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courtesy of Back-Roads Touring Company
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“Back-Roads" is a
unique small group touring concept. We
offer memorable and flexible tours
through the UK & Europe, taking you
behind the tourist façade to discover
local charms, local heritage and
history. If you are travelling as an
individual, in a couple, with friends or
family members, we offer a relaxing
alternative to a large coach tour or
self-drive holiday, instead we travel in
comfortable mini-vans that can access
small country lanes and narrow cobbled
streets.
We believe travel is not about seeing
new destinations, it is about
experiencing them. We travel in small
groups of no more than 16 per departure,
travelling through the charming regions
in Europe with a specialist
driver/guide. We include more entrance
fees and meals than most, and stay in
local friendly accommodation that is
charming, traditional and unique in
character. We have designed our tours to
offer more flexibility and free time,
where you can relax and absorb your
local surroundings and discover the
local culture, delicious cuisine, and
ancient architecture. We believe you can
learn more about a country in 15 minutes
on the Back-Roads Touring tour than you
can in two hours on the freeway.”
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Hampton Court Flower Show
 The
magnificent setting of Hampton Court
Palace is a fantastic backdrop for the
world’s largest flower show. Packed with
ideas on how to grow your own, how to
nurture the environment and make the
most of your garden, the show combines
quality, innovation and creativity,
featuring spectacular show gardens and
stunning horticultural exhibitions. And
to make your visit special, we have
designed a delightful tour around this
iconic event, taking you to some of the
best homes and gardens in London and
Kent.
Day 1 Monday 4 July - Kent
Today we head out of London to the
world-famous gardens at Wisley, home of
the Royal Horticultural Society and a
trailblazer in garden design, innovation
and cultivation techniques. Every type
of garden is featured, and there are
beautiful water features and woodland
walks. This afternoon we head out into
Kent, our highlight being the wonderful
Hever Castle. The childhood home of Anne
Boleyn, Henry VIII’s ill-fated second
wife, this is all that a real castle
should be, from its gateway and
courtyard to its surrounding moat. The
garden comprises 30 acres of classical
and natural landscapes, including the
Italian Garden and the Rose Garden. You
can stroll through the Tudor Garden, the
Rhododendron Walk and along Anne
Boleyn’s Walk.
(D)
Day 2 Tuesday 5 July - Kent
We head to Sissinghurst to see Vita
Sackville-West’s world-famous home and
garden. The grounds have a formal
structure with extensive views, but a
sense of privacy has been achieved by
dividing the garden into separate
enclosures including the White Garden,
the Rose Garden, the Orchard and the
Cottage Garden. We are also able to
visit those parts of the house open to
the public. Next on to Chartwell,
Winston Churchill’s home. The house
contains a wonderful collection of
paintings, photographs and memorabilia,
while in the grounds there are beautiful
rose and water gardens, a restored
vegetable garden and wonderful
countryside walks offering stunning
views.
(B)
Day 3 Wednesday 6 July - West London
Today we spend much of the morning
exploring the world-famous Royal Botanic
Gardens of Kew, an absolute must on any
garden tour. Kew, which has just
celebrated its 250th anniversary, is
responsible for the world’s largest
collection of living plants, more than
30,000 species in all. And the
herbarium, also the largest in the
world, has over 7 million plant
specimens. There are many gardens and
stately homes along the banks of the
Thames, but for our afternoon visit we
have chosen Ham House, a magnificent
Stuart mansion with lavish interiors.
The beautiful gardens include the famous
Cherry Garden, the 17th century Orangery
and formal avenues of more than 250
trees.
(B/D)
Day 4 Thursday 7 July - The Hampton
Court Flower Show
Our last day is devoted to the Show,
Hampton Court Palace providing a
spectacular backdrop for what is the
world’s largest flower show. There is
something for everyone to enjoy, and you
can spend the day amidst the fine show
gardens and horticultural exhibitions.
After a wonderful day our tour finishes
back in London.
(B)
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The Chelsea Flower Show & The Homes and
Gardens of Kent and London
 The
highlight of the gardening year, the
Chelsea Flower Show, is the centre piece
of our garden-themed touring program.
This 7-day tour includes some of
London's most iconic gardens, an
escorted day at the Chelsea Flower Show
and an exploration into the homes and
gardens of Kent. Take inspiration from
the gardens, learn of their history from
our passionate guides and enjoy this
truly unique and fascinating tour.
Day 1 (Saturday 21 May) Wisley
RHS and Chartwell
Our 2011 tour begins with two of the
most popular and iconic of England’s
homes and gardens. Leaving London we
head first to Wisley, the world-renowned
home of the Royal Horticultural Society,
where you will have plenty of time to
explore the spectacular and varied
gardens. We will see the stunning
Glasshouse, housing over 5,000 varieties
of tropical plant, the Fruit Orchard,
the dramatic Rock Garden and a myriad of
fascinating horticultural innovations.
Winston Churchill's home of Chartwell
requires no introduction. What makes it
such a memorable visit is not only the
view from the garden which inspired his
painting, but the fact that the interior
is almost as he left it. You can almost
smell the cigars! Churchill loved the
house, especially the view over the
Weald of Kent, and he transformed the
grounds with new lakes and brickwork
built with his own hands.
(D)
Day 2 (Sunday 22 May) Ightham
Mote and Scotney Castle
Ightham Mote is deservedly one of the
most popular small gardens in the
region. Here you can explore 650 years
of history in one of the most complete
examples of a medieval moated manor
house. Those of you interested in
historical novels might remember it as
the setting for Anya Seton’s “Green
Darkness”. The house is surrounded by a
beautiful garden with lakes and
woodland, and the constant sound of
running water creates a charming
experience. Then on to Scotney Castle
which has been termed England's most
romantic garden, with Victorian terraces
covered in a riot of colored shrubs
overlooking a 14th century moated
castle. The estate, covering some 770
acres, is a delightful mix of woodland,
park and meadows and colorful displays
can be found through most of the
seasons.
(B)
Day 3 (Monday 23 May) Groombridge
Place, Hever Castle and Sissinghurst
Our first visit today is Groombridge
Place, whose beautiful and award-winning
gardens provide a fascinating mix of
traditional heritage garden and ancient
woodland. The formal walled gardens are
set against the romantic backdrop of a
medieval moat. In complete contrast, on
a hillside above lies the Enchanted
Forest, where quirky and mysterious
gardens have been imaginatively
developed. Hever Castle is certainly a
highlight today. Hever is many people's
idea of what a “real” castle should be,
from its gateway and courtyard to its
surrounding moat. Though dating back to
1270, and being the family home of one
of Henry VIII's ill-fated wives (Anne
Boleyn), it also has a relatively
contemporary feel provided by the Astors,
who took over and restored the castle in
the early part of the last century. With
a 30-acre garden, including a unique
Italian garden filled with roses and
statues, there's plenty to admire here.
Then we travel on to the fabulous
Sissinghurst Castle and Vita
Sackville-West's world-famous garden,
which requires no introduction to garden
enthusiasts. You'll have plenty of time
to explore this intimate and intricate
garden and to visit those parts of her
home open to the public.
(B/D)
Day 4 (Tuesday 24 May)
Merriments, Great Dixter and Pashley
Manor
This region is blessed with delightful
homes and gardens. Merriments Gardens
is, in the words of the RHS Garden
Finder, “one of the best show gardens in
England”. It is a stunningly beautiful
four acres of densely-planted borders,
where the plants grown in the nursery
can be seen in an imaginative garden
context. Another icon is Great Dixter,
the largest half-timbered house in
England. But it is the garden that
really grabs the attention with its wild
meadows and famed Long Border. A
fabulous mix of yew topiary, meadow
flowers, natural ponds and the wonderful
Exotic Garden, it is one that cannot be
missed. Then on to Pashley Manor, the
very essence of an English Garden.
Surrounding a wonderful timber-framed
Tudor house dating from around 1550, the
gardens are a fabulous blend of romantic
landscaping, imaginative plantings, fine
trees, fountains and springs, displaying
many eras of English history.
(B)
Day 5 (Wednesday 25 May) Kew
Gardens and Ham House
Our London day concentrates on some of
the gardens and stately homes that run
along the banks of the Thames to the
west of the city like a string of
pearls. We'll begin our day in the famed
Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, which is
responsible for the world’s largest
collection of living plants. These
living collections include more than
30,000 different kinds of plant. A world
heritage site, the gardens and
magnificent glasshouses are located in
121 hectares of stunning vistas, set in
a beautiful landscape beside the Thames.
A short distance away, under the
watchful eye of Richmond Hill, sits Ham
House. This magnificent Stuart mansion,
with its lavish 17th century interiors,
can boast one of the last-remaining
formal Dutch gardens. The extensive and
beautiful gardens include the
much-photographed Cherry Garden, pots
and tubs, colourful flower borders and
an Orangery.
(B/D)
Day 6 (Thursday 26 May) Chelsea
Flower Show
The world famous CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW is
our central feature of the day.
(B)
Day 7 (Friday 27 May) Savill
Garden and Cliveden
Today we visit the Chilterns, a region
of the UK that can truly be described as
a hidden secret. The Savill Garden near
Windsor is one of Britain’s greatest
ornamental gardens, enjoyed by
horticulturalists and enthusiasts alike,
who come to explore its 35 acres of
contemporary and classically-designed
gardens and exotic woodland. Then on to
Cliveden, known particularly for its
links with the Astors, with its
magnificent series of formal gardens
overlooking the River Thames, each with
its own style and character. The
spectacular estate features roses,
topiary, statuary, water gardens, formal
parterres, with woodland and riverside
walks. And glimpse the famous balustrade
which graces the terrace of the house,
acquired by the Astors from the Villa
Borghese in Rome. Our tour then
concludes in London
(B)
This tour will start at 08.30am from:
The Lancaster Gate Hotel 66 Lancaster
Gate, London W2 3NA
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Heart of
England
 Historic heroes, ancient sites and regal
castles meet with picturesque villages
and towns on this insightful
introduction to southern England's most
engaging people and places. This
leisurely small group tour explores
historical region away from the crowds.
We enjoy Shakespeare's Stratford,
magnificent of Oxford and the Georgian
city of Bath as well as visiting some of
Britain’s best known historical sites,
including Stonehenge the well preserved
castle at Windsor and Churchill's
Blenheim Palace. There is no better
introduction to England for first time
or returning travelers, and Back-Roads
offer a unique experience as we travel
along the country lanes and stay in
traditional accommodation so you can
really absorb this country’s cultural
heritage.
Day 1 Cotswolds
Check out of the hotel and make your way
to the Hyde Park Inn, 66 Lancaster Gate
for an 8:30am departure. Relax as we
travel through the beautiful English
countryside on our journey to the famous
university city of Oxford where we walk
through the impressive sandstone
buildings as we wind our way to Christ
Church, Oxford’s grandest college. This
afternoon is a feast for literary
enthusiasts as we visit Shakespeare’s
Stratford-upon-Avon to discover the Ye
Olde England of the Bard’s birth and his
final resting place. We then enjoy a
short drive to Anne Hathaway’s cottage
en route to our delightful Cotswold
accommodation. Dinner is included
tonight.
Day 2 Bath
Today we explore the Cotswolds and its
honey coloured, picture postcard
villages littered with atmospheric
churches, traditional country inns and
lovely thatched cottages. Our day will
start with a visit to historic Blenheim
Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston
Churchill and the current home of the
Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. We then
traverse through the gentle timeless
rolling hills of the Cotswolds, stopping
at some of the exquisite village gems on
our way to the splendid city of Bath.
Day 3 Bath
Listed as a World Heritage Site, Bath is
truly one of Europe’s most attractive
cities and can boast the highest
concentration of listed buildings
anywhere in the UK. Spend the morning
exploring this Georgian city, visit the
recently restored Roman Baths, the
towering 11th century Abbey and Georgian
stone crescents. Literary enthusiasts
may choose to visit the engaging Jane
Austen Centre, which offers a snapshot
of life during Regency times and
explores how living in this magnificent
city affected Jane Austen’s life and
writing. During the day, we take a
journey to the nearby picturesque
village of Lacock. Both the village and
its Abbey have been used in TV and film
productions such as Pride and Prejudice,
The Other Boleyn Girl and Harry Potter.
Tonight we return to Bath for a
delicious local evening meal.
Day 4 Stonehenge/Windsor Castle
We say farewell to Bath and look forward
to more spectacular sights as we wander
through the back roads to visit the
great mystical construction of
Stonehenge, then on to the glorious city
of Salisbury to admire Britain’s tallest
cathedral spire. Our final destination
is a regal exploration to discover
Europe’s largest occupied fortress,
Windsor Castle, the favorite home of the
Queen. At the conclusion of a marvelous
day we return to London arriving at Hyde
Park at approximately 5:30pm.
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Corners
of Cornwall
 Gourmets will love the fine food,
history buffs will relish the
architecture, literature lovers will
delight in scenes straight from the
printed page and breathtaking views will
impress absolutely everyone. This is the
tour that has it all, but even its busy
schedule allows ample scope to embrace
the back roads and add a few adventures
of your own.
Day 1 Dorset
Check out of the hotel and make your way
to the Hyde Park Inn, 66 Lancaster Gate
for an 8:30am departure. We travel out
of London along the old stage-coach
route towards England's West Country to
visit the glorious city of Salisbury and
its magnificent 13th century cathedral
and chapter house, which holds one of
the few remaining copies of the Magna
Carta. We continue along the old Roman
route to the traditional county town of
Dorchester, made famous by Thomas
Hardy's novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge.
With its elegant 18th century houses,
broad walks and bustling shopping
streets, Dorchester has much to offer
the visitor. Just south of the town we
visit the largest prehistoric hill-fort
in Britain, home of an Iron Age tribe
that lived in the area before the Romans
arrived. This afternoon's drive will
take us along the UNESCO World Heritage
‘Jurassic Coast' to the home of fossils,
Lyme Regis. This unspoiled seaside
resort was once an important early port
and still retains its early medieval
harbor wall called the ‘Cob' where Meryl
Streep gazes out to sea in the film The
French Lieutenant's Woman. Overnight is
in Dorset and dinner is included.
Day 2 Cornwall
Our route this morning takes us through
Devon to the lovely south Cornish coast.
Here we visit the impossibly quaint
fishing village of Polperro where some
of the streets are so narrow you can
touch both sides while standing in the
middle. The region enjoys a temperate
climate and the British love of flowers
and plants is demonstrated by the number
of wonderful sub-tropical gardens in the
area. This afternoon we visit one of the
best, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a
19th century paradise re-discovered and
restored to its former glory. Our
afternoon drive winds its way along the
coast down country roads that show off
our ability to reach places that other
tour companies cannot, as we travel
towards our accommodation in a lovely
Cornish village.
Day 3 St Ives
This morning we visit one of Cornwall's
largest fortresses, Pendennis Castle,
built by Henry VIII to guard this
coastal region from Spanish or French
attack. Next, the lovely gardens of
Trebah that border the tranquil Helford
River. Why not enjoy lunch in the award
winning café before we make our way to
today's highlight, St Michael's Mount.
Legend says this fairytale island was
once the home of a giant. Discover its
medieval castle and delve into the
history of the fortress, its priory, and
harbor. Depending on the tide we follow
its cobbled causeway or take a small
boat to the island from the little
Cornish town of Marazion. From here we
take a short drive to our base for the
next three nights, in picturesque St
Ives. Dinner tonight is included.
Day 4 St Ives
Today is yours to explore this
delightful town at your own pace. Being
on a peninsula and surrounded by sandy
beaches, St Ives offers some great
walking opportunities and wonderful
views of the stunning coastal scenery.
St Ives has always attracted artists for
its light. A host of galleries have
sprung up; the most famous include the
Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth
Gallery, both well worth a visit. Even
if you do not have a passion for art,
you will find plenty to occupy you here
in the tangle of streets around the old
fishing harbor. Food lovers will enjoy
the vast array of local produce,
including the famous Cornish Pasties and
traditional Cornish cream teas.
Day 5 St Ives
More Cornish delights unfold as we
admire the stunning scenery and wide
vistas of sparkling blue sea on our
coastal drive towards Land's End,
situated on the westerly point of
Britain and surrounded by spectacular
views of the Atlantic Ocean. Our journey
takes us through this uniquely Cornish
colored landscape, where we visit
historic market towns, attractive
fishing villages and picturesque
riverside hamlets. Although it seems
hard to imagine now, Cornwall was once a
cradle of the Industrial Revolution and
its mining sites are a designated UNESCO
World Heritage Site. It is still
possible to spot ancient antiquities,
such as stone circles and remains of
Iron Age villages between Land's End and
Penzance, whilst Celtic crosses still
dot the Cornish countryside.
Day 6 Dartmoor
Today we glimpse the rugged north coast
of Cornwall. We will see several more
fishing villages including the
picturesque Port Isaac, featured in the
television series, Doc Martin and
gastronomic Padstow, the home of Rick
Stein's restaurant. We head inland
across windswept hills to the old
capital of Cornwall, Launceston, where
we visit Cornwall's grandest medieval
castle, supposedly the ‘White Castle' of
Arthurian legend. Our scenic drive takes
us back towards Dartmoor for tonight's
accommodation. Dinner is included
tonight.
Day 7 London
This morning we explore the high lanes
and sunken lanes of Devon's Dartmoor,
keeping our eyes open for the wild
ponies and daft sheep that have right of
way on many of the roads up here. We
have time for a few ‘Back Roads' stops
before driving to our last major
highlight of the tour, the cathedral
city of Wells in Somerset. This is the
smallest city in England and is often
said to have the most beautiful
cathedral. It may also have the best
preserved medieval precincts of any
cathedral in Europe. Your guide will
make sure that you see both and you will
also have some free time to explore the
local shops, or perhaps a coffee before
our return to London, Hyde Park at
approximately 5:30pm.
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Historical Kent & Sussex
 Explore
one of England’s loveliest regions, the
‘Home’ counties of Kent and Sussex,
where the prosperity of London meets a
pastoral landscape that goes back a
thousand years and more to the origins
of England and beyond. Charismatic Kent
(the ‘Garden of England’) and its
neighboring county of Sussex boast a
plethora of fascinating sites, beautiful
English countryside, dramatic coastline
and medieval towns and cities.
Day 1 Kent
We leave London to enjoy a day of two
pedigree places. First is Canterbury,
home to the Church of England and to the
Archbishops of Canterbury for 1400
years. Once the most important
pilgrimage destination in Britain, this
busy little city with its tangle of
medieval streets is mirrored in its
complex and enchanting cathedral, both
evocative of an England depicted in
Geoffrey Chaucer’s late 14th century
Canterbury Tales. After visiting the
cathedral, there is time for lunch and
to wander through the city before our
short journey to Dover Castle. This icon
of Fortress-Britain has a military
history that starts with a Roman
lighthouse and includes the Second World
War tunnels from which the Dunkirk
evacuations and the Battle of Britain
were directed. We tour the tunnels and
visit the Norman Keep in which Henry
VIII and other English kings stayed on
their way to and from European wars.
Before leaving we take time to see this
castle of castles from below, from where
it seems to perch, challenging all
aggressors, above Dover’s world-famous
white cliffs. Then sit back and relax as
we enjoy a Back-Roads journey through
the fruitful fields of Kent en route to
our characterful hotel for the next two
nights.
(D)
Day 2 Kent
Today we drop a gear or two as we travel
down country roads and car-width lanes
to the charming town of Rye. This once
important medieval port has been
fossilized by the silting of its river
and, in the last century, has attracted
writers and artists wanting a
picturesque backwater in which to work
and live. Unlike other pretty towns, Rye
has an old-fashioned feel to it and will
both spark your interest and satisfy
your nostalgia for a timeless England
long imagined. Next, a stop that will
surprise many of you! We visit a
boutique winery and learn more about the
local viniculture (akin to that of the
Champagne region) and more importantly,
taste their award-winning wines. Our
next destination will be a highlight for
many of you - Sissinghurst Gardens.
Imagine a moated castle that, over
centuries, is added to, altered, and
then reduced to a ruin. Then, imagine an
artistic lady from the English
aristocracy rebuilding disparate parts
of the home for her bohemian family and
connecting these with a ground-breaking
garden. You have conjured Sissinghurst.
Vita-Sackville West was that lady and
the world she created is still here and
preserved by the National Trust for
those who want to recapture the
rose-tinted England of the early 20th
century.
(B,D)
Day 3 Brighton
Our guide takes us on a walking tour of
the historic town of Royal Tunbridge
Wells to explore its charms, including
its most interesting quarter, the
Pantiles, where Tunbridge began, as one
of England’s most fashionable spa
resorts. We hear tales from England’s
profligate 17th and 18th century life
before being taken forward in time to
the days of the Jungle Book & the
British Raj and the Tudor manor house
(Batemans) that Kipling made his home in
the 1920s. From here we drive to the
Sussex coast to view the Seven Sisters
cliffs. Forget about Dover, these are
the real cliffs to see, their pristine
white contrasting with the cropped green
turf above. Then a change of pace as we
head to Brighton and visit the
incredible Royal Pavilion, a Regency
palace built for the profligate George
IV in an Indo/Chinese style, so that it
looks to belong in one of Kipling’s
stories. From a small fishing village
200 years ago, Brighton has grown into
Britain’s biggest seaside resort, a city
on a beach that has something for
everyone. Tonight, eat in one of its
hundreds of restaurants, perhaps
enjoying some local seafood. For the
less gastronomic minded, this is the
place in the South to have fish and
chips.
(B)
Day 4 London
This morning we have some free time to
enjoy the laid back city of Brighton.
Maybe enjoy a leisurely stroll to the
ever popular Brighton pier, with its
kiss-me-quick-hats and penny amusements,
or wander through The Lanes - the old
village of Brighton now full of
alleyways and quaint shops. We then
drive north and cross the South Downs,
site of numerous prehistoric camps to
make our way through Winnie the Pooh’s
Forest on to Hever Castle. This is a
castle to be lived in. Anne Boleyn and
her sister did when Henry VIII came
courting. Some years after executing
Anne he ensconced his discarded 4th
wife, Anne of Cleves, in the confiscated
castle. In the 20th century William
Astor bought Hever on emigrating to
Britain from America, which he thought
‘no longer fit for a gentleman to live
in’, and turned Hever into a place where
an English gentleman could. As well as
seeing all the rooms in this miniature
palace you can explore the extensive
gardens that Astor created, including a
maze and an Italian garden adorned with
ancient classical sculpture. From Hever
we return to London, from where the
English countryside we’ve travelled
through over the past four days will
quickly seem like a green dream – a true
miniature England.
(B)
Tour departures
This tour departs 0830am from and
returns approx 5.30pm from: Lancaster
Gate Hotel 66 Lancaster Gate, London W2
3NA
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Northern England - Lakes and Dales
 Our Lakes and Dales itinerary is
designed to introduce you to the very
lakes and hills that so inspired William
Wordsworth and other Lakeland poets and
authors, including Beatrix Potter, John
Ruskin and the landscapes of J W Turner.
We also explore the Lancashire and
Yorkshire dales, specifically the area
known universally as Bronte Country in
memory of the three Bronte sisters.
Day 1 Lake District
Departing the world’s first industrial
city of Manchester, we head north to the
Lake District - a treasured corner of
England with sweeping vistas and idyllic
glades. We travel through this stunning
scenery to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top
Farm, which remains as she had left it
and where she invented some of her best
loved characters. We then travel to one
of the finest stately homes in Cumbria,
Levens Hall. Converted from a medieval
peel tower to a gentleman’s home in the
1590s this house offers a fantastic
insight into aristocratic life. We enjoy
a tour of the house to view its
luxuriant rooms before roaming through
its grade I listed garden dating from
1694, incorporating a small orchard of
apple trees, a nuttery and herb garden,
a rose garden, herbaceous borders and a
fountain garden. More of the region
unfolds as we travel through to the
nearby town of Hawkshead where you might
choose to visit Beatrix Potter’s Gallery
or the Old Grammar School Wordsworth
once attended. The school’s museum
retains much of its original character
and the ground floor classroom still has
the original desk where this great poet
once sat. It’s a slight change of
scenery as we travel to the heart of the
Lake District and visit England’s
largest natural lake, Lake Windermere.
Here we enjoy a ferry ride across the
lake to admire its breathtaking
panorama. If time permits, there should
be an opportunity for a captivating
drive to Langdale, which has some of the
best scenery in the Lake District,
before arriving at our Lakes hotel, our
base for the next two nights.
(D)
Day 2 Lake District
We begin our adventurous day by calling
in at Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, where
he spent some time during his most
productive years. We gain a fascinating
insight into his life as we explore both
the house and adjoining museum. We then
enjoy a relaxing drive through some of
England’s most rugged landscape and
really immerse ourselves in the
breathtaking natural beauty of the Lake
District. We travel past Ullswater Lake
and over the Kirkstone Pass where we may
visit the second highest pub in England.
At the end of another wonderful day we
stop in the market town of Keswick
nestled on the shores of Derwentwater,
where you can explore its wide array of
local shops, galleries and unique
museums at leisure. We visit the nearby
mystical Neolithic stone circle at
Castlerigg before returning to our
accommodation.
(B)
Day 3 Yorkshire Dales
Today’s journey takes us from the drama
of the Lakes to the beauty of the
Yorkshire Dales landscape. We pass
through ancient villages wrapped in
rolling hills and the moorland
wilderness of the Pennines. This
landscape is rich in monastic heritage
and our stop at the World Heritage Site
of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
will offer plenty of opportunity for you
to explore its impressive grounds, which
boast the largest abbey ruins in England
and the magnificent Georgian Water
Gardens. If time permits we should be
able to pass through the old fashioned
town of Thirsk which inspired James
Herriot’s popular veterinary tales. Then
on to our charming accommodation before
enjoying a delicious local evening meal.
(B/D)
Day 4 York
Truly a day of contrasts, we start by
making the trip over the
heather-carpeted North York Moors to the
coastal town of Whitby and Captain Cook
country. This is the location of Bram
Stoker’s Dracula as well as being famous
for its picturesque harbor, fine beaches
and brooding Abbey. We recall the glory
days of steam with an optional train
trip from the station made famous by the
Harry Potter films. After an evocative
time travel experience we continue our
journey to decorous Castle Howard to
meander amongst the sumptuous 18th
century stately home and gardens of the
Howard family. Tonight we arrive in the
ancient stronghold of York.
(B)
DAY 5 Manchester
Our final day in Yorkshire is dominated
by the splendors of York. This
magnificent yet compact city
encapsulates the whole of England’s
history within its stone ramparts. York
offers a feast of sights for all ages
and interests, including England’s
greatest cathedral and well preserved
medieval streets. Following a walking
and orientation tour with your guide,
time is then yours to sample this city’s
highlights before we make our way to our
final destination. Crossing the moorland
heights we enter more rugged landscape
on our way to Hawarth, once home of the
Bronte sisters. Here we spend our
remaining time together exploring the
lives and surroundings of Anne, Emily
and Charlotte as well as discovering a
little more about the talented yet
tragic life of their brother Branwell.
Our tour then concludes in Manchester.
(B)
This tour departs at 0830 and drops off
at 1730 from: Willowbank Hotel 340
Wilmslow Road Manchester M14 6AF
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King
Arthur's West Country
Relive
Arthur’s reign and discover the tales of
Camelot with a tour so magical even
Merlin would be proud. Relive ancient
legends and explore Britain’s heritage
on this trail of intrigue and honor.
Explore ancient castles, travel through
Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen country and
step inside centuries-old settings of
romance as we pass through these ancient
and untouched lands in the West Country.
Day 1 Dorset/Devon
Departing London, we drive south-west
through Hampshire and to Thomas Hardy’s
much loved ancient kingdom of Wessex. We
stop in its capital Winchester, where a
replica of King Arthur’s Round Table is
on proud display in the only remaining
part of its castle, The Great Hall. We
take a gentle stroll to the city’s
remarkable 7th century cathedral
renowned for its architecture and hidden
treasures, including 12th-century wall
paintings, medieval carvings, the
Winchester Bible and Jane Austen's tomb.
Take time for a coffee before returning
to the coach for our delightful journey
into the lovely, quaint county of
Dorsetshire. This is real Back-Roads
country, where time has stood still
amidst the little villages and towns. We
visit the Cerne Abbas Giant before a
warm welcome in the local town of
Dorchester where Thomas Hardy spent part
of his working life and based a number
of his famous novels. From here we
travel along the ‘Jurassic coast’,
awarded World Heritage Site status and
famous for its geology and fossil finds
as we continue to our characterful
accommodation for our welcome meal.
(D)
Day 2 Devon
This morning is a real highlight in our
itinerary. We explore Jane Austen’s Lyme
Regis where she based parts of her novel
Persuasion and which was also the
setting for John Fowles’ The French
Lieutenant's Woman. Wander along its
18th century promenade, its famous Cobb
and ancient harbor that continues to
inspire writers and artists. We continue
our journey along the south Devon coast,
with its picturesque seaside towns and
fishing villages. Make sure you don’t
leave without sampling a traditional
clotted cream tea! The landscape changes
as we travel through Dartmoor National
Park. Get your cameras ready as we
meander through beautiful country lanes,
over ancient stone bridges and through
dramatic rolling countryside where
ponies roam wild. Tonight we might stay
in the heart of the arresting Dartmoor
National Park or perhaps in Tavistock on
the edge of the brooding moor.
(B/D)
Day 3 Devon
Our destination today is the rocky north
Cornish coast where we visit Tintagel
Castle, the reputed birthplace of King
Arthur. The castle sits on top of the
wild cliffs and is accessible on foot
along the coastline or by four-wheel
drive (additional cost). Later we visit
one or two Cornish fishing villages for
a famed “Cornish Pasty” or fish and
chips down by the harbor. We finish our
day with a visit to Cornwall’s ancient
capital Launceston, with its legendary
castle and narrow bustling streets,
before returning to our accommodation in
Devon.
(B)
Day 4 Somerset
As we head back towards London there are
still a huge number of interesting
sights in store. Our first highlight of
the day is the mystical town of
Glastonbury and its Abbey, the reputed
site of Arthur and Guinevere’s burial
and the “new age” capital of England
with its esoteric collection of shops.
We pop in to visit the tiny market city
of Wells, known for its attractive
cathedral and Vicar’s Close (the oldest
continuously inhabited medieval street
in Europe). From here we make our way to
the amazing Salisbury Plain, littered
with ancient burial sites and the
remains of Iron Age hill forts, to the
great prehistoric temple of Stonehenge.
We have time to explore this ancient
monument and listen to theories as to
how it was constructed and its
importance to the people in this region
before our return to London this
evening.
(B)
This tour departs 0830am from and
returns approx 5.30pm to: Lancaster Gate
Hotel 66 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NA
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