The Cotswolds, Bath and the South West

The Cotswolds is England’s very own Garden of Eden. A lush green landscape filled with quintessentially English villages and towns made rich by the wool trade. An area with centuries of history, grand stately homes and dreamy private gardens.

A private guided tour is the best way to really experience the Cotswolds. Our guides know the real secrets that lie within the inspiring Cotswold landscape, found down country roads that lead to hidden villages and amazing views.

Visit picture-postcard villages with pretty cottages built from honey coloured stone. Discover the region’s historical mansions and castles and find out about their royal links. Discover the locations where Harry Potter and Downton Abbey were filmed and where Lewis Carrol, A.A. Milne and JM Barrie penned their literary masterpieces. Meet the locals, the farmers of the Cotswolds, the real curators of this unique landscape. Discover the secrets of guiding their sheepdogs with a series of whistles and calls, feed the pigs and cattle or, if you are lucky to be here in early spring, get ‘hands on’ with lambing and help bring a new life into the world.

Stonehenge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site believed to have been built 5000 years ago and is one of the most famous landmarks in Britain. One of the most extraordinary features of Stonehenge is its orientation to the setting and rising sun. Some say that this is simply because the local tribes worshipped the gods of the sun whilst others believe it was part of an astronomic calendar that allowed tribal villagers to map out the seasons of the year, and to develop early agricultural skills.

The ancient city of Bath was built by the Romans for pleasure and relaxation. The ancient thermal waters of this City caught the interest of the Romans and nowadays, the ancient Roman baths are truly worth a visit if only to gaze at how the Romans used to live! The amazing honey-coloured Georgian architecture, iconic Royal Crescent and the splendid Pulteney Bridge should also not be missed. Next door, the architecture and stained-glass window in Bath Abbey are also a must to see. Bath is a foodie heaven and has some of the finest ‘shopping’ in Britain, so be sure to put enough time aside to experience all Bath has to offer.

Devon and Cornwall form the far southwest tip of England. This is one of Britain’s most popular tourist areas, with its long sandy beaches, and a picturesque interior of moorland, hills, and valleys. The southeast facing coast of Devon, around Torquay and Paignton, is known as the “English Riviera” and is noted for its mild climate. East of Plymouth, the south coast is rockier with many inlets and small estuaries that are very popular with water sports enthusiasts and sailors. The north coast, characterised by its long sandy beaches and rocky coasts, takes the full force of the Atlantic swell and has some of the most dramatic surf beaches in Europe. In Cornwall in particular, tourism has now replaced the traditional occupations of fishing and farming as the main source of employment and income.