Day 33 London
Welcome to London, the political and artistic capital of the United Kingdom, and where we have arranged your overnight accommodation. Discover the wonders of this great city, with its royal palaces, parliament, art, shopping and theaters. Chose to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London (a World Heritage Site), Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster (home of Parliament and Big Ben,), the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Wallace Collection, the National Gallery and Tate art galleries are but a few of the city’s many places of interest and all easily accessible by foot, bus, and underground.
Day 34 London
Day 35 London
Day 36 London to Plymouth – Jurys Inn Plymouth
Leave London for the cobbled streets of Windsor and visit England’s largest castle, Windsor Castle, which still remains today a favorite royal residence. Here you can tour the State Apartments, the magnificent St. George’s Chapel, and walk through Windsor Great Park. Across Windsor Bridge is Britain’s most famous school, Eton College, founded in 1440 by the young Henry VI. At lunch try the traditional Brown Windsor Soup. Continue your journey and as you cross Salisbury Plain you will see the great stone circle of Stonehenge. Believed to have been erected 5,000 years ago, it is the most celebrated prehistoric monument in Britain and is a World Heritage Site. Continue your drive through Dorset, Thomas Hardy country, to the ancient seaport of Plymouth, the port of departure for Drake, Raleigh, Cook and the Pilgrim Fathers when they set sail to America. Your two nights stay gives you the opportunity to explore Devon and Cornwall
218 miles | 350.762 Km
Day 37 Plymouth
Drive along the rugged Cornish coastline, the part of England where the local accent makes everyone sound like pirates. From as far back as the 14th century there are legends of pirate gangs who attacked ships as they sailed by this area. Pass by smugglers’ coves and quaint fishing villages to St. Michael’s Mount. This amazing rocky island, with its medieval castle and 1,000 year-old legends and myths is separated from the mainland by a 500 yard granite causeway. Stop at Land’s End, the most westerly point of the British mainland, then to Penzance, with its wealth of good shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Try the traditional Cream Tea served in Devon and Cornwall, warm scones topped with clotted cream and strawberry jam accompanied with a pot of tea. Beyond is Penzance Harbour whose inner dock shelters fishing boats and commercial vessels and where visiting yachts and the occasional tall-masted sailing ships lie against the granite quays. From here drive to the picturesque fishing harbor of St. Ives, a famous artists’ colony with its winding alleys, hillside terraces and color-washed fishermen’s cottages. The Tate St. Ives exhibits modern art from the London Tate collections and sculptress Barbara Hepworth’s home is now a museum. Drive across Bodmin Moor as you return to Plymouth
110 miles | 176.99 Km
Day 38 Plymouth to Cardiff – Travelodge Cardiff Atlantic Wharf
Cross Devon and into Somerset as you drive to the historic and elegant city of Bath, a World Heritage Site, which in the 18th century became a fashionable spa town. Admire the graceful Georgian terraces and villas, the Pump Room with its spa water fountain, where lunch and afternoon tea are served, and the elegant Assembly Rooms built for people to meet, dance and play cards. Visit the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths. These Roman ruins stretch out beneath the city in all directions and consists of the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple and the Roman bath house. From Bath have lunch in Bristol, a city of good restaurants serving traditional British food, then cross the Severn Bridge from England into Wales. Arrive in Cardiff where we have arranged your overnight stay. Within this compact city’s center, you’ll find unique attractions and top class entertainment. Browse through the unusual shops and cafes in the arcades. Innovative architecture sits alongside historic buildings and the bustle of the city center is only a few strides from acres of peaceful parklands. Cardiff Bay offers indoor and outdoor entertainment for everyone.
184 miles | 296.056 Km
Day 39 Cardiff to Waterford – Waterford Marina
Pembrokeshire’s coastal scenery is sandy beaches, spectacular seascapes and wide-open views. Castle ruins and ancient burial sites offer a fascinating insight. Small villages and seaside towns dot the dramatic landscape. Many of the sheltered bays and inlets were once home to pirates, smugglers and ship wreckers. The town of Pembroke is located at the bottom of a small valley, flanked on all sides by woodland and farmland. Pembroke’s centerpiece is its magnificent Norman castle, standing proudly at the head of a rocky ridge. From the top of the castle’s mighty keep there is a splendid view of the town itself. Try the traditional afternoon snack of Welsh Rarebit (toasted cheese). From Pembroke take the Drive-On/Drive-Off ferry to Rosslare in Ireland (approximately 3 hrs.45 mins). From Rosslare it is a short drive to Waterford for your overnight stay. Founded by the Vikings, Waterford is now synonymous with the famous crystal glass making, which has been manufactured in this city since 1783. Here in the High Street and Henrietta Street a number of restaurants have taken advantage of the area’s charm. As you have a drink at one of the city’s many pubs, relax and listen to the music of Ireland as you soak in the atmosphere.
98 miles | 157.682 Km
Day 40 Waterford to Killarney – Victoria House Hotel
The city of Cork was founded by Viking settlers as a trading port. Once fully walled, some of its wall sections and gates remain today. On the outskirts of Cork is the legendary Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. Set high on the Castle battlements, tradition holds that those who kiss the Stone will be endowed with eloquence. Shopping in the village here is a pleasure, where there are a number of excellent outlets. The Ring of Kerry drive is one of the most beautiful and scenic drives in Ireland. It takes you through mountains, passed loughs, through the Killarney National Park, along stretches of the coast, passed country houses and pretty towns and villages. At your overnight stop in Killarney have a drink in a typical pub.
189 miles | 304.101 Km
Day 41 Killarney to Galway – The Western Hotel
Drive through County Limerick, dotted with picturesque towns and villages, such as Castleconnell with its old world thatched cottages and medieval churches. Limerick City, capital of County Limerick, lies on the River Shannon and has a colorful history – its City Charter is older than that of London. Stop off at Bunratty Castle, one of the finest surviving examples of an Irish tower house. With a good selection of fine restaurants, Bunratty is a good place to stop for lunch. Continue to The Burren, an area that has some of the finest archaeological megalithic tombs in Ireland, if not in Western Europe. Arrive at Galway city for your overnight stay. The city has a reputation of being associated with the Irish language, music, song and dance, making it an interesting and entertaining place to stay for the night.
145 miles | 233.305 Km
Day 42 Galway to Sligo – Sligo Park Hotel
Leave Galway for the wild and beautiful region of Connemara, with its mountains, lakes and tumbling streams. Its unspoilt beaches and panoramic views have attracted many artisans whose handweaving, carving, pottery and jewelry studios are there to visit. Westport in County Mayo lies by the meandering Carrowbeg River. Among its picturesque features are its tree-lined, flower decorated promenade and the elegance and charm of its town center. Your drive now takes you passed sandy seashores, through the beautiful and varied landscapes of green and wooden valleys, lofty mountains and a wealth of prehistoric monuments (you’ll find the largest Megalithic cemetery in Ireland) to the busy market town of Sligo where we have arranged your overnight stay. Its lively cultural scene, with theaters, concerts and art exhibitions, contrast with the wild countryside surrounding it. At dinner, try the traditional Irish Stew served with Boxty (Irish Latkes).
115 miles | 185.035 Km
Day 43 Sligo to Beflast – Ibis Belfast Queens Quarter
Take the one-way 7 mile scenic drive to the top of the Cliffs of Magho where you can marvel at the immense panoramic views. Londonderry stands on the broad River Foyle, amidst the rounded Sperrin Mountains and the wild heights of Donegal. Almost uniquely to the British Isles, Londonderry has kept its defensive walls, where you can walk and admire the various gateways, bastions, watchtowers and artillery pieces amidst splendid views. Your drive now takes you to the Giant’s Causeway, named the fourth greatest wonder in the United Kingdom. It is an area of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns (the result of an ancient volcanic eruption) whose tops form stepping-stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. A drive up the Antrim Coast offers a great variety of scenery with attractive villages, limestone cliffs, and the inland glens created by the tumbling mountain streams. Here the farms are arranged like ladders climbing the valley sides so that each has a share of the good land near the river and the poorer upland pastures. Arrive in Belfast, ringed by high hills, sea lough and river valley, for your overnight stay.
194 miles | 312.146 Km
Day 44 Belfast to Dublin – Mespil
From Belfast visit Mount Stewart, a palatial 18th century house with richly decorated interior and magnificent formal gardens and lake at the site of the Temple of Winds. Drive through wooded landscapes and arrive at Boyne Valley, an extraordinary concentration of ancient and prehistoric sites. Newgrange, dates to 3000 BC and predates both Stonehenge and Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza. Arrive for your two-night stay at Ireland’s famous capital, the “fair city” of Dublin
135 miles | 217.215 Km
Day 45 Dublin
Founded as a Viking settlement and one of Europe’s oldest cities, Dublin has been Ireland’s primary city for most of its history. Its Georgian architectural elegance combined with its cosmopolitan street life of trendy bars, elegant restaurants, numerous shops and classic popular pubs make this an irresistible destination. Drinking and conversation are the patrons’ principal preoccupation, and as many of the pubs serve good food it is the best place to enjoy good talk and fun. At night the city’s beautiful Merrion Square is floodlit. Grafton Street is a bustling pedestrian precinct whose arcades and lanes hold a treasure trove of boutiques and shops. Powerscourt Centre, an18th century town house, is now a most unusual shopping center. Dublin Castle, located in the heart of historic Dublin, was originally built in 1204 on King John’s orders to serve as a fortress.
Day 46 Dublin to Chester – Macdonald New Blossoms
Take the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, Wales, a busy port on the island of Anglesey. Visit Plas Newydd, a magnificent mansion set in parkland and gardens. Take the causeway to the Welsh mainland and on to the walled medieval town of Caernarfon with its glorious views of the mountains of Snowdonia. The magnificent Caernarfon Castle is one of the most impressive of all the castles in Wales, gaining worldwide fame as the setting for the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969. Continue to the medieval town of Conwy. Its circuit of walls, nearly a mile long and guarded by 22 towers, is one of the finest in the world. The Castle is a dark stoned fortress, which evokes an authentic medieval atmosphere. Leave Conwy and cross back into England to the ancient Roman walled city of Chester, where we have arranged your overnight stay.
126 miles | 202.734 Km
Day 47 Chester to Kendal – Stonecross Manor
Leave behind the Rows of Chester as you drive to the sublime Lake District, which takes its name from the beautiful stretches of water that occupies many of its glaciated valleys. Its rocks are used in the building of local cottages and farm houses, and the wild drama of the fells is set off by the gentle pastoral character of much of its lowlands, such as the famous Lake Windermere, England’s longest lake. Continue your drive across the countryside and arrive at the medieval city of Kendal, birthplace of Henry VIII’s sixth wife Catherine Parr, where we have arranged your overnight stay. Visit the Elizabethan manor of Levens Hall and its Topiary Gardens, which have been preserved intact.
130 miles | 209.17 Km
Day 48 Kendal to Glasgow – Holiday Inn Express Glasgow City Centre Riverside
Leave Kendal, and your drive will take you to interesting sites along Hadrian’s Wall. In AD 122 the Roman Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and ordered the building of a defense wall, parts of which can still be seen today. At Segedunum are the remains of the fort – learn about garrison life at the museum here. The museum at the Corbridge Roman Site presents the layout of the site with its granaries, fountains, temples etc. The Roman Army Museum at Carvoran, with its audio-visual presentations, houses examples of Roman armor, dress and weapons. Cross into the Scottish Lowlands and arrive in Glasgow, where we have arranged your overnight stay. An important industrial center and port, Glasgow is now enjoying a growing reputation as a cultural center. Whilst in Scotland sample some of its regional foods and specialties – Scottish beef and lamb, venison and grouse and of course its famous pure malt whisky.
176 miles | 283.184 Km
Day 49 Glasgow to Ft William – Alexandra
Explore the charm of Glasgow’s surrounding area as you drive through the Lowlands of Scotland with its windswept hills, wistful ruins, literary heritage, and golf. Freshwater Loch Lomond set amidst fantastic scenery, is the largest lake in mainland Britain and contains many islands. As a popular leisure destination it offers every kind of watercraft including kayaks, canoes, wind-surfers, jet skis, and cruisers. The Trossachs is one of Scotland’s famous scenic areas, with rugged mountains and wooded slopes reflected in the waters of its many lochs. The whole area is one of great scenic beauty and easily accessible as you view the heather covered mountains, cliffs and moorlands. We have arranged your overnight stay in the town of Fort William on the shore of Loch Linnhe in the shadow of Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis. Set in superb scenery, highland culture, clan history and quiet country roads it has good pubs and restaurants and friendly people with a big welcome.
225 miles | 362.025 Km
Day 50 Ft William to Inverness – Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa
Leave Fort William and take the road bridge to the Isle of Skye. Experience the mystery and enchantment of this Hebridean Isle. Crofting, tourism and forestry are the principal occupations of the islanders, the majority of whom are still Gaelic speakers. The scenic splendor of the Cuillins, a range of rocky mountains, are the island’s most famous feature. Portree is Skye’s pleasant little capital, arranged around a sheltered bay and a popular yachting center. At Kilmuir’s small churchyard, with lovely seascapes, stands a monument to Flora MacDonald who helped Bonnie Prince Charles escape (dressed as her maid) from the Hebrides to Portree, where he left for France as a lifelong exile. Drive through areas of great natural beauty with heather covered mountains, cliffs, moorlands and wooded slopes. The dark waters of Loch Ness are renowned the world over as the home of the elusive Nessie. Situated at River Ness, which flows from Loch Ness, is the traditional capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, where we have arranged your overnight stay.
225 miles | 362.025 Km
Day 51 Inverness to Edinburgh – Travelodge Edinburgh Cameron Toll Hotel
Leave Inverness and visit Blair Castle. On to Stirling, with its medieval Old Town of narrow streets leading to Stirling Castle. The Castle offers much interest to visitors, with its exhibition of life-size models, Great Hall, Royal Apartments and ornate interiors. Today’s journey ends in Scotland’s beautiful capital and World Heritage Site, Edinburgh, where we have arranged a two-night stay.
184 miles | 296.056 Km
Day 52 Edinburgh
Day: 190 miles | 0 Km*
Today explore this beautiful city. Owing to its rugged setting and vast collection of Medieval and Georgian buildings, Edinburgh is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. With its past rich in history there are many places to visit by foot within the city – Edinburgh’s impressive Castle, Arthur’s Seat overlooking Holyrood Park, the Old Town, huddled for years on the ridge running down from the Castle Rock and contrasting with the New Town with its elegant Georgian streets and squares. In fact there are over 4,500 listed buildings within the city. Drive along the Fife coast to St. Andrews, with its imposing Cathedral, Castle, famous University and the “home” of golf.
Day 53 Edinburgh to York – Hampton by Hilton York
From Edinburgh drive through the county of Durham with its moors, rivers and magnificent Pennine valleys and spectacular waterfalls. Arrive at the medieval city of Durham whose quiet streets and castle are a perfect foil for its great Norman Cathedral in a truly remarkable setting which is a World Heritage Site. Leave Durham and cross the Yorkshire Moors as you journey to the walled city of York where we have arranged your overnight stay. York is one of England’s most beautiful cities noted for its rich 2,000 year history from the Romans, Vikings and Normans to the Georgians and Victorians. Walk the tangle of quaint cobbled streets, visit the iconic York Minster, the Mansion House and world-class museums. Delve into the city’s vibrant café culture and enjoy talented street entertainers or watch the world go by as you have a drink in a pub by the river or have a traditional English dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
214 miles | 344.326 Km
Day 54 York to Stratford-Upon-Avon – Billesley Manor Hotel
Today’s journey takes you to the magnificent stately home of Chatsworth, Derbyshire It is one of the true Treasure Houses of England and the ancestral home of the Dukes of Devonshire since Bess of Hardwick settled there in 1549. The House, set in expansive parkland, is on a massive scale, opulent and designed to impress (and it does). It contains a unique collection of priceless paintings, furniture, neoclassical sculpture, books and artifacts. The 1,000-acre park that surrounds Chatsworth is open throughout the year and everyone is welcome to walk, play and picnic there. Leave the opulence of Chatsworth for the beauty of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, where we have arranged your overnight stay. Set on the banks of the river Avon you get a taste of Olde England as you wonder through its streets. View Ann Hathaway’s thatched cottage, and the ornately carved half-timbered Harvard House where the American flag flies in honor of the son of the house, John Harvard, who founded Harvard University, which owns the building today. See a play at the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
179 miles | 288.011 Km
Day 55 Avon to London – Arora Hotel Heathrow
Leave Stratford for your drive to Warwick. Britain’s great medieval experience is a visit to Warwick Castle, which has been brought to life using tableaux of wax figures recreating characters and events of its fascinating history. On to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. This greatest building of the English Baroque with its exuberant details and theatrical composition is the residence of the Dukes of Marlborough. Its splendor is matched by the sublime landscape of its vast park. On to the ancient city of Oxford, on the north bank of the River Thames. Here England’s oldest university traces its roots back to the 12th century. Oxford University’s colleges, The Queen’s College, Merton, Magdalen, Oriel and Corpus Christi, each have their own history and picturesque settings. Your journey ends on your return to London, where we have arranged accommodation for a night’s stay.
114 miles | 183.426 Km
Day 56 Fly back Home
