7 Night, Set Itinerary – Walking/Hiking

Welcome! We’ll collect you from the airport or from your London hotel; no matter the time, we will be there waiting for you. Nathan is your dedicated chauffeur throughout your vacation with us.

Begin the relaxing journey to Well Cottage with a refreshing glass of champagne and a selection of canapes – what better way to start your luxurious vacation?!

Settle in to the cottage with a lovely cup of tea (or something a little stronger), unpack and relax – sit in the garden serenaded by birds, or go out to stretch your legs on a short walk.

Work up an appetite and look forward to your first delicious evening meal prepared by your very own personal chef, Laura.

Let’s start your walking week in an area we’re so lucky to call our ‘local walk’. You will be walking on the Cranborne Chase – protected as an ‘Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.

Thomas Hardy came to this area as a boy with his parents on their holidays. A lot of it, including the nearby Saxon town of Shaftesbury, can be referenced in his novels. (We can even arrange a visit to the birthplace of this great novelist!)

Various distance options are available, from as little as 1 mile all the way up to about 10 miles. You can start and finish at the cottage or be dropped off or collected. All walks are flexible and Nathan will be on hand to drive you to where you need to be, wait for you or collect you at an agreed time.  He’ll even deliver a delicious packed lunch if you don’t want to carry provisions with you, or you can use backpacks provided. Or simply stop off at a pub while out on your rambles!

Come home to a tumbler of whisky in front of a crackling fire, play some board games or chill out with a good book – Tess of the d’Urbervilles, perhaps?

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll make the short trip to the enchanting Stourhead House & Gardens. This is a huge estate spanning 2,650 acres over chalk downs, ancient woodland and farmland which is now owned by the National Trust.

There is a wonderful walk where you can begin at the house and then head up to King Alfred’s Tower, passing the source of the river Stour on the way before finishing at the magnificent gardens.

If you still have the legs and/or the energy, you can circumnavigate the lake but if you don’t – how about a refreshing drink in a traditional English pub instead – The Spread Eagle Inn.

You can start off the day with your complimentary spa treatment after breakfast before heading out and about.

A well deserved rest to either relax at the cottage and get stuck into a book, or how about venturing off out to one of our set itinerary excursions like Stonehenge, Sherborne or the cities of Bath or Wells.

If you do want to continue hiking, we have an abundance of gorgeous public footpaths in the area. We would recommend somewhere like Ashmore Woods or Win Green on the Cranborne Chase. The landscape is simply breathtaking!

A spectacular day awaits as we head for this world-famous, 185-million-year-old coastline. The Jurassic Coast is the first natural World Heritage site in the UK. Today, you will be walking on the south west coastal path. This is England’s longest marked trail, stretching for 630 miles from north Somerset all the way around Land’s end and then up the south coast all the way to Poole in Dorset.

You can literally walk as little or as much as you would like today (and every day). Remember, Nathan will always be available to fetch and carry at your whim! Expect to hike up over headlands and down to sea level multiple times.

There are pubs en route and Nathan can also meet you for lunch. You can choose to amble out and back on your own steam, or take a linear route where Nathan drops you off at point A and picks you up at point B. Tip: Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast, makes for a spectacular target!

After yesterday’s rolling headlands and beaches, another well deserved break for the legs may be in order… But of course if you still want to get out and explore, we have plenty of suggestions for you!

Like day 4, the Cranborne Chase offers unlimited hiking opportunities. Or how about something like Hambledon Hill, which is an Iron Age hill fort just a few miles south of the cottage where you can enjoy stunning 360 degree views from the top.

If you want to take a break from your hiking boots, you can visit somewhere local like our Saxon town of Shaftesbury, or Old Wardour Castle.

Starting off at Studland beach, you will hike up towards Old Harry Rocks where you’ll be able to see the Isle of Wight before turning inland towards the ridgeway. The Isle of Purbeck ridgeway offers tremendous views over the area; although not actually an island, it gets its name from the low-lying land that often flooded once upon a time.

You will arrive at the pretty little village of Corfe Castle, the name taken from the atmospheric 11th century fortress ruins that overlooks the village. Built by William the Conqueror in around 1066, it was destroyed during the English civil war in the 1600’s. Many of the village buildings were constructed using stone masonry from the ruined castle.

Unfortunately, your stay with us is coming to an end and it’s time to start reminiscing about all the good times spent at Well Cottage.

It is your last breakfast with us – but don’t worry, Laura will ensure you are leaving well fed! Nathan will deliver you to your final destination safely and in good time, whether you’re heading for the airport or to a London hotel.

We will say our heartfelt goodbyes, wish you a safe onward trip and hope to host you again in the not-too-distant future!

*Please note: All excursions are subject to availability. In the event that any excursion is unavailable on any of your dates, it will be replaced with an equivalent experience.