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Tour
Code
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Depart
London
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Return
London
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WISE
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Saturday
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Saturday
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2004
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EWS01
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08 May 2004
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22 May 2004
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|
EWS02
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22
May2004
|
05
June 2004
|
|
EWS03
|
05
June 2004
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19
June 2004
|
|
EWS04
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19
Jun 2004
|
03
Jul 2004
|
|
EWS05
|
03
Jul 2004
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17
Jul 2004
|
|
EWS06
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17 July 2004
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31 Jul 2004
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|
EWS07
|
31
Jul 2004
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14
Aug 2004
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|
EWS08
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14 Aug 2004
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28 Aug 2004
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EWS09
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28 Aug 2004
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11 Sep 2004
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EWS10
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11 Sep 2004
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25 Sep 2004
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EWS11
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25 Sep 2004
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09 Oct 2004
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EWS12
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09 Oct 2004
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23 Oct 2004
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TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE - SATURDAY
You'll be met at the airport of arrival by your Back-Roads
Touring Co. Ltd transfer driver and be delivered to
our West London Hotel. The remainder of the day is
yours to recover from the rigours of your flight.
The hotel is situated in an attractive neighbourhood
of the city so you may enjoy local exploration, or
join one of Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd city tours
(optional) or take the underground to a city centre
area. Dinner is not included tonight.
London
DAY TWO- SUNDAY
Departing London we head Southwest, using the freeway
just to clear the city, and what more fitting introduction
to the UK's ancient landscape and history than the
pre-historic Stonehenge? We drive across the tomb
covered Salisbury Plain to this incredible monument,
with stops enroute 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.
South Wales
DAY THREE- MONDAY
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.
South Wales
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
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 nicely.
Ruthin
DAY FIVE- WEDNESDAY
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.
Ruthin
DAY SIX - THURSDAY
We'll take a brief look at the walled town of Roman
Chester before we head north, through the beautiful
Lancashire dales, to the Lakes 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.
Cumbria
DAY SEVEN- FRIDAY
Bonnie Scotland! Land of Heather, tartans, whisky
and bagpipes! Our first stop is at Gretna Green, famous
for being the place to where 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 take a short visit
to Melrose and its abbey before turning north to Edinburgh,
our base for the next three nights.
Edinburgh
DAY EIGHT- SATURDAY
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.
Edinburgh
DAY NINE- SUNDAY
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 the 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 .
Edinburgh
DAY TEN - MONDAY
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.
Here we'll visit some Roman remains on part of the
great wall, which the Emperor Hadrian built 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.
Yorkshire Moors
DAY ELEVEN - TUESDAY
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.
Yorkshire Moors
DAY TWELVE - WEDNESDAY
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.
Chatsworth Estate
DAY THIRTEEN -THURSDAY
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).
Chatsworth Estate
DAY FOURTEEN - FRIDAY
This, our final day, and our journey through this
sceptred isle simply has to include Stratford upon
Avon. We'll visit some of the 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,
at Blenheim Palace. Then we touch the eastern Cotswolds
with a visit to Chipping Norton and some smaller honey-colured
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.
London
DAY FIFTEEN - SATURDAY
You will be transferred to your airport of departure.
Or perhaps you'd enjoy extending your stay for a day
or two to enjoy London? We'll be happy to assist with
arranging additional night's accommodation and theatre
tickets.
Price US
$2599.00
Single Supplement US
$545.00
Whats Included ? Click
here for full details
Advantages and
price justification - click here.
