South West England rail holiday, self guided

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
We believe in ensuring your trip doesn’t cost the earth so a rail journey is perfect in every sense. Sit back and enjoy the stunning scenery as you’re carried along the tracks, knowing that not only will you enjoy the ride without the stress of driving and with the freedom to move around, but your carbon footprint is significantly lower too. With an average carbon footprint of 44g CO2e per passenger-kilometre by train compared to 158g by car*, adapting the South West 660 driving route to be enjoyed by rail is a win-win for everyone.
(*Source: blocicarbon.com/rail-calculator/)

Another contributor to carbon emissions on your holiday is the delicious food you enjoy while away. With our recommendations for great places to eat, you’ll get to enjoy some of the most amazing locally produced food around. South West England is renowned for its local seafood, freshly caught that day and often landed so close to the restaurant you’ll be able to see the boats! With its gentle climate the South West also lends itself to fantastic vegetable and fruit growing, perfect for a delicious local plant-based meal and of course your favourite tipple. Discover one of the many cider farms and vineyards around the region to enjoy a tour and tasting, and you’ll soon switch your regular bar order for something much more local!


ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

The South West Coast Path is a stunning walking trail around this beautiful stretch of coastline. With the path running through 2 World Heritage Sites, a Biosphere Reserve, a Global Geopark, 4 Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance), 7 Special Protection Areas; 21 Marine Conservation Zones; 14 Special Areas of Conservation; 7 National Nature Reserves, and numerous Local Nature Reserves, it’s not surprising that this coastal path is of real significance to the local area and its wildlife. For example, the once-familiar Chough now has just 500 breeding pairs across the UK, and the only population in England is found here in Cornwall. The South West Coastal Path and its verges provide the diverse mosaic of habitats required for insects which make up the diet of this now rare coastal bird. Careful management of the path is helping the Chough to make a recovery in England and they have now been sighted in other locations including North Devon and Somerset.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
As with every trip we provide, when you travel on this rail tour of England’s South West you will only stay in locally-owned hotels and guesthouses. The family-run guesthouse in Bath is a prime example, where you will be greeted by the husband and wife team who run this beautiful centrally-located guesthouse. Further on in the trip you will stay at accommodations owned and run by the region’s largest brewery, St Austell. The brewery invests heavily in creating beautiful locations to dine and stay, and of course enjoy its range of fine locally produced ales! The brewery is an important employer within the region, providing year round work for many people in this rural area through the various arms of its business and we’re proud to support them.

An option on this tour that we highly recommend is to join our local guide for a driver-guided tour of Cornwall. Louise’s knowledge of the area is second to none, getting you out to the places you simply can’t reach by rail. Combined with her bubbly personality and a penchant for a cream tea pitstop (!), this is one day out you will remember for years to come.

And don’t forget to check out the local artists in St Ives. The thriving creative industry here is incredible and we highly recommend supporting the local scene by purchasing your gifts and mementos here.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
We believe in fair opportunities and fair pay for all, and we expect our partners to share in this. Hospitality and tourism are hugely important in the South West of England and as such is a key source of employment. The ambition is to create career opportunities, not just seasonal jobs, and for this fair pay and training are critical.

We welcome travellers from all over the world and from every background. The South West of England takes a lot of influence from the multicultural mixing pot of London, from where so many visitors come, making it an open-minded and welcoming place for all.