South West England

Our Dorset holiday delivers a memorable finale to the 630 mile South West Coast Path. This spectacular section of the trail boasts amazing geology and stunning scenery as it travels from Lyme Regis to Poole along the Jurassic Coast, England’s first Natural World Heritage Site.

Highlights along this stretch of coastline include Charmouth Beach where you can look out for fossils. Nearby is the wonderful viewpoint of Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast of England. Birdwatchers will relish West Bexington Nature Reserve, a stop off for migrating birds. Another must see is Thorncombe Beacon, one of a chain of beacons used to warn of the approaching Spanish Armada in 1588. As is the long pebble bay of Chesil Beach, the site of many shipwrecks, and near Lulworth the iconic coastal landmark, Durdle Door.

Near Weymouth there is a choice of routes, either stay on the coast or follow the South Dorset Ridgeway through one of the UK’s most significant ancient ceremonial landscapes.

Whether the Dorset coast is the home straight on an epic South West Coast Path adventure, or perhaps your introduction to this iconic walk, or even something in between, you are sure to have a thoroughly enjoyable and hugely rewarding experience.

Our North Cornwall holidays cover over 140 miles of coastline from Westward Ho! to St Ives, comprising tiny fishing villages with cobbled streets, ancient woodlands, rocky headlands, remote coastal landscapes and golden surf-washed beaches.

You’ll enjoy overnight stays in the popular towns such as Tintagel, Port Isaac, Padstow and of course St Ives itself. There are a great many historical sites along this route as well as museums telling the story of North Cornwall’s hidden past. Highlights along this stunning stretch of coast include Tintagel Castle, the mythical birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. There are a number of Iron Age forts which are of huge interest too. Also on display are abandoned engine houses, relics of a once prosperous tin mining industry.

The first half of the North Cornwall coast features some the wildest and remotest areas on the whole of the South West Coast Path. As a result, the walking can be challenging at times. Be prepared for numerous daily ascents and descents. The second half will see you pass by some of Cornwall’s most popular surfer beaches.

This is a dramatic landscape with magnificent waterfalls crashing from the clifftops onto the rocky beaches beneath. You might be lucky enough to spot grey seals. There’s a wealth of wildlife and wildflowers too. Birdwatchers should look out for stonechats, linnets and meadow pipits as well as peregrine falcons, buzzards and kestrels, while cornflowers, sea pinks and kidney vetch colour the countryside enhancing your experience of this awe-inspiring coastline.

Our North Devon holiday, the first leg of the 630 mile South West Coast Path, actually begins life just over the border in Somerset, in the town of Minehead. From here you’ll follow the coastal path for almost 90 miles to the village of Westward Ho! enjoying overnight stays in popular locations such as Lynmouth, Ilfracombe and Woolacombe.

There is diverse scenery all along this section of the South West Coast Path. The first stretch takes you over some of the highest cliffs in England where the expanse of Exmoor meets the sea. There are extensive views inland and north across the Bristol Channel with the coast of Wales as the backdrop. You will pass through coastal woodland and see vast sandy beaches popular with surfers. In contrast is the large estuary of the Taw and Torridge rivers, flanked by sand dunes and marshland, where the path follows the former railway and later the estuary.

On your journey you’ll enjoy the sight of numerous cliff top flowers, particularly the abundance of bluebells and primroses in springtime. The Exmoor coast is home to a variety of wildlife and many rare species of flora and fauna. Expect to see red deer, stag beetles, blackneck moths and the whitebeam trees which are unique to Exmoor.

There are Sites of Special Scientific Interest with their delightful heathland and grasses, nature reserves too with sand dunes housing rare snails and lizards as well designated areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you might be able to spot grey seals, gannets and in the summertime dolphins, sunfish and even basking sharks.

This is an area valued for its birdlife and it also incorporates the Tarka Trail, a series of footpaths following the route taken by Tarka the Otter in the book by Henry Williamson.

The South and West Cornwall coastline is the longest section of the South West Coast Path, stretching 175 miles from St Ives round to Plymouth. This is a contrasting coastline serving up a mix of rocky headlands overlooking idyllic coastal villages as well as lively resorts with their magnificent sandy beaches. In addition to being bookended by the popular towns of St Ives and Plymouth, overnight stays include Penzance and Falmouth.

Much of the trail follows the footpaths used by coastguards and officers back in the 19th century who would have been on the lookout for smugglers. Popular highlights include Gurnard’s Head, Sennen Cove and the Minack Theatre as well as St Michael’s Mount and the magnificent Lizard Point. There are numerous historical sites along this stretch of coast including scattered tin-mine ruins, old coastguard lookouts and lighthouses, ancient harbours and age old churches.

Boulder-strewn cliffs, smugglers coves, windswept headlands and stunning expansive views all contribute to this dramatic landscape. As do the colourful wildflowers and wealth of birdlife. Look out for fulmars, kittiwakes, shags, razorbills and even the Cornish chough, once extinct in the county but now making a welcome return.

Whether you choose to complete this stretch of the South West Coast Path in a series of short breaks or in one combined challenge, you are assured of a rich and rewarding experience.

Our South Devon holidays are as diverse as they are delightful. Ahead of you are 125 miles of truly unforgettable coastline, bookended by Plymouth from where the Pilgrim Fathers departed for the New World in 1620, and Lyme Regis renowned for its World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

On your journey you’ll enjoy idyllic coastal villages, golden surf-washed beaches and rocky headlands rewarding you with incredible views. Take time to soak up the atmosphere of the lively resorts on the English Riviera. Quiet time is guaranteed too as you pass through ancient woodlands and visit peaceful coves.

With its many National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest the area is full of fascinating flora and fauna. Wildlife and birdlife are plentiful and you never know, you might spot some dolphins. Our South Devon holidays also let you explore sections of the Jurassic Coast where you can even have a go at fossil hunting. For those with an industrial interest, there are miles of Brunelian railway line, lighthouses, wartime defences and an ill-fated abandoned village.

However you choose to explore the South Devon Coast, either a full on fortnight for the entire route, or nice and steady over several visits, our holidays are sure to reward you with a lifetime of memories.

The Two Moors Way is a true showcase of Devon’s rural heart and wild landscapes. Stretching 117 miles from Wembury on the South Devon coast to Lynmouth on the North Devon coast, this remarkable route links the rugged granite tors of Dartmoor with the rolling heathlands of Exmoor.

Beginning at Wembury Bay, and following a section of the Erme-Plym Trail, the route leads you through the tranquil South Hams countryside, known for its rolling green fields and timeless villages. The first stages provide a gentle introduction to Devon’s softer, more pastoral side, before reaching the original start of the Two Moors Way at Ivybridge and making your way north toward Dartmoor’s dramatic uplands.

Dartmoor is often described as one of England’s last wildernesses, a vast expanse of open moorland dominated by craggy tors, ancient woodlands, and a rich archaeological landscape. Here, the route takes you across its southern reaches, offering a blend of panoramic views, remote paths, and atmospheric stretches where wild ponies and sheep are your most common companions. The moor is as inspiring as it is challenging, with weather that can turn in an instant, demanding both resilience and careful preparation. Ensure you have your compass to hand.

Between Dartmoor and Exmoor, the Two Moors Way threads through the peaceful and little-walked Mid Devon heartland, a region of quiet farmland, scattered woodlands, and traditional villages. This middle section of the trail contrasts beautifully with the surrounding wilderness, offering temporary respite and immersion in the rural tranquility of the Devon countryside.

Then comes Exmoor, a landscape that is both wild and inviting. As you approach its southern slopes, the scenery shifts again, with steep wooded valleys, high open moors, and tumbling rivers carving their way to the sea. The final leg of the route leads you to Lynmouth, where the dramatic coastline of North Devon greets you with sweeping views, and rewards you with a real sense of achievement.

Quite simply, from the quiet woods to the wild moors and onward to the sea, the Two Moors Way is an unforgettable adventure through some of the finest landscapes in the southwest.