Itinerary for: Amazing Britain 2010 (BHIL)
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Coventry
- Pitlochry
- York
- Durham
- Hadrian's Wall
- Jedburgh
- Edinburgh
- St. Andrews
- Culloden Moor
- Loch Ness
- Glencoe
- Glasgow
- Grasmere
- Chester
- Wye Valley
- Bath
- Stonehenge
- Salisbury
Day 1:
A warm welcome from our Tour Director as we drive through the rolling Cotswolds Hills to Stratford-upon-Avon. Here we visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and see Anne Hathaway’s cottage before continuing to Coventry where we view the two cathedrals – one was bombed into a ruin during the Second World War and the other has risen from its ashes. We will also see the statue of Lady Godiva – said to have ridden naked through the streets of the city, before continuing to Viking York.
Here we will enjoy a walking tour of the city highlighting the ancient walls, the Mansion House, the picturesque Shambles and the magnificent York Minster. Then on to our hotel in Harrogate where we enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with our Tour Director and fellow travellers. (Dinner)
Hotel: Holiday Inn
Day 2:
This morning we are off to Durham, which is dominated by its 11th century Norman cathedral, its castle overlooking Palace Green and other fine buildings surrounded by the picturesque River Wear. Time to explore this small but magnificent city. Then we stop to take pictures of a section of the Roman construction known as Hadrian’s Wall before driving through the Northumberland National Park. Then we cross the Scottish border at Carter Bar for spectacular views and pause to view the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey before arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland’s elegant capital. (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Holiday Inn North
Day 3:
Included on our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide this morning are many fascinating highlights. The Royal Mile, views of Holyrood House and Arthur’s Seat, Princes Street, the Scottish Parliament and a visit to Edinburgh Castle is included. There may be the opportunity to visit the nearby Rosslyn Chapel just south of the city– which retains an aura of mystery with its many references to the Knights Templar and Freemasonry – but more recently an important feature of the ‘Da Vinci Code’. During the Edinburgh Festival we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. (Full breakfast)
Day 4:
After breakfast today, we drive across the Forth Bridge to the famous golf course at St. Andrews on the Fife coast where we stop to take a picture at the 18th hole! Then on to the Scottish Highlands and over the River Tay to visit charming Pitlochry village, renowned for its salmon. In fact there is a dam across the river which has a ‘fish ladder’ enabling the salmon to make their way upstream to spawn. Then to our hotel in the village of Laggan where we enjoy a traditional Highland Highlight Dinner including the ceremony of ‘piping in the haggis’, a unique Scottish tradition. (Full breakfast / Highlight dinner)
Hotel: Laggan Country Hotel
Day 5:
This morning we drive to Culloden Moor where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated by the redcoats. We visit the famous battlefield before continuing to Loch Ness – keep your eyes open for the monster! – and we stop here to take pictures from the shores. On to Fort William where we will see Ben Nevis – Britain’s highest mountain – before driving on to Glencoe. Finally we reach Loch Lomond en route to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow – once one of the most important shipbuilding cities in the world! (Full breakfast)
Hotel: Radisson SAS
Day 6:
After an orientation tour of Glasgow featuring George Square we drive through the Southern Uplands to Gretna Green. Here eloping couples married against their parents’ wishes! Now into the English Lake District to Grasmere where the great English poet William Wordsworth lived and wrote his most well-known poem ‘The Daffodils’. We’ll see his grave in the churchyard of St. Oswald’s Church. We then drive to spectacular Lake Windermere, which is the largest natural lake in England - being 10½ miles long and 1¼ miles across at its widest point with a depth of up to 220 feet. During our journey today our Tour Director will share with us the location of a special Hidden Treasure before we arrive at our hotel. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Holiday Inn Lancaster
Day 7:
This morning after breakfast our first stop will be in Chester where our walking tour will take in the Roman Walls, the cathedral and the black and white Tudor arcaded buildings known as the ‘Rows’. From here we cross into Wales and the Wye Valley to view the ruins of the 12th century Tintern Abbey, which was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain and the first in Wales. It is one of the most spectacular ruins in the country and inspired Wordsworth’s poem ‘Tintern Abbey’ and more than one painting by the great British painter, J.M.W Turner. Finally we drive into Bristol, the city particularly associated with the extraordinary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. This evening, as it is our last evening together, we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner with our Tour Director and fellow travellers. (Full breakfast / Farewell dinner)
Hotel: Marriott City Centre
Day 8:
We head to the beautiful city of Bath to enjoy the superb Georgian architecture and to visit the Roman Baths and see the famous waters. Then we cross Salisbury Plain and visit the mysterious and imposing monoliths at Stonehenge. Then on to Salisbury where we have time to admire the cathedral and its spire – the tallest in Britain! Finally, we return back to London where our tour must come to an end and we must bid farewell to our Tour Director and touring friends. (Full breakfast)