SCENIC BRITAIN 11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS
Day 1:
Tour begins 2:00 PM at your Windsor hotel. Visit Windsor Castle, residence of The Queen and the largest inhabited castle in the world. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner. Then take a brief evening walk around this compact and historic town with a local guide.
(D)
Day 2:
Marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge and learn about the primitive builders who managed to create such an enduring monument. Stop in Salisbury, a charming old city where the cathedral boasts the tallest spire in England. Arrive in Tavistock, a market town on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park.
(B, D)
Day 3:
Travel through Bodmin Moor, an area of unspoiled natural beauty, stopping for photos at Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne du Maurier's tale of smugglers. Explore Lanhydrock House, a late-Victorian country house with grand rooms and servants’ quarters. In Plymouth see the Mayflower Steps and enjoy a short cruise around the harbor. Spend the evening independently in Royal William Yard, former Royal Navy buildings that now host a range of restaurants and bars.
(B)
Day 4:
Visit the coastal village of Marazion to see the majestic outline of St Michael’s Mount, an important pilgrimage destination. In St. Ives enjoy a walking tour of the main sights and admire the array of beautiful sandy beaches surrounding the town. Enjoy some free time to browse around before returning to your hotel in Tavistock.
(B, D)
Day 5:
Explore Bath and tour the wonderfully preserved Roman Baths renowned for its mineral-rich hot springs, popular 2,000 years ago. Head to Cardiff for a sightseeing tour around the city center. Tour Cardiff Castle before sitting down for a Welsh banquet with dinner and lively entertainment.
(B, D)
Day 6:
Travel through the Brecon Beacons National Park to Hay-on-Wye, a town famous for books. Continue to Shrewsbury, a picturesque town near the English/Welsh border. Take a walking tour with the town crier to see black-and-white buildings that line the narrow streets. Travel through Cheshire to your hotel in Chester.
(B, D)
Day 7:
Drive across the Horseshoe Pass for wonderful vistas. Visit a farm to see trained dogs herding sheep, then travel to Conwy, a medieval town dominated by a huge castle. Enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque streets and see the smallest house in Britain. In Chester, another walking tour will reveal medieval buildings and Roman walls.
(B, D)
Day 8:
Travel through the glorious Lake District, which inspired many of Beatrix Potter’s children’s books. Stop in the village of Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived and is buried. Stop at the Famous Blacksmith’s Shop in Gretna Green, a popular shopping venue for quality Scottish goods. At your hotel, enjoy a drink with your fellow travelers before a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment.
(B, D)
Day 9:
Explore central Edinburgh, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses where many famous writers and inventors lived. See the Royal Mile with its narrow medieval houses, and tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free. The July 29 – August 12 departures watch the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)
Day 10:
Tour Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and childhood home of the Queen Mother. Cross the modern Tay Bridge to the medieval town of St Andrews, ”the home of golf.” Enjoy a panoramic tour and spend some free time browsing on your own. Back in Edinburgh, head to a nearby pub for dinner with your group.
(B, D)
Day 11:
Your tour ends after breakfast.
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner