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A Month in England, Scotland and Wales
offered by supplier M19493 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 30
day(s)
Group Size: 30
- 50
people
Destination(s):
England
Scotland
Wales
Specialty Categories:
Sightseeing
Cultural Journey
Season: May - June
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3140 Pound Sterling (GBP)
Maximum Per Person Price: 6980 Pound Sterling (GBP)
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Tour Itinerary:
Day 1. A hotel room near London Heathrow airport has been reserved for everybody to recover from jet-lag in their own way. No dinner has been booked, but a full English breakfast is included for tomorrow morning.
Day 2. After breakfast tour members will be taken to a nearby campground alongside the River Thames, where their rented motor homes will await. After a comprehensive tutorial everybody can start to become familiar with their vehicle and we will then visit a local supermarket to stock up on food etc. This evening we will all stroll to a nearby traditional pub for a simple dinner.
Day 3. This morning we will be collected by a bus with an expert guide for a combined bus/walking tour of London. Over the next 2 days we will see Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London etc. etc At the end of the day we will be returned to our motor homes for a relaxing evening.
Day 4. There are so many places of interest in London that we will have 2 consecutive days of expert guided tours.
Day 5. Another bus excursion today to the lovely old riverside town of Windsor. We will have a tour of the castle which is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George's Chapel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England and the burial place of 10 monarchs), and Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature. We will have a lunch in a local, historic pub.
Day 6. We leave our campground this morning and have our first experience of “driving on the wrong side of the road”. Everybody will soon get used to this system and within a few hours will find it very easy. Our destination is a campground in the county of Devon. En route we will have the opportunity to stop and visit the wonderful stone monoliths at Stonehenge which are believed to have been erected in about 3,000 BC.
Day 7. After a relaxing morning we will have a coach tour of beautiful Dartmoor, home of one of the world’s most infamous prisons. On the way back we will stop for a traditional Devon Cream tea – Devon clotted cream is one of the culinary wonders of the world!
Day 8. We head north today and in the afternoon will arrive at our next campground in the beautiful Welsh village of Betws-y-coed in the Snowdonia national park. The whole area is a national park and wherever you look you will find photo opportunities. Wales has its own language and all road signs are shown in both English and Welsh. Historians believe that Welsh is, in fact, the original English language as the English tribes were defeated by the Saxons over 2,000 years ago and they fled to the area which is now Wales. Therefore, the English language we now speak is made up of Welsh, German (from the Saxons), Scandinavian (from the Vikings), Latin (from the Romans) and French (from the Normans). Each of these nationalities conquered and ruled Britain for different periods, culminating in the Normans in 1066. It is the proud boast of the English that they have not been conquered since then.
Day 9. We will be collected by bus this morning and taken on a tour of the beautiful area around the village. At lunchtime we will have lunch in a local pub.
Day 10. Another easy drive will bring us to our next campground, back in England, near the city of Liverpool.
Day 11. After a morning spent relaxing, we will spend the afternoon on a special "Beatles" tour of Liverpool. This pop group epitomizes the whole 60's era and they remain by far the most popular group of all time.
Day 12. About 70 miles will need to be covered today before we arrive at our next campground in the English Lake District. This beautiful region is very popular with hill-walkers. It was also the home of Beatrice Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit and many other children’s books. During the drive today and tomorrow morning you will be able to see some of its beautiful vistas.
Day 13. Our bus trip this morning will take us to see this beautiful region which is very popular with walkers and with anybody who wants to escape the pressures of modern life.
Day 14. We drive into Scotland today and after about 170 miles we will arrive at the Glenturret distillery, home of the Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky. En-route there will be time to visit the world-famous blacksmith at Gretna Green where eloping couples would marry against their parents' wishes. We will park overnight in the Glenturret car park, with no facilities, so you will need to use your motorhome’s shower and toilet. This evening we will have a VIP private tour of the distillery, with a tasting, followed by a traditional Scottish banquet in their award-winning restaurant. This will be followed by a Scottish dancing demonstration. At the end of the evening we only have to walk a few yards to reach our motor homes for a good night’s sleep.
Day 15. A leisurely drive of about 120 miles to arrive at our campground by the sea near Oban. The route will take us through Glen Dochart and Glen Lochy, which will be a taster for the beautiful scenery we will encounter later on the tour. This site has won the award for the best in Britain in the past.
Day 16. Today has been left completely free so you can relax and enjoy the campground. Alternatively you can catch a bus from right outside the campground to visit the fishing town of Oban.
Day 17. We head north this morning to our next campground right alongside Loch Ness. The total driving distance is about 70 miles. En route we can stop and experience the eerie atmosphere of Glen Coe. It was here that the infamous massacre of members of the MacDonald clan took place in 1692. Further on you can stop in Fort William for a stroll around the town before continuing north to the memorial to the commandos at Spean Bridge. After this we suggest you stop for a look at the village of Fort Augustus before arriving at the Loch Ness campground. Swimming (or paddling) in the Loch is possible from the campground, which also has its own bar. Any group member who sees the monster, and can produce photographic evidence, will receive a full refund on the tour price (providing GB Privilege is given distribution rights for the photograph)!
Day 18. Today we drive about 140 miles onto the romantic Isle of Skye. Our destination is the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale. This historic building is on land which was part of the MacDonald clan’s territory. It houses an award winning museum which demonstrates the history and former power of the MacDonald clan. We will park overnight in the castle’s car park which means you will have to use your motor home shower and toilet. In the evening we will be treated to a high quality dinner with wine in their restaurant. An opportunity for you to really enjoy a meal at MacDonald’s.
Day 19. Today's drive is about 175 miles. The scenery is very rugged and wild however, so most members of the group will want to stop frequently to take in the views. We will eventually arrive at our campground at Durness on the north western coast of Scotland. The campground is perched on the top of cliffs above a beautiful beach and has its own pub and restaurant so you could give the chef a holiday if you wish!
Day 20. Today we drive along the Scottish North Coast. The road is very scenic and the 140 miles total distance will take longer than you might think. We should plan to arrive at our overnight stopping place, the Castle of Mey, at between 17:00 and 18:00. The public will have left the castle by then and we will be able to park up without any problems. The Castle of Mey was the private property of HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She bought it when her husband King George 6th died. She spent as much time as possible at the Castle of Mey, because she considered it to be her true home and she loved the peace and quiet, as well as the beautiful views and seclusion. This evening we will walk up to the castle and be welcomed with glass of champagne before taking a private, guided tour. After the tour we can all stroll back to our motor homes to spend the evening in this most privileged “campground”, with wonderful sea views. You will need to use your motor home shower and toilet.
Day 21. A long drive today to bring us to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.
Day 22. This morning we will be collected from the campground and taken by bus to Edinburgh for a guided tour of the city. The tour will end after a pub lunch lunch and everybody will have the opportunity to stroll around the city at their leisure. At the end of the afternoon we will be returned to our motor homes.
Day 23. A completely free day, so just relax and enjoy yourselves.
Day 24. Today’s destination is the beautiful, historic city of York. The total driving distance is under 150 miles so we will be able to take our time over the drive. York is famous for its fascinating castle, railway museum and a Viking center, as well as being the place of execution of Dick Turpin the highwayman in 1739.
Day 25. This morning we will be collected by bus and taken on a guided tour of the wonderful city of York. This afternoon we will be free to relax and prepare for this evening. This evening we will have a private banquet in Ripley Castle. Ripley Castle has been the home of the Ingilby family since the 1320's. It stands in the heart of a delightful estate with lakes, deer, kitchen gardens and hot houses. The family has a chequered history, with one of its members being executed for treason, another being accused of involvement in the gunpowder plot, while others had to flee the country to avoid their debtors or became alcoholics by the time they were eighteen! All in all, it is a minor miracle that there was anything left for the current incumbent, Sir Thomas Ingilby, to inherit. The fact remains, however, that Ripley Castle provides one of the most enjoyable functions that we at GB Privilege offer our customers. Everything about the evening is top class; the castle tour, champagne, banquet, service etc. We regularly use Ripley Castle and have never been disappointed. As they say in the brochure "The splendor of a castle - the warmth of a family home". After a wonderful evening we will be returned to our motor homes.
Day 26. Our destination today is Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The total driving distance is only about 180 miles so you can take your time.
Day 27. This afternoon we will be taken to the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon for a tour around William Shakespeare’s birthplace and where he spent much of his life. Stratford-upon-Avon is a lovely old town and after the tour there will be enough free time to explore at your leisure before being taken back to the campground.
Day 28. We continue south to our final campground near the city of Oxford, home to the world famous university and its “dreaming spires”.
Day 29. We will be collected by bus and taken on a tour of Oxford. Some of the university colleges will be visited, as well as some other less well known but interesting places. Lunch will be provided in a local pub. The tour ends this morning and the motor homes will be collected by the rental company. After all the usual checks have been completed the group will be taken back to a hotel near Heathrow airport and this evening everybody will partake of a simple last night dinner in a local pub with wine being provided.
Tour dates: 28th May-26th June 2010.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price depends on the number of people in a motor home.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
England
Scotland
Wales
Local Culture
Sightseeing
Cultural Journey
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