14 Day The Heart
of Britain & Heritage Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Edinburgh City Tour
Your trip starts in Edinburgh Airport with a
group transfer to your hotel, departing 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. At 2:30 pm tour Edinburgh to discover the elegant 200-year-old Georgian
“New Town” and the oldest part of the city along the Royal Mile. Meet your
fellow passengers over a welcome drink and dine independently.
Day 2 : Stirling Castle & “Braveheart???
Visit the massive Stirling Castle, associated
with “Braveheart” William Wallace and Mary, Queen of Scots. Enjoy splendid views
and explore the Great Hall, kitchens and chapel. Return to Edinburgh for a free
afternoon. Dine at a Scottish cabaret where you can sample haggis and
hear bagpipes. On August 12 and 19 departures enjoy the Military
Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B, D)
Day 3 : Beatrix Potter's Lake District
Journey south through the Scottish Borders and
stop at Gretna Green before driving into the Lake District National Park, a
region of unspoilt beauty. See the charming hills and valleys that inspired
William Wordsworth's poetry. Take a historic steamer cruise on Lake Windermere
to appreciate nature at its loveliest. Check in to your elegant lakeside hotel
and dine on your own. (B)
Day 4 : Yorkshire Dales & York Ghost Walk
See heathery moors, flower-filled meadows and
ancient stone villages of the Yorkshire Dales. This is where James Herriot
worked as a vet and told his stories in “All Creatures Great and Small” and
other books. Take a guided tour around York and walk to York Minster
to visit the great medieval cathedral. Dine in a traditional tavern and
explore narrow medieval streets on a fun ghost walking tour. (B, D)
Day 5 : Historic Train Ride & Castle Howard
Travel on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway by
vintage locomotive. Browse on your own through Whitby, once renowned for whaling
and today has a thriving fishing fleet. See the port, winding streets and quaint
buildings. Tour the elaborate chambers of Castle Howard, an imposing
18th-century mansion where Evelyn Waugh's celebrated novel, “Brideshead
Revisited,” was filmed. (B, D)
Day 6 : Brontë Parsonage & Beatles' Liverpool
In Haworth visit the Brontë Parsonage, where
Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë penned their popular novels, including
“Wuthering Heights.” Continue to Liverpool where a Beatles-themed tour will show
you many of the places where the “Fab Four” lived, worked, played and came
to fame. After dinner, explore on your own, if you wish. (B, D)
Day 7 : Medieval Warwick
Castle
This morning visit Warwick Castle,
one of the greatest castles in Britain. Founded in 1068 it blends a medieval
fortress with a stately manor house. Visit the state apartments and the amazing
waxwork displays which bring history to life and stroll around the gardens.
Drive to London and dine in your hotel.
Day 8 : Tower of London & City Sights
This morning take an open-top bus tour around the
many famous landmarks and you may get on and off as you wish. There are a number
of different bus routes as well as a walking tour and a cruise on the River
Thames. Visit the Tower of London to view the magnificent Crown Jewels, guarded
by Beefeaters in distinctive Tudor uniforms. The evening is free for dining. (B)
Day 9 : Jane Austen's Bath & Cardiff Castle Banquet
Drive west to the town of Bath, popular for its
natural hot springs with the Romans 2,000 years ago and home to Jane Austen.
View the Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey on a walking tour and visit the Roman
Baths and Pump Room to see the original hot springs. Travel to Cardiff for a
tour of the elaborate Gothic-style Cardiff Castle and experience a fun Welsh
medieval banquet. (B, D)
Day 10 : Brecon Beacons & Portmeirion Village
Drive through the Brecon Beacons National Park
and through peaceful sheep pastures of Mid Wales. Visit the Italianate village
of Portmeirion, a charming resort started in 1925. Take a guided walking tour
around the grounds and enjoy tea and some traditional Welsh baked goods. A short
drive will take you to Caernarfon, best known for its 13th century castle, where
Charles, the Prince of Wales, was invested in 1969. (B, D)
Day 11 : Conway & Caernarfon
Castle
Today tour scenic North Wales,
starting at the National Slate Museum which outlines the rigors of this region's
slate miners. Stop for photos of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and stop in
Conwy, a walled town with a huge castle, centuries-old buildings and the
smallest house in Britain. Tour Caernarfon Castle to see the massive walls and
battlements that dominate the town. (B, D)
Day 12 : Llangollen & Stratford-upon-Avon
Drive through North Wales and stop in Llangollen
before heading back into England. Explore the town of Bridgnorth with its fine
gabled and half-timbered houses. Drive to Stratford-upon-Avon for a panoramic
tour and visit Shakespeare's Birthplace, furnished in the style of his times.
Check in to your Tudor-style hotel and enjoy free time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 13 : Cotswolds & Windsor Castle
Drive through the Cotswolds, stopping in the
attractive village of Broadway. In Oxford, location for the PBS series of
Inspectors Morse and Lewis, take a walking tour to see some of the famous
colleges. Then tour Windsor Castle, one of The Queen's official residences, to
see the lavishly decorated State Apartments. Check in to your nearby hotel for
overnight and a farewell dinner. (B, D)
Day 14 : Tour Ends Heathrow Airport
Take a group coach transfer to arrive at Heathrow
Airport at either 7:00 am or 10:00 am. Transfers to Gatwick Airport can be
arranged at additional cost. (B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner