The Cornwall Experience

We’ll offer this trip again in 2028.

The Cornwall Experience is a special, 10-night journey to one of Britain’s most captivating counties. We spend a week on the Cornish mainland before sailing to the Isles of Scilly, a cluster of scenic islands located 28 miles off the coast. This trip is one of contrasts. The Penwith Peninsula, the westernmost tip of Cornwall where we spend most of our time, is a region known for its dramatic cliffs, sweeping coastlines, and centuries-old traditions of fishing and mining. The Isles of Scilly, meanwhile, offer a striking counterpart to rugged Cornwall with their Caribbean-blue waters, subtropical gardens, and gentle rhythms of daily life.

We love Cornwall for its ability to be both familiar and surprising. It’s unmistakably British with stone cottages, sheep-dotted fields, and cozy village pubs, yet its landscape and culture set it apart. Warmed by Gulf Stream currents, it enjoys a subtropical climate that allows palm trees to thrive alongside traditional British hedgerows. Culturally, Cornwall’s remoteness has long fostered a strong sense of independence, and once even its own language. The region’s 300 miles of mostly rugged coastline have influenced a rich maritime history of fishing villages, smugglers, and shipwrecks. Inland, prehistoric stone circles, medieval churches, and the many towns named for saints add layers of mystery and wonderment. And scattered across the cliffs, the remains of tin and copper mines lend a haunting beauty to the landscape while recalling the industry that once defined Cornwall’s identity.

To showcase this beautiful region, we’ve chosen to base most of our trip on the Penwith Peninsula, the dramatic westernmost tip of Cornwall, surrounded by sea on three sides. This is Cornwall at its most striking: sweeping granite cliffs, windswept moors, and quaint fishing harbors. It’s also Cornwall at its most beautiful; Penwith is protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and recognized by UNESCO for its mining heritage, ensuring both its landscapes and history are carefully preserved. From our base in the historic harbor town of Penzance, we’ll explore not only Penwith’s ancient sites and coastal paths, but also make day trips to Cornwall’s other highlights, including the Eden Project and the the town of Falmouth, surrounded by two rivers.

St. Mary’s island

We’ve extended our normal Experience week to include three days and two nights on the enchanting Isles of Scilly, also in the county of Cornwall. The Isles of Scilly are a group of over 100 small islands approximately 28 miles off the coast, the most southwestern point in the British Isles. Only five islands are inhabited (population 2,200).

With settlements dating back to the Stone Age, the Isles of Scilly are described as “outstandingly beautiful, uncrowded and unspoilt” and offer a tranquil and laid-back way of life. The water is a Caribbean blue and there are miles of white sand beaches and an abundance of birds, marine animals, and exotic plants. The main agricultural product is cut flowers, grown on small family farms. We’ll travel to Scilly by ferry and return on small planes. We’ll travel by boat between three of the inhabited islands.

Impacted by the gulf stream, Cornwall’s subtropical climate has the mildest and sunniest weather in the UK. Because of its unique micro-climate, Cornwall has over 40 gardens, home to a wide variety of beautiful and rare plants and trees. We’ve chosen April for this trip so we can enjoy the gardens during the spring flowering. Temperatures will be pleasant, and we’ll enjoy the area before the busy tourist season.

Overnight Locations

The Cornwall Experience involves overnight stays in two locations:

• Penzance (Penwith Peninsula) – seven nights
• St. Martins (Isles of Scilly) – two nights
• Penzance – one night

Penzance: An historic waterfront town on Mount’s Bay with a population of 20,000, Penzance is the regional center for the Penwith Peninsula (the western end of Cornwall) and an ideal base for our seven-night stay in this area. The Peninsula was settled in the Bronze Age, and Penzance developed as a market town in the early 1400’s.  The town fronts Mount’s Bay, with excellent views of St. Michael’s Mount. The Southwest Coast Path, a 630-mile mile national trail, passes along the waterfront.

On a walking tour of Penzance we’ll learn about its fascinating history and its connection with pirates. We’ll explore some of its most interesting streets, such as Chapel Street which features some important architecture. We’ll also see the famous Jubilee Pool, an Art Deco fresh-seawater pool built in 1935. There’s plenty to enjoy during free time in Penzance, as there are many eating places, shops, and galleries.

Penzance is the end of the rail line in southwestern England. A ferry travels each day to the Isles of Scilly. One mile along the coast is the seaside town of Newlyn, the largest fishing port in England.

Our stylish and cheerful hotel is a 200-year-old Victorian building, across the street from Penzance’s broad promenade along Mount’s Bay—also a stretch of the Southwest Coast Path. Recently refurbished, the hotel has 18 rooms. There’s a welcoming bar and a casual restaurant with panoramic views.  We’ll return for a final night here after our stay on the Isles of Scilly.

An aerial view of Penzance

The Isles of Scilly: Our three days and two nights on the Isles of Scilly make The Cornwall Experience a “best of two worlds” vacation. We’ll stay at a beachfront resort hotel on the island of St. Martin’s (population 140), just two miles long with three small hamlets. In addition to our hotel, there are a few galleries, shops and eating places. Our main focus on St. Martin’s will be the beaches, bays, rock inlets, incredible views, and easy walks. From our base on St. Martin’s we’ll visit the nearby island of Tresco, including the world-famous Tresco Abbey garden with 20,000 different plants from 80 countries.

Quiet bay and beach on St. Martin’s

Experiences in Cornwall

The Cornwall Experience includes these activities and much more:

• • Guided walking tours of Penzance, Mousehole and St. Ives, with free time to explore on your own. We’ll also visit other seaside and riverfront villages.
  • Visits to historic and natural sites on the western Penwith Peninsula, including the Geevor Tin Mine and prehistoric sites like the Merry Maidens stone circle and Carn Euny.
  • Visits to several of Cornwall’s spectacular gardens including the unique Eden Project. The Eden Project features giant geodesic conservatories and plants from all over the world and includes an indoor rainforest.
  • A day in Falmouth, including a boat trip on the Fal River or the Helford River.
  • A day in the lively seaside village of St. Ives, including a visit to the Barbara Hepworth museum and sculpture garden. St. Ives is known for the number of artists who have settled there over the years; you can visit the Tate St. Ives and a variety of artist galleries.
  • A visit to the castle and gardens of St. Michael’s Mount on an island off the coast near Penzance. This was a sister monastery to France’s Mont St. Michel and looks very much like it. The earliest buildings date to the 12th century.
  • Optional walks on the famous Southwest Coast path.
  • Explorations of the Isles of Scilly (St. Martin’s, Tresco and St. Mary’s) including a boat trip to see birds and other wildlife and a visit to the world-famous Tresco Abbey gardens with over 20,000 different plants.
  • Meals featuring outstanding local cuisine, including a wide variety of local seafood and farm produce.

See a typical day-by-day itinerary for The Cornwall Experience

Arrivals and Departures

Most travelers will fly into one of the major London airports. From London it’s a five-hour train trip to the western tip of Cornwall. Our meeting and departure times will correspond with the schedule of the London-Penzance train. The train ride between London Paddington and Penzance offers a chance to see the diverse English countryside. The scenery along the south coast of Cornwall is especially beautiful. The train line ends at Penzance.

There’s also a small airport in Newquay, about an hour from Penzance. See the airport website for more information about connections.

On our last morning, we’ll provide taxi transportation to the Penzance station for trains to points east, including London.

As always, we highly recommend spending one night in Europe before meeting us. London is always a great place to spend a few days (or more). For those who prefer to begin the journey westward, Exeter or Plymouth in Devon, Truro and Fowey (all on the London-Penzance line) would be a good base for that first night or two.

Learn more about Cornwall and The Cornwall Experience:

Getting to Know…The Cornwall Experience (a Virtual European Experience)

The Cornwall Experience in photos

The Magical Isles of Scilly: Stunning Scenery, Rich History and Much More (Kathy’s blog)

Garden Experiences in Cornwall and the Cotswolds (Kathy’s blog)

A Cornwall Experience: The Wonderful Food!! (Kathy’s blog)

Prices and what’s included

$7,500 per person, double occupancy. $8,300 single occupancy of a double room.

This price includes:

• 10 nights’ accommodation in 3- and 4- star hotels. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms.
• 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 10 dinners. You’ll have 3 lunches on your own. Wine and/or beer/cider of our choice is included at all dinners and most lunches.
• All gratuities
• Three walking tours with local guides; admissions to at least eight historic sites and gardens; and two boat tours.
• Transportation to and from the Isles of Scilly (by air or ferry, depending on the optimal schedule) and boat transfers between the islands
• Transportation in Cornwall by a small motor coach with a professional driver. Transfers between airports, stations and hotels during the trip are also included.
• Personalized support from expert leaders
• Travelers Guidebook and other information/support to help you plan your trip

This trip requires a $1,200 per person deposit, with the balance due 90 days before the first day of the trip. The minimum cancellation fee is $500 for cancellations 90 days or more before the first day of the trip; within 90 days, our normal cancellation policies apply.

Leaders: Kathy Wood and Drew Fedorka