BEATRIX POTTER in SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND

HOLIDAY TOUR - 8-16 JULY 2008

This eight day holiday tour is based in the far south-west of England, in the counties of Cornwall and Devon, ending in Ambleside for the Thirteenth International Study Conference. We will discover, or re-visit, many places important to Beatrix Potter or having connections with her, as well as enjoying some of the scenic and historic attractions of this area. This year we are offering a new way of booking the Tour. Reservations can be made either for the whole eight days (plus the one night in Ambleside) or for just the four nights in Sidmouth, Devon (plus the night in Ambleside). The Potter family holidayed in Cornwall and Devon on several occasions and Beatrix wrote about these trips in her Journal, as well as making numerous drawings and sending picture letters to friends from there.

Teignmouth by Beatrix Potter

HOTELS and ARRIVAL

Our first hotel, Penmorvah Manor Hotel (www.penmorvahmanor.co.uk) is on Budock Water just outside Falmouth in south Cornwall. The hotel is set in six acres of gardens and woodland close to Penjerrick Gardens. We will meet at the hotel in time for a welcome reception and dinner on Tuesday 8 July. Truro railway station is eleven miles away with regular services from London (Paddington) taking about four hours. The nearest airport is at Newquay, 30 miles away, with flights from London (Gatwick). We will meet you at the railway station or airport during the afternoon - details will be arranged later.

In Sidmouth we will stay at the historic Woodlands Hotel (www.woodlands-hotel.com): a house stood on this site in the thirteenth century and the current building incorporates sixteenth century elements. Interiors are interesting and the rooms are a variety of styles and sizes. There is a pretty garden and the hotel is an easy walk from the seafront and town centre. If you are joining the Tour group at Sidmouth, we suggest you travel by train to Exeter (frequent services from London Paddington take about two hours) from where we will arrange transport during the afternoon of Saturday 12 July.

At both hotels all bedrooms have en-suite facilities. Please indicate on the booking form if you prefer a ground floor room.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Tuesday 8 July - We will start the holiday with a reception before dinner at the Penmorvah Manor.

Wednesday 9 – Friday 11 July - We will make two longer and one shorter day tours by luxury small coach over the three days. On the first day we plan to visit adjacent Penjerrick Gardens, which Beatrix wrote about in her Journal. We will continue the Potter trail into Falmouth itself, where the Potters spent several holidays and from where Beatrix wrote the ‘Pig Robinson’ letter, visit Pendennis Castle and then take the ferry to St Mawes and follow in Beatrix’s footsteps on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula.

A longer trip will take us to Land’s End – the most westerly point in England – as well as to Porthcurno with its famous cliff top theatre and St Ives where we will be able to enjoy the art galleries and many craft shops.

The scenic splendour of the Lizard Peninsula, the most southerly headland in England with many bays and pretty fishing villages, will make our third day out - Beatrix commented on the local Serpentine rock.

Pendennis Castle (English Heritage)

A House at Sidmouth by Beatrix Potter
© F. Warne & Co.
courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum

Saturday 12 July - We will make our way across Cornwall and into Devon to arrive at Sidmouth in the late afternoon. It will be a fairly long but very scenic drive and we will make stops at appropriate places, including a lunch stop at Cotehele - a lovely medieval manor house, now owned by the National Trust, on the Devon border – before crossing Dartmoor and reaching the softer scenery of south-east Devon.

In the evening we will have a reception before dinner to welcome those joining us at Sidmouth.

Sunday 13 – Tuesday 15 July - again, we will have one fairly local day and two longer day tours. On the first day we will explore Sidmouth itself and visit Lyme Regis – a very attractive seaside town and another holiday haunt of Beatrix Potter.

We will continue the Potter trail to Teignmouth and Exeter and then travel north to Torrington to make a special visit to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Rosemoor where they will be holding a Beatrix Potter exhibition.

Our final day will follow the Potter trail east into Dorset to visit Abbotsbury, an ancient village with the Swannery where Beatrix drew the duck decoy, Weymouth and maybe even to Corfe Castle, photographed by Rupert Potter in 1896.

Foxgloves at Rosemoor

Wednesday 16 July - We will leave Sidmouth by coach for the short journey to Exeter railway station from where we will take a train direct to Oxenholme (Lake District), changing to the branch line for the 20-minute ride to Windermere. A coach will meet us for the drive to Ambleside where overnight accommodation will be provided in the university ready for the Conference. You will be free to explore Ambleside and find your own evening meal. Breakfast will be provided in the university on the Thursday morning.

Please note that as this programme goes to print many months in advance of the event itself, it may prove necessary to make minor adjustments. At both the hotels single rooms are at a premium, so please try to book with a friend with whom you can share a room. In Ambleside you will be given the type of room on your Conference booking.

Places on the Tour will be limited to a maximum of 30 and will be offered first to Beatrix Potter Society Members and those also booking the Conference. The first four days of the Tour, in Cornwall, can only be booked with the Devon element.

The cost includes breakfast and dinner in the hotels in Falmouth and Sidmouth, but we have only included lunch on a few days, to allow for more flexibility and personal preference.

Fees Fees kept under 2006 level	Full Tour	Devon only
	4 nights Cornwall, 4 nights Devon, 1 night Ambleside	4 nights Devon, 1 night Ambleside
Per person in double or twin room	£835	£420
Per person in single room	£960	£445

If you have any questions please contact:-
Jenny Akester - beatrixpottersociety@tiscali.co.uk
The Lodge, Salisbury Avenue, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2PS (UK) Tel. 01582 769755