Wales & the Cotswolds
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WALES & THE COTSWOLDS JULY 3 – JULY 22, 2015 | £3,199* per person Our tour includes one of the most in-depth explorations of Wales and the Welsh borderlands available: some the best of the Cotswolds; a visit to the famous Ironbridge Museum, otherwise known as the Valley of the Industrial Revolution; and finishing at Highclere Castle, better known as Downton Abbey. Our routing is always via the most picturesque and varied countryside, concentrating on Britain’s heritage wherever possible — its ruins, castles, palaces, abbeys and stately homes containing many interesting and varied collections, many of which have featured in movies and familiar TV series. The great thing about the majority of these wonderful attractions in the countryside is that they are nearly all also museums in themselves. We visit some of the loveliest Cotswold villages, with their gorgeous thatched cottages and honey-coloured stone. In addition to history, our emphasis throughout is spectacular scenery, amazingly different architecture due to both the construction periods and the use of local building materials (mostly due to the astonishingly diverse geology of Britain), and glorious gardens, so that the entire trip is a photographer’s dream. We include up to 35 different attractions with no ‘optional extras’. We stay in lovely hotels with great food, sometimes in very small places, where the emphasis is more on local charm than on North American-style modernization! INCLUDED IN THE PRICE Airport transfer for those arriving with the majority of the group • Accommodation and transportation • Breakfasts and dinners as specified • Admission to all attractions as per the detailed itinerary • Escort throughout The tour is escorted by Maggie Rodgers who has taught Travel courses for Continuing Education in Vancouver, Surrey and White Rock, British Columbia, for several years. Maggie has travelled extensively in Britain. (604) 985 7447 | 1 (888) 392 7447 110 West Esplanade, North Vancouver www.cruiseshipcenters.com/NorthVancouver *All prices are per person in British Pounds, based on double occupancy for the first and second passengers only, on specific stateroom categories and are subject to availability at time of booking on select departure dates. Airfare, transfers, government fees and taxes are additional. Expedia Extras offers are per stateroom and apply to new bookings only, are not combinable with any other offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. Additional restrictions may apply. Contact your Expedia CruiseShipCenters Vacation Consultant for full terms and conditions. BC Reg #: 25615/6 MON, JULY 13 − CAERNARFON ITINERARY Highlights: drive over the Menai Strait to the Isle of Anglesey. Beaumaris Castle Time to explore the waterfront and streets of FRI, JULY 3 − STRATFORD-ON-AVON Beaumaris village. Plas Newydd House, Pringles Craft Centre. Highlights: Stratford-on-Avon, well known for its association with Shakespeare. TUE, JULY 14 − BETWS-Y-COED Highlights: Penrhyn Castle Conway, Plas Mawr Elizabethan Town SAT, JULY 4 − STRATFORD-ON-AVON House. Highlights: Warwick Castle, Kennilworth Castle. WED, JULY 15 − BETWS-Y-COED SUN, JULY 5 − USK Highlights: Free time and lunch in Llandudno, Bodnant Gardens, Highlights: Ludlow, Hereford, Welsh borderlands and through the Betws-y-coed. Wye Valley, Tintern Abbey. THU, JULY 16 − BRIDGNORTH MON, JULY 6 − TENBY Highlights: Scenic drive takes us to Llangollen, Aqueduct of Highlights: Caerphilly Castle, dream-like Bavarian Castell Coch, South Froncysllte. Chirk Castle and Powis Castle, Bridgnorth Wales seaside town of Tenby, nicknamed the “Welsh Riviera.” FRI, JULY 17 − BRIDGNORTH TUE, JULY 7 − TENBY Highlights: Ironbridge Gorge Museum. Highlights: Pembroke Castle, St. David’s, the smallest cathedral “city” in Britain. The afternoon is free to enjoy this delightful seaside town SAT, JULY 18 − WITNEY of Tenby. Highlights: Scenic route through Kidderminster, Worcester and Evesham for our first stop at Hidcote Manor Gardens, villages of WED, JULY 8 − ABERAERON Chipping Camden and Broadway, Snowshill. Highlights: Carew Castle and Cross, the oldest Celtic cross in Europe. Cilgerran Castle, New Quay and then on to Aberaeron. SUN, JULY 19 − WITNEY Highlights: delightful villages of Upper & Lower Slaughter, Sudeley THU, JULY 9 − BARMOUTH Castle, Bourton-on-the-Water. Highlights: We depart for Aberystwyth to catch the Vale of Rheidol Narrow-gauge Railway to Devil’s Bridge. Central Market town of MON, JULY 20 − NEWBURY Machynlleth, Aberdovey, Cymer Abbey, Barmouth. Highlights: Chedworth Roman Villa, Bibery, Burford, known as the “Southern Gateway to the Cotswolds”, Newbury. FRI, JULY 10 − PORTHMADOG Highlights: Harlech Castle, Portmeirion, Porthmadog. TUE, JULY 21 − HEATHROW Highlights: Highclere Castle, home of the Carnarvon family since SAT, JULY 11 − PORTHMADOG 1679 and still home to the present Lord and Lady Carnarvon, Highlights: train trip on the famous Festiniog Railway, Llechwedd complete with butler. Need we say more? Slate Caverns, Criccieth, WED, JULY 22 − SUN, JULY 12 − CAERNARFON You depart for the Airport at your own convenience, depending on Highlights: Beddgelert , Llanberis Pass, Llanberis, Caernarfon Castle. your time of flight. For a detailed itinerary, please visit www.countrysidetours.ca.