TOURS PROGRAMME 2014 M AY – S E P T E M B E R
Welcome Day Tours Ltd is a family business established by husband and wife team Tristan and Hannah Harris. We offer day tours exclusively for cruise ship passengers as part of their shore excursion activities.
Born and raised in Cornwall, we know the area intimately and, more importantly, we are passionate about the county and the South West region. We truly believe that Cornwall and Devon have a history and beauty unrivalled by any other location in the world. As such we have made it our mission to offer a unique visitor experience that will surprise, delight and inspire you. We work closely with local visitor attractions, harbour masters, businesses and historians to ensure
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that we take you to the very best locations and share with you the most interesting stories along the way. Our knowledge of the area, coupled with our network of partners means we are able to offer well planned, alternative itineraries for the perfect day tour. Make Cornwall and Devon your next port of call and let Day Tours Ltd do the rest. You will be amazed by what the area has to offer and will leave feeling as passionate about the region as we are.
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Falmouth Tours
Falmouth has the world’s third largest deep-water harbour and welcomes hundreds of vessels every year from Tall Ships to cruise liners. The estuary itself is flanked by two imposing castles, Pendennis Castle and St Mawes Castle which once served as a defence and protection for the area. The town of Falmouth was created around 1613 with the docks as they are today opening in 1861. The harbour has been the landing and launching point for many an important historical event such as the arrival of news that Britain was victorious in the battle of Trafalgar but that Admiral Nelson had lost his
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Falmouth introduced the first Royal Mail Packet Service in 1698 making it the communications centre of the British Empire at the time.
life, and the departure of Commando Raids in WW2 which led to the sinking of the Bismarck. Today Falmouth is a lively town offering something for everyone from history, to art and culture,to literature and food and music festivals.
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Lizard Peninsula The Lizard Peninsula is a destination like no other and is truly breathtaking. Making our way through the rural Cornish landscape we arrive at the Lizard. We take a short walk from the centre of the village along the coast path to the Lizard Point, the most Southerly point in the UK. From here you can see the rugged coastline and appreciate the power of nature. The Lizard Lighthouse has played an important role in warning off ships from the deadly shores and is an imposing sight. The village has much to offer by way of local cuisine and, combined with the unique gift shops provides the perfect lunch stop.
Cornish Experience Situated above the cove is the Marconi centre from where the first transatlantic radio signal was sent, changing global communications forever. We follow a scenic route back to Falmouth with time to wander through the lively town before returning to the ship.
Enjoy a journey along the magical Cornish coast from Falmouth to Lands End and St Ives. Our first stop if the tranquil fishing village of Porthleven to admire the harbour views and craft shops. We continue along the South Coast to one of Cornwall’s finest hidden gems, the Minack Theatre. Here you will marvel at the open air theatre carved by hand into the cliff face. The seascape continues to take your breath away as we arrive at Lands End, perched on the very tip of the rugged Cornish cliffs.
views of the sea and a glimpse into the significant mining industry which changed the landscape forever. We hug the coastline all the way to the quaint town of St Ives for a lunch stop. This small town is full of arts and culture, offering an abundance of galleries and restaurants. After lunch we make our way to the village of Marazion for panoramic views of St Michaels Mount and Mounts Bay. We return to Falmouth with time to wander through the lively town centre before returning to the ship.
Following the coastline we stop off at Levant Tin Mine for uninterrupted
Travelling along the South Coast our next stop is the beautiful Mullion harbour. This small harbour is all but deserted now but serves as a reminder of the once thriving fishing industry in Cornwall. There is just time for a visit to the Mullion Chocolate Factory and Craft Centre before navigating the undulating road to Poldhu Cove. This offers a calm and sheltered alternative to the Lizard and shows just how diverse the Cornish coast can be.
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Fowey Tours
The town of Fowey is situated at the mouth of the River Fowey. The natural depth of the harbour, coupled with the close proximity to rail links made Fowey a perfect choice for commercial shipping activity. To this day the harbour has an active commercial industry in association with the china clay works and operates a towage system to assist vessels in navigating the estuary.
comfortably alongside each other, lining the Esplanade. Amongst other things the town is synonymous with the author Daphne du Maurier who had her home there and from where she took inspiration for many of her books.
Kenneth Grahame, author of ‘The Wind in the Willows’, was a regular visitor to Cornwall and is said to have been inspired to right the first chapter of the book whilst on a Fowey river cruise.
The narrow streets of the town are bursting with maritime history. Medieval and georgian buildings sit
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Rosamunde Pilcher
Kings and Coves
This specialist tour follows the trail of Rosamunde Pilcher, visiting locations which inspired the author and featured in the TV series.
village of Padstow, which provides our lunch stop for the tour. You will have ample time to take in the scenery and sample the impressive local food.
Cornwall is awash with myths and legends but no other has survived the ages like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Our final stop for the day is Pencarrow House, used in the filming of ‘The Red Dress’ and ‘The Weekend’. This Georgian property holds a prominent position in the landscape and boasts an exquisite collection of paintings and stunning gardens.
The remote village of Tintagel is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, reputed to be a legendary leader who defended Britain against the invading Saxons.
The first stop is the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. You will be transported back to the 1950 with this fully operational steam locomotive. The branch lines were essential for connecting the rural Cornish locations when the railways were first opened and this beautiful example will fill you with nostalgia. We continue across the county to the Elizabethan Manor, Prideaux Place. This magnificent house has remained in the Prideaux family since the 16th Century and has been lovingly restored and maintained. The house and gardens provided the perfect location for the filming of ‘Coming Home’. Prideaux Place overlooks the fishing
We return to Fowey with time to wander through the town before returning to the ship.
Continuing our journey we reach the village of Padstow. Famous for high quality food, clear seas and golden sand beaches you will be spoilt for choice when deciding what to explore first. Our tour concludes in Fowey with time to wander through the town before returning to the ship.
The ruins of Tintagel Castle are perched on the cliffs of North Cornwall, looking out over the rough Atlantic seas. You will be enchanted by the views and immersed in the mystical atmosphere created by this unique attraction. Venturing into the town we visit King Arthur’s Great Halls, home to the famous round table. This is reputedly where King Arthur held court with his ‘Knights of the Round Table’ and with the magnificent stain glass windows you will be awe inspired. A short drive along the coast and we arrive in the small fishing village of Port Issac. The village plays host to the popular TV series Doc Martin with which it has become synonymous. We will stop here for lunch offering time to sample the local food and admire the beautiful scenery.
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Dartmouth Tours
Situated on the western banks of the River Dart, Dartmouth is an historic town within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The patchwork of narrow streets are crammed with interesting architecture and boutique shops and cafes. The town and port have played an important role in significant maritime events of the past. The Pilgrim Fathers took shelter in the port before continuing their journey to America. Ships were also launched from Dartmouth to bolster the British defence in the Spanish Armada.
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Dartmouth was once the home of the Royal Navy and to this day plays an important role in training officers through the world renowned Britannia Royal Naval College. Notable residents including Thomas Newcomen, Agatha Christie and Christopher Robin Milne have all been drawn to the beauty of the River Dart and highlights its power to inspire.
Dartmouth is home to the worlds oldest working steam engine, designed by locally born ironmonger, Thomas Newcomen.
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Shoreline Experience
A Taste of Literature
Departing Dartmouth we arrive at Slapton Ley, the largest natural lake in the South West. We take a spectacular drive along the shingle bar which separates the freshwater from the sea and Slapton Sands.
We leave Dartmouth via the ferry, crossing the River Dart to Kingswear. A short drive and we arrive in the fishing village of Brixham. This picturesque town has built itself around the harbour and still boasts a thriving fishing industry today, with a world class fish market.
quintessential picture postcard, with coloured beach huts lining the pier.
The tour continues to Greenways, the home of famous author Agatha Christie. Immerse yourself in the world of literature as you amble through the fascinating house and atmospheric gardens. The property is now in the care of the National Trust and offers a magical experience.
For the second time we venture to the edge of the river Dart and Sharpham Vineyard nestled on its banks. This beautiful vineyard produces spectacular wines and cheeses, you won’t leave empty handed.
Continuing along the coast we wind our way to the very end of the headland to Start Point Lighthouse. For more than 150 years the lighthouse has been guiding vessels and its location provides unrivalled views of the South Coastline. The market town of Totnes provides the perfect stop for lunch. Situated in the heart of South Devon, Totnes boasts a wealth of boutique shops, cultural venues and cosy cafes.
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Fully refreshed the tour continues to Royal Britannia Naval College, Dartmouth. A private tour of the military college provides a unique, behind the scenes look at the education programmes and facilities used to train international officers. The immense and magnificent building has stood in Dartmouth since 1863 and represents the significance and history of the town. There will be time to amble through the streets of Dartmouth, exploring the shops and galleries before returning to the ship.
From this secluded location we travel to the coast and the seaside towns of Paignton and Torquay. Known as the English Riviera this location is the
The market town of Totnes provides the perfect stop for lunch. Situated in the heart of South Devon, Totnes boasts a wealth of boutique shops, cultural venues and cosy cafes.
There will be time to amble through the streets of Dartmouth, exploring the shops and galleries before returning to the ship.
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Information
Partnerships
Working with us
As a member of Destination South West we have built strong working relationships with harbours and harbour masters. As such we have worked closely with these organisations and individuals to develop a tour package that meets the needs of visitors and highlights the unique attractions of each location. For the 2014 season we have shaped a tour offer for cruise ship sarriving into Falmouth, Fowey and Dartmouth.
We welcome the opportunity to work with shore excursion companies, cruise ship teams and travel agents. We are happy to liaise with you to adapt the tours and develop a package that meets the needs of your passengers and clients.
How we operate
Important Information
Working in partnership with the harbours we have designed a range of unique and inspiring tours specifically for cruise ship passengers. As a small, family business we are able to adapt these tour suggestions to co-ordinate with cruise ship itineraries and to tailor our offer to the specific needs and interests of passengers.
It is important to us that we are able to offer a personalised, bespoke tour to unusual and alternative locations. As such we operate a small coach with a maximum capacity of 25 passengers.
At Day Tours Ltd we take full responsibility for the tour, from planning the itinerary to driving the coach and guide commentary. This means that we offer a full service from start to finish, with one point of contact, thus removing the hassle for you. Our local knowledge and network of partners means we are well connected and can meet all your shore excursion needs.
We are able to deliver one-off tours and to establish longer term working partnerships.
All bookings along with payment must be made in advance and at least two weeks before the tour date. Each tour requires a minimum of 15 passengers. Prices for the tours vary depending on the activities and locations involved. Our baseline price for tours is ÂŁ45 per person plus entrances fees as appropriate. This price is inclusive of the coach, driver and guide. Lunch is not included in the price but can be arranged if required. We require all partners to sign a Partnership Contract outlining our full terms and conditions as part of a formal agreement.
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daytours.co.uk info@daytours.co.uk 07849 378 830