Treasures of the English Countryside: Devon, Cornwall, and London

Your group will spend the day visiting Braunton, the gateway to North Devon's Golden Coast. The excellent shopping facilities and good selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants make Braunton an ideal base from which to explore the varied natural attractions of North Devon. The dramatic coastline and spectacular beaches of Saunton, Croyde and Putsborough with their golden sand, safe bathing and excellent surfing, are all within a short drive. So too is the magnificent scenery of the North Devon Coast's "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Your group will enjoy a day trip to Clovelly, a beautiful fishing village built into the cleft of a 400 ft. high cliff. Its whitewashed cottages adorned with flowers, gradually descend down to the tiny working port. Clovelly is famous for its donkeys, which traditionally carry goods up the hill; sledges carry them down. There are historical connections between Clovelly and Charles Kingsley, Turner, Dickens and the Spanish Armada. Afterwards, guests will make a special trip for the "Bird of Prey" Handling Experience. This is an opportunity for all ages to handle a bird of prey and to ask questions of a Master falconer. There will be time for lunch in Clovelly. Guests will proceed to the National Trust Carriage Museum, an unexpected jewel. This intimate Regency house contains treasures for all tastes, from model ships to shells, all collected by generations of the Chichester family. The 19th-century picturesque garden is a perfect place to explore, picnic or play. Inside the stables of the Carriage Museum you'll see a vehicle for every occasion from cradle to grave. Challacombe is a traditional rural "dispersed settlement" (a settlement of scattered farmsteads rather than a nucleated village) with a population of about 150 people located within the Exmoor National Park. There are many interesting walks and places to visit in Challacombe. Guests can take easy walk before dinner on their own in Challacombe. Afterwards, the group will return to the hotel.

This morning, guests will visit Pendennis Castle, one of the finest of the mighty fortresses built by Henry VIII to defend the country against invasion. The castle has seen action in many conflicts and was one of the last royalist strongholds to fall during the English Civil War. Guests can witness a Tudor gun deck in action here and see how the Guardhouse was equipped during the First World War. This award-winning site boasts an exciting interactive exhibition where one can experience the sights and sounds of battle and relive an enemy attack on a Second World War observation post. The rest of the day is free to enjoy Falmouth at leisure. This evening, guests will enjoy a special seafood dinner at a local restaurant.

Your group will set out for St Michael's Mount and St Ives. This is the perfect opportunity to discover the amazing island world of St Michael's Mount and learn the legend, myth and over a thousand years of incredible history. Guests will gather for lunch at the castle after the visit, then continue to the Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre constructed above a gully with a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea. Late in the afternoon, your group will arrive at St Ives. The town really began to open up to the outside world in 1877 when the Great Western Railway began running its Broad Gauge trains on the new branch line. In 2007, St Ives was awarded the accolade of "Seaside Town of the Year", as voted for by Guardian readers. Today, St Ives is easy to reach, and there's a wealth of ancient culture to be explored in the landscape, the stones, the wells, and even ceremonies. Guests will have time for dinner on their own at St Ives, before being transported back to their hotel in Falmouth.

This day is completely free for guests to enjoy the sights and sounds as they please. The city is replete with incredible attractions - from iconic museums like the Victoria & Albert, British Museum and the Tate Modern, to theater houses, shopping streets and vibrant neighborhoods like Camden Town and Shoreditch. Guests could choose to walk by the Thames River or take a river cruise down to Greenwich. In the afternoon, they could relax in the lush green gardens of Hyde Park, or soak up the lively atmosphere around Oxford Street or Portobello Road. To dive into London's fantastic food scene, guests can make their way to the Borough Market in Bermondsey, or visit one of the famous bars or clubs in Soho. In the evening, they will gather for the final farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

This morning, your group will travel by private coach to one of London's airports for the return flight home.