10 Day Essential Britain

Tour Description

This holiday offers a complete panorama of England, Wales and Scotland. First, figure out the mystery of prehistoric Stonehenge, then spend two nights in Plymouth, with a day excursion to Cornwall. See the amazing Roman excavations in Bath, then travel through the Brecon Beacons to picturesque Llangollen. In Chester, enjoy a walking tour with your Tour Director.

Next, focus on the Lake District and visit Wandsworth’s Grasmere, cross the border into Scotland and skirt the ‘Bonnie Banks’ of Loch Lomond on your way to the Isle of Skye. After a stop in the Highland capital of Inverness head south again, through Culloden Moor, Braemar and St. Andrews for a two night stay in Edinburgh. Back in England, visit the lavish Alnwick Gardens, and medieval York. Your last highlight before returning back to London is a visit to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon.

Your Hotels

• London, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (SF)
• Plymouth, Holiday Inn (SF)
• Newport, Hilton (F)
• Chester, St. David’s Park (SF) at Ewloe
• Glasgow, Thistle (F)
• Inverness, Ramada (F)
• Edinburgh, Thistle (F)
• York, Novotel (F)
• London, Hilton London Metropole (SF)

Hotel Classifications: Deluxe (D), Superior First Class (SF), First Class (F)

Included Features

• STONEHENGE: Visit the prehistoric monument.
• SALISBURY: Visit the cathedral city.
• WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR: Take a stroll in the quaint Dartmoor village.
• PLYMOUTH: Welcome dinner.
• CORNWALL: Take photographs of St. Michael’s Mount, visit Land’s End and St. Ives.
• GLASTONBURY
• BATH: Visit the Roman relics.
• LLANDRINDOD WELLS: Visit the former Welsh spa town.
• CHESTER: Walking tour.
• GRASMERE: Visit Wordsworth’s village.
• GRETNA GREEN
• FORT WILLIAM
• MALLAIG-ARMADALE: Cross the Sound of Sleat by ferry.
• ISLE OF SKYE: Visit the Museum of the Isles at the Clan Donald Centre.
• BRAEMAR
• ST. ANDREWS: Visit the home of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
• EDINBURGH: Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.
• ALNWICK: Visit the Duchess of Northumberland’s spectacular garden.
• YORK: Walking tour.
• STRATFORD-UPON-AVON: Take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.

Tour Meals

• Full English breakfast (B)
• Choice of menus
• Including a welcome dinner in Plymouth

Day 1: London – Stonehenge – Salisbury – Plymouth

Meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and depart at 8 am. from your London joining hotel (see your travel documents) for a memorable day of sightseeing. First, visit prehistoric Stonehenge before taking a stroll in Salisbury with its vast cathedral. Continue on through Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, and head for quaint Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor National Park. The next two nights are spent in Plymouth, home of historical figures such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 2: Plymouth. Cornwall Excursion.

A day full of West Country sights as you head through Daphne Du Maurier’s Cornwall. After viewing St. Michael’s Mount, take your photos at Land’s End before exploring the popular seaside resort of St. Ives. Back in Plymouth your Tour Director will arrange an optional evening visit to a local inn for dinner. (B)

Day 3: Plymouth – Glastonbury – Bath – Newport, Wales.

At Glastonbury, hear about its associations with King Arthur, and in elegant Bath, see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS with time to explore further on your own. Tonight’s optional is to Cardiff Castle for an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner. (B)

Day 4: Newport – Llandrindod Wells – Chester, England.

Your journey through Wales takes you north along the Usk Valley and Brecon Beacons National Park, and via Llandrindod Wells to Chester. On your walking tour, see the Roman remains, the characteristic black and white half-timbered buildings, and the famous two-tiered arcades called the “Rows”. (B/D)

Day 5: Chester – Lake District – Glasgow, Scotland.

Focus now on the tranquil Lake District, considered to be the finest of England’s national parks. After a break in Wordsworth’s beloved Grasmere, head north for the Scottish border and stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Overnight in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. (B/D)

Day 6: Glasgow – Isle Of Skye – Inverness.

Follow the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond, then proceed via Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, Fort William, and the “Road to the Isles”. At Mallaig, board your FERRY for the crossing to the Isle of Skye, where you visit the MUSEUM OF THE ISLES at the Clan Donald Centre. Return to the mainland and trace the shores of Loch Ness on the way to the Highland capital. (B/D)

Day 7: Inverness – Braemar – St. Andrews – Edinburgh.

Main features today: The battlefield of Culloden Moor; Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games; St. Andrews; and over the elegant Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh. Tonight, an optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)

Day 8: Edinburgh.

Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town”, drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (except when the Queen is in residence). Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. (B)

Day 9: Edinburgh – Alnwick, England – York.

This morning, a magnificent highlight visit to the Duchess of Northumberland’s ALNWICK GARDEN, where the fountains and waterfalls are a breathtaking feature. See a section of Hadrian’s Wall on your way to York, England’s most complete medieval city. Here, stand in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B/D)

Day 10: York – Stratford-upon-avon – London.

Skirt Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon. Take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE. Return to London at about 3:30 pm, where the holiday ends. (B)

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist