TOURS OF SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND
Stonehenge and Avebury
Stonehenge is of course one of the most famous wonders of the prehistoric world. It’s not just a pile of old stones. On a guided tour I’ll shed light on when, why and how the monument was probably built, and reveal some of the mysteries in the surrounding landscape of Salisbury Plain.
Stonehenge is very much worth visiting on its own. But you could also tie in a visit with Avebury - it's about 45 minutes' drive away. Its prehistoric stone circle is the biggest in Britain and encompasses a village, and, unlike at Stonehenge, you can walk among the stones. You can also view nearby Silbury Hill, an enigmatic, giant man-made hill created in prehistoric times that has refused to give up its secrets.
Castle Combe, Lacock and Bradford-on-Avon
Immensely photogenic villages, with ancient, half-timbered and stone buildings, lie a short drive from Bath. Castle Combe, on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, is picturesquely set in a valley along a stream. It has been voted the prettiest village in England and a visit feels like stepping back several centuries in time.
Nearby Lacock is all owned by the National Trust. Both the village and the cloisters of Lacock Abbey were used as locations for the Harry Potter films, and the village appears also as backdrops in Jane Austen adaptations and Downton Abbey. Lacock Abbey is arguably the birthplace of photography.
The trip could also take in nearby Bradford-on-Avon, a beautiful riverside town with a fascinating cloth-making history, one of largest medieval barns in England and a remarkable Anglo-Saxon church.
Castle Combe, Lacock and Bradford-on-Avon are fairly close to each other, and work very well as a half-day or more leisurely full-day trip from Bath. It's also possible to add in a visit to Stonehenge or Avebury on a full day’s tour.
Salisbury
The undoubted highlight of Wiltshire’s only city is the cathedral. Dating from the 13th century, it boasts the tallest spire in the UK, and has one of only four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta in its Chapter House. The gated Cathedral Close, lined with magnificent old buildings, is a magical, serene space.
Salisbury and Stonehenge combine well, as they are just 15 minutes’ drive from each other.
Bristol
I love taking guests on tours exploring what is effectively the capital of South West England. Bristol has a fascinating maritime heritage, ancient pubs with piracy links, and deep and complex ties with the transatlantic slave trade – you may remember the toppling in 2020 of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston, which was international news.
There are also memorable sights associated with Isambard Kingdom Brunel, such as the SS Great Britain ship and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which dramatically spans the Avon Gorge. Street art – works by Banksy and much else besides – is another big draw in Bristol.
A two- or three-hour walking tour of the city centre and harbour will give you a good overview. With visits to SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge too, think a full day.
Bristol is a 15-minute train ride from Bath.
Wells, Glastonbury and Cheddar
These three destinations combine very well on a full day’s trip from Bath.
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An hour’s drive south from Bath through green and rolling Somerset countryside brings you to spiritual Glastonbury. I’ll immerse you in its Arthurian and Christian legends, take you up the mystical Tor (some of the best views in southern England from the summit), show you around the ruined abbey and the Chalice Well gardens, and direct you towards some of the many eye-opening New Age shops.
A short drive away lies Wells, England’s smallest city (population 12,000). It’s a gem. I’ll show you around the glorious Gothic cathedral (one of its many highlights is the world’s second oldest clock!) and the moated Bishop’s Palace with its glorious gardens, and take you to the Vicar’s Close, the oldest continuously inhabited street in the country.
After Wells it’s on to nearby Cheddar Gorge. Three miles in length and with cliffs 450 feet high in places, the limestone gorge is truly dramatic. It also boasts spectacular caves, and the village of Cheddar is where is a certain type of cheese originated – locally-made Cheddar can be tasted and purchased!
Dorset
I lived in the county of Dorset for much of my childhood. Highlights include the geological wonders of the Jurassic Coast (a World Heritage Site) at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and Corfe Castle, one of the most striking ruined castles you’ll ever see.
These suggestions are far from exhaustive. South West England is packed with historic towns and villages, beautiful gardens (Stourhead is a favourite of mine), magnificent stately homes, glorious countryside, and a long, dramatic coastline. Just give me an idea of what interests you and how much time you have, and I can put together an itinerary.
Images VisitWest
You are spoilt for choice for beautiful and fascinating places to visit on easy day trips from Bath. I can arrange transport for you – a very comfortable chauffeur-driven vehicle or a coach – and provide commentary on the journeys, or I can meet you in the destinations.
Here are the most popular places I take guests on guided tours.