Three Day Small Group Tour of Lincolnshire and The Peak District

Want to tour the back roads of Lincolnshire but don't want to join a large coach group? Looking for a little flexibility and spontaneity in your itinerary? Do you have a few days to really get deep into the English countryside?

These are three days packed with variety and interest in a region perhaps ignored by those not in on its secrets. Until recently, the ancient city of Lincoln was an unknown to many visitors, despite it having one of the country's finest Norman cathedrals. However, the "Da Vinci Code" film, where the cathedral doubled for Westminster Abbey, has put it firmly on the tourist map.

Lincoln green is a color associated with the legendary outlaw of Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood. Not everybody realizes they can actually stand under Robin's great oak during a forest walk. Nearby you can find sites associated with those 17th century heroes who set sail on the "Mayflower" for a new world and heroes of a modern time are commemorated at the "Battle of Britain Flight" memorial and museum at Coningsby. And we must not forget Mr Straw, the anonymous hero and "every man" who battled everyday early 20th century life.

Add to these fine sites the incredible scenery of the Peak District and a range of truly unspoiled picturesque villages and towns, and you have a tour difficult to surpass. It's time you were in on the secret!

With a maximum group size of 11 and a university educated guide/driver, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience.

Schedule Details Departs: Seasonal - 2008 dates

• April 30
• May 14 and 28
• June 11 and 25
• July 09 and 23
• August 06 and 20
• September 03 and 17
• October 01 and 15

Departure Point: Tour departs from centrally located Manchester hotels Departure Time: 8:00am Return details: Tour returns to original point of departure at approximately 6:00pm (Day 3) Hotel Pickup: Tour departs from centrally located Manchester hotels. Please include the details of your hotel at the time of booking. You MUST call the supplier at least 24 hours prior to tour commencement to reconfirm all tour and departure details. If the supplier does not pickup from your hotel, they will advise you of the meeting point when you call. Itinerary:

Day One:
Depart from Manchester and drive over the fabulous Pennine mountain Snake Pass towards Sheffield. The dam that is a feature of this area was used to test the famed dam-buster bouncing bomb in World War Two. The next stop is in the village surrounding Scrooby, a quintessentially English village in north Nottinghamshire. This is one of the villages that the Pilgrim Fathers left to cross to the New World on the "Mayflower".

Nearby is the unusual house of Mr Straw. Mr Straw's is a semi-detached house built in the 1905, unchanged inside since the 1930s. The house offers a glimpse into the past, complete with family letters, photos, Victorian furniture and household objects - all seen in their rightful places, where their owners left them. There are also annual exhibitions of the family's belongings which were previously hidden away in cupboards and draws. Visitors can find out all about The Straw's in the introductory video and hear the memories of people who knew The Straw's. Outside the house is a traditional urban garden.

Continue to Gainsborough Hall, a magnificent stately home in complete contrast to Mr Straws! Finally, to your accommodation base in Lincoln for two nights.

Day Two:
Begin the day with time exploring the astounding, historical city of Lincoln. Its magnificent cathedral was used as a film stetting for the "Da Vinci Code" but, more importantly, an original of the Magna Carta is to be seen at the castle. A walking tour of the city will also include the old Jewish area and there will be some time for independent sightseeing or shopping. This afternoon visit the Battle of Britain Memorial flight. This tremendous museum houses Hurricanes, Spitfires, Lancaster bombers, Chipmunks and assorted other World War Two historical artifacts.

Tour participants may part for a while leaving those interested here while those who might not be quite as enthralled as their spouses (!), visit the town of Horncastle. This town is famed for its antique shops, Roman town walls and fine 18th and 19th century buildings including the county's original mud and stud construction pub.

Day Three:
Drive the short distance to Sherwood Forest where you learn of perhaps Lincoln's most famed inhabitant, Robin Hood! Walk through part of the forest to Robin's Great Oak tree. The day next takes you to the fabulous Peak District. This is a region often missed by visitors - at their loss! The scenery is delightful with dry stone walls criss-crossing the sheep covered hillsides. In the early summer months the villages dress their wells with flower petals and celebrate other quaint folk customs.

Whatever time of year you are travelling, you will visit the plague village of Eyam, the "Blue John" semi-precious stone village of Castleton and the elegant spa town of Buxton. All in all, a truly memorable day to round off a truly memorable three day tour.

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