Highlights
- Trace the Roman history of Hadrian's Wall
- Discover the natural beauty of the Lake District
- Two nights' accommodation with private facilities in a charming B&B or hotel
- Comfortable transport by Mercedes minivan
- A fun and personal small group experience with a maximum 16 participants
Useful Information
Historic Hadrian's Wall
You will experience the stunning scenery of the Scottish Borders and visit the statue of Scotland's most famous son, William Wallace. At Hadrian's Wall, built by the Emperor Hadrian in the Second Century AD to keep the Scottish tribes out of the Roman Empire, you have the opportunity to explore some of the Roman remains and walk in the footsteps of the Roman Centurians.
Your base in the English Lake District is the picturesque market town of Keswick, where you will stay in a charming B&B for two nights. From here you will visit beauty spots such as Ullswater, Lake Windermere and the village of Grasmere, described by poet William Wordsworth as 'the loveliest spot that man hath found'. There is also ample free time to relax and explore this beautiful region at your leisure.
Itinerary
Driving south, the first stop is made in the Scottish Borders, where you can experience stunning views over the River Tweed and visit the statue of William Wallace. After a stop at the ruins of 12th Century Jedburgh Abbey, the tour continues to Hadrian's Wall.
Continuing over the Hartside Pass, the tour reaches the English Lake District and the picturesque market town of Keswick, your base for the next two nights. After checking into your traditional English B&B you have free time to explore this charming town with its traditional shops and Victorian museum.
Day Two:
Departing after breakfast, you will visit the mysterious Castlerigg standing stones before continuing to beautiful lakeside village of Ullswater. Next stop is the famous Lake Windermere, where you may choose to take a leisurely cruise or enjoy a leisurely lunch while enjoying views of the mountains and lakes. Later explore the quaint villages of Hawkeshead and Grasmere, so admired by poet William Wordsworth, before returning to Keswick in the late afternoon.
Day Three:
You will be collected from your B&B and driven through the Whinlatter Forest Park to reach the Honister mountain pass. Here you can visit the old slate workings where a small number of Cumbrians continue to make their living. In the afternoon continue through the forests of Borrowdale, passing Derwent Water before returning to Keswick where there is free time for afternoon tea and shopping.
After lunch start your return journey by heading north towards the border. After crossing into Scotland the tour makes a stop in Moffat, one of Scotland's oldest Spa towns. From here it is a leisurely drive through the Galloway Hills back to Edinburgh.
Reviewed by Mary G, August 2011
My husband and I greatly enjoyed this trip. It was rainy off and on pretty much the whole trip but Ewan our guide was very entertaining showing us many beautiful sites. He was able to provide much history concerning the areas that he took us to. I was wonderful to take in the history of Hadrian's Wall. The town of Keswick is a nice English town. The B and B, the Grassmoor, where we stayed for two night was great. The breakfast was very good. At the end of the trip we were dropped of at the Penrith Station to make our way south toward London, Ewan helped us with our luggage and took us right to the ticket office to make sure that we were at the right train station. Thank you , Ewan.
Reviewed by SHENG L, China, April 2011
very nice
