TRIP PRICE: $3495.00

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Beautiful, centrally located accommodations double occupancy; $895 Single supplement fee - JOIN WAITLIST FOR AVAILABLE SINGLE ROOM (if you’d like to share with someone, this is possible. Please email me first)

• Most meals (6 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 5 Dinners)

• Sudden Journeys Tour Director

• A small, friendly group of 10-12 people

• All ground transportation (pickup in Oxford/drop off in Frome )

• All sightseeing, events, and visits as noted in the itinerary

• All entrance fees, service charges, and standard taxes

• Coach Driver and Restaurant gratuities

• Special dinner and welcome drinks

• Custom-designed gifts for your travels

• One-Year Subscription to Afar Magazine*

• Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks as well as free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Arrival Airport: London (LHR) - Train to Oxford (55 mins)

Departure Airport: London LHR - Return train from Frome (1 Hr 15 mins) or private driver can be arranged for you (additional cost)

Note: The itinerary is descriptive, not definitive, and is subject to change. There also may be modifications due to weather, restoration works taking place are historic sites, and availability of local activities and guides.

OUR HOST & TRIP GUIDE: Sudden Journeys Founder & Photographer

Kyle Campbell

ACCOMMODATIONS

Three Nights in The Cotswolds

For your first three nights, you’ll stay in a former 17th-century wool merchant’s house turn boutique hotel-with-a-buzz venue. When you step through the door, you’ll discover there’s a series of small, interconnecting sitting rooms with wood paneling, fireplaces, and shelves of books. The perfect spot to enjoy a book or conversations with new friends. On the other side is another interconnecting set of rooms forming the dining and drinking area: a large, more formal room complete with exposed beams  The bedrooms are warm rustic country feel: think striking feature wallpaper, boldly colored bedheads, and the occasional piece of vintage furniture. The beds are the most comfortable! The best aspect of this hotel: The incredible staff. By the end of your stay, they’ll feel like family. An on-site spa in the shepherd’s hut is available to you. Beyond the hotel, there are many footpaths leading into the countryside and neighboring villages.

Three Nights in Wiltshire

Your hotel for the last three nights sits near ancient woods in part of Wiltshire’s Cranborne Chase Area of Natural Beauty. Nearby the local dells are carpeted with bluebells in spring, a peaceful place to wander on your own. You will discover uniquely designed rooms with predominantly cream-colored walls and fabrics that have a soft, cosseting effect that contrasts with the dark French antique furniture. The bathrooms also feature polished antique brass fittings and walk-in showers with high-gloss tiles.

Kyle, a seasoned travel guide with over two decades of industry experience, has dedicated her life to creating enriching and inspiring travel experiences for diverse groups. With a repertoire of leading more than 200 groups (over 1500 travelers), she possesses an intimate understanding of the transformative power of travel. Her journeys span across the picturesque locales of Europe and the US, underlining her vast travel experience and knowledge. Yet, with every tour, Kyle's heart for her guests remains the same: to ensure every individual returns home with a revitalized spirit, a broadened worldview, and heartwarming memories of newfound friendships.

DAY ONE (Arrival Day) Arrive by train at Oxford. Your private transportation will pick you up from here. You’ll travel to a local pub where you'll spend some time getting to know your fellow travelers. Visit Bibury on the edge of The Cotswolds. Check into your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner together.

• 16th-century country pub for drinks and introduction time

• Explore Bibury, National Trust location

• Welcome dinner and drinks

Light walking: 1-2 miles throughout the afternoon. Bus 45 mins. Sleep in The Cotswolds

DAY TWO (Cotswolds) Depart for your first day exploring the Northern Cotswolds. You'll visit the charming villages of Snowhill, Stanton, Lower Slaughter, and more. We purposely avoid the more crowded villages. Lunch will be in the market town of Stow-in-Wold. You'll have time to explore on your own. Later in the afternoon, visit Hidecote Manor Gardens, a gorgeous experience in the spring season. Make a stop at the Daylesford Farmshop. This will be an experience in and of itself! Dinner together in a country pub before returning to the hotel.

• Explore the villages of Lower Slaughter, Stanton, Snowshill, Stow on Wold plus more.

• Visit Hidecote Manor and Gardens National Trust

• Shop at Daylesford Farmshop

• Free Time: Lunch time at Stow in Wold

Light walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day, some hills and steps. Bus 1 hr 45 mins. Sleep in Cotswolds. 

DAY THREE (Cotswolds) Free Day. Sleep in, linger over breakfast. Enjoy a countryside amble. Book a massage or beauty treatment at the onsite treatment room. A few ideas: A day trip to Blenheim Palace, visit Kelmscott Manor — home to William Morris or visit other villages in The Cotswolds. Dinner on your own. 

Free Day: Entire day is yours to do as you like

DAY FOUR (Wiltshire) Departing early, you'll travel to the southern region of the Cotswolds. Your first visit will be to Castle Combe, considered the most beautiful village in England. You'll have plenty of time to take in this enchanting place. After lunch, visit Iford Manor Gardens, a romantic, award-winning garden that transports you as the garden design blends Italian, Byzantine, Ancient Roman, and Oriental garden inspirations, together with architecture and classical sculpture. A visit to Iford Manor Garden is like stepping into another, timeless world. After a full day, arrive at your new hotel tucked away in a sleepy Wiltshire village.

• Visit Castle Combe, England’s most beautiful village

• Visit Iford Manor Gardens

Moderate walking: 4-6 miles throughout the day, moderate hills and stairs. Bus 2 hr 45 mins. Sleep in Wiltshire.

DAY FIVE (Wiltshire & Somerset) Spend the morning at Stourhead, stunning parkland and house. A breathtaking 18th-century landscape garden with lakeside walks, grottoes, and classical temples is only the beginning. You can also visit Stourhead House, a Palladian mansion with a fantastic Regency library and a beautiful art collection. You will have plenty of time to explore this stunning place. After lunch, you will travel to the lovely town of Bruton. Its medieval days of wool, then silk, and wealth are long gone, leaving a legacy of charming architecture. After a wonderful day exploring. return to your hotel.

• Visit Stourhead National Trust

• Afternoon Tea at a walled kitchen garden cafe

• Visit the market town of Bruton

• Free Time: Afternoon in Bruton

Moderate walking: 4-6 miles throughout the day, moderate hills and stairs. Bus 2 hr 45 mins. Sleep in Wiltshire.

DAY SIX (Dorset & Wiltshire) On your final day, travel south to Shaftesbury, known for its famous view of Gold Street lined with thatched cottages and countryside off in the distance. Later in the day, visit the English Heritage site, Old Wardour Castle. Built in the 14th century as a luxury residence, Old Wardour Castle survived two bloodthirsty sieges in its time, perhaps most notably in 1643 – when Lady Blanche Arundell courageously defended her home for nearly a week with just 25 men and her maidservants. The castle was famously used in the filming of Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, as the ancestral home of Robin. Enjoy discovering hidden corners and winding stone staircases that make it easy to imagine life in the medieval castle. Travel to a local restaurant for a special farewell dinner.

• Visit Shaftesbury

• Visit Old Wardour Castle, English Heritage

• Special farewell dinner

Moderate walking: 4-6 miles throughout the day, moderate hills and stairs. Bus 1 hr 30 mins. Sleep in Wiltshire.

DAY SEVEN (Departure Day) Departure brunch. After an amazing 6 days together, it is time to leave. You will depart the hotel for the rail station in Frome.

Extension Trip: Ask about the ability to extend your trip to visit Bath and/or Stonehenge and Avebury.