Historic Southern England Explorer

Start your journey by exploring the 'Garden of England', a sensory experience taking you through castle parklands, fruit orchards, wealds and downs sprinkled with pointy-roofed oast houses and windmills. Celebrate one of its finest exports with 850 years of brewing excellence at the Shepherd Neame Brewery. Visit ancient Canterbury where the Romans built walls, Chaucer wrote medieval tales and Marlowe penned Elizabethan plays. Follow pilgrim steps through silent cloisters at the towering cathedral, a World Heritage Site. Explore the cobbled medieval streets of Rye and wander around historic Battle, where William the Conqueror first engaged the Saxons in 1066. Stroll the coastal path at the iconic White Cliffs steeped in World War II memories. Wander through the narrow Lanes of Brighton and discover the famous the exotic Royal Pavilion with its onion-domed roofs. Seek out the tales of Kipling at Batemans, his Jacobean House in Burwash.

Travel through Arundel and experience the magic of its fairy tale fortress, ancestral home of the Duke of Norfolk. Traverse the South Downs to world renowned Nyetimber an estate first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 now devoted exclusively to the holy trinity of Champagne grapes. English Strawberries and bubbles perhaps. Get active on the Downs bridleways and walking trails that cut through scenic river valleys and ancient woodlands. Discover the superb mosaic floors of a Roman Palace at the ruins in the village of Fishbourne. Nearby Chichester, a town encircled by its Roman walls. Its splendid cathedral watches over the plains between the South Downs and the sea. Visit Nelson's flagship "The Victory" and Henry VIII's Mary Rose, at the impressive Portsmouth Naval Port.

Make a pilgrimage to ancient Winchester and immerse yourself in more than 900 years of history. The capital of Saxon kings and a power base of bishops, its architecture and extraordinary cathedral sited in a charming river valley is a must visit. Venture deep into the New Forest a former hunting terrain of heath and forest where ponies, cattle and deer live wild. Visit charming Beaulieu, once an important mediaeval abbey now famous for the National Motor Museum and it’s fine collection of vintage cars. Step back in time at the peaceful haven of Buckler's Hard an 18th century shipbuilding village. Take the short ferry crossing from Lymington to the Isle of Wight where you can visit Queen Victoria's Osborne House and the imposing Norman fortress of Carisbrooke. Take a sailing trip out into the Solent on a sleek yacht to get up close to the sea.

A beautiful region with so much to explore and a culinary reputation that draws people from far and wide. Explore the wild beauty of two moorland National Parks, rolling hills dotted with thatched cottages, and dramatic Jurassic coast with cliff-edged fossil rich bays. Thread your way through the elegant Georgian coastal towns that form the English Riviera to find the thriving harbour town of Dartmouth. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a famous Devonshire tea – oven-warm scones, sticky strawberry jam and dollops of clotted cream. Walk or ride through dramatic Dartmoor National Park, try your hand at fly-fishing on the River Tamar. Buckland Abbey, once home to Sir Francis Drake is also worth a visit. Visit Plymouth’s historic Barbican and the Hoe for breathtaking views of the harbour. Find the Mayflower steps used by the Pilgrims that set off for America in 1620.

Cornwall stunning coastline and views can rival anywhere in the world. Work up an appetite striding out onto the wild flower edged clifftops or surf the Atlantic coves. Potter around in gorgeous old harbour towns and seek out one of the many celebrity chef seaside eateries. Venture to St Michael’s Mount at low tide along its tidal causeway. Enjoy an extraordinary evening at the Minack Theatre in Porthcurno, with the Celtic Sea as its spectacular backdrop. Taste Cornwall crumbly Yarg cheese, meat-stuffed pasties and Cornish ice-cream. Discover St Mawes Castle, built by King Henry VIII and the delightful 13th century church of St Just in Roseland. Delight in the Lost Gardens of Heligan, once lost now one of the most mysterious and romantic estates in England.

Arthurian legends about Glastonbury surround its mystical ruined abbey said to have been his burial place. The Chalice Well is where some people believe the chalice used at the Last Supper is buried. The energetic can climb the Tor for a great view. Historic Wells has an outstanding gothic cathedral and moated bishop's palace. Bath is an historic spa town renowned for its Roman built baths and is designated a World Heritage site. Beautifully established in the valley of the River Avon, the city has been the ultimate thermal spring spa destination for thousands of years. Also visit Bath Abbey founded in the 7th century and take time to explore the town to properly appreciate its renowned Regency and Georgian architecture in creamy limestone that inspired Jane Austin who was a resident here. Nearby 14th century market village of Castle Combe, which has been the location for countless films is also worth a visit.