The Great British Journey 2021

This morning use your included rail passes to travel to Cardiff, Wales. The Welsh Capital is a direct 2hr rail journey from central London. After checking in to your central hotel the afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure; you’ll receive complimentary admission to Cardiff Castle whose history stretches from Roman times to an illustrious Victorian era manor house. By evening meet your tour leader for Wales and the rest of the group where we’ll enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Lincoln House Hotel (or similar), Cardiff

Meals: Dinner included.

Boarding the mini-coach, we’ll visit St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life, a living museum detailing Welsh life through the ages and set in the expansive grounds of an Elizabethan manor house. Continuing West we pause Laugharne, the picturesque home-town of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, before heading to the beautiful seaside town of Tenby. There’ll be time to explore this medieval walled harbour town before we take dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight: Heywood Hotel and Spa (or similar), Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

This morning we continue to explore the natural scenery of the protected Pembrokeshire Coast. We’ll visit the charming settlement of St Davids, a tiny village which enjoys city status owing to its beautiful cathedral. From here we’ll turn North and follow Wales’ scenic west coast past the sweeping sands of Cardigan Bay and in to rural mid-Wales. We’ll pause in one or more of the bustling harbour towns before arriving in Aberystwyth, our overnight destination.

Overnight: Nanteos Mansion Hotel (or similar), near Aberystwyth

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

First stop today is the intriguing town of Portmeirion, an elegant Italianate village that nestles in a sheltered position on an enclosed estuary; it’s unique lanes have been used for various television productions through the years. After plenty of time to explore, we’ll climb aboard a narrow gauge steam train for an epic mountain railway journey of breath-taking views in to the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Later we retire to our base in Llandudno on the North Wales coast.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today is a free day to enjoy at your leisure exploring Llandudno and nearby Conwy; we’ll include tickets for the open-top bus tour to visit these contrasting but equally beautiful Welsh towns. Llandudno is an elegant Victorian seaside resort with a sweeping promenade and shopping arcades whilst Conwy is a cobbled medieval market town nestled around a natural harbours on the Conwy estuary within the medieval town walls of the imposing 13th century fortress at Conwy Castle.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Back aboard the mini-coach today we enjoy an epic day passing through the heart of Wales. In Llangollen we’ll pause to see the stunning aqueduct which carries canal boats more than 100 feet above the valley floor. By afternoon we’ll visit the National Trust property at Powis Castle to admire the antique collections and manicured gardens of the Herbert family. Later, we arrive in the barren landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park to enjoy a dinner together at our village inn hotel.

Overnight: Bear Hotel (or similar), Crickhowell

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

The final leg of our journey through Wales takes us along the course of the scenic Wye valley where we’ll visit the haunting riverside ruins of Tintern Abbey. Returning to Cardiff you bid farewell to your Welsh tour leader and board the train for a brief rail journey over the English border to historic Bath. After checking in to your hotel there’s time to visit the ancient Roman Baths before meeting your new England driver-guide for an evening meal at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Bird Bath Hotel (or similar), Bath

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Embarking on the English leg of our tour, we’ll begin with a visit to the historic village of Lacock whose cobbled streets and ancient abbey have been used in TV and film productions including Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. We then enjoy a scenic drive in to the heart of the Cotswolds countryside to visit an English brewery and sample some local favourites. The its onwards to our base for the next two nights in a traditional, honey-coloured Cotswold market town.

Overnight: Noel Arms Hotel (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Meals: Breakfast included.

After a scenic drive through the patchwork fields of the Cotswolds, we dedicate this morning to visiting the historic university city of Oxford. With plenty of free-time explore a host of sightseeing options including the famous ivy-clad college quads, the Ashmolean Museum, and Carfax Tower which offers unrivalled views of the city’s “dreaming spires”. By afternoon, we return to Chipping Campden for time at leisure to explore this traditional Cotswolds village.

Overnight: Noel Arms Hotel (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Meals: Breakfast included.

Passing North, today we visit the charming medieval town of Stratford-upon-Avon, once the home of William Shakespeare. We’ll learn about the life and times of the great bard himself at Shakespeare’s Birthplace Exhibition before taking time to stroll around this pretty riverside town. By afternoon it’s all aboard an historic steam train for a scenic rail-ride along the Severn Valley to the historic town of Bridgenorth. Arriving in Chester, your evening is free to dine independently.

Overnight: Queen Hotel (or similar), Chester

Meals: Breakfast included.

We’ll enjoy leisurely start this morning with a brief stroll around Chester to see some of the highlights including the medieval town walls, elegant cathedral and the Tudor Facades of the “Rows”. Then it’s all aboard the bus to visit nearby Liverpool; we’ll enjoy plenty of free-time to explore the revitalised Albert Docks perhaps visiting the Tate Gallery, the Maritime Museum or the Beatles Story exhibition. Later we pass from the bright lights of Liverpool to our hotel in the heart of the Lake District.

Overnight: Wordsworth House Hotel (or similar), Grasmere, Lake District

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today is dedicated to exploring the enchanting natural beauty of the English Lake District. Accompanied by a local guide we’ll venture off the beaten track along stone-walled lanes, over mountain passes and through deep valleys. We’ll pause at some to the best viewpoints to see the shimmering lakes and sheep-scattered fields. Our day wouldn’t be complete without a relaxing lake cruise before we return to our hotel for our dinner.

Overnight: Wordsworth House Hotel (or similar), Grasmere, Lake District

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today we’ll traverse the rustic landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales; first stop will be the picturesque Aysgarth Falls before we head for the World Heritage Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden where we’ll enjoy free-time to explore the imposing monastic ruins and the pristine gardens. Our final stop today will be the elegant Victorian Spa town of Harrogate, the perfect spot for afternoon tea. By evening we continue to the magnificent city of York, our base for the next two nights.

Overnight: Grange Hotel (or similar), York

Meals: Breakfast and afternoon tea included.

Our morning is spent visiting the beautiful country estate of Castle Howard; dating back to the 17th century this magnificent manor and gardens have featured in multiple screen productions and period dramas. Then it’s back to York for an afternoon free to explore this historic city; stroll cobbled lanes and walk atop the medieval city walls or before visiting the city’s centrepiece at York Minster, Northern Europe’s largest gothic cathedral. Tonight we reconvene for dinner together.

Overnight: Grange Hotel (or similar), York

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

This morning, bid farewell to your England driver. After breakfast, use your included rail passes to board the train over the Scottish border to Stirling (journey time 3.5hrs approx.). Welcome to Scotland! After checking in to your hotel the afternoon is yours to explore this historic town; we’ve included admission tickets for you to visit Stirling Castle which was once the Royal Seat of Scotland. By evening meet your new Scotland tour leader and the rest of the group to enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Hotel Colessio (or similar), Stirling

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

This morning it’s all aboard the mini-coach as we head for Glamis Castle an elegant country house with connections to Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the Royal Family. Then it’s onward to St Andrews, a charming seaside town known as the home of golf and where Prince William and Kate Middleton first met. There will be plenty of time to take lunch and explore before the castle and cathedral ruins before we pass North in to Aberdeenshire and to our hotel on the banks of the River Dee, where we'll enjoy an included dinner.

Overnight: Maryculter House Hotel (or similar), Aberdeenshire

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Our morning will be spent exploring the heart of Scotland and the Royal Deeside region; we’ll pause at various points of interest including tumbling waterfalls, quirky baronial castles and a church attended by the Royal Family when they’re in residence at the Balmoral Estate. By afternoon we turn North through the Cairngorms Speyside known for its Scotch Whisky; we’ll tour a distillery and sample a wee dram or two before continuing to Inverness, our Highland base for the next two nights, where we dine together.

Overnight: Kingsmills Hotel (or similar), Inverness

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today is free for you to spend at your leisure. Equipped with your complimentary open-top-bus tour tickets you can explore Inverness, “Capital of the Highlands”. Visit the historic riverside Cathedral and hill-top castle and Abertarff House which dates back to the 16th century. You may choose to take a local bus to the nearby Culloden Moor, site of the infamous battle which played a crucial role in Scottish history. Your evening is free to dine in one of Inverness’ many restaurants.

Overnight: Kingsmills Hotel (or similar), Inverness

Meals: Breakfast included.

A journey of epic natural beauty awaits today as we pass over the barren wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. Firstly we visit Urquhart Castle whose weather-beaten ramparts offer a perfect lookout over the chilly waters of Loch Ness. Then we traverse the Highlands pausing for photos at Eilean Donan Castle before stretching our legs in a traditional highland village. Later we arrive by road bridge on the Isle of Skye, our base for the next two nights. In the evening enjoy dinner together and share your impressions with fellow travellers.

Overnight: Hotel Eilean Iarmain, (or similar), Isle of Skye

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today we dedicate to exploring the enchanting landscapes of the Isle of Skye. We’ll tour the far North of the island around the picturesque Trotternish Peninsula home to abundant wildlife, dramatic seascapes and unique geological features such as Kilt Rock. There’ll be plenty of time to visit Portree, the island’s principle town, where pastel fisherman’s cottages bustle around the harbour. A day on Skye is one to remember.

Overnight: Hotel Eilean Iarmain, (or similar), Isle of Skye

Meals: Breakfast included.

This morning we return by ferry to the Scottish mainland at Mallaig. Another scenic Highland drive brings us to Glenfinnan where we can climb to a viewpoint for unrivalled vistas of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Glenfinnan Monument and sparkling waters of Loch Shiel beyond. There’ll be time for lunch in Fort William before we continue to our overnight stay in the beautiful remote Glencoe area and we enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Overnight: Ballachulish Hotel OR Isles of Glencoe Hotel (or similar), Ballachulish Area

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

We’ve saved the best until last; our journey today takes us through some of Britain’s most breath-taking landscapes as we pass through Glencoe valley, over the Rannoch Moor and along the shores of Loch Lomond – we’ll pause along the way for some extraordinary photo opportunities. Later we visit Glasgow to see the Kelvingrove Museum and Gallery in the leafy West End. You may leave the tour here in Glasgow mid-afternoon or enjoy a transfer back to Edinburgh where the our epic journey through Britain officially ends.

Meals: Breakfast included.