Welcome to the ‘The Historic Houses & Heritage of Dorset’ tour. You can view full details of this tour, share this tour with others, pay your final balance before departure and, once you have departed on your holiday, share your group photos and write reviews.
Itinerary
Day 1
We depart by private executive coach from our designated pick up points. En route to our hotel we visit Salisbury Cathedral for a guided tour, a beautiful historic building, an international symbol of Christianity and a world class heritage attraction. On arrival in Bournemouth we check in at the centrally located 4* Hermitage Hotel for a three night stay on a half board basis.
Day 2
This morning we enjoy a guided tour at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, founded by Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes on Bournemouth's East Cliff at the turn of the twentieth century. The Russell-Cotes is a rare survivor as the residence of a Victorian private collector, which was purpose-designed and perpetuated as a permanent art museum. As a result, our collection of mainly nineteenth and early twentieth-century paintings can be viewed within their original context of sumptuous period interiors. The distinctive tastes and personalities of Sir Merton and Lady Russell- Cotes are still very much preserved within the collection, and the collection ranges from work reflecting the typical taste of the middleclass Victorian art collector through to paintings given by the War Artists Advisory Committee. This afternoon we visit Athelhampton House and Gardens. Athelhampton is one of the finest 15th century manor houses in Britain, and is surrounded by a Grade I Listed garden, dating from 1891. The walled gardens include the world famous topiary pyramids and collections of tulips, roses, magnolias, clematis and lilies.
Day 3
On arrival in Poole with our Blue Badge guide this morning we take an included boat excursion to the National Trust’s Brownsea Island. The island sits in the middle of Poole harbour, with dramatic views to the Purbeck Hills and home to thriving natural habitats. The island was also the birthplace of the Scouting and Guiding movement. We visit the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy this afternoon. Home of the Bankes family for more than 300 years, this striking 17th century house is noted for its lavish interiors. The outstanding art collection includes paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Tintoretto, as well as the largest private collection of Egyptian artefacts in the UK.
Day 4
After checking out of our hotel and before returning home we visit the National Trust’s Hinton Ampner in Hampshire, an elegant country house with an outstanding collection of furniture, paintings and objets d’art. After a fire in 1960, the house was extensively remodelled by Ralph Dutton, 8th and last Lord Sherborne, who also recreated the garden, widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century garden design. Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we return back to our original pick up points.
NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Price based on twin share. Minimum numbers required. Normal booking conditions apply.
Featuring
4* hotel
Half board accommodation
All excursion travel & guided tours included
Entrance fees to non-National Trust properties included
Included boat excursion on Day 3
Blue Badge guide on Day 3
Executive coach throughout
Salisbury Cathedral – guided tour
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum – guided tour
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Boat excursion to Brownsea Island
Kingston Lacy
Hinton Ampner
Hotel
We stay three nights at the centrally located 4* Hermitage Hotel (www.hermitage-hotel.co.uk) in Bournemouth. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, and a bar. All of our allocated Classic Inland Facing Rooms are ensuite and feature a hairdryer, television, and tea & coffee making facilities. A set 3 course dinner will be served on the first evening, and a choice 3 course dinner will be served on the remaining two nights.
A limited number of twin or double Sea View Rooms are available at a supplement of £75 per person, and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Extras
Insurance (including Covid cover) £38
Single room supplement £45
Sea View Room supplement £75 per person (twin/double rooms only)
Entrance fees to National Trust properties (free to NT members)
Gratuities
Lunches
Optional Excursions
All excursions, entrance fees & guided tours included
