SOUTH OF ENGLAND

Kent; the garden of England, well-known for its lush green valleys and gardens, ancient woodlands and as England's oldest county, pre-dates Anglo-Saxon county borders and is well documented in our history long before the Romans invaded in AD43. Canterbury, now a modern and culturally outstanding city, once the final point on the Pilgrim's Way from East London made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales, perhaps England's most famous story-teller; 1340s -1400AD. Go west from there to Rochester to become absorbed in Charles Dickens' life and works; this town and its surroundings are well documented in his writings, including the debtor's prison in which Dickens' father was incarcerated with all his family, influencing Dickens' whole life and in constant literary reference in much of his work.

From the Roman invasion to World War 2, Kent has played a major role, strong military and especially naval links are evident. See a host of cathedrals; Canterbury as one of the finest, also Leeds Castle and the village of Battle, near Hastings in Sussex, which is the actual site of the last successful invasion of these shores by William Duke of Normandy in 1066. Coastline, hop fields, English vineyards- yes really and fast becoming recognised as excellent world class wines but as yet still small scale. White cliffs, delightful quintessentially English villages and easy accesss to France via Eurotunnel.

Brighton, a lively and unique coastal town yet easily reached from London, crammed with antique shops, places to browse, excellent eating and drinking facilities and the town's most famous resident, the Prince Regent who later became King George IV, responsible for Brighton Pavillion which is home to some of the finest chinoiserie in the country.

The New Forest, Hampshire is actually pretty old, only 90 miles sw of London but a million miles from city hustle and noise. 1000+ yr old trees, a walkers and camping paradise, home to feral ponies and spectacular wildlife. Visit National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, see gardens both grand and wild and complete your visit by going to the Jurassic Coast, in Dorset and E.Devon and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; 250 million yrs of this planet's history.

Everybody knows about Stonehenge and it is well worth a visit but lesser known Avebury is equally as extrordinary and much more "hands-on". One of Europe's largest pre-historical sites, 28 acres of neolithic interest, more than 100 stones, some weighing more than 50 tons, providing a walkable and indeed touchable mystical opportunity.

Somerset and Avon boast the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge and the Quantock Hills too.and some of England's most picturesque landscapes as well as Bristol, dymanic cultural city rich with maritime history as well as art galleries, fine restaurants and easy access to the West Country and to Wales.

Devon and Cornwall are perhaps the most delightful counties in the south of the country, best known for cream teas, thatched cottages and thrilling tales of smugglers, beautiful coastal walks and much loved for their literary heritage too. Sherlock Holmes' "Hound of the Baskervilles" is set on haunting Dartmoor and lovers of Daphne du Maurier's work including "Jamaica Inn" and of course "Rebecca" will immediately fall in love with the people and the places in the most westerly corner of the UK. A visit to The Isles of Scilly (pronounced Silly but never the Silly Isles!) is a must for those who relish peace, tranquility and wide open skies, empty white beaches, abundant birdlife and a memorable magic place quite unique.... never to be forgotten.