8 Day Olde England & 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 hotel at their own expense. 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 2 : 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 the Edinburgh Nights cabaret where you can sample local specialties, including haggis, and experience traditional bagpipe music. On Aug 5 to 19 departures enjoy the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B, D)
Day 3 : Beatrix Potter's Lake District
Journey past the gentle hills and sheep pastures of the Scottish Borders. Stop at the Old Blacksmith's Shop 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 4 : 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 traditional tavern for dinner and later explore narrow medieval streets on a fun and informative ghost walking tour. (B, D)
Day 5 : 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. Spend free time to take a look around 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 port, 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 works of art, family portraits, crystal and furnishings. Admire the gardens and breathtaking landscape before returning to York. (B, D)
Day 6 : Brontë Parsonage & Liverpool
In the charming town of Haworth visit the Brontë Parsonage, where, from 1820 to 1861, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë penned some of the best-loved books in the English language. See the dining room where the three sisters worked on their novels, including “Wuthering Heights,” influenced by the surrounding moors. Continue to Liverpool and check in to your centrally-located hotel beside the River Mersey and enjoy free time to explore some places on your own. Your hotel is close to the Cavern Club and you may like to visit this famous Beatles' venue. (B, D)
Day 7 : Beatles' Sightseeing Tour
This morning a local guide will join your group for a Beatles-themed tour to show you some of the places where the “Fab Four” came to fame and learn about many aspects of the Beatles' lives. Then you have a voucher to visit the “Beatles Story” on your own so that you may spend as much time as you wish viewing the many great exhibits on the musicians' lives and work. Liverpool has some excellent museums and shops that you may like to explore and the evening is free for independent dining. (B)
Day 8 : Tour Ends Manchester Airport
Choose one of two transfer times and drive to Manchester Airport where your tour ends at 6:30 am or 9:00 am in time to check in for flights. (B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner