Best of the United Kingdom: Cornwall to the Highlands – 27 Days
Cornwall, Oxford, Snowdonia, the Lake District, the West Highland Line and Skye by train, with a small group of up to 12.
Tour overview
This 27-day small-group journey is a thorough exploration of Great Britain, from the cliffs of Cornwall to the Isle of Skye, travelling mostly by train and local bus with a leader throughout. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over. You stay 26 nights in hotels and guesthouses on a twin or multi-share basis, and breakfast is included daily, with picnic and pub lunches on a few walking days. The trip runs in two parts, with a new welcome meeting in London as the group changes for the second section.
The journey begins in London and heads by train to Salisbury and its cathedral, then to Stonehenge, built some 5,000 years ago. On Dartmoor you take a guided walk from Princetown with a picnic lunch, before reaching Penzance. You hike the coast path at Porthcurno, visit the Minack Theatre carved into the cliffs and stand at Land's End, then cross the causeway to St Michael's Mount. In Tintagel you explore the castle of Arthurian legend and walk to the fishing village of Port Isaac.
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Back in London, you continue to Oxford, city of dreaming spires, and walk in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Cardiff leads to Snowdonia National Park and a walk from the village of Beddgelert, then to the Roman city of Chester and Liverpool, hometown of the Beatles. Two nights in Windermere give time for the lakes and fells of the Lake District.
In Scotland you visit Edinburgh and Glasgow, then ride the West Highland Line, one of the world's great railway journeys, across Rannoch Moor to Fort William and on to Mallaig. On the Isle of Skye you join a guide for a hike among its dramatic landscapes, then cross back to Inverness to visit Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness, before ending in Edinburgh.
The physical rating is medium, with regular walks and carrying your own luggage on trains. This trip suits active travellers with time to see Britain in depth, the way locals travel.
Trip highlights
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Stonehenge and a Dartmoor walk (Days 3–4)
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Land's End, the Minack Theatre and St Michael's Mount (Days 5–6)
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Tintagel and Port Isaac (Day 7)
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Oxford and the Cotswolds (Days 10–12)
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Snowdonia and the Lake District (Days 14–18)
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The West Highland Line and the Isle of Skye (Days 21–23)
Your route
26 stops from London to Inverness
- London Days 1 & 8–9
- Salisbury Day 2
- Stonehenge Day 3
- Exeter Day 3
- Dartmoor National Park Day 4
- Penzance Days 4–5
- Land's End Day 5
- St Michael's Mount Day 6
- Port Isaac Day 6
- Tintagel Days 6–7
- Oxford Days 10–11
- Moreton-in-Marsh Day 12
- Cardiff Day 13
- Beddgelert Day 14
- Bangor Day 14
- Chester Day 15
- Liverpool Days 15–16
- Windermere Days 17–18
- Edinburgh Days 19 & 26–27
- Glasgow Day 20
- Fort William Day 21
- Glenfinnan Viaduct Day 22
- Mallaig Day 22
- Isle of Skye Days 22–23
- Loch Ness Day 24
- Inverness Days 24–25
Why choose this tour
England, Wales and Scotland in depth, travelling by train like a local. Coast paths, national parks and Skye, with a small group.
Best suited to
- Overseas visitors wanting to see Britain thoroughly
- Active travellers who enjoy walking
- Rail enthusiasts
- Solo travellers looking for a small group
Day-by-day itinerary
27 days from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland
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Day 1 · London Arrive in London
A welcome meeting with your leader.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Salisbury Salisbury
Train to Salisbury for a leader-led walk.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Stonehenge, Exeter Stonehenge to Exeter
Visit Stonehenge, then travel to Exeter.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Princetown, Penzance Dartmoor to Penzance
A guided Dartmoor walk with a picnic lunch.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 5 · Porthcurno, Minack Theatre, Land's End Land's End
Hike the coast path and visit the Minack Theatre.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · St Michael's Mount, Tintagel St Michael's Mount to Tintagel
Visit the tidal island, then travel to Tintagel.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Tintagel Castle, Port Isaac Tintagel and Port Isaac
Explore Tintagel Castle and walk to Port Isaac.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · London Back to London
Travel by train back to London.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · London London
A free day and a welcome meeting for the second section.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 10 · Oxford Oxford
Train to Oxford for a walk.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Oxford Oxford
A free day among the colleges.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh The Cotswolds
Walk in the Cotswold hills.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 13 · Cardiff Cardiff
Transfer to the Welsh capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 14 · Beddgelert, Snowdonia National Park Snowdonia
A walk in Snowdonia from Beddgelert.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 15 · Chester, Liverpool Chester to Liverpool
Visit Roman Chester, then Liverpool.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 16 · Liverpool Liverpool
Explore the hometown of the Beatles.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 17 · Windermere Lake District
Train to Windermere.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 18 · Lake District National Park Lake District
A free day among the lakes and fells.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 19 · Edinburgh Edinburgh
Train to Scotland's capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 20 · Glasgow Glasgow
Travel to Glasgow.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 21 · Rannoch Moor, Fort William West Highland Line
Ride the West Highland Line to Fort William.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 22 · Mallaig, Isle of Skye To Skye
Complete the line to Mallaig and cross to Skye.
- Hotel
- Hotel or guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 23 · Isle of Skye Isle of Skye
A short guided hike on Skye.
- Hotel
- Hotel or guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 24 · Skye Bridge, Inverness Inverness
Cross the Skye Bridge to Inverness.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 25 · Culloden Battlefield, Inverness Culloden
Visit Culloden Battlefield.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 26 · Edinburgh Edinburgh
Train to Edinburgh.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 27 · Edinburgh Trip ends in Edinburgh
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- London (1 night) Hotel
- Salisbury (1 night) Hotel
- Exeter (1 night) Hotel
- Penzance (2 nights) Hotel
- Tintagel (2 nights) Hotel
- London (2 nights) Hotel
- Oxford (2 nights) Hotel
- Moreton-in-Marsh (1 night) Hotel
- Cardiff (1 night) Hotel
- Snowdonia (1 night) Hotel
- Liverpool (2 nights) Hotel
- Windermere (2 nights) Hotel
- Edinburgh (1 night) Hotel
- Glasgow (1 night) Hotel
- Fort William (1 night) Hotel
- Isle of Skye (2 nights) Hotel or guesthouse
- Inverness (2 nights) Hotel
- Edinburgh (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 26 nights in hotels and guesthouses
- Meals 26 breakfasts and 3 lunches
- Train, bus and private transfers between stops
- Salisbury walk, Stonehenge and a guided Dartmoor walk
- Land's End, Porthcurno hike, the Minack Theatre and St Michael's Mount
- Tintagel Castle, Cotswolds walk and Snowdonia walk
- West Highland Line, a Skye hike and Culloden
- Leader throughout
Not included
- Flights to London and from Edinburgh
- Meals not included 22 lunches and 26 dinners
- Optional activities
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a short trip — this journey lasts 27 days
- You want a coach — you travel mostly by train and bus
- You want many meals included — mostly breakfasts
- You want to visit Ireland — this trip covers Great Britain
Good to know
In pictures
Dates & prices
Dates on request – enquire for the next season.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How do we travel?
Mostly by train and local bus, with a few private transfers. You carry your own luggage.
Does the group change?
The trip runs in two sections, with a new welcome meeting in London on Day 9.
How much walking is there?
Regular walks of a few hours, including coast paths and national parks.
Is Ireland included?
No, this trip covers England, Wales and Scotland.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and three lunches.
How many people travel together?
Up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary