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BritishIrish Touring Pricing & Information |
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This Sceptred Isle
A Grand Tour of fifteen days, this is ideal for the first
time visitor and for those who have been before but have perhaps not ventured
far out of London or from one particular area. Britain is a fortunate island,
blessed with a wealth of unrivalled scenic beauty, a depth that only five
thousand years of history can provide, and a variety of cultures bequeathed
by our numerous invaders. Pity about the climate! Still, our famous rain
is what makes this such a pretty country. Our tour is designed to bring
you the very best of Britain, from shimmering lakes to towering mountains,
from thatched cottage villages to quaint harbours, from sheep covered rolling
hills to medieval towns and cities. On leisurely days and fun evenings you'll
discover the people, the history, the landscape and our culture, and see
why Shakespeare so unabashedly called it 'this demi-paradise, this other
Eden'.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Sun) London - South Wales
Departing London we head Southwest, using the
freeway to clear the city, and what more fitting introduction to
the UK's ancient landscape and history than pre-historic Stonehenge?
We drive across the tomb-covered Salisbury Plain to this incredible
monument, with stops en route to sample the full flavour of the pretty
counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire and your first taste of travelling
the back-roads. In the afternoon, a contrast: Georgian Bath where,
after an orientation drive around the city, you will be free to explore,
perhaps with a visit to the Roman Baths and Pump Room, a fabulous
reminder of times past. From here we head over the Severn Bridge
into Wales.
Day 2 (Mon) South Wales
Today will be spent exploring the beautiful
Vale of Glamorgan. We will drive through Cardiff, the capital of
Wales, on our way to visit the little market town of Cowbridge where
the actor Anthony Hopkins went to school. The Valley of Kings and
Merlin's school, rugged coastline and sandy beaches are also on this
morning's itinerary. After lunch there's a 12th century castle with
its very own stepping-stones across the River Ewenny. If we cross
the stepping stones and follow the footpath, we'll find ourselves
in the picturesque thatched cottage village of Merthyr Mawr. A short
distance away are the second largest sand dunes in Europe. We will
also visit the Rhondda Valleys for which Wales is famous ('How Green
Was My Valley?') and the Roman ruins at Caerleon. This evening there
is an optional visit to a Welsh Cultural Banquet.
Day 3 (Tue) South Wales - Ruthin
The Welsh Marches and English Borders. Due
to the distance that we have to cover and the slower country roads,
there will be quite a lot of driving time today. Our first stop
is Chepstow Castle, the oldest stone castle in Wales with its magnificent
position right on the River Wye. From here, we follow the picturesque
River Wye Valley, briefly stopping at the impressive ruins of Tintern
Abbey, before continuing north towards Monmouth, birthplace of
Henry V. Our route today often crosses Offa's Dyke, the 9th century
man-made border between England and Wales. Continuing northwards
we will lunch in the border town of Ludlow, home of one of the
great Marcher fortresses. Ludlow also has a feast of old buildings,
from Tudor through to Georgian. This afternoon, we'll explore the
beautiful Shropshire countryside, before heading back into Wales
where a visit to Llangollen, home of the International Musical
Eisteddfod, will end the afternoon.
Day 4 (Wed) Ruthin
The breathtaking scenery of the Snowdonia
National Park and the fabulous North Wales coastline is on today's
itinerary. We visit the enchanting Italianate village of Portmeirion.
It was created by Sir Clough William-Ellis between 1925-1972 and
stands in a stunning spot on its own wooded peninsula next to the
tidal sands of Traeth Bach. We'll also take a steam train ride
before heading to the coast and the Victorian resort of Llandudno
where you'll have time for a paddle & an ice cream before we
head back to our base.
Day 5 (Thu) Ruthin - Cumbria
We'll take a brief look at the walled town
of Roman Chester before we head north, through the beautiful Lancashire
dales, to the land of Beatrix Potter and the Lakeland poets. Although
we have a long drive this morning, the sights that await us in
the Lake District are well worth it. There's Windermere, the largest
and most famous of the Lakes and the smaller Ullswater to mention
just two. We'll visit one of Wordsworth's homes, see prehistoric
stone circles and some unbelievable scenery.
Day 6 (Fri) Cumbria - Edinburgh
Bonnie Scotland! Land of Heather, tartans,
whisky and bagpipes! Our first stop is at Gretna Green, famous
for being the place to which young lovers would elope to be married.
We'll take a picturesque drive through the forests of the border
country to the historic town of Selkirk, where we will have lunch.
From Selkirk it is but a short drive to the impressive home of
Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford. He bought the house in 1812 and died
there twenty years later. We will have time to explore the house
as well as the gardens and grounds. If time allows we'll make a
short visit to Melrose and its abbey before turning north to Edinburgh,
our base for the next three nights.
Day 7 (Sat) Edinburgh
Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. Edinburgh
Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, Prince's Street and the
New Town - all under the shadow of Arthur's Seat. This is a day
of 'organised independence' and you will be free to explore this
exciting and vibrant city at leisure having enjoyed a full briefing
from your guide/companion. Dinner is not included tonight to allow
you to take advantage of theatre visits if wished.
Day 8 (Sun) Edinburgh
The Royal Kingdom of Fife is the subject of
today's explorations. We'll see the prison castle of Mary, Queen
of Scots, located on an island in the middle of Loch Leven. We'll
visit the Royal Palace of Falkland, which contains the oldest Royal
Tennis Court in Britain. Also on today's itinerary is St. Andrew's,
home of golf. This is a fascinating seaside town and you will have
time to explore the cathedral ruins, the castle, the town itself
and perhaps even a visit to the golf museum. Later this afternoon
we'll explore tiny little fishing villages which hug this North
Sea coast. This evening we'll dine out and perhaps sample some
of the wonderful locally caught fresh fish.
Day 9 (Mon) Edinburgh - Yorkshire Moors
Heading south, our first stop is at Jedburgh
where you will have time to visit the local woollen mill. We'll
also find abbey ruins, the castle jail and Mary Queen of Scots'
house which is open to visitors. From here it is only a short drive
to the English border where we'll visit some Roman remains on part
of the great wall built by Emperor Hadrian to protect England from
the fierce Picts north of the border. The market town of Hexham
once suffered frequent raids by the marauding Scots. Today it is
a bustling town where we will lunch before continuing our journey
south, through picturesque Northumberland to our farmhouse base
on the North Yorkshire Moors. Day 10 (Tue) Yorkshire Moors
The fabulous Viking city of York. It has much
to offer its visitors from the magnificent Minster to the medieval
Shambles. After a walking tour, you'll be free to explore at leisure.
Also on today's itinerary are Rievaulx Abbey, Helmsley and (when
open) Tristam Shandy's Coxwold.
Day 11 (Wed) Yorkshire Moors - Chatsworth
Estate
Continuing our journey south, we travel via
Ripon, Harrogate and Yorkshire mill towns to the Bronté sisters'
home at Haworth. Here you'll have time to explore before we move
on to the Peak District, a beautiful and much under-rated part
of England. We'll visit the spa town of Buxton in the 'dark' Peak
before making our way to our base for the next two nights on the
Chatsworth Estate.
Day 12 (Thu) Chatsworth Estate
Today we concentrate on exploring more of
the Peak District. Our day will include visits to the Duke of Devonshire's
Stately Home at Chatsworth and the more modest, although equally
stunning Haddon Hall* owned by the Duke of Rutland, rural Derbyshire
villages, 'well-dressing' folk custom in season and the 'blue john'
mining town of Castleton. (* not open in October).
Day 13 (Fri) Chatsworth Estate - London
On this, our final day, and our journey through this Sceptred Isle simply has to include Stratford-upon-Avon. We'll visit some Shakespearean sites, including Anne Hathaway's cottage and the more interesting home of Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden. Leaving the bard's town behind we continue south, first seeing the tomb of another great Englishman, Winston Churchill, near Blenheim Palace. Then we touch the eastern Cotswolds with a visit to Chipping Norton and some smaller honey villages of this picturesque region. It's a full and exciting day and a fitting climax to our two-week adventure. The day and your holiday ends in London where you will be dropped off at our west London hotel base. Dinner not included tonight but you'll enjoy dining at one of the local restaurants or pubs in the area.
Tour Include:
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