Herefordshire's Black & White Trail, Oxford & the Cotswolds

From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.

After breakfast, we head to Hereford, the charming county town of Herefordshire, nestled on the banks of the River Wye. Famous landmarks include the Old House, a Jacobean timber-framed building, and the spectacular Hereford Cathedral, which houses the famous Mappa Mundi, the largest surviving medieval map of the world and adorned with over 500 drawings of cities, towns, Biblical happenings, plants, people, animals and more, offering a remarkable window to the 13^th century.

We then take a scenic drive in the Wye Valley and follow the Black and White Trail, where the medieval timber-framed architecture offers lovely symbols of this region’s past. The trail begins in the historic market town of Leominster, particularly famous for its beautiful black-and-white timber-framed buildings and the Priory Church, which dates back to the 7^th century. After some time here, we then continue with a guide, taking in the trail highlights of Dilwyn, Weobley, Sarnesfield, Eardisley, Kington and Lyonshall.

Full Day

Our day of sightseeing begins with the delightful market town of Tewkesbury, with origins spanning back to Saxon times. There’s time to look around the abbey, with its stunning Norman architecture, intricate stained glass and one of England's largest surviving medieval towers, and wander the narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, Tudor buildings and independent shops. There are some charming riverside walks and fascinating museums on offer too, or to continue a tradition that dates back to the 16^th century, why not head to Tewkesbury Mustard? The local artisan product was once famous throughout the country and was even mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry IV!

We continue to Broadway. Often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', this picturesque village is known for its charming streets lined with honey-coloured stone buildings, boutique shops and art galleries. It's the perfect place to treat yourself to a cream tea if you so wish, either in a little café or luxurious hotel such as The Lygon Arms. On the way back to the hotel, sit back and soak up the rolling Cotswold scenery as we pass through towns such as Northleach and Stow-on-the-Wold.

Full Day

We enjoy time at leisure in Oxford. This beautiful 'City of Dreaming Spires' has plenty to offer, with many historic university buildings to see, including the famous Bodleian Libraries, and postcard-perfect scenes of students and visitors punting on the river. Oxford also has a wide variety of shops, from High Street stores to quaint individual boutiques and bookshops, peppered with plenty of restaurants, cosy tearooms and olde worlde taverns. The city’s literary connections include J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Oscar Wilde and it also provided inspiration for some of the sets in the Harry Potter films and Inspector Morse TV series.

Half Day

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.