ESW Tours Blogs

May saw the release of the movie adaptation of Raynor Winn's novel The Salt Path. 
A story of despair and hope, a journey to end all and a tale to inspire all, especially those who are lucky enough live near any of the South West Coastal Footpath stretches.
One of England's longest uninterrupted footpaths and in its entirety, a 630 mile journey not for the faint hearted.
It takes in picturesque cliff side villages, such as Clovelly (pictured) and fishing communities along its length. Not to mention the dramatic coastline and inspiring seascapes it allows access to on its route around the South West.
Starting in Minehead, Somerset, the first section sets the trend and pace. Steep and punishing with some of the highest cliffs in the UK along the Exmoor coastline.
Devon continues this trend and along the north coast the path gives way to some of the longest sandy beaches in England. Cornwall carries on the theme of clifftops and beaches with plenty of fishing towns and seaside resorts too. Several hundred miles in it eventually wraps around the Penwith peninsula into South Cornwall with its grand and classic vistas, unique sights and quintessential coast interest. It is not too long before we're back in Devon and the softer south coast. That said the stretch prior to Torbay is pretty punishing, one I know well.
East Devon and Dorset's Jurassic Coast (UNESCO World Heritage Site) steps up the hills count again with amazing coastal strata and colours of geology along its length. 
Finally, arriving in Swanage, east Dorset, the path draws to a close....630 miles later.

Their tale of financial loss, health battles, fighting against all odds, including the weather and unforgiving locals, really does inspire. 
The novel is available now, as are several more of her books documenting their incredible journey. 
The Salt Path is sure to inspire tour interest with many of the locations having so many world class views as well as the seafood, I haven't even mentioned that yet....A Salt Path themed Set Jetting Tour is the way to experience this amazing South West Coastal Footpath.
Set Jetting Tours

Tours kicked off with an early start this season. 
Usually April is the month whereby the bookings start to require delivery. However, March seems to be the new April with several multi day and also single day touring delivered right across the South West. 
In the month of March ESW Tours was in and out of central London twice, the New Forest also twice and over to the Isle of Wight too (a new one for me and tour delivery!) As well as these areas Bath, Wells and Glastonbury, the Cotswolds and full length of the Jurassic Coast featured a few times, Dartmoor and the Devon coast many times and even the far reaching depths and corners of Cornwall too.
Inspirational visits to Hampton Court Palace, Jane Austin's Cottage, Greenway House, Shakespeare's Birthplace, the Minack theatre and not to mention most of the old city Cathedrals across the southern counties, my favourite being Exeter and Wells. A fantastic start to the season with international guests enjoying the quieter locations pre-season busy times. March, April and May are always a great "shoulder season" to visit which allows ease of access and less in the way of any crowds.

The month of March and early April were blessed with glorious sunshine and fresh bright weather for what seemed like six straight weeks. Locations such as the above pictured Lulworth Cove looked great in dappled sunshine and drifting cloud-scapes. 
So far I have met guests from many states of the USA, some from Canada and even Australia as well as Bombay, India also. It always amazes me the draw and how far the net is cast from the UK in relation to international interest. It is always very humbling.

This coming week sees further tours up the Jurassic Coast, on Dartmoor, back to the Cotswolds and also into old London town too....
Keep watch and follow the socials for images, photos and short videos from locations I take my guests to on our adventures.
Speak soon and warm regards from sunny Torbay, Devon
​Mark

With Spring and a change of seasons hopefully around the not to distant corner, it is about that time we all hope for warmer weather and some addition of colour to the otherwise default grey of winter. 
Seasonally Devon, Cornwall and our neighbouring Dorset and Somerset all begin to show before the rest of the UK due to our position in the South West. Milder climate and a warming gulf stream lends kinder growing conditions so our gardens are generally the first to display the "joys of Spring".
Gardens, whether they are publicly open or paid entry to private estates, are a real draw for overseas visitors. I have had my fair share of "Master Gardener" status and accredited US tourist. The difference in growing conditions, climate and soil type always interests as well as the strange and "that shouldn't grow here" moments which come about as we stroll around grand old estate gardens where early great wealth lead to carefree World travel and the bringing back of species from all over the planet just to impress the neighbours...

Below is a list of the most frequently visited gardens of the last two seasons. 

The Garden House – Buckland Monochorum, West Dartmoor, Devon – simply amazing in spring and early summer. Quiet an unreal dream like location and an absolute assault on the senses with colour and scent.
Bicton Gardens – Woodbury area, East Devon – the county horticultural society college garden and again very ornate and some amazing, well established planting beyond most expectations.
Dartington Gardens – Dartington, Totnes, Devon – recently became an RHS garden and a nice valley garden in the grounds of the historic hall itself.
Fast Rabbit Farm Garden – Not far from Dartmouth, Devon – A strange name, however one of Devon’s best kept secret gardens.
Stone Lane Gardens - Another small secret garden on the north eastern Dartmoor slopes. Not far from Chagford and full of well kept planting as well as sculptures to compliment the experience.
Rosemoor RHS – North Devon, South Molton area – The best of them all. The RHS Rosemoor is simply a horticulturalists dream.
Hotel Endsleigh Gardens – Milton Abbot, West Devon/Dartmoor area – the hotel itself has one of the nicest gardens I have ever seen at a hotel establishment. Designed by Humphry Repton, they are truly magnificent and the hotel gardeners deliver guided tours to enable visitors to experience the best their unique location offers. Non-residents also accessible so one to note for passing interest. It is a lovely hotel too and one I definitely champion and recommend to my direct booking guests.
Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens – Abbotsbury, West Dorset – A restored coastal perspective garden with many sub tropical plants and species found nowhere else in the UK.
Lamorran Garden – St Mawes, Cornwall – Almost on top of Hotel Tresanton and definitely one to remember if you guests staying there who have an interest in the sub-tropical greenery.
St Just In Roseland Church – A location that always astonishes anyone I take there. A church, on a creek, in a secluded valley with sub-tropical gardens throughout the graveyard. Simply amazing place.
The Minack Theatre - I know, I know....its the amazing granite and stone built theatre carved into the cliffs of the Cornish Penwith peninsula, however, the garden planting around the venue is as much of a joy as the theatre draw itself. Combine the two interests for absolute sensory overload!

There are many National Trust houses with grand gardens, Knightshayes, Cotehele, Trelissick as well as several private estates that also have visitable gardens, including Castle Hill and Ugbrooke House for example.
 As I have, it is worth downloading the National Gardens App and maybe sharing it with the team, as well as the above intel if you have an increased interest in the visitable South West UK gardens.
If you are due to visit the WestCountry in the Spring months, as well as the hedgerows resembling works by Monet, the above will inspire and satisfy the most devoted green fingered among you all....

​Thanks for reading and should you have any questions relating to the above, please do get in touch,
Mark

2024 saw Experience South West Tours go from strength to strength and the number of touring dates delivered pushed through the 100 barrier in only our second fully independent year as an operator.
A real mix of itineraries delivered for overseas agents, single day tours for guests at regional hotels and bespoke multi-day tour plans for direct booking guests.
In all, some 26K miles covered across the South West and all its counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset as well as frequent trips in the big city, London and even a fair few visits back into old England within the Cotswolds area also.
My guests have thoroughly enjoyed all regions and areas we have immersed ourselves in an toured throughout. It is always fascinating to learn from where they have travelled from across the world and this year I managed to tick off a few new "countries of origin" as it were...
Everywhere from the West and East coast USA, as far down as the Carolina's, Tennessee and Texas and an equal distance away in the north as Washington State, North Dakota and Maine. Many, many more from the States in all directions and my new touring ticked off countries included, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Tasmania too!
All lovely people who enjoyed "little old England" and its history, characterful locations and charms.
I find it very humbling that so many people from around the world wish to visit the UK and in particular the South West peninsula. It never disappoints.
One service that I provide, free of charge, which is always greatly appreciated is a photographic documentation and capturing of your time with ESW Tours. One of my hobbies, and side lines, is landscape photography and I am confident in knowing my way around a camera as well as capturing a scene well. With several National Photographic competition commended awards and many magazine features over the years, I always like to bring a camera everywhere, not just the mobile phone one either!
So, it makes sense that this attribute is put to good use and my guests always hugely appreciate a folder and selection of tour photos upon returning home in their emails. A file sharing service allows the transfer and the collections of labelled and ordered images, sometimes in multi day format for those longer tours, are then shared with their friends and even photo trip books are compiled as a memento of their time with me in the area. I guess it doubles up as cross ocean advertising too!

So, 2025, what will you bring? With over 50 days already booked in the diary and a real selection of itinerary plans unfolding, I am hoping it will rival last year for time out on tours as well as the host of fantastic company I had along the way, and journey of course.
With interest in the new Experience Travel themed sector of the global movement market and the even newer buzz word and tag of #setjetting (film, tv and novel adaptation location visitation) and with these, I have already reacted and created specific tours for these, one for Devon and another for Cornwall. Captain Ross Poldark and Doc Martin (met them both by the way!) do still draw the crowds and with many new great West Country set dramas and feature films due to for release, one that I am particularly looking forward to is the movie, The Salt Path ,I am sure they will inspire many more days of immersion in pastures new.
I look forward to meeting new tour guests as well as revisiting ones for further adventures. 
Always an advocate of cream first and if you ever tour with me, you'll learn all about that too.
Maybe one for a future blog...
Warm regards, 
​Mark