England and West Country - 4/4 rating?
For those who have been on the relatively new England and West Country tour - aside from St. Michael's Mount, which looks like it could be a fairly strenuous hike, what about the trip makes it a 4/4 activity/pace rating? That rating just doesn't seem to fit when I look at the itinerary and I wonder what I am missing. Thanks for your input.
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Jan having been to many of the stops, I don’t understand the 4/4 either. In fact, I would like to do the tour because it looks really nice.
It’s a shame that when people have taken the trouble to write reviews, some readers have criticized their writing presentation, others puts some off from bothering.
People, I look forward to any review of this tour too, they will be appreciated!
Oradellian did a nice review on June 11.
Just type Oradellian in the search box
We did this tour in May and really enjoyed it. It is rated 4/4 due to: (1) the amount of traveling around everyday to get to the activities -- a lot of coach rides, many ons and offs the coach, and lots of walking at the activity sites; (2) long days and fairly late returns to the hotel at the end of each day; (3) very little down time; (4) the amount of mobility needed to enjoy many of the activities, such as driving the Morgan cars -- it's not easy getting in and out -- the fact that some of the sites visited do not have easy ways to access upper levels without climbing stairs, although I remember some people being able to find elevators but I don't know what was involved; (5) the agility needed to climb up and down some of the steep inclines at various places, especially St. Michael's Mount, which was fairly long and steep and very rocky in places; (6) the amount of walking necessary even around the hotels to enjoy available activities.
I know Tauck is making some changes to the itinerary for 2026, so some of the activities will be switched for others that may not require so much walking, but it's hard to say. It really was one of the most active of the Tauck European trips we have done, but also really fun. Our tour director was great and creative.
I have found that the new rating system Tauck has been using for the last year or so has been pretty reliable for the tours we have taken. The people in the group we traveled with were in good shape overall and only a few people took days or afternoons off to rest and relax, although my husband and I were the only two to go to the Eden Project Biospheres. I'm sure the tour will evolve over time, but I'd say it was appropriately rated 4/4.
Thank you. Tauck ‘s rating system has never changed in the 20 plus years I have been traveling with them as far as I can see.
How was the Eden project?
They have changed the itinerary for 2026 (when I'm going) and have taken Stonehenge and the Eden Project off.
Thanks, mwirtz. Your descriptions are very helpful.
The Eden Project was okay, but if you have experienced other Biodomes, especially those in Singapore, it's a bit of a let down. Despite being described as showing the interconnectedness of all living things, there was no discussion at all, merely descriptions of plants and some mention of their relation to fauna and other flora. The outside gardens were nice to walk through, but it's all done on your own with no naturalist anywhere. Maybe if we had been a larger group, Tauck would have arranged for a guide to show us around, but apparently few people on the tours before ours had wanted to go and no one else on our tour went. The gift shop was nice, but mostly things it would be difficult to take home when traveling.
As for the rating system being different than it used to be over the last 25 years or so, they've tightened it up a bit and some tours that used to have 2/2 type ratings are now rated more accurately so that travelers have a better idea of what to expect. We've encountered more people lately on tours where the activity levels and/or pace were too much for them. Many seem to think that Tauck can accommodate people who are not capable of doing the scheduled itinerary by finding alternative things to keep them busy. Tauck does often go the extra mile, but that can become difficult on a regular basis. It's always fine to skip activities so long as you plan on filling your time on your own and don't expect the Tour Director to make alternative plans for you.
Thank you so much Mwirtz, The Eden Project began decades ago when it was the talk of the town in England. I would
still like to go but at least you warned me it could be better.
I guess Tauck has tried to correct the ratings of these tours then but clearly people ignore them. To be fair they are not obvious on the website and I’ve no idea if people use Travel agents that don’t tell them either. When I first started traveling with Tauck, I never encountered anyone who could not do all the activities except one guy who looked ill from the start, his color was terrible, and had a heart attack later in the tour.
For 2026 they have made several changes. Tintagel has been switched to Padstow. My understanding is Tintagel had some tough walking. They dropped the Minack Theatre giving more time at St Michaels Mont. The Eden Project has been removed so I assume there will be more time in Fowey after cooking class which may allow for one of the coastal walks. And Stonehenge has been switch to Avenbury. Despite the changes, we are looking forward to the trip next year. Most of southwest England is considered one of the "areas of outstanding natural beauty" and can be rugged with steep walks and windswept. The area has been under a high wind warning for the last week with gust along the coast and exposed areas of 60-70.
Especially sad that the Minnack theatre has been removed! Even Stonehenge, I’ve never been there. Hum,,,the tour is less appealing to me now.
I can't imagine visiting southwest England and not going to Stonehenge. Maybe Tauck eliminated it because this probably wouldn't be anyone's first tour, most guests on this tour having already been to Stonehenge.
I've been to Tintagel back when I was in my 30s and it was a steep climb down to it. I liked Stonehenge on the ESW tour but would have enjoyed time to visit the exhibits in the visitor center. We only had time to walk around it listening to the self guided tour devices. I have heard people complain that they couldn't actually go up and touch the stones.