After breakfast drive to Falmouth, a historic town on the river Fal, where it joins the sea. Our tour of the town will include the National Maritime Museum, which tells the maritime history of Cornwall. It also has a boat-building workshop and is home to the national small boat collection. The museum has a lovely cafe for lunch that overlooks the third deepest natural harbor in the world (not included).

In the afternoon, visit St Michael’s Mount (we may be able to visit here if the group would like).  Before returning to the hotel, we will stop into a local winery, for drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Today’s tour takes us to the very edge of England, to the magical and unspoilt far West, where abandoned mines and engine houses fill the landscape and Cornwall reveals its most individual and captivating side.

Start on the South coast in a tiny fishing village which has remained in the 18th century and was used in the second series of Poldark. From here, drive to Porthcurno, close to Land’s End, followed by a visit to the famous Minack Theatre, a wonderful open-air theatre built into the cliff edge that allows superb views across the bay to Ped Vounder beach. This beach is one of the most beautiful and widely photographed beaches in Cornwall, chosen as a location for many scenes throughout Poldark, and it’s easy to see why.  

Visit a cove which was once a busy fishing harbor and has a slipway, caves and tunnels that evoke images of the smugglers and pirates for which this area is so famous. Drive through the quaint, unspoiled town of St Just, whose history is so typical of the whole area: rich in mining, farming and fishing from days gone by.

Not far away are the mines of Botallack and Levant. These both feature in ‘Poldark’, with Botallack and nearby Wheal Owles being used to portray the family mine. We will visit one of the mines as part of our tour.

Free time for lunch at a local pub, before continuing to Zennor, a small hamlet famous for the story of the mermaid who came ashore and entranced the minister’s son, who followed her back to the sea and was never seen again. A five hundred-year-old carved image of the mermaid can be seen in the church.

Final destination of the day is St Agnes Head. Winston Graham wrote most of his books whilst he lived in Perranporth just a few miles from St Agnes, and the landscape and characters around him during his life inspired much of his work. The area was used to represent Nampara Valley, part of Poldark’s family estate in the series.

We will finish our tour at Wheal Coates, one of the most photographed spots in Cornwall.

The idyllic fishing port of St Ives is our destination today, with its stunning white sand beaches, narrow cobbled streets, painted fisherman’s cottages and strong artistic community. The Tate Gallery St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth museum are located here, as well as numerous other galleries and studios. We will visit both of these famous collections, touring the Tate in company with one of the docents.

Depart St Ives for a late lunch at a farm-to-table pub, with its stunning views of the Atlantic.

The estuary of the Helford River is one of the loveliest parts of Cornwall. We will call in at Trebah, garden of dreams. This beautiful 26-acre ravine garden is the impressive result of more than a century of inspired and dedicated creation. Walk from the house down through glades of sub-tropical ferns and palms, beneath a canopy of century-old rhododendrons and magnolias. Stroll by the Koi pool through the water gardens and past tranquil pools to the private beach where you can relax and sample a traditional Cornish Cream Tea in the coffee shop.

Lunch will be at a waterside inn, where oysters are served fresh from the nearby oyster farm (other options available). This afternoon, we will take a boatride along the water, a delightful alternative viewpoint of this beautiful area. Last stop of the day will be at the best ice-cream shop in Cornwall!

After a leisurely start, we will say goodbye to Cornwall and travel by first class train to Reading, where a private bus will meet you to take you to the Royal Town of Windsor. After checking into the hotel, enjoy freetime to explore, shop and go for a meal.  If you would like to stay an extra day or two to visit the castle and the surrounding area, please let me know as soon as possible to ensure your hotel stay can be extended.

After breakfast in the hotel this morning, transfer by private bus to Heathrow Airport, to begin your homeward journey.  Note that early departures from Windsor may have a packed breakfast today. There will be one group departure scheduled for Heathrow. Assistance available for private transfers.