8 Day Itinerary Including Airfare from
USA
Day 1 - Sat: Overnight Flight to
Edinburgh
Depart your North American gateway city and travel
through the night to Edinburgh. Land only tour starts on day 2.
Day 2 - Sun: Edinburgh Arrival &
Tour
Arrive in Edinburgh Airport where your CIE Tours tour
director will greet you. Complimentary group transfers depart the airport at
8:00 am, 10:00 am or 12:00 noon. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the
city-center hotel at their own expense. A transfer from Glasgow Airport can be
arranged at a cost of $75 per person. At 2:30 pm tour Edinburgh to discover the
elegant 200-year-old Georgian “New Town.” Also see the narrow lanes and medieval
townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city and catch a glimpse
of the imposing Edinburgh Castle, perched high on a rocky outcrop. Meet your
fellow passengers over a welcome drink and your tour director will suggest
places to have dinner on your own.
Day 3 - Mon: Stirling Castle &
“Braveheart”
A short drive will take you to the massive Stirling
Castle, strategically located on a volcanic outcrop rock to defend the
surrounding valley. It was recaptured from the English by “Braveheart” William
Wallace in 1297 and several Scottish monarchs have been crowned at Stirling,
including Mary, Queen of Scots. Enjoy great views of the surrounding countryside
and explore the Great Hall, kitchens and chapel. Return to Edinburgh for a free
afternoon. Dine at a Scottish evening where you can sample local specialties,
including haggis, and experience traditional bagpipe music. On Aug 06, 13 and 20
departures enjoy the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B, D)
Day 4 - Tue: Beatrix Potter's Lake
District
Journey past gentle hills and rich sheep pastures of
the Scottish Borders. Stop at Gretna Green, famous for eloping couples, to look
around and shop for Scottish goods before crossing into England. Drive through
the Lake District National Park, a region of unspoilt beauty which Beatrix
Potter worked tirelessly to preserve. See the charming hills and valleys that
inspired William Wordsworth's poetry. Take a cruise aboard a historic steamer on
Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in England, to appreciate nature at
its loveliest. Check in to your elegant lakeside hotel and dine independently at
one of the many restaurants within easy walking distance. (B)
Day 5 - Wed: Spectacular Yorkshire Dales &
York Ghost Walk
Drive into the Yorkshire Dales to experience
more wonderful scenery with heathery moors, flower-filled meadows, hills, woods
and ancient stone villages. Stop in the traditional village of Hawes before
continuing through the Dales, the region where James Herriot worked as a vet and
told his stories in “All Creatures Great and Small” and other books. On arrival
in York take a guided tour around the city, including the Roman and medieval
walls, and walk to York Minster, one of Europe's largest Gothic cathedrals. See
brilliant stained glass and memorials to prominent people. This evening head to
a cozy traditional tavern for dinner and later explore narrow medieval streets
on a fun and informative ghost walking tour. (B, D)
Day 6 - Thu: Historic Train Ride & Castle
Howard
Drive north to travel the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
through magnificent scenery. The historic train will be a vintage Diesel or
steam locomotive. Take a walking tour through Whitby, once renowned for whaling
and today has a thriving fishing fleet. Everywhere you look in this town is a
photographer's dream with its picturesque harbor, winding streets, stepped
walkways and quaint buildings. Drive to Castle Howard, an imposing 18th-century
mansion where Evelyn Waugh's celebrated novel, “Brideshead Revisited,” was
filmed. Tour elaborate chambers to see world-renowned artifacts, family
portraits, crystal and furnishings. Admire the gardens and breathtaking
landscape before returning to York. (B, D)
Day 7 - Fri: Brontë Parsonage & Beatles'
Liverpool
In the charming town of Haworth visit the Brontë
Parsonage, where Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë penned some of the best-loved
books in the English language from 1820 to 1861. See the dining room where the
three sisters worked on their novels, including “Wuthering Heights,” influenced
by the surrounding moors. Continue to Liverpool where a Beatles-themed tour will
show you the places where the “Fab Four” came to fame. See Penny Lane,
Strawberry Field and the world-famous Cavern Club while your guide will fill you
in on the Beatles' lives. Check in to your centrally-located hotel beside the
River Mersey and, after dinner, explore some places on your own. (B,
D)
Day 8 - Sat: Depart
Manchester
Transfer to Manchester Airport to arrive by 8:00 am
for flights home. Arrive in good time to check in and perhaps do a little
duty-free shopping before boarding the aircraft. (B)