Arrive London

Depart London

Saturday

Saturday

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

NIGHTSTOP

You'll be met at the airport of arrival by your Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd transfer driver and be delivered to our West London Hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to recover from the rigours of your flight. The hotel is situated in an attractive neighbourhood of the city so you may enjoy local exploration, join one of Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd city tours (optional) or take the underground to a city centre area. Dinner is not included tonight.

London

Departing London we head Southwest, using the freeway to clear the city, and what more fitting introduction to the UK's ancient landscape and history than pre-historic Stonehenge? We drive across the tomb-covered Salisbury Plain to this incredible monument, with stops en route to sample the full flavour of the pretty counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire and your first taste of travelling the back-roads. In the afternoon, a contrast: Georgian Bath where, after an orientation drive around the city, you will be free to explore, perhaps with a visit to the Roman Baths and Pump Room, a fabulous reminder of times past. From here we head over the Severn Bridge into Wales.

South Wales

Today will be spent exploring the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan. We will drive through Cardiff, the capital of Wales, on our way to visit the little market town of Cowbridge where the actor Anthony Hopkins went to school. The Valley of Kings and Merlin's school, rugged coastline and sandy beaches are also on this morning's itinerary. After lunch there's a 12th century castle with its very own stepping-stones across the River Ewenny. If we cross the stepping stones and follow the footpath, we'll find ourselves in the picturesque thatched cottage village of Merthyr Mawr. A short distance away are the second largest sand dunes in Europe. We will also visit the Rhondda Valleys for which Wales is famous ('How Green Was My Valley?') and the Roman ruins at Caerleon. This evening there is an optional visit to a Welsh Cultural Banquet.

South Wales

The Welsh Marches and English Borders. Due to the distance that we have to cover and the slower country roads, there will be quite a lot of driving time today. Our first stop is Chepstow Castle, the oldest stone castle in Wales with its magnificent position right on the River Wye. From here, we follow the picturesque River Wye Valley, briefly stopping at the impressive ruins of Tintern Abbey, before continuing north towards Monmouth, birthplace of Henry V. Our route today often crosses Offa's Dyke, the 9th century man-made border between England and Wales. Continuing northwards we will lunch in the border town of Ludlow, home of one of the great Marcher fortresses. Ludlow also has a feast of old buildings, from Tudor through to Georgian. This afternoon, we'll explore the beautiful Shropshire countryside, before heading back into Wales where a visit to Llangollen, home of the International Musical Eisteddfod, will end the afternoon.

Ruthin

The breathtaking scenery of the Snowdonia National Park and the fabulous North Wales coastline is on today's itinerary. We visit the enchanting Italianate village of Portmeirion. It was created by Sir Clough William-Ellis between 1925-1972 and stands in a stunning spot on its own wooded peninsula next to the tidal sands of Traeth Bach. We'll also take a steam train ride before heading to the coast and the Victorian resort of Llandudno where you'll have time for a paddle & an ice cream before we head back to our base.

Ruthin

We'll take a brief look at the walled town of Roman Chester before we head north, through the beautiful Lancashire dales, to the land of Beatrix Potter and the Lakeland poets. Although we have a long drive this morning, the sights that await us in the Lake District are well worth it. There's Windermere, the largest and most famous of the Lakes and the smaller Ullswater to mention just two. We'll visit one of Wordsworth's homes, see prehistoric stone circles and some unbelievable scenery.

Cumbria

Bonnie Scotland! Land of Heather, tartans, whisky and bagpipes! Our first stop is at Gretna Green, famous for being the place to which young lovers would elope to be married. We'll take a picturesque drive through the forests of the border country to the historic town of Selkirk, where we will have lunch. From Selkirk it is but a short drive to the impressive home of Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford. He bought the house in 1812 and died there twenty years later. We will have time to explore the house as well as the gardens and grounds. If time allows we'll make a short visit to Melrose and its abbey before turning north to Edinburgh, our base for the next three nights.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, Prince's Street and the New Town - all under the shadow of Arthur's Seat. This is a day of 'organised independence' and you will be free to explore this exciting and vibrant city at leisure having enjoyed a full briefing from your guide/companion. Dinner is not included tonight to allow you to take advantage of theatre visits if wished.

Edinburgh

The Royal Kingdom of Fife is the subject of today's explorations. We'll see the prison castle of Mary, Queen of Scots, located on an island in the middle of Loch Leven. We'll visit the Royal Palace of Falkland, which contains the oldest Royal Tennis Court in Britain. Also on today's itinerary is St. Andrew's, home of golf. This is a fascinating seaside town and you will have time to explore the cathedral ruins, the castle, the town itself and perhaps even a visit to the golf museum. Later this afternoon we'll explore tiny little fishing villages which hug this North Sea coast. This evening we'll dine out and perhaps sample some of the wonderful locally caught fresh fish.

Edinburgh