Steve Austin's
Great Vacations
20470 S. Hidden Creek Lane, Colton, Oregon 97017
1-800-452-8434 Office: (503) 824-4079 Fax: (503) 824-4081
email: steveaustin@colton.com
Steve Austin's |
SOUTHERN COTSWOLDS & BATH June 24 – July 2, 2009 Early Bird Booking: (book by Dec. 31) Air is not included (rates available) The delightful rolling countryside of the Cotswolds offers unparalleled walking. We are excited to add a number of ‘new’ walks while retaining some of our favorites. As in all our ‘walk & tour’ programs, we emphasize the journey, not the distance! We allow time to enjoy each village and their magnificent views with easy to medium strolls which allow plenty of exercise without stressing the body. This year’s schedule includes parts of the ‘Ridgeway’, the ancient footpath which was once the main traveled route for Southern England. Our hotel locations are in Salisbury, Malmesbury, and Bath giving us great access to the countryside with the added compliment of excellent hotels and classic towns to explore. What to Expect: Beautiful scenery at every turn! Usually mild summer temperatures are in the mid 60’s to mid 70’s (perfect walking weather). Rain is always a possibility in England. However July is generally a dry month. River valleys, thatched roofed cottages, pristine villages and gentle rolling hills are the hallmark of the Cotswolds. The pathways are well-defined with mainly even surfaces of grass and chalk. Unlike Europe, walking in England is a tradition and there are ample opportunities to meet the ‘locals’ on the trails who far outnumber tourists. DAY 1 Morning pick-up (11:00 a.m.) at London’s Heathrow airport. Transfer by private vans to our first location in Salisbury. The afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy the small city or just relax at our superbly situated hotel. This evening get acquainted cocktails in the hotel lounge before dinner. Our next three nights in Salisbury. DAY 2 This morning we visit a number of small villages in the Wylie Valley. Our walk takes us up out of the valley with extensive views. Little has changed over the centuries and each village gives us a glimpse of the past. The final section follows the river to an ancient mill and the ‘compulsory’ village pub. Dinner is at your leisure this evening. DAY 3 One of our all time classic walks. We depart from the ancient site of Old Sarum with an eventual arrival at Stonehenge. I could take three pages to describe this journey, but suffice it to say we experience ancient Britain in a microcosm. When clients ask us about our favorite walks of all our trips and destinations, this one always comes into the top five. Dinner is at our hotel this evening. DAY 4 Today we leave Salisbury and head a few miles northwest to Malmesbury, an old market town. En route we’ll walk a part of the Ridgeway, steeped in English history. A visit to the intriguing village of Avebury, completely surrounded by an ancient stone circle, completes a day of ancient trails, old battlements, stone age burial tombs and the vast scenery of Salisbury Plain. Dinner is at our hotel. We spend the next three nights in Malmesbury. DAY 5 A short drive this morning before a lovely easy walk through some famous Cotswold villages. The Cotswolds were historically wealthy due to their wool trade. Many of the towns and villages developed due to the trade with some buildings over seven hundred years old. Our walk will take us through ‘the Slaughters’ and into the bustling center of Bourton-on-the-Water. In the afternoon, we’ll visit another ‘cloth’ town beautifully located on the tiny River Coln. Dinner is at your leisure this evening. Day 6 Joining the Cotswold Way, today’s walk takes us to the western edge of the Cotswolds affording vast views across to the Welsh hills and the Severn Estuary. Our start at Wotton-under-Edge, another cloth town, takes us on a varied ramble of open woods and narrow tracks. The return section is along an old byway with tranquil views culminating in an ancient track that leads us back to Wotton. Dinner is at our hotel. Day 7 Castle Combe, voted the most beautiful village in England, starts a magnificent walk through the Bybrook Valley. We continuously follow this small, babbling brook, through villages and bucolic farms before finishing up at the village of Box. It is an easy walk which includes an old Inn as a lunch stop. We’ll also enjoy a nice afternoon cup of tea at a private home at the end of the trail. Following our walk, we continue on to nearby Bath for our final two nights. Dinner is at our hotel. Day 8 This morning we tour the wonderful City of Bath. It is one of the great floral cities of Europe. It is always bustling and there is plenty to see. We leave the afternoon for your own leisure. There are plenty of good quality shops and you may also want to visit the Roman Baths and Abbey. The Georgian Pump Room offers afternoon High Tea which is quite a social fixture for locals and tourists alike. Our farewell dinner is at a local Inn. Day 9 Following breakfast, we return to London’s Heathrow with a Noon drop at the airport. Air is not included in this tour. We would be happy to work with you on making your flight arrangements. If arriving on July 1 (Day 1) at Heathrow you will need your flight to arrive no later than 9:30am to insure meeting up with the tour at 11:00 a.m. If you are departing from Heathrow on July 9 (Day 9) your flight should not depart earlier than 2:00 p.m. WHAT’S INCLUDED? First Class en suite accommodations in country hotels; English breakfasts, most dinners; Minivan (2) transportation; tour guide and drivers; entries as per itinerary; all tips and taxes. Absolutely no added charges upon arrival. WALKING LEVEL Easy/Moderate. Walks vary from 5 – 9 miles. Most of the terrain is undulating. There are no major uphill sections. An average fit person can handle these walks easily. However, it does no harm to prepare yourself with some walking prior to the trip. SUGGESTED READING ‘SARUM’ by Edward Rutherford – this definitive Michener style novel gives you a true insight into the history of Britain. It bases itself at Sarum (Salisbury) and takes you from Stone Age to present Age. In addition to a great read, it will give you a tremendous amount of information about the places and people you would see on this tour. ‘PILLARS OF THE EARTH’ by Ken Follett – another history lesson wrapped around a good read. Pillars depicts the period of the building of the great cathedrals of Europe during the middle ages. While Ken Follett weaves a good yarn, it is the ability to portray life in that period which leaves the lasting impression. |
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