Help w/4 Day Itinerary in the West Country
Apr 5th, 2004, 07:36 AM
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Help w/4 Day Itinerary in the West Country
I am renting a car at Heathrow on a Sunday morning and have 4 days in the West Country, returning the car on Wednesday evening for a Thursday flight out of Heathrow.
Areas of interest, with time permitting are:
Castle Combe, Corsham, Lacock and Wells, before heading to Exmoor, including Dunster, Selworth, Porlock, Lynmouth/Lynton and would love to make it to Clovelly, if possible.
I need assistance in planning a route:
- Do I have time to see all areas in 4 days?
- Where would you recommend as a home base?
- What areas to visit Day 1, Day 2, etc.,
and where should I be on Day 4 to arrive
at Heathrow early evening?
Thank you so much for assistance!
Areas of interest, with time permitting are:
Castle Combe, Corsham, Lacock and Wells, before heading to Exmoor, including Dunster, Selworth, Porlock, Lynmouth/Lynton and would love to make it to Clovelly, if possible.
I need assistance in planning a route:
- Do I have time to see all areas in 4 days?
- Where would you recommend as a home base?
- What areas to visit Day 1, Day 2, etc.,
and where should I be on Day 4 to arrive
at Heathrow early evening?
Thank you so much for assistance!
Apr 5th, 2004, 03:26 PM
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While your itinerary is not impossible it will certainly be difficult.
I'll assume you will be arriving on one of the early morning flights, but by the time you get through passport control, pick up your luggage and rental car a good part of the day is gone.
Castle Combe, Corsham, Lacock and Wells are all within a reasonable distance of each other but getting to and visiting these sights alone will probably take at least a day and a half. That doesn't leave much time to travel to Dunster/Lynton... The distances aren't necessarily that far, but travel time can be very slow.
If Exmoor area is a must, you should probably spend Tuesday night somewhere along the A39( Dunster?) and catch the M5/M4 toward LHR early Wednesday afternoon.
The Sign of the Angel in Lacock is a 14th century inn, and Lacock is a National Trust village. A great place to stay.
Best advice is to check travel times via the Michelin or other websites.
Good Luck and have a great trip.
I'll assume you will be arriving on one of the early morning flights, but by the time you get through passport control, pick up your luggage and rental car a good part of the day is gone.
Castle Combe, Corsham, Lacock and Wells are all within a reasonable distance of each other but getting to and visiting these sights alone will probably take at least a day and a half. That doesn't leave much time to travel to Dunster/Lynton... The distances aren't necessarily that far, but travel time can be very slow.
If Exmoor area is a must, you should probably spend Tuesday night somewhere along the A39( Dunster?) and catch the M5/M4 toward LHR early Wednesday afternoon.
The Sign of the Angel in Lacock is a 14th century inn, and Lacock is a National Trust village. A great place to stay.
Best advice is to check travel times via the Michelin or other websites.
Good Luck and have a great trip.
Apr 5th, 2004, 05:53 PM
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Historytraveler - Thank you so much for your response. My original plan was to spend an extra day in London on Saturday and depart to the West country
on Sunday but now I am rethinking the plan and may spend 5 days out. I am hoping this will make the trip to Exmoor a little more doable. Or, with such a limited amt of time, perhaps I should spend most of my time near Wells, Castle Combe, etc. to see more of this area and not bother with Exmoor this visit. Your recommendations are greatly appreciated.
on Sunday but now I am rethinking the plan and may spend 5 days out. I am hoping this will make the trip to Exmoor a little more doable. Or, with such a limited amt of time, perhaps I should spend most of my time near Wells, Castle Combe, etc. to see more of this area and not bother with Exmoor this visit. Your recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Apr 5th, 2004, 09:31 PM
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I've been looking at my map and with your mention of picking up a rental at LHR Sunday morning, I have the following suggestions.
Assuming you have a relative early start, you can head west on the M4 toward Castle Combe. I believe you want exit # 17. From there you can do Corsham and Lacock Abbey.
The next morning, head for Wells and then onto Dunster. It's probably best to stay in Dunster. On Tuesday drive on to Lynton (stopping at Porlock and Selworthy).Clovelly may be too far, but you can decide that after you get to Lynton. On Wedneday visit Dunster and then head back to LHR via M5/4. Or with an early start you might try to go through Glastonbury before heading up to Chippenham and the M4.
If you have time stop at Cleeve Abbey, about six miles east of Dunster. Once you've made the trip west, you'll have a better idea of just how long it'll take to get back to LHR. With another early start you may even have time for an additional stop.
Prediciting traffic is always a long shot, but unless there are some real problems, this may actually be doable.
As noted in my previous post, the A39 along with similar roads can be slow going.
Still recommend the Sign of the Angel in Lacock and in Dunster, the Luttrell Arms ( part 15th C inn) sounds nice.
Assuming you have a relative early start, you can head west on the M4 toward Castle Combe. I believe you want exit # 17. From there you can do Corsham and Lacock Abbey.
The next morning, head for Wells and then onto Dunster. It's probably best to stay in Dunster. On Tuesday drive on to Lynton (stopping at Porlock and Selworthy).Clovelly may be too far, but you can decide that after you get to Lynton. On Wedneday visit Dunster and then head back to LHR via M5/4. Or with an early start you might try to go through Glastonbury before heading up to Chippenham and the M4.
If you have time stop at Cleeve Abbey, about six miles east of Dunster. Once you've made the trip west, you'll have a better idea of just how long it'll take to get back to LHR. With another early start you may even have time for an additional stop.
Prediciting traffic is always a long shot, but unless there are some real problems, this may actually be doable.
As noted in my previous post, the A39 along with similar roads can be slow going.
Still recommend the Sign of the Angel in Lacock and in Dunster, the Luttrell Arms ( part 15th C inn) sounds nice.
Apr 6th, 2004, 04:51 AM
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I offer the following opinions:
Bath should be considered.
Given a choice, and if time is an issue, I would select Castle Combe over Corsham and Lacock.
Wells, both town and cathedral, is a gem and worth at least half a day.
Glastonbury Abbey, not town, is interesting.
Dunster is beautiful, town and castle, but I didn't find Porlock or Selworthy of much note.
Lynton was a disappointment but the clifftop hike between Woody Bay and Hunter's Inn was not.
Exmoor Park is a clear second to Dartmoor Park, and I don't think you should include it here.
Clovelly is outstanding, but regrettably it's too far I think.
To visit all the above (and others as well) over 10 days, we based here:
http://www.winsors-farm.co.uk/
I think you could have a very enjoyable time - and driving less - by staying in the Wells/Bath area. There are numerous other Trust properties and gardens nearby as well. As is always the case in GB, weather could play a factor - a rainy day or two could spoil your enjoyment and thereby affect your plans.
Bath should be considered.
Given a choice, and if time is an issue, I would select Castle Combe over Corsham and Lacock.
Wells, both town and cathedral, is a gem and worth at least half a day.
Glastonbury Abbey, not town, is interesting.
Dunster is beautiful, town and castle, but I didn't find Porlock or Selworthy of much note.
Lynton was a disappointment but the clifftop hike between Woody Bay and Hunter's Inn was not.
Exmoor Park is a clear second to Dartmoor Park, and I don't think you should include it here.
Clovelly is outstanding, but regrettably it's too far I think.
To visit all the above (and others as well) over 10 days, we based here:
http://www.winsors-farm.co.uk/
I think you could have a very enjoyable time - and driving less - by staying in the Wells/Bath area. There are numerous other Trust properties and gardens nearby as well. As is always the case in GB, weather could play a factor - a rainy day or two could spoil your enjoyment and thereby affect your plans.
Apr 6th, 2004, 10:59 AM
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I'm back! Glad to get some feedback from TuckH as he covered some areas I wasn't familar with ( Dunster,Selworthy and Porlock). However, I certainly think Lacock is worth a visit.
There is certainly a lot of sights to visit in the Bath/Castle Combe area. Wells is actaully one of my favorite places and easy to get to from Lacock,Castle Combe or Bath.
I think it comes down to how much driving you really want to do. Perhaps the Bath area would be just as intersting and less tiring.
I hope you have a wonderful trip!
There is certainly a lot of sights to visit in the Bath/Castle Combe area. Wells is actaully one of my favorite places and easy to get to from Lacock,Castle Combe or Bath.
I think it comes down to how much driving you really want to do. Perhaps the Bath area would be just as intersting and less tiring.
I hope you have a wonderful trip!
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