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ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & WALES - 2010
14 days incl. air, or 13 days from London
to London (CO-9000)
Vacation Overview
Begin your vacation of three fascinating
countries—England, Scotland, and Wales—in London, with a day of
independent activities or optional tours. Then, head out to Shakespeare’s
Stratford-upon-Avon and Lady Godiva’s Coventry. Pass Robin Hood’s Sherwood
Forest and take a walking tour of York, England’s most complete medieval
city. See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense
against marauding northern tribes. Cross the Scottish border and arrive
in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, for a guided sightseeing tour, which
includes a visit to mighty Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown
Jewels. On to St. Andrews, home of golf; Braemar, home of the Royal
Highland Games for the past 900 years; and Royal Deeside, where the Queen
is an annual visitor. Spend the night in the Scottish Highlands, visit
the Highland capital of Inverness, then search for Nessie at mysterious
Loch Ness. Via Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, continue through the
Lowlands to Gretna Green and through the lovely Lake District to charming
Grasmere and the shores of beautiful Lake Windermere. Spend the night in
Liverpool of Beatles fame, then prepare yourself for the splendor of
Wales. Stop at Conway, Caernarvon, Betws-y-Coed, and Cardiff, capital of
Wales. Travel through scenic Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks.
Back in England, enjoy a walking tour of 2,000-year-old Chester; explore
elegant Georgian Bath, famous for its Roman relics; and hear about King
Arthur in Glastonbury. Visit quaint Widecombe in the Moor, made famous in
The Hound of the Baskervilles, and see the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth,
where the Pilgrims embarked on their voyage in 1620. On the way back to
London, encounter mysterious Stonehenge and majestic Salisbury with its
magnificent cathedral. Your tour concludes with free time in London—a
great way to end this fantastic vacation through England, Scotland, and
Wales.
Itinerary
Day 1 Sun.
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day 2 Mon.
ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Check into your hotel. In
the afternoon there’s time to rest or start exploring the lively British
capital; uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your
stay.
Day 3 Tue.
LONDON
A full day to enjoy our
exciting program of optional activities. Morning sightseeing with a Local
Guide includes all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster
Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing
Street, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to St. Paul’s
Cathedral, and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the GuardChanging of the Guard,
if held. This afternoon you may want to visit Windsor Castle or the Tower
of London Tower of London with the spectacular
Crown Jewels, and tonight a leisurely cruise on the River Thames would be
fun. (B)
Day 4 Wed.
LONDON-STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-LEEDS
Meet your Tour Director
and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for a memorable day of
sightseeing. Head for Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon to take your
pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, then explore the town at your own
pace. After lunch, visit Coventry, whose center had to be rebuilt after
the devastation of World War II bombings, and hear the tale of Lady
Godiva and Peeping Tom before admiring the splendid modern cathedral.
Finally, head northwards out of the Midlands, passing the once-mighty
Sherwood Forest, home of the legendary Robin Hood, to tonight’s
destination. (B,D)
Day 5 Thu.
LEEDS-YORK-EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
In
York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the
great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a
maze of quaint streets including the narrow Shambles. Continue through
wild Northumberland National Park and see a section of Hadrian’s Wall,
the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. Then
cross the Scottish border and at Jedburgh, glimpse the house of Mary,
Queen of Scots, and see the abbey ruins. Late-afternoon arrival in
Edinburgh. For August 2 and August 23 departures, tickets are included
for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Millitary Tattoo
Military Tattoo. (B)
Day 6 Fri.
EDINBURGH
A
full day to enjoy this “Prince of Cities.” Morning sightseeing with a
Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous
scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the
narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle 
The Edinburgh Castle dominating the skyline of Edinburgh, Scotlandto admire Scotland’s
Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. A suggestion for this evening: join
your Tour Director for a traditional Scottish night out with Highland
dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)
Day 7 Sat.
EDINBURGH-BRAEMAR-AVIEMORE
A day of memorable
sightseeing: St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us
the rules of golfing; Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over
900 years; and Royal Deeside, where the Queen is an annual visitor. Spend
the night in the Highland resort of Aviemore. (B,D)
Day 8 Sun.
AVIEMORE-FORT WILLIAM-GLASGOW
Via the battlefield of
Culloden Moor, and Inverness, the Highland capital, skirt Loch Ness as
you drive to Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.
Enter haunting Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was treacherously
massacred by the Campbells in 1692, pass wild Rannoch Moor, and then
drive along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond to Glasgow. (B,D)
Day 9 Mon.
GLASGOW-LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND-LIVERPOOL
Liverpool
South through the history-steeped Lowland Hills and a
visit to Gretna Green
Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Drive
through beautiful scenery in the Lake District, considered to be the
finest of England’s national parks. Visit Wordsworth’s Grasmere, then
follow the shores of Lake WindermereLake Winder. End the day in Liverpool of
Beatles fame, once the departure port of the great transatlantic liners.
(B,D)
Day 10 Tue.
LIVERPOOL. NORTH WALES EXCURSION
A day dedicated to the
mountainous splendor of North Wales. Follow the coastal road via the
walled town of Conway to Caernarvon, where the castle saw the investiture
of Charles as Prince of Wales. Then a scenic drive through Snowdonia
National Park, over spectacular Llanberis Pass and via pretty
Betws-y-Coed. Time to relax back in Liverpool. Your Tour Director will
have suggestions for this evening. (B)
Day 11 Wed.
LIVERPOOL-CHESTER-CARDIFF, WALES
In Chester, the historic county town on the River Dee,
your walking tour includes the Roman remains, black and white
half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered arcades called the “Rows.”
Pause in the pretty market town of Ludlow before heading back into Wales
and Brecon Beacons National Park, land of salmon rivers and the Welsh
mountain pony. Finally, through “The Valleys,” whose iron ore and coal
were the raw materials for the Industrial Revolution, to the Welsh
capital. Here an orientation drive introduces you to the major
attractions: Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading attractions, Cathays Park,
Millennium Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. Ask your Tour
Director about tonight’s optional Welsh evening. (B)
Day 12 Thu.
CARDIFF-BATH, ENGLAND-PLYMOUTH
Leaving Wales, cross the
Severn Bridge for a visit to the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famed for
its Roman relics, before heading into the romantically scenic West
Country and Glastonbury with its King Arthur associations. In the heart
of Dartmoor National Park, visit quaint Widecombe-in-the-Moor, ghostly
setting for Conan Doyle’s The Hound of
the Baskervilles. Finally, in Plymouth, hear about Sir Francis
Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in
1620. (B,D)
Day 13 Fri.
PLYMOUTH-STONEHENGE-SALISBURY-LONDON
On the final leg of your
journey, take in Thomas Hardy’s Wessex; views of the intriguing
prehistoric monument of Stonehenge; and Salisbury with its vast cathedral,
the ultimate in Early English Gothic architecture. Return to London
around 4 pm. How about celebrating the success of your tour with a night
out on the town? (B)
Day 14 Sat.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your
international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
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Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
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Land/Cruise
Price Only
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Status
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3/28/2010
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3/29/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
$1,479.00
|
Available
|
|
4/4/2010
|
4/5/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
$1,479.00
|
Available
|
|
4/11/2010
|
4/12/2010
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4/24/2010
|
$1,479.00
|
Available
|
|
4/18/2010
|
4/19/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
$1,569.00
|
Available
|
|
4/25/2010
|
4/26/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
$1,569.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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5/2/2010
|
5/3/2010
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5/15/2010
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$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
5/9/2010
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5/10/2010
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5/22/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
5/16/2010
|
5/17/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
5/23/2010
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5/24/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
5/30/2010
|
5/31/2010
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6/12/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
6/6/2010
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6/7/2010
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6/19/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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6/13/2010
|
6/14/2010
|
6/26/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
6/20/2010
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6/21/2010
|
7/3/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
6/27/2010
|
6/28/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
7/4/2010
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7/5/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
$1,629.00
|
Available
|
|
7/11/2010
|
7/12/2010
|
7/24/2010
|
$1,629.00
|
Available
|
|
7/18/2010
|
7/19/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
$1,629.00
|
Available
|
|
7/25/2010
|
7/26/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
$1,629.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/1/2010
|
8/2/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/8/2010
|
8/9/2010
|
8/21/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/15/2010
|
8/16/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/22/2010
|
8/23/2010
|
9/4/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
8/29/2010
|
8/30/2010
|
9/11/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
9/5/2010
|
9/6/2010
|
9/18/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/12/2010
|
9/13/2010
|
9/25/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
9/19/2010
|
9/20/2010
|
10/2/2010
|
$1,649.00
|
Available
|
|
9/26/2010
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9/27/2010
|
10/9/2010
|
$1,599.00
|
Available
|
|
10/3/2010
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10/4/2010
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10/16/2010
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$1,599.00
|
Available
|
|
10/10/2010
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10/11/2010
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10/23/2010
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$1,479.00
|
Available
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Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out
quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
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