Arrive at Bournemouth Airport and collect hire car.
Drive west along the coast to Poole, with a
bustling Quay, great beach and stunning natural harbour,
spend the morning here and visit one of pottery’s
oldest and most renowned manufacturers, Poole
Pottery.
Continue around the coast now towards the Isle
of Purbeck, actually a peninsular although gives the
feeling of an island, Swanage is the main resort
and has a wonderful heritage centre, railway and
tithe barn. Further along the coast take time to
stop at beautiful Lulworth Cove and walk along the
cliffs to view Durdle Door a natural arch cut through
by the sea. Return to Lulworth for lunch before heading
east again to the resort of Weymouth, with an award
winning beach this is a great place to spend the
afternoon, wandering around it's heritage heartland
where historical buildings, a restored Victorian
Fort, pubs, restaurants, visitor attractions and
museums merge with the new town centre shopping complex.
Overnight Weymouth.
Start the day with a visit to Abbotsbury Swannery,
for over 600 years this colony of friendly mute swans
has made its home at the Abbotsbury Sanctuary. Sheltered
by the famous Chesil Beach, this ancient and special
site provides protection for hundreds of nesting swans
and their broods. Venture into the town of Abbotsbury
And then onto the Sub Tropical Gardens a magnificent
20 acre garden filled with rare and exotic plants from
all over the world. Travel now to Dorchester,
or Casterbridge as it is known in Thomas Hardy’s
novels, with its18th century houses and alleyways.
Thomas Hardy enthusiasts can visit his birthplace at
nearby Higher
Bockhampton or the house he designed for himself, Max
Gate, where he ended his days. After a quick lunch,
now head north, traveling through Blandford Forum and
onto Shaftesbury, it’s cobbled Gold
Hill made
famous as a result of the Hovis adverts. From here,
continue your journey north and stop in Bradford-on-Avon,
being sure to take in the famous chalk White Horses of Wiltshire along the way.
Huddled beside the river, the buildings of this former
cloth-weaving town reflect continuing prosperity from
Middle Ages. Stop for afternoon tea sat by the river
and then drive to Devizes for your overnight stay.
Time to explore Devizes this morning. This market
town enjoys a rich heritage of Georgian houses and
includes a castle. More can be found out about the
early history of the town in an interactive exhibition
at Devizes Visitor Centre. Discover more about the
myth and mystery of the area now in the world heritage
site of Avebury where its mysterious standing stones
have attracted visitors for years. Silbury Hill is
also in this area and is one of the most enigmatic
monuments in the Wiltshire landscape it is also the
largest prehistoric mound in Europe. However, despite
more than two centuries of investigation, its purpose
still remains a mystery.
Continue now to Stonehenge, one of the most
famous landmarks in Britain this Make time to explore
the extensive prehistoric landscape. Stonehenge is
surrounded by mysterious remains of ceremonial and
domestic structures, some older than the monument itself
and many accessible by road or footpath. Continue on
now to Salisbury which
possesses a Cathedral with the tallest spire in England,
the world's oldest working clock and one of the four
surviving copies of the Magna Carta. Spend the afternoon
and evening here.
Overnight Salisbury.
Stop first this morning in Christchurch. This tranquil
town has an enviable location situated at the confluence
of the Rivers Stour and Avon along with a beautiful
natural harbour. The Convent Walk is a tranquil walk
that follows the course of the Mill Stream, as it runs
parallel to the River Avon, from Town Bridge to
Place Mill on Christchurch Quay. Sit and relax by the riverside
and watch the numerous ducks and swans which congregate
on the water. If time why not take the Town Crier's
Historic Town Centre Walk during the summer months,
a fascinating insight into the town and its history.
Visit the information centre for more details.
A short drive away is Bournemouth, spend the
rest of the day here before departure. Bournemouth
boasts 7 miles of sandy beaches, great shops, restaurants
and nightlife. Visit the Oceanarium on the seafront
or take a trip in the Bournemouth Eye - this
tethered balloon has flights every day from the beautiful
Lower Gardens in central Bournemouth. It will take
you 500ft where you'll experience amazing panoramic
views over the English Channel and surrounding countryside.
Walk along the old pier and just enjoy the atmosphere
of this coastal resort. Spend the evening in Bournemouth
enjoying the lively nightlife.
Overnight Bournemouth
Drive to airport to drop of hire car for return flight.
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AREA
MAP: - Click to enlarge |
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Poole
Harbour,
Dorset |
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Durdle
Door, Dorset |
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Hardy's
birthplace, Higher Bockhampton |
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Stonehenge,
Wiltshire |
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