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PRE & POST CRIMEFEST TRIPS

9-20 May, 2014: Cornwall, Devon, Lacock, CRIMEFEST, Oxford & Bletchley Park
(The Agatha Christie Greenway, Lacock, and the Oxford/Bletchley Park/Heathrow excursions are available as individual trips.)

The CRIMEFEST trips are organised by Tours of Discovery, a much respected company that has built a reputation for high quality tours throughout the United Kingdom. To ensure the best possible experience, all excursions include the services of select, qualified Blue Badge guides—the only national tourist guide qualification. In addition to author appearances at CRIMEFEST, the tour includes the participation of five speakers whose works are featured in the itinerary. (Names to be confirmed.)

Unless otherwise specified, the trips below are part of an eleven-day holiday package that includes all transport, accommodation, the cost of every excursion, a full CRIMEFEST Pass (including the Gala Awards Dinner), and most meals.

Thursday 8 May: Depart for London
Participants make their own flight arrangements. Plan to arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport no later than 8.00 a.m. on Friday 9 May to transfer by coach to Paddington Station. Alternatively meet at Paddington Station at no later than 11.00 a.m.

Friday 9 May: Independent arrivals
Meet at London Heathrow or Paddington Station (see above for times) and board the train for Penzance, a fitting start to our Cornish holiday. Agatha Christie said ‘Trains have always been one of my favourite things’ and she features them in several of her mysteries—including 4.50 from Paddington. Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway features in Emily Barr’s The Sleeper, Debby Fowler’s The Silver Sea and many Cornish novels. Following the arrival at the Hotel Penzance—the base for the next three nights—there is a welcome reception which includes dinner. (Reception and dinner included.)

Saturday 10 May: St Ives and the Penwith Peninsula
Explore the delights of the Penwith Peninsula. Visits include Porthcurno, the Minack theatre (setting of Robert Richardson’s The Dying of the Light) and Land’s End. Lunch is at a pub in Zennor, a tiny Cornish village steeped in history and mystery that has inspired writers including Helen Dunmore, Jessica Mann, W.J. Burley and many others. The afternoon is set aside for time at leisure in St. Ives, the setting for Debby Fowler novels, Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers and W.J. Burley’s Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery. Visit the Tate Gallery or some of the many smaller galleries in the town and wander through the quaint streets. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)

Sunday 11 May: Penzance, Newlyn and Mousehole
Visit the coastal settlements of Penzance and hear about numerous writers who have featured this part of the Penwith Peninsula in their novels. Then travel to the charming fishing port and artists’ community of Newlyn where Janie Bolitho bases her painter detective Rose Trevelyan, before going on to nearby Mousehole, the setting for Robert Richardson’s fictional Porthennis in the Dying of the Light. There will be time to wander around this idyllic fishing harbour with its narrow streets where art galleries and cafes abound.
Visit historic St Michael’s Mount, iconic home of the St Aubyn family, set on a rock cut off at high tide, steeped in legend and mystery and providing a setting for Debby Fowler’s The Silver Sea and Rosamunde Pilcher’sThe Shell Seekers. (Lunch is at leisure. Breakfast and dinner included.)

Monday 12 May: Helford, Falmouth and Truro
Depart the Penzance hotel for a cruise along the Helford river to Frenchman’s Creek (weather permitting), setting for the Daphne du Maurier novel of the same name. A favourite haunt of du Maurier, the river is a haven for wildlife and on the way you may well see dolphins, basking sharks or seals. The cruise ends in Falmouth. W.J. Burley was born here and the Wycliffe TV series, based on Burley’s novels, was filmed in and around Falmouth. The Sleeper by Emily Barr is set here. From Falmouth, travel to Padstow via the county town of Truro. Dine at the Treglos Hotel, base for the next two nights. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.)

Tuesday 13 May: St. Austell and Fowey
Enjoy a private visit to the fine Elizabethan home of the Prideaux-Brune family. Films and television programmes filmed at Prideaux Place include Rosamunde Pilcher’s Coming Home and W. J. Burley’s Wycliffe. Travel by way of St Austell to Fowey, passing the ‘Cornish Alps’, which Robert Goddard described as providing ‘hazardous geographical features’ so compelling that they had to be used his novel Fault Line. Fowey and the surrounding area provided the inspiration for several of Daphne du Maurier’s books including Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel and The Birds. Visit the Daphne du Maurier Centre and wander along the waterfront before returning for dinner at the hotel. (Lunch at leisure. Breakfast and dinner included.)

Wednesday 14 May: Tintagel, Greenway and Bristol
Depart from the Treglos hotel after breakfast and visit Tintagel Castle, a 13th-century ruin, built by the Earl of Cornwall and set on a headland high above the ferocious North Cornish Sea. Isolated on what is virtually an island, the castle is reached by more than a hundred steps; it is the perfect spot for one of the UK’s most romantic legends. Tintagel is allegedly the home of King Arthur, Excalibur and the Knights of the Round Table. This dramatic setting concludes the Cornwall stay, and the tour moves to Devon for a visit to Greenway. The country home of Agatha Christie, Greenway provided the setting for Dead Man’s Folly, Five Little Pigs and Ordeal by Innocence. A tour of the property will be led by John Curran, author of Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks. (Those who have previously visited Greenway may prefer an escorted side-trip to the nearby historic market town of Totnes.) End the day by travelling across the Somerset Levels to Bristol, and settling in at the Bristol Marriott Royal, the CRIMEFEST convention hotel. (Dinner at leisure. Breakfast and lunch included.)

Thursday 15 May: Lacock and CRIMEFEST
Before CRIMEFEST’s afternoon start enjoy a morning tour of the eight-hundred-year-old village of Lacock. Used as a location in many television programmes and feature films such as Pride and Prejudice, Cranford and the Harry Potter series, the village is unspoilt and reflects the history and architecture of a village whose wealth was based on wool. Visit the Abbey and go on an audio journey through its past, learn of the pioneer photographer, Fox Talbot, or stroll in the beautiful woodland garden. Return to Bristol in time for the opening of CRIMEFEST. (Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner at leisure. To purchase tickets for the (optional) meal for the Pub Quiz visit www.crimefest.com/register.html.)

Friday, 16 May: CRIMEFEST
(Lunch and dinner at leisure. Breakfast and CRIMEFEST-hosted CWA Shortlist Reception included.)

Saturday, 17 May: CRIMEFEST
(Lunch at leisure. Breakfast and CRIMEFEST Gala Awards Dinner included.)

Sunday 18th May: CRIMEFEST, Cotswolds and Oxford
After CRIMEFEST’s closing Criminal Mastermind Quiz, depart Bristol and drive through the picturesque scenery of the Southern Cotswolds to Oxford. The university city of Oxford has inspired many writers of crime fiction. On a walking tour discover the Oxford of Inspector Morse, Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey. Alternatively join a literary walking tour or one visiting historic university buildings. You can also browse in the bookshops, visit museums or wander through the colleges. A special guest will attend the dinner at the Oxford Hotel, base for the next two nights. (Lunch at leisure. Breakfast and dinner included.)

Monday 19 May: Enigma and Bletchley Park
Visit Bletchley Park, which will observe its 75th anniversary by opening some newly restored historic buildings to the public for the first time. Home of the British National Codes Centre, Bletchley Park was the site of secret British code-breaking activities during World War Two and was the birthplace of the modern computer. Robert Harris’s Enigma portrays the code-breaking of the German Enigma ciphers during the war. Return to Oxford a farewell dinner. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)

Tuesday 20 May: Depart and transfer to Heathrow Airport
Following breakfast transfer to London Heathrow Airport for your departure. Please schedule flights for after 1.00 p.m. to enjoy a private transfer. Alternatively—or in case of extended visits—there are regular buses directly from Oxford to Heathrow. (Breakfast included.)

Included in the full tour price:
- Accommodation for all eleven nights in four-star hotels
- All breakfasts, four lunches, and eight dinners, including the CRIMEFEST Awards Gala
- Transport from and to Heathrow Airport, and for all excursions
- The services of a qualified Blue Badge guide throughout the trip
- All entrance fees including a full weekend CRIMEFEST pass
- Tips to hotels and restaurants, including porterage at hotels
(Excludes discretionary gratuities for the Blue Badge and coach driver.)