Country Roads, Gardens & Stately Homes of Britain 11 Day tour from $2186  

an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Blenheim Palace with its Churchillian associations & the unique collection of Vintage cars at Beaulieu are outstanding, as are the visits to the archetypal Warwick Castle and the grandly impressive Castle Howard.

Excursions & Sights

• See Churchill's statue in the village of Westerham
• See  Winchester Cathedral
• See Salisbury Cathedral with its soaring 404ft spire, highest in England
• Visit Avebury's stone circles
• Visit Lacock Abbey
• See Ludlow's ruined Castle
• See Wenlock Edge
• Visit Ironbridge Gorge, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
• Visit Wordsworth's grave in the Lake District
• Visit  Gretna Green
• Visit St. Andrew's to see cathedral ruins, university and Old Golf Course
• See Edinburgh Castle, New Town & drive the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace
• See Jedburgh Abbey
• Visit Hadrian's Wall
• See York Minster & Shambles

Scenic Drives - Cotswolds, New Forest, Lake District

Guided City Tours

Orientation tours in Winchester, Cheltenham, Ludlow, Edinburgh & York

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with on board toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Free Airport transfers when booking our London hotel (ask for details)

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner in a typical local inn, near Harrogate

10 full breakfasts and 6 three course evening meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

This tour is leisurely paced with two night stays in every place visited. In each city we include an expertly planned day excursion, with fabulous  visits, designed to showcase each region in depth.

DAY  1 THU - LONDON - WINCHESTER

A warm welcome from our Tour Director as we make our way to the  Kent countryside. We travel to the pretty village of Westerham. Here Winston Churchill  watches over the neat village green and we visit his nearby residence of Chartwell  next. Then through brilliant yellow and green pastures to Hever Castle, with its tragic tale of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. We cross the moat to explore the fortified  manor house and stroll the pretty gardens. Now on to our hotel in the historic city of Winchester, situated beside the cathedral. This evening, we enjoy a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Wessex. (D)

DAY 2 FRI - NEW FOREST EXCURSION

A scenic drive through the New Forest brings us to Beaulieu where  we visit the Palace House and Abbey ruins, and the collection of cars in the National  Motor Museum. Later we travel to Salisbury, where we see the 13th century cathedral,  whose spire is the tallest in the land. After some free time we visit nearby Wilton House, one of the finest stately homes in Britain, with state rooms by Inigo Jones containing a world famous collection of paintings. Now back to our hotel. (B)

DAY 3 SAT - WINCHESTER - CHELTENHAM

This morning we take the country roads through the villages of Nether, Middle and Over Wallop to Avebury. The village is partially situated in  a huge prehistoric henge monument of several stone circles. We continue to Lacock Abbey where photographic pioneer, William Henry Fox Talbot made history. Now on  to our hotel in elegant Cheltenham. Hotel: Moat House. (B)

DAY 4 SUN - COTSWOLDS EXCURSION

An enchanting day takes us across the beautiful Cotswold hills,  a chocolate box scene of golden stone villages with roses round the door! We visit Blenheim Palace, the greatest building of the English Baroque, residence of the  Dukes of Marlborough, and birthplace of Winston Churchill. After touring the house and gardens we then visit the gardens of Sudeley Castle, former home to another  of King Henry VIII's wives, Katherine Parr. (B,D)

DAY 5 MON - CHELTENHAM - LAKE  DISTRICT

Travelling through the orchards of Worcestershire, we head for the border town of Ludlow with its impressive castle ruins. On through the remote Shropshire hills, we pass Wenlock Edge, celebrated in the poetry of A E Housman. Soon we reach historic Ironbridge Gorge, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. We have time to marvel at the 200 year old Iron Bridge before the smooth motorway  carries us north to the stunning English Lake District. Hotel: Windermere Hydro.  (B,D)

DAY 6 TUE - LAKE DISTRICT EXCURSION

A whole day to relax and explore the Lake District – a scenic  wonderland of rugged mountains and tranquil waters, and an inspiration to a host of English poets. We visit Wordsworth's grave in the small churchyard at Grasmere, then admire the vast expanse of Windermere, largest of the lakes. Perhaps even take a cruise on its peaceful waters, before we return to our hotel? (B,D)

DAY 7 WED - LAKE DISTRICT - EDINBURGH

We cross the Cumbrian Mountains and the Scottish border at Gretna  - for years the destination of eloping English lovers. We have some free time for  shopping before enjoying the contrasting beauty of the Southern Lowlands en route to Edinburgh. Here we discover the wonders of the plant kingdom in the Botanical  Gardens which form a remarkable haven of tranquillity within the city, as well as being a world-renowned centre for botanical science. Hotel: Point. (B)

DAY 8 THU - SCOTTISH EXCURSION

We see the highlights of Edinburgh this morning, Holyroodhouse,  St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile, the Castle and the 'New Town'. Later, we cross the Firth of Forth to reach St. Andrews - home of golf. We visit the ruined cathedral, formerly the largest in Scotland. We see Scotland's oldest university and the most famous golf course in the world. Now back to our hotel. Tonight, selected departures enjoy the Edinburgh Tattoo. (B)

DAY 9 FRI - EDINBURGH - HARROGATE

We travel through the Borders region to Abbotsford House, the  19th-century estate of Sir Walter Scott. A large turreted mansion which now serves as a museum for the Scottish memorabilia and artifacts collected throughout his  lifetime. We then head south past Jedburgh Abbey and over the border to visit Hadrian's Wall. Our destination today is the town of Harrogate, a well known spa since the  16th century and famous for its gardens. Tonight we enjoy a highlight dinner in a typical local inn. Hotel: Kimberley. (B,HD)

DAY 10 SAT - YORKSHIRE EXCURSION

After breakfast we make the short journey to the walled city of  York. Here we see the huge Minster, Britain's largest medieval cathedral, and explore the maze of narrow streets including the Shambles. This afternoon we visit the fabulous 18th century Castle Howard, with its tapestries and costume museum, before returning to our hotel in Harrogate. (B,D)

DAY 11 SUN - HARROGATE - LONDON

Today we travel south to visit Warwick Castle, with its magnificent  medieval towers and ramparts. The chilling dungeon contrasts with the splendour of the State Rooms and baronial Great Hall. Now we continue to London where we bid farewell to our Tour Director. (B)