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Concerts
Sample itinerary
Excursions
Where to stay
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- Miles of sandy beaches
- Wonderful choice of venues from cathedrals to bandstands
- Visit an ancient fishing village that time forgot
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Stunning coastlines, pretty country towns and villages, two National Parks
One of the most beautiful and unspoilt corners of the UK, North Devon’s breathtakingly beautiful coastline needs very little introduction. Venues range from majestic cathedrals to bandstands, churches and town halls; all in beautiful settings. Known for being one of the sunniest corners of England, there are beaches galore, two National Parks and numerous picturesque villages and towns to explore. Take part in the Two Moors Festival in October. Perform in a restored medieval monastery. See the unique traffic free Clovelly with its historic fishing harbour and C14th quay. Or visit some of the region’s famous ancestral homes.
Concerts
Cathedrals, churches, bandstands, town halls and more
There’s something for all kinds of ensembles in North Devon. Sacred choirs can perform in the cathedrals in Exeter or Wells or in a beautifully restored medieval monastery in a peaceful vale on the edge of Dartmoor’s National Park. Numerous churches, town halls and community centres in the pretty towns and villages of this region also offer visiting ensembles performing opportunities.
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Sample itinerary
(Mixed ensembles)
If you are a different ensemble type, please ask us for a sample itinerary.
Day 1
Arrive at your hotel in Barnstaple. Time to explore the town and visit its popular covered market.
Day 2
Spend a day in the colourful seaside town of Ilfracombe. See Watermouth Bay, visit Wildersmouth Beach and Rapparee and Hele Coves. Take a walk up Capstone Hill for its spectacular views. Evening concert at a church in Barnstaple.
Day 3
In the morning visit the picturesque twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth along the rugged Exmoor coastline. Take a ride on the dramatic 500ft funicular railway that connects the two villages and go for a walk along Blacklands Beach. Afternoon visit to Exmoor Zoo where you can see some of its 175 species of animals, birds and reptiles. (Optional) evening concert at a church in a pretty riverside town.
Day 4
Spend the day at Arlington Court exploring its house and wonderful grounds as well as visiting the National Trust Carriage Museum there. Evening concert (sacred choirs) in Exeter Catherdral or in a restored medieval monastery on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
Day 5
Spend the morning at the beach at Westwood Ho!. Enhoy an afternoon at the quintessential English fishing village of Clovelly with his cobbled streets and pretty harbour. Evening concert at the town hall in a small village high on Exmoor.
Day 6
Time to head for home. Maybe stop for lunch enroute at the nearby pretty fishing village of Appledore.
Extra activities and excursions
Browse a selection of our favourite activities and excursions.
- Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway
- Exmoor Zoo
- Dunster Castle and Watermill
- Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
- Clovelly Village
- Hartland Abbey and Garden
The famous Lynton and Lynmouth funicular Cliff Railway is the highest and the steepest totally water powered railway in the world. Opened in 1890, the Railway connects the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth and provides stunning coastal views. On the cliff top, at 500ft above the lower station, is the Cliff Top Café. Surely the best location for a Cream Tea in the Westcountry?
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Exmoor Zoo cares for 175 species of animals, birds and reptiles. They exhibit many extremely rare captive species such as rusty spotted cats, singing dogs, yellow throated martens and fanaloka. Larger residents include cheetahs, maned wolves, grey wolves, tapirs and bat-eared foxes. The zoo is home to one of the largest collections of ibis and also includes howler monkeys and gibbons. The Zoo has the only black leopard on exhibit in the UK. There is also a large lake, home to pelicans, waterfowl and terrapins.
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An ancient castle and comfortable country home with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens. Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, a castle has existed here since at least Norman times. The castle that you see today became a lavish country home during the 19th century for the Luttrell family, who lived here for 600 years. Below the terraced garden there is a riverside wooded garden which leads to the historic working watermill.
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Built in 1823 and a family estate for over five hundred years, Arlington Court is an unexpected jewel on the edge of Exmoor. A beautiful Regency house it has an impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles and a large picturesque garden with over 20 miles of footpaths to explore. Currently at the Carriage Museum, you can see the Speaker’s State Coach, a glorious, gilded carriage with over 300 years of history.
The picturesque, ancient, fishing village of Clovelly is unique. It’s like stepping into a different world. Clinging to a 400 foot cliff, it has no traffic. Its steep, cobbled street leads down to the historic fishing harbour and a 14th Century quay.
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A stately home and award-winning house in a stunning setting a mile from Hartland Quay, Hartland Abbey is one of the historically most important ancestral homes in this region. It has fascinating interiors and decoration, beautiful woodland walks and walled gardens. There are acres of parkland where you’ll see peacocks, donkeys and black sheep wandering. It is a popular film location for many productions from ‘Sense and Sensibility’ to ‘The Night Manager’.
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Where to stay
Popular places to stay.
We can offer lovely hotels in both the bustling market town of Barnstaple and the more tranquil setting of Bideford on the bank of the River Torridge. Both will give you easy access to this beautiful region and all that it has to offer.
FAQs
Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
The most pleasant times of year to come to Europe are May to September, therefore you may wish to consider this when planning your tour. Summer temperatures across Europe range from 18-35 degrees Celsius. European cities in winter can also offer many interesting cultural experiences that you may enjoy.
Once your tour is booked, it is safely in our hands. We will only ask for you assistance in understanding your concert requirements and you will be responsible for ensuring that the dates on our checklist are adhered to. Until your departure, you simply need to prepare your musicians musically and compile the tour repertoire.
Travelling by coach is the most economical and flexible way to tour. Be collected from your meeting point and arrive at your destination in comfort on air-conditioned, high specification coaches. Enjoy the freedom of your own vehicle whilst on tour and travel in comfort with reclining seats and toilet. More and more groups choose to fly. We can arrange your flights from your local airport as well as from London. Once you have arrived at your destination, we can provide transfers to your accommodation and local coach hire throughout your music tour.