Drake's Devon.

Grade.. Easy with 2 to 3 hrs walks on paths or tracks.Walking shoes are necessary.Maximum group size of 8.

DATES 2006 .....Sat 28 June to Sat 5 July. Transfers arranged from Plymouth Airport or Rail Station on request.Also transfers to and from London Gatwick Airport at extra costs.

PLEASE CONTACT US for confirmation of  2008 dates.

A wonderful holiday based on Sir Francis Drake's estate near Plymouth , Devon.You may ask why this holiday is included on my Provence Web Site. I am a Devonian, my family came from Cornwall and I love this corner of the County . We explore the famous gardens and houses around the Tamar Valley and include a walk each day based on the house or garden . What is unique is that we stay in the 'Cider House' which is part of the Buckland Abbey Estate now owned by the National Trust . Our accommodation is in a delightful medieval mansion full of character dating back to the 14C which at one time was occupied by the monks or in the lovely old cottage next door.  The main house where Drake lived is now a museum devoted to Drake and his times. The famous drum has pride of place.

The house where we stay is owned by Sarah and Michael.They are excellent hosts who will ensure a memorable stay in their medieval home. The garden is a return to the gardens of yesteryear and has featured in all the Garden magazines in recent years and is proof of their hard work and imagination .

Sarah provides the breakfasts, famous for her home made muesli and home produced jams.Each evening we eat in one of the famous local pubs,one of which Drake used regularly.The meals include drinks.This is a great opportunity to enjoy open fires,oak beams, local dart players and accents so common to Drake and his men. The food is excellent and varied.

The meeting point is Plymouth itself, accessible by air from Gatwick, rail and motorways. Your guides will be myself for the walks, usually 2 to 3 hrs long, and for the gardens and houses.we will be helped by the onsite guides.

The holiday is for 8 days, 7 nights with all meals, entry fees, local transport, guiding and afternoon tea included. The bedrooms do not have private baths -- difficult to play with 14C walls -- but the atmosphere, the calm and the wonderful setting more than make up for this.

The Programme.

Saturday..Clients collected from either Plymouth Central Rail Station or the Airport from 4pm onwards with a 30 minute transfer to Buckland Abbey and our base at the Cider House. Accommodation is either in the main house or the delightful cottage next door.

A welcoming tea with scones and cream is offered during the afternoon briefing . Time for a stroll through the famous Cider House gardens before the short drive to Drake's Manor for our evening meal. An excellent 3 Course menu is offered along with wine or beer in the oak beamed dining area just off the main bar .Full of character and characters this "pub" will be our dinner spot for most of the week.

Sunday...Buckland Abbey. .After one of Sarah's famous breakfasts we set off for a morning walk around the Estate and the surrounding countryside , typically Devonian with its woods, steep sided creeks and open farmland .We finish off the morning with a chance to visit the craft shops in the Abbey grounds before sitting down to a lunch at the Abbey restaurant. The Cider House is only 5 minutes from the Abbey so there is time to return to the house for a rest . The afternoon is spent visiting the Abbey , the lovely old barn and , of course the main house which contains so many relics of Drake's time here .Expert guides are on hand in the main house to answer your questions or explain the historical details in each room. A stroll around the Abbey grounds , time to sit down in a quiet corner and enjoy the tranquility of this lovely spot .Tea is offered in the cottage later on..plus some local cake of course. Dinner is again at Drake's Manor at Buckland Monachoram . where the church is well worth a visit. The old world charm of the little cottages offers yet again an image of the old Devon.

Monday..Antony House..A superb example of an early 18C house, ancestral seat of the Carews and still the family home today . Antony contains gorgeous paintings , tapestries , furniture and embroideries . The grounds , landscaped by Repton and running down to the Lynher River , include formal borders and terraces with the national collection of day lilies , a knot garden and many modern and traditional sculptures .

Outstanding displays of rhododendrons , azaleas, camellias and magnolia flourish in the extensive woodland garden. Transfer time is only 20 minutes via the Torpoint Ferry. We drive to Kingsand ,an old fishing village for a snack at the local pub before starting our afternoon walk along the coast . This 2 to 3 hr walk takes us to the Mount Edgecomb Estate gardens with its delightful forest walks and impressive views across the Tamar to Plymouth and the famous Plymouth Sound...Time for tea at the Crabpot before returning by vehicle to the Cider House.Dinner as usual .

Tuesday ..Cotehele Manor House. Enchanted and remote, hidden high above the wooded banks of the Tamar , Cotehele was owned by the Edgcumbe family for nearly six centuries . One of the least altered medieval houses in the country , it contains original furniture , armour and a remarkable set of tapestries .

The large estate is criss crossed with miles of riverside and woodland walks which we will explore thoroughly during our visit .There is so much to see , including the quay on the Tamar, working watermill, industrial ruins and museum devoted to the life and times of the estate . We plan to have lunch down on the quay where the old sailing barge , The Shamrock , is moored. Return late afternoon to the Cider house for tea in the garden . Dinner as usual .

Wednesday..Plymouth Explore..This is an opportunity to have a relaxing day in this attractive city with its modern shopping centre contrasting with the famous old Barbican area where the Pilgrim Fathers set off for a new life .Wander up onto the Hoe with its striking views across the Sound to Drake's Island.Take a boat trip around to the historic Devonport Naval Dockyard . This is not a guided day but full information will be provided including maps. Please note that the cost of visits, boat trips etc is not included in the overall price. Later on we will drive up onto the Wembury Heights for a smashing view over the Sound and the coast . For dinner tonight we will take you to the Royal Oak in Meavy dating from the 13C . Its owned by the Parish Council so every drink helps with the local taxes !! The host Patrick Davis is a Master Mariner who skippered sailing schooners and square riggers in his time ..A big man with lots of stories ..Great fun ..The cost of this meal is not included in the price .

Thursday. Castle Drogo and Dartmoor. The last castle in England , built in the heart of Dartmoor , Castle Drogo is a magnificent fantasy in granite . It was constructed between 1910 and 1930 by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the India tea baron Julius Drewe , and it remains one of Lutyens' masterpieces . Inside it feels comfortable , sophisticated and personal , sometimes poignant ,in dramatic contrast to the austerity of the towering exterior . A large and beautiful formal garden complements the castle . The castle commands a high spur 900ft above sea level, overlooking the wooded gorge of the River Teign . The views are breathtaking. After lunch we return via the famous Dartmoor Prison for a superb high level walk across part of Dartmoor with its wild ponies, cattle and views right across to Plymouth Sound...Back in time for tea and then off to dinner at Drake's Manor .

Friday.Saltram House and the Yealm Estuary. Saltram House is one of the treasures of the National Trust . This perfectly proportioned Palladian mansion , with a Tudor heart , is the result of centuries of extravagance and sophistication . It features some of Robert Adam's finest interiors and the exceptional collection of paintings , including no less than ten by Sir Joshua Reynolds who was a neighbour and frequent visitor to Saltram .

Also of interest are the Great Kitchen , A gallery of local art and an Orangery in the garden. The house starred as Norland Park in the film Sense and Sensibility.. However before we enjoy this our last visit we will spend the morning exploring the gentle Yealm Estuary. It is a typical Devonshire Estuary with its wooded slopes, yachts tugging at their moorings , sea birds overhead and a dramatic coastal entrance with its cliffs and crashing waves. .Our walk leads down the estuary to the open sea...and the sky!! Time to return to Saltram for the afternoon followed by a  dinner at our local..The Drake's manor.We offer a late evening digestif in the cool of the evening as we sit in the garden of the Cider House.

Saturday

..After another excellent breakfast we depart for Plymouth at 9.30am .Please note that we can provide  transfers to London Gatwick arriving by about 4pm. There is an extra cost for this .

COST....£775 per person . Please note no extra charge for singles but they have to share a bathroom. This price is based on 2 clients sharing twin/double rooms on half board basis . All visits are included in the price except for the Plymouth day . Lunches and one dinner are not included. Also included is all local transport and transfers , the services of a driver/walking guide and garden/house guide plus afternoon tea . The expertise of the guides at the various houses is also available of course.

The Accommodation...There are 3 twin/double bedrooms in the Cider House itself and two twin/double rooms in the cottage directly opposite .

For 2008 we are going to include an add on 4 or 5 days with the holiday starting in Kent near Tunbridge Wells with visits to Winston Churchill's home Chartwell and other fine houses. We then continue on to Devon for the second week . Please do contact us about this add on  package .We will include transfers to and from London Gatwick Airport in the package ...Wonderful chance to see two of the loveliest parts of Britain.