Sidmouth & South Devon

Day 1

Depart the local area with a lunch stop on route, arriving at our hotel in Sidmouth late afternoon. This glorious regency seaside town is nestled into the Jurassic Coast and yet enjoys a largely flat town centre. The highly regarded Royal York & Faulkner Hotel is positioned in the centre of the elegant Esplanade.

Day 2

This morning, we make our way to the Cathedral city of Exeter, where we discover one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in England with Exeter's Red Coat Guides. Enjoy a guided coach tour of the city, followed by an easy walking tour of Cathedral Close and time at leisure to explore the city's many attractions, shops and restaurants.

Day 3

Today we visit Forde Abbey & Gardens, home to the stunning Mortlake tapestries, now housed in the V&A, the Abbey has a rich and varied history spanning 900 years. Through the centuries, it has played host to Cistercian monks at prayer, 19th-century philosophers, and politicians. By misfortune implicated in the Monmouth Rebellion and more recently, the backdrop to the Hollywood adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 'Far From the Madding Crowd.' Home to the highest-powered fountain in the country, the award-winning gardens include topiary-lined vistas, colourful herbaceous borders, an arboretum, and a bog garden.

Day 4

Today we travel along the coast to Seaton where we board the tram to Colyton. Time to enjoy a cup of tea and look around the shops before the return to Seaton. This afternoon we visit the seaside town of Lyme Regis.

Day 5

Departing after breakfast we travel home with a lunch stop on route, arriving back early evening.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast