Hotel" group.

Day 2

Monday 25 August
Today we enjoy a morning discovering RHS Garden Rosemoor. Nestled in the Torridge Valley, Rosemoor is an enchanting place to visit in every season. The garden is rich in horticultural heritage and could be said to have two faces: one designed more recently by the RHS and the other created over time.

Day 3

This morning, we visit the Cliff side towns of Lynton & Lynmouth. Lynmouth provides a romantic escape from modern living with its rows of charming fishing cottages and shops that cluster around the pretty harbour of gently bobbing boats. Lynton perched high above is a vibrant Victorian village retaining a quaint mix of times present and times past. Lynton & Lynmouth are elegantly connected by the Cliff Railway, the highest and steepest fully water powered Victorian railway in the World! This Afternoon we travel to Ilfracombe, the picturesque seaside town is surrounded by beaches famous for the tunnels carved by hand in the 1820's the four tunnels were used by the Victorians to segregate men, women, girls and boys on their way to the beach. With the afternoon at your leisure, you can visit the aquarium or browse the art galleries, shops and cafes.

Day 4

This morning, we visit Bideford, browse the many antique shops with plenty of heirlooms for sale. This afternoon we visit Hartland Abbey with its beautiful gardens and grounds. Founded by Augustinian monks in 1157 the Abbey was dissolved in 1539, surviving longer than any monastery in England. The beautiful 18th Century Walled and Woodland gardens, the walks and the parkland provide visitors with extensive grounds through which to wander and enjoy the stunning valley leading down to the rugged Atlantic cove and cottage at Blackpool Mill, the location for many notable films.

Day 5

We depart The Imperial Hotel after a leisurely breakfast and return home with a stop on route, arriving back late afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast