• First class hotel accommodation featuring twin rooms and private facilities.
• All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
• Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and onboard restroom.
• The services of one of our professional Travel Directors throughout your journey.
• A qualified Local Guide in Edinburgh.
• Audio headsets for all guided visits and included sightseeing.
• Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival.
• The services of one of Trafalgar's Local Hosts at Trafalgar's recommended London hotel.
• Pick-up and drop-off at the Trafalgar London Reception Centre or the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel.
• Use of Trafalgar's new London Reception Centre with Hospitality Desk, free Internet and a range of services and facilities.
• Capture treasured memories of your trip with a complimentary group photo taken at a landmark location.
• A stylish wallet, travel documents, keepsake booklet and map.
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DAY
1: LONDON – STONEHENGE – PLYMOUTH (2)
Welcome to Britain! Visit the mystical ancient monoliths at Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. Drive west through Thomas Hardy country, past Dartmoor National Park to the historic naval port of Plymouth. This evening, get to know your companions and Travel Director at a Welcome Pub Reception, which includes a typical British pub meal and drinks. (WR)
Hotel: Jurys Inn/Copthorne Plymouth (F) (2 nights)
DAY
2: CORNISH EXCURSION
Your orientation of Plymouth includes the Mayflower steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World. See the Royal Citadel overlooking Plymouth Sound. Consider taking an optional cruise around the famous harbour. Cross the River Tamar and follow the Cornish peninsula to St. Ives, the renowned artists’ colony. Photograph St. Michael’s Mount near Penzance. Relax and enjoy the stunning Cornish scenery! (FB)
DAY
3: PLYMOUTH – BOVEY TRACEY – BATH – CARDIFF
Stop in Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor. Enjoy a short visit to the Riverside Mill which contains contempory craft produced by The Devon Guild of Craftsmen - a leading national educational charity with 250 members. Later enjoy a special Be My Guest lunch on a working dairy farm. Admire the splendid Georgian architecture and visit the Roman Baths before leaving Bath for Wales. Cardiff, the capital city of Wales is your final destination. View the impressive castle before checking into your hotel. (FB BMGD) Hotel: Park Inn City Centre (SF)
DAY
4: CARDIFF – TINTERN – LUDLOW - CHESTER - LIVERPOOL
Marvel at the magnificent scenery as you drive along the beautiful Wye Valley. View the ruins of Tintern Abbey, which inspired the poets Wordsworth and Tennyson. Cross the beautiful Welsh Marches at Hereford to visit the Tudor market town of Ludlow in Shropshire. Your Travel Director takes you on a walking orientation tour of Chester, which includes the medieval walls, the Cathedral and the famous Tudor Rows. Liverpool was once a thriving port and its famous skyline includes one of the th largest Cathedral's in the world. This evening enjoy an included 'Beatles' drive through the city with a local expert. (FB HD) Hotel: Jurys Inn (F)
DAY
5: LIVERPOOL – LAKE DISTRICT – GLASGOW
A day of glorious scenery as you travel through Lancashire to the beauty of the Lake
District. Drive along the shores of England's largest lake, Windermere, and through
countryside that inspired Wordsworth before reaching Grasmere where he is buried.
Continue north to Scotland and Gretna Green where eloping couples married in
secret against their parents' wishes. Then through the Borders to the great city of
Glasgow. Before checking into your hotel enjoy a Highlight Dinner of Scottish fare
in a typical local restaurant. (FB HD) Hotel: Jurys Inn (F)
DAY
6: GLASGOW – GLENCOE – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS (2)
First enjoy an orientation tour of the city taking in the Cathedral, George Square
and the River Clyde, former heart of the shipbuilding industry. Then travel along the
bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, immortalised in the well known Scottish song. Enjoy
magnificent scenery as you make your way to Glencoe through the tragic 'Valley
of the Weeping' - site of the 1692 massacre. Afterwards stop at the Commando
Memorial for breathtaking views of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, before
continuing to your hotel where you will dine tonight. (FB D) Hotel: Four Seasons/Aviemore Highland (F) (2 nights)
DAY
7: HIGHLANDS AND SKYE EXCURSION
Your day begins with a stop at Culloden Moor where Bonnie Prince Charlie was
defeated by Cumberland, so ending the hopes of a Stuart monarchy. Drive along the
shores of Loch Ness stopping for pictures to see if you can spot 'Nessie'! Then 'over
the sea to Skye,' the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Herbrides. Here you
will have time for lunch and a short drive before returning to your hotel. (FB D)
DAY
8: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS – BALMORAL – ST. ANDREWS –
EDINBURGH (2)
Start your day with a drive to visit Balmoral Castle, the Queen's highland home.
Also visit nearby Crathie Church where Princess Anne was married. Continue your
journey through Braemar, host of the Royal Highland Games, to the historic town
of St. Andrews. This is known as the home of golf and also has the oldest university
in Scotland. Stop to photograph the 18th hole of the Old Course. Finally cross the
splendid Forth Bridge to Scotland's capital Edinburgh for two nights. During the
Edinburgh Festival, tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo in the Castle grounds are
included. (FB) Hotel: Marriott/Cardrona/Holiday Inn City West (F) (2 nights)
DAY
9: EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE
Your guided tour includes a visit of Edinburgh Castle perched high above the city
on the 'Crag and Tail' on which is located the Royal Mile. Further on see elegant
Holyrood House in the shadow of Arthur's Seat and the new Scottish Parliament
building. Then drive the streets of the New Town with its elegant Georgian
architecture. Tonight, why not enjoy an optional night out including haggis, whisky
and bagpipes. (FB)
DAY
10: EDINBURGH – YORK
See the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey and cross the border at Carter Bar. Marvel at the magnificent scenery as you cross the Northumberland National Park and see part of Hadrian's Wall - built to keep the Picts out of the Empire! Your walking orientation of York includes the medieval walls, the Shambles and the awe-inspiring Minster. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travellers. (FB FD) Hotel: Holiday Inn (F)
DAY
11: YORK – STRATFORD – OXFORD – LONDON
Visit the house where Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon and see Anne Hathaway’s thatched cottage. Through rolling Cotswold countryside arrive in Oxford, the city of dreaming spires. See this beautiful city during your orientation on foot. Visit an Oxford college and get a taste of life at one of the most famous seats of learning in the world. Your amazing holiday ends in London later this evening. (FB)
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