Medieval Britain:
Castles, Cannons & Crowns
CULTURAL Battlefields and historic Landmarks
from London to Edinburgh
from London to Edinburgh
Medieval Britain: Castles, Cannons & CrownsCultural Battlefields and Historic Landmarks from London to EdinburghAt a glance
September 13-25, 2020 • England & Scotland • 13 days Overnight destinations London • Portsmouth • Stratford-upon-Avon • York • Newcastle • Perth • Aviemore • Edinburgh Highlights _____ Battlefields of Hastings, Culloden, Bannockburn • Salisbury Cathedral • Stonehenge • Hadrian's Wall • Warwick & Urquhart Castles • Scone Palace • Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre • scroll down to see complete details |
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Day 1
Sunday September 13 Depart for your overnight transatlantic flight to London, except for those who may choose to leave for London sooner to extend their trip. Where available, guests on the group flight will enjoy the luxury of a premium airport departure lounge. Travelers can choose to book seats on the optional group flight or, should you wish to depart for Europe sooner or return later, you can make your own independent air travel travel arrangements (see terms and conditions first). |
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Day 2
Monday September 14 Upon arrival in London we will enjoy a tour of the city with a local expert guide. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. London is a city of history and monuments waiting to be explored, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Imperial War Museum, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Platform 9-3/4 at Kings Cross Station ... and so much more! In the early evening we gather with our fellow travelers for our Welcome Dinner. This evening you will stay at the well-appointed Hilton Hotel in the Kensington District, a short 15-min stroll from Kensington Palace. Overnight London - Hilton Kensington Hotel. [D] |
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Day 3
Tuesday September 15 We set out in earnest to begin our journey, starting with a visit to the Battlefield of Hastings. It was here in 1066 the Norman invasion began, forever altering the course of history of the British Isles. A walk about the grounds of the castle reveals the ghosts of a thousand years ago. Lunch today is at your leisure, either in the castle cafeteria or at one of the quaint little tea shops along the main street. After lunch we travel to the south coast of England, to visit the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and a tour of Lord Nelson's flag ship, HMS Victory, launched in 1765 and still the pride of the Royal Navy. Your ticket includes access to the various other venues. Our hotel this evening is the Queen's Hotel, an original Edwardian building looking out to the English Channel. Overnight Portsmouth - The Queen's Hotel. [B,L] Read what professional travel writer Dale Dunlop, "The Maritime Explorer," has to say about this day on the 2018 edition of our tour: https://themaritimeexplorer.ca/2018/07/22/hms-victory/ |
The castle in Battle, Kent, where the great invasion of 1066 began.
Lord Nelson's ship, HMS Victory.
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Day 4
Wednesday September 16 In the morning we travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge, a prehistoric marvel built ~2500 BCE. Francis Pryor, one of England's top archaeologists, joins us for a private tour to tell us about this remarkable site and what it might truly mean. We travel into nearby Salisbury to enjoy lunch at leisure, with extended time in town to visit the marvelous 800-yr-old Salisbury Cathedral and catch a glimpse of the world famous Magna Carta. We then begin our travel northward, to Warwickshire for our night's rest. This evening you will stay at historic Ettington Park, described as "the most important and impressive High Victorian house in the county." Overnight Stratford-Upon-Avon - Ettington Chase Hotel. [B,L] |
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Day 5
Thursday September 17 The morning starts with a visit to the enchanting 1,000 year old Warwick Castle. Attacked in 1264, besieged in 1642 and damaged by fire in 1871, the Castle has nevertheless survived the ever-changing fortunes of history. Warwick Castle remained under the stewardship of the Earls of Warwick and later the Greville Family. The castle features interactive exhibits throughout the property. Then, with the mood of history well established, we travel to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre for a fascinating look at the Battle of Bosworth. It was here, on the 22nd of August in the year 1485, that Henry Tudor brought a small rebel army to face the much larger Royal army of King Richard lll. History was written that day. Overnight Stratford-Upon-Avon - Ettington Chase Hotel. [B,L] |
Warwick Castle
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Day 6
Friday September 18 Day Six begins with a drive into the forested countryside of England. We take a guided tour of a famous English country manor house, Haddon Hall. The house has been described as one of the most complete and important houses of the period. Other more lavish castles and manors dot the nearby county, but the smaller Haddon Hall is truly a unique and beautiful structure - not surprising, then, that it has been used as the backdrop to many motion pictures. We conclude our visit with a special group lunch within the Hall. In the mid-afternoon we drift into the back roads to visit the battlefield at Towton, considered "probably the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil" as part of the Wars of the Roses of the 15th century. We stop for the night at the Hilton Hotel, opposite the medieval ramparts of the city of York and a short walk to the world famous York Mister Cathedral. Overnight York - DoubleTree by Hilton. [B,L] |
Haddon Hall
York Minster Cathedral
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Day 7
Saturday September 19 The Norman Invasion of 1066 was preceded by a great battle, which we'll discuss at Stamford Bridge in the morning. Our journey then finds us walking down into a forested valley, to discover the well-hidden ruins of Fountains Abbey. From its beginnings in 1132 it became an important and wealthy centre of culture in the county. Despite raids from the Scots, and the Black Death of 1348, it persevered, until the Dissolution by King Henry VIII in the mid-1500s when it fell silent. Today it is a magical place to explore. We pause for a group lunch at a quaint pub in the little village of Middleham. It's then time to learn about King Richard III by walking through his childhood home, Middleham Castle, which sits just behind the main street - on the high ground with a long view of the county. Overnight Newcastle - Hampton by Hilton. [B,L] |
Fountains Abbey
Middleham Castle
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Day 8
Sunday September 20 We begin the day at yet another UNESCO Site - the Roman ruins at Hadrian's Wall. Excavation continues even today at various sties along the 120+ km long wall, which stretched from coast to coast across the north of England and marked the very northern frontier of the vast Roman Empire. We sit for a group lunch at a nearby pub, part of a medieval castle ruin, in the valley along Hadrian's Wall. Our adventure then continues northbound, where we come to a stop at the border marking the line between England and Scotland, and a pause to toast our arrival in the Kingdom of Alba. Then onward we go, to see Melrose Abbey. Here rests the heart of King Robert the Bruce, whom we shall meet in the coming days in our travels through the highlands of Scotland. The day concludes with an overnight in Perth, the 'Gateway to the Highlands.' Overnight Perth - Mercure Hotel. [B,L] |
Melrose Abbey
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Day 9
Monday September 21 Today’s first stop is just on the edge of town - a tour of the incredible Scone Palace - the place where successive Scottish kings were crowned through the centuries and thus a place of immense historic significance for over 1000 years. It is also one of the finest examples of late Georgian Gothic architecture in all of the United Kingdom. Lunch today is a group dining experience within the walls of the Palace. We are then off to the west coast of Scotland, to visit Glenfinnan and hear all about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Uprisings - and see a few memorable sites along the way. Overnight Aviemore - Coylumbridge Hotel. [B,L] |
Scone Palace
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Day 10
Tuesday September 22 Day Ten is steeped in history as we extend all the way north near Inverness, to the historic battlefield at Culloden Moor, where in 1745 the Jacobite Uprising came to a violent end. During our journey we stop to see if Loch Ness will reveal any monsters! Lunch is at your leisure on the shores of Loch Ness, after which we make a stop at the ruins of Urquhart Castle for photos along the shore. Overnight Aviemore - Coylumbridge Hotel. [B,L] |
Culloden Moor
Loch Ness
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Day 11
Wednesday September 23 Stirling Castle starts our day. Stirling Castle was the key to the kingdom of Scotland, dominating a vast volcanic rock above the river Forth at the meeting point between Lowlands and Highlands. Its origins are ancient and over the centuries it grew into a great royal residence and a powerful stronghold. Royal building projects like the Great Hall, the Chapel Royal and the Palace of James V, marked it out as one of the most important places in all Scotland. Your visit here includes time for lunch-on-the-go at the castle cafeteria. We then visit nearby at the Battlefield of Bannockburn of 1314, and also Stirling Bridge - historic sites which both fall within view of the castle. Amazing battles took place here, charting the course of Scotland. We then carry onward to the amazing cosmopolitan city of Edinburgh for two nights' stay, to wind down our incredible two-week journey. Overnight Edinburgh - Novotel Centre. [B,L] |
Stirling Castle
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Day 12
Thursday September 24 Enjoy a full free day at leisure in Edinburgh, the beautiful capital city of Scotland and home to the Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, and so much more! In the evening we gather over a glass of wine to savor our time together, with a Farewell Dinner in the heart of the city. Overnight Edinburgh - Novotel Centre. [B,D] |
Edinburgh Castle
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Day 13
Friday September 25 This morning it is time to say goodbye, with departures via Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport for those returning home - while others may extend their stay at their option. Box or buffet breakfast will be arranged depending on departure time. |
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Reg. No. 2780622
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