sharon7

Hello, Fodorites. My husband and I are going to the UK in September. Our trip begins with a week's horseback trip in Wales, in the Brecon area. After that we are planning on touring southwestern Britain as follows. Comments or suggestions would be very welcome.

Brecon to Wells via a day tour of Bath. 2 nights in Wells.

Wells to Lyme Regis, 2 nights.

Lyme Regis to Devon, one night with friends.

Devon to Port Isaac, 2 nights.

Port Isaac to Dorset, 2 nights with friends.

Back to LHR via a stop at Salisbury Cathedral. Overnight at LHR hotel.

Given the dearth of American vacation time, does this plan seem too ambitious?
Advice and/or suggestions? Fodorites have helped us plan many a wonderful trip. Thanks in advance.

Nonconformist

Bath is a bit rushed imo, as there's much more to see there than in Wells. Would it be worth chnaging to staying those two nights in Bath, and doing a daytrip to Wells?

bilboburgler

All looks good, Bath city is a busy visit but with the baths out of the way and a bit of up and down the hill walking you are pretty much done so I think 2 nights is fine.

Wells is very pretty but you need to be off walking in the hills nearby to enjoy it best

Rest looks fine, are you going surfing?

annhig

hi sharon,

I agree with nonconformist that I would swap it round - stay in Bath and visit Wells.

where in Devon do your friends live? [it's a big place!}

nona1

I don't agree. Wells is well worth a whole day itself and then is a great base for exploring Cheddar Gorge or Wookey Hole (WH better IMO), Glastonbury etc. The Somerset levels have their own appeal and it's one of my fave counties.

Agazzi

Bath is beautiful but busy - plenty to see if you take in the museums and the Georgian houses which are open. Wells is small and I agree unless you are wanting to walk in the area, more time would be best spent in Bath or, my favourite, Bristol where I lived - it's very varied and unlike Bath, not touristy - Clifton is great to wander in - smart little shops and restaurants/cafes or the dock which which has a famous jazz pub and lots of bars and the Arnolfini gallery and The Watershed cafe and bar. There's a good art and music scene in Bristol. When in Cornwall, Tintagel and Boscastle are beautiful, the Roseland Peninsula too, with great coastal walks likewise in Devon - North Devon is dramatic(Linton Lynmouth are stunning, especially the walk up the river from the town in Lynmouth - wonderful, and the drive to and from Porlock). Exmoor is great though not as large and wild as Dartmoor, South Devon, and its coast is gentler but just as attractive, where I live. Beaches plentiful in the South Hams - Mothecombe, Bantham and Bigbury(where Burgh Island is reachable at high tide by a weird and wonderful tractor vehicle - Agatha Christie stayed and wrote there and the hotel is of a 1920's theme). Have a great holiday and I wish you sunshine!

sharon7

Well thanks all for the input, it seems as though our plan will not be too ambitious.

We will have a whole day in Bath, and would rather stay in Wells and explore Glastonbury and Cheddar Gorge, or Wookey Hole (thanks for that tip,nona1!).

Annhig, we are staying near Bickington in Devon.

Regarding Bath, is public parking an issue? We love to walk and intend to explore on foot, but wonder how best to leave the car when arriving in the town. We have driven in Ireland and Scotland but really more in the countryside than towns.

Bilboburgler, LOL no, no surfing for us. The horseback trip will be our big adventure and although we live on the southern California coast, neither hubby or I surf.

Thanks to all for the input, always so helpful.

annhig

Annhig, we are staying near Bickington in Devon.>>

good news! i was worried that you were going to be staying somewhere off your chosen route, but Bickington is very convenient for the places you have mentioned plus my all time favourite little place, Appledore. it's about 5 miles from Bickington, and if you go nowhere else while you are staying with your friends, go there. It's a charming village built on the hillside above the estuary with a long shipbuilding tradition, and delightful little streets - do seek out the pretty Irsha street with its colourful houses.

re parking in Bath, try to find accommodation with parking. another fodorite, Judyrem, stayed there recently, and she and her DH were so grateful that their apartment came with its own parking space.

HG001London

have always heard great stuff about this gastro pub/inn in Brecon...n

http://the-felin-fach-griffin.wales.info/

Not sure if this is doable for an evening dinner from your base but if so its supposed to be very good.

annhig

HG001 - funny your should mention that pub, it's owned by the same people who run the Gurdard's Head on the cornish promontory of the same name.

Sadly they are neither of them on the OP's route.