Itinerary

Day 1 – Thursday 2nd April 2026 

Your holiday begins with a door-to-door collection to the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross, where your Tour Managers will welcome you. Tea or coffee with pastries will be served before boarding the coach. We will stop for lunch on the outskirts of Bristol at the elegant Berwick Lodge before continuing on to Torquay, arriving late-afternoon. The Tour Managers will assist you with check-in at The Imperial Hotel, including porterage for your luggage. The day concludes with an evening meal at the hotel, giving you a chance to socialise with fellow members of the group.   

Day 2 – Friday 3rd April 2026 (Good Friday)  

Following breakfast, we set off for a scenic day out on the Steam Train & River Cruise from Paignton Station. We travel by steam train through South Devon’s countryside to Kingswear, then take the ferry to Dartmouth for a one-hour circular River Dart cruise with commentary. Along the way, spot Dartmouth and Kingswear Castles, Agatha Christie’s Greenway House, and local wildlife. Both train and ferry have some steps. After lunch in Dartmouth, we return via ferry to Kingswear for coach transfers to Coleton Fishacre. This 1920s Art Deco house, once home to the D’Oyly Carte family, is set within RHS-accredited coastal valley gardens. Some house rooms and garden paths may be steep or uneven, but seating and rest areas are available. We later return to the hotel.

Day 3 – Saturday 4th April 2026 

Today we dig into history at Kents Cavern, one of Britain’s most important prehistoric caves, once inhabited by early humans. Discover the impressive limestone chambers on an access- friendly guided tour in a well-lit environment, with ancient geology and archaeology unearthed. Please note there are some shallow steps and slopes. We have lunch in the café, then return by coach to the hotel, where you may wish to unwind with leisure time in the hotel pool or spa. Or, join our optional walking tour with a local Blue Badge Guide - a gently paced stroll with regular rest stops through the Marina into Torquay, offering local history insights and time for souvenir shopping (approx. 90 mins). The coach then returns to the hotel for free time before dinner.

Day 4 – Sunday 5th April 2026 (Easter Sunday) 

Easter Sunday begins in a spirit of reflection and renewal, with the option to attend a morning service with the Tour Managers at St. Matthias Church, admired for its beautiful architecture and welcoming atmosphere. After the service, the coach will transfer us back to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, we venture to Torre Abbey and Gardens for a guided tour (some garden paths or abbey areas may be uneven). Founded in 1196 as a Premonstratensian monastery, the abbey is one of the oldest buildings in Torquay. The site includes well-preserved medieval architecture, fascinating artefacts, and a museum showcasing local art. Its landscaped gardens provide insight into period horticulture, reflecting its evolution from a religious institution to educational landmark.  

Day 5 – Monday 6th April 2026 (Easter Monday) 

Our Blue Badge Guide leads us on a scenic Coastal Tour by coach, from the golden seafront sands of Paignton, to the charming fishing town of Brixham, with its bustling harbour. After lunch nearby, we explore the holiday home of Torquay’s most famous storyteller, Agatha Christie. At Greenway, which she called “the loveliest place on Earth,” we can wander the creamy-coloured Georgian manor, admire her grand piano, and browse literary treasures in the library. The estate’s boathouse, orchards, and gardens inspired settings in her novels, including ‘Dead Man’s Folly’. There are three steps on the ground floor, and the upper floor is accessible only by stairs. Our day concludes with a coach transfer back to the hotel, followed by a group dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Day 6 – Tuesday 7th April 2026

After breakfast, the Tour Managers will assist you with hotel check-out, including porterage for your luggage. We then board the coach to begin our journey home, enjoying a 2-course farewell lunch at the charming Chisledon House in the Wiltshire countryside. We continue to the Crowne Plaza in Gerrards Cross, our original meeting point, where refreshments will be served before your door-to-door car transfers. We hope you have a wonderful Easter!