When Josephine talked to us about offering an arts-related tour we first thought about the tours Alan has led in British Columbia. He is an expert on the art and archaeology of BC First Nations, so took visitors to Vancouver Island, and to the Skeena and Haida Gwaii areas of the province. But Gillian's fond memories of frequent return visits to her homeland led to the idea of taking potters and others to see the lovely countryside, fascinating ancient sites and interesting pottery studios there.

Last October we led this tour and the potter-participants were delighted with the variety of activities we provided.

Over the years we have found that the country roads need careful navigating and a good map. We took away the concerns of renting a car and driving on the other side on narrow roads by leaving that up to a knowledgeable English bus driver. We offered a happy combination of ancient sites and beautiful scenery to photograph, with informative visits to museums, the best of Fine Crafts to see and buy, and almost daily opportunities to meet well-established potters in their studios in this prettiest part of Britain.

The weather during the last two weeks of September will almost certainly be mild and sunny. Bring a raincoat and a light sweater, your camera and a notebook!

Alan and Gillian

DAY 2: Mon., Sep. 18
After breakfast, we board our comfortable coach and depart from London, heading west to Avebury. There we will wander around the impressive Neolithic henge monument (with its large stone ring) and the nearby West Kennet Long Barrow (a Neolithic tomb). We will then visit the pottery studio of Laurence McGowan near Marlborough. After a drive by Stonehenge, we will stop at Old Sarum (with its Iron Age rings and Norman ruins) and go into Salisbury, where we will look at the impressive cathedral.
Overnight at the White Hart, Salisbury. English or Full Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 3: Tue., Sep. 19
In the morning we will visit the studio of potter Jonathan Garratt in Cranborne, south of Salisbury. Nearby, we will see the Verwood Museum (with traditional Dorset pottery) and the Knowlton Neolithic circle. We will continue to Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne. We then drive through picturesque Dorset to Dorchester, where we will walk around the impressive Iron Age fortress of Maiden Castle. The day ends with a drive north past the Cerne Giant (a prehistoric figure cut into the chalk hillside) to Shaftesbury.
Overnight at the Royal Chase Hotel, Shaftesbury. English or Full Breakfast. Dinner on own in Shaftesbury.

DAY 4: Wed., Sep. 20
We start the day by driving to Sherborne, where we will visit the Alpha House Ceramics Gallery. Then we head into Somerset, stopping at the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen gallery at Martock, and on to Muchelney, where we will see the medieval abbey and visit the studio of famed potter John Leach. Late in the day we drive to Exeter.
Overnight at the Thistle Exeter Hotel. English or Full Breakfast. Dinner on own in Exeter.

DAY 5: Thu., Sep. 21
In the morning we will tour the Exeter Museum near our hotel. Boarding our bus, we head to Bovey Tracey to the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Riverside Mill. We then will drive through Dartmoor National Park, where we will view the ruins of a Bronze Age village, see an ancient clapper bridge, and visit the Powedermills Pottery, before driving to Plymouth for the evening.
Overnight at Copthorne Plymouth Hotel. English or Full Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 6, Fri., Sep. 22
In the morning we will visit the studios of potters John Pollex and Richard Godfrey in Plymouth. We then drive through Cornwall to St. Ives, the home of the Bernard Leach studio. We can walk around this picturesque town in the late afternoon or early evening.
Overnight at Chy-An-Albany Hotel, st. Ives. English Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 7, Sat., Sep. 23
A full day in St. Ives takes us to the Tate St. Ives Gallery, the Barbara Hepworth sculpture garden and St. Ives ceramic Gallery, and leaves time to wander around other shops and galleries in this interesting location.
Overnight at Chy-An-Albany Hotel, St. Ives. Breakfast. Dinner on own in St. Ives.

DAY 8: Sun., Sep. 24
After breakfast we drive to Chysauster Iron Age Village south of St. Ives. We then drive around the picturesque Land’s End peninsula, with stops for walks at the Merry Maidens prehistoric stone circle and the fishing village of Mousehole. We then go to the Cornwall Crafts Gallery at Trelissick on our way to St. Austell.
Overnight at Carlyon Bay Hotel, near St. Austell. English Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 09: Mon., Sep. 25
We will spend half a day at the Eden Project (large gardens with artwork in an old China Clay quarry). Nearby we will stop at the Mid-Cornwall Gallery and, if time allows, Restormel Castle. Later in the day we will drive across Bodmin Moor back to Exeter.
Overnight at Thistle exeter Hotel. English or Full Breakfast. Dinner on own in Exeter.

DAY 10: Tue., Sep. 26
From Exeter we drive to the nearby Woodbury Studio Gallery (the studio of Tim Andrews). We then head on to the Peat Moors Centre (which interprets the archaeology and geology of the Somerset Levels) near Glastonbury. we will also visit the pottery studios of Clio Graham and Mike Dodd in this area. Later in the day we arrive in Wells and wander around the cathedral and centre of this historic city.
Overnight at Swan Hotel, Wells. English or Full Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 11: Wed., Sep. 27
In Wells we will visit the pottery studio of Sue Masters. we then head on to the studio of Philip Wood near Frome, and the Black Swan Art Gallery. We may also make a brief stop at Nunney Castle. Later in the afternoon we will visit Bath to look around the shops and galleries of this picturesque city before driving a short distance to Bristol.
Overnight at Thistle Bristol. English or Full Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 12: Thu., Sep. 28
In the morning we will drive over the Severn Bridge into south Wales. Cheepstow Castle , (an impressive early Norman castle) will be our first stop, then on to the ruins of Tintern Abbey. We continue along the scenic Wye Valley to the studio of renowned potter Walter Keeler. Later in the day we drive north on the motorway to Stoke-on-Trent.
Overnight at Stoke-on-Trent Moat House. English or Full Breakfast and 3 course Dinner.

DAY 13: Fri., Sep. 29
We have a full day at “The Potteries” of Stoke-on-Trent, including the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley, the Gladstone Museum (with its historic bottleneck kilns), and the Spode factory and shop.
Overnight Stoke-on-Trent Moat House, English or Full Breakfast. Dinner on own in Stoke-on-Trent.

DAY 14: Sat., Sep. 30
In the morning we might still have some time in Stoke-on-Trent, possibly visiting some pottery outlet shops. We then set out on the motorway back to London, stopping roughly mid-way near Banbury to view the Rollwright Stones (Bronze Age circle) and visit the pottery studio of Richard Phethean. We will have supper en route.

The tour ends in London

Overnight at Holiday Inn Regents Park. Continental Breakfast.

TOUR RATE

$5,695.00 Cad based double occupancy.

Minimum number of participants required is 12.
Please note that should the number be less, additional charges will apply.

Payment policy
A deposit of $1,000.00 cad is required in order to guarantee space on this tour.
Payment can be made by cheque, Visa or Master card.

The balance payment is due no later than July 14, 2006.

Cancellation
This is a custom made tour and all payments are 100% non refundable unless cancelled by Bestway Tours & Safaris in which case an adminstration fee of $100.00 cad per person is non refundable.
We strongly suggest purchase of Travel Insurance at time of booking.

Included in the price:
- Accommodation in excellent 3 or 4 star hotels.
- Breakfast daily and 7 - 3 course dinners.
- All entry fees to museums and attractions as per the itinerary.
- Overland transportation by private, comfortable coach.

Not included:
- International flight from your home city to London, England.
- Transfers between airport and hotel in London.
- Meals not included in itinerary.
- Beverages (all kinds) with dinners mentioned in itinerary (occasionally tea/coffee/juices are included).
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry or internet.
- Travel Insurance (medical and/or cancellation).

RESERVATION FORM

Bookings cannot be processed unless accompanied by a completed, signed and dated Tour Reservation Form (2 pages).

For your convenience we also have a Credit Card authorization form. Payments by cheque are also accepted.

INSURANCE

Medical and Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended in order to protect your investment. Cancellation Insurance must be requested at time of booking.

PASSPORTS

You are required to carry a valid passport with an expiry date of six (6) months past reentry into your home country.

VACCINATIONS

Please contact the travel clinic in your area for advice. British Columbia residents may consult Travel Medicine & Vaccination Centres. Telephone 604-681-5656 in Vancouver or toll free 1-888-288-8682.