FORK AND CORK TRAVEL PRESENT

ALTERNATIVE TOURS OF THE WEST COUNTRY

FOR LOVERS OF GOOD FOOD. DRINK. ART. LITERATURE. MYTHOLOGY. AND A BIT OF ROCK AND ROLL.

A week long tour through the alternative west

staying at great hotels, eating fantastic food and exploring some fantastic drinks, artisan ciders, beer and natural wine. we will take you to our favourite places on earth, gardens, galleries, fantastic restaurants, markets. cider farms, breweries.

you will see the real somerset, meet some incredible characters and there will be music!

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what makes our tours great

we ran the best pubs and restaurants in somerset for over 20 years before moving to portugal to open a hotel. so we know the area suppliers, restaurants and special places better than anybody!

now we want to show you what we miss and love

somerset is the home of many artisans who love the beautiful countryside, alternative lifestyle and sense of freedom

meet our friends who make the best drinks, cook the best food, make the best art

after 23 years of living in somerset and owning four amazing businesses we have met the most interesting knowledgeable folk that you’ll love.

This is a tour that we would love ourselves we are literally taking you to all our favourite places

what will you get up to?

eat and drink at some of the best hidden secret restaurants, all food included.

stay at boutique comfortable hotels with lovely breakfasts

we will dine in some of the more experimental restaurants that are using fermentation and natural products as well as the most traditional of somerset pubs.

we will be having some wine, beer and cider tastings

also some cooking demonstrations and some participation in art and literature

visite the most amazing contemporary gardens and art gallery

visiting the most rock and roll cider farm “my favourite place on earth” joe strummer

we will explore the mysticism and legends of glastonbury with tor the world famous tour guide

will will be visiting the biggest artisan market in the uk with food antiques and music

there will be a “hot fuzz” tour of the cathedral town of wells. you are advised to watch the film before coming

alternative “bad bath” tour and plenty of time to look round the city of bath

we will arrange some very good music

we will be shopping at some of the best upmarket discount outlets in the uk

eating in bristols container restaurant area, discovering some exotic flavours

were packing a lot in! but still some time to relax and do your own thing, even though it seems a bit hectic this will be a laid back tour aligning with the gentle rhythms of the west country, everyone at there own pace.

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Liz Hey

host with the most
Mark Hey

if there’s something good going on i will find it
about us

hi we are mark and liz, we have been in the hospitality business for a long time, we are both hailing from London moving to somerset in the late 90s, first purchasing the derelict wookey hole inn, near wells and the famous caves, complete overhauling making it much bigger and adding bedrooms, it became the busiest food pub is somerset. boasting the largest Belgium beer selection in the uk on draught.
we then bought the devonshire arms. in long sutton a old coaching inn, we revamped it and filled it with great art. to some locals distaste it must be added.
then we bought the sheppey pub on the somerset levels, that became a magnet for great musicians and lots of celebrities. some of the clash and nicholas cage were locals
we then decided, mainly because of brexit and secondly covid to move to the sunny algarve and start a new adventure.
we now have a small hotel above tavira called casa paz and have been happily here near the Spanish border for five years. planting trees and working on the land and accommodation. there is always something to do.
we have guest from all over europe and the americas which makes it quite interesting and fun to get to know new faces .
mark djs on totally wired radio once a month as DJ Haré and hosts a melodic soul show.
link below

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UPCOMING TOURS

1st may 2026 spring tour of alternative somerset

meet in bristol, uk

we will all meet in bristol at a central hotel for ease, we feel it would be better to stay in a central location to gather. let everyone relax and meet after their journeys . eat somewhere interesting and be ready and rested for the mini bus to wells the next morning. we spend two nights in englands smallest city historic Wells. then on monday we move to Somerton the ancient Saxon town in Somerset, once the Royal Capital of Wessex which is very central to a lot of trips. on the thursday we travel to bath for Bath for some unusual tours, pubs, amazing food and shopping.. friday we say goodbye and ferry everyone to there place of departure . we need people to be able and happy to de reasonably mobile for the tour as it does entail some walking and exertion every day and also willing to participate in a tipple or two. we can cater for reasonable dietary needs if you tell us in advance. this is the first time we’ve done this tour. but after living in the area for 20+ years and being in very busy hospitality we can guarantee its going to be brilliant. if you’d like to check out our reviews google search casa paz. tavira or click on the link casapaz

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2nd oct 2026 autumn tour of alternative somerset

meet in bristol, uk

A Sneak Peek at Your Week: Culture, Character & a Few Tales...

Your journey begins in Bristol, the gritty, creative harbour city that birthed Banksy. We’ll gather, relax, and raise a glass in a proper Bristolian pub where the tales are as long as the bar.

From there, we dive deep into the countryside:

· In Wells, you’ll stroll around the moat of the oldest inhabited medieval palace in England and hear the evensong choir echo through Britain’s most beautiful Gothic cathedral. We’ll raise a pint in a pub that’s been serving wayfarers since the 15th century. Stay in a hotel featured in hot fuzz and do the tour. We might even arrange a screening

We will visit Frome and its amazing Sunday market, with music, food, antiques, many many artisan sellers and so much more

· No trip to the alternative West Country is complete without a pilgrimage to Glastonbury. And we don't mean the festival! We'll spend a day with our incredible friend, Tor of Tor Tours, who will guide us through the powerful myths and legends of this unique town. You'll experience the transformative White Spring, climb the iconic Tor for breathtaking views that feel otherworldly, and explore the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, the legendary resting place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. This is a day of powerful stories and stunning landscapes.

· In Somerton, the ancient Saxon capital of Wessex, you’ll feel the history under your feet. This is the heart of King Alfred’s kingdom, a place of myth and quiet charm, perfectly positioned for our adventures. This will be our base for three days from where we will visit, Hauser and worth the amazing international gallery and gardens in Bruton. Tour the newt’s amazing gardens and have lunch in there award winning experimental garden restaurant. We will also visit pubs so old they don’t have bars, see some brewery’s at work and have a tasting.

· And in Bath, we’ll show you more than the Roman Baths. We’ll explore the city Jane Austen called home (and maybe complained about!), discover the independent shops that line its gorgeous Georgian streets, and find the pubs where the city’s modern artists and writers unwind.

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