Tastes of Four Tours in the British Isles
Take a bite of one day...and another...and another
Meaningful history, storybook villages, easy conversations, and the warm welcome of music-filled pubs. Travel through England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland has a charm that can't be duplicated anywhere else in Europe.
To give you a taste of our four tours in the British Isles for 2011, we've picked one day from each. Go ahead, we have plenty to share!
Whet your appetite with this musical minute in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Day 3: Whitehall and the National Gallery — We'll take a history-laced walking tour along Whitehall, from the Westminster Houses of Parliament to the Renaissance-inspired Banqueting House, punctuated by the smartly-dressed, stony-faced Horse Guards. Then we'll get the inside story on the London Blitz and Britain's leadership during WWII on our tour of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. This afternoon, we'll learn about the adventures of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square and have a guided tour of the National Gallery's masterpieces, including works by Leonardo, Botticelli, Turner and the Impressionists. The rest of your afternoon and evening are free. This would be a perfect evening for the theater (book something in advance from the Colonies or pick up a ticket in London). Let's try a little more...
Day 10: Hadrian's Wall — We'll travel back in time today with a tour of Hadrian's ancient Roman wall, once considered the boundary dividing civilization and barbarity (though the Scots might disagree). We'll then stop for lunch before winding our way through the moors and dales of North Yorkshire — James Herriot country — to the bustling cathedral town of York. Tonight, after a tasty Indian dinner together, we'll enjoy a spookily entertaining Ghost Walk through the heart of Old York. Just one more taste, please...
Day 6: Medieval Castles and Loch Ness — We'll begin our day with a wee tasting at the Moniack Castle winery, and learn how French monks transplanted winemaking to Scotland long ago. Then we'll enjoy a panoramic view from the ruins of Urquhart Castle, perched atop a rock overlooking Loch Ness (monster sightings possible). After lunch in the canal-side village of Fort Augustus, we'll stop to admire the surreal setting of Eilean Donan Castle, which appears to float on water. We'll end our day on the rugged Isle of Skye, with dinner together followed by a performance of traditional music at our country manor hotel near Kyleakin. Maybe another nibble...
Day 6: Gaelic Heritage — It's a great day to experience some of Europe's wildest natural beauty and most ancient Christian sights. We'll hop aboard our bus to follow the famous Slea Head Drive, our vote for the most beautiful road in Ireland. We'll stop to tour the strikingly-designed Great Blasket Centre, where we'll get an intimate look at the language, literature and daily life of a traditional Gaelic Blasket community. Tonight we'll return to our home village, Dingle, with as much dancing and singing with new friends as we can handle. Just imagine two weeks of this...
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- Listen to guide radio interviews