Accommodation

Stay in a fabulous 4 star hotel on the south coast of the Island, in the quintessentially English resort of Ventnor. The hotel is steeped in history and is the perfect base to discover the island’s colourful past. Most of the bedrooms have a view of the gardens with the sea beyond and it is an few minutes stroll to the sandy beach. The renowned restaurant has been consistently awarded 2 AA rosettes. There is an outdoor pool as well.

Itinerary

Day One

Arrive on the island via Red Funnel ferries to East Cowes. The ferry crossing can be booked at any time to suit you. It is then a short drive past Osbourne House, former home to Queen Victoria, and cross-country, on some delightfully quiet lanes, through Newchurch and onto Ventnor. Stop and visit the renowned Garlic Farm, with an amazing array of the bulbs and everything (and more) to do with garlic. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Day Two

Explore the western side of the island today, heading along the coast to Blackgang and the superb road to Freshwater. Continue to Alum Bay to see the Needles, and then drive onto the pretty port of Yarmouth for lunch. Then head to Newtown, famed for its National Trust properties, and then along the seafront to Cowes, Britain’s yachting capital. Enjoy a stroll around Cowes, and indulge in a spot of shopping. Then head south to Carisbrooke Castle, and visit this amazing medieval building and wander around the ramparts. Continue south to the idyllic villages of Brighstone and Mottistone, where you can visit the manor. Return to Ventnor on the back roads in plenty of time for dinner, which is in a nearby restaurant.

Day Three

Discover the island’s eastern half starting with a visit to Appuldurcombe House, with its Owl & Falconry Centre. Continue to Godshill, which is an ideal place to stop for coffee (or hot chocolate Chocolate Island). Drive along some of the wonderful small lanes, wiggling your way up to Newport, to visit the excellent Classic Boat Museum, and the Bus Museum next door. After your visit head over Brading Downs to Ryde, on the north coast of the island. Drive along the esplanade, past the pier, and head on to the lovely village of Bembridge. Then on to Adgestone Vineyard for some samples of their fine wines, before heading to Shanklin old village. Return to Ventnor via the quaint village of Bonchurch. There is a final dinner at the hotel.

Day Four

Return to Cowes via the pretty village of Godshill. Once in Southampton, depart for home.

Details

Duration: 3 nights/4 days
Dates: 7-10 April 2011
Price: £625 per person – based on two people sharing a double or twin room, and one car.

What’s Included

• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• Accommodation for 3 nights (price per person based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room)
• Full English breakfast each morning
• Two evening meals at the hotel
• One dinner at a local restaurant
• Return ferry crossing with Red Funnel from Southampton to Cowes
• Tour book – includes a brief history of the Isle of Wight, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books
• Arrangement and reservation of optional activities (entry not included)
• Experienced and friendly tour guide/director: Sarah Dowding
• Chiropractor & physical therapist, Nick Richmond, for any human mechanics

What’s not included

• All lunches – but places to eat are recommended
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have UK breakdown cover
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• This tour is only open to members of the Jaguar XK and E-type Clubs
• Please ensure you have suitable travel insurance
• It is a good idea to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded traveller

Highlights include the Champagne region, visiting Alsace and the Schlumpf Collection Motor Museum, touring Bavaria with its fairytale castles, travelling through the magnificent Austrian and Swiss Alps, driving some of the world’s most thrilling mountain passes, including the Stelvio, past breath-taking scenery, and sampling the wonderful cuisine and wines.

Classic Travelling has driven the route to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking.

This tour is open to drivers of all marques of classic, vintage and sports cars.

Accommodation

Stay in some of the most glorious hotels, including stunning chateaux, cosy wooden chalets and medieval townhouses. All the hotels are individual and unique and, overall, are of an extremely high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels the rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked the accommodation for their unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast, and dinner is included where stated. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely undercover.

Itinerary

May be subject to change without notice

Day 1:

For UK participants take the ferry from Dover to Calais, followed by an easy drive to Laon. Visit the largest war memorial area of France, Vimy Parc. This whole region was the scene of fierce fighting in both World Wars. Stay in an exclusive chateau set around a courtyard a few kilometres from Laon. A welcome dinner is included.

Day 2:

Drive across northern France to the beautiful Alsace region. On the way visit the attractive town of Verdun, France’s ‘Capital of Peace’. Travel across the engaging Vosges Mountains to the hotel. Set in a tranquil and pretty village, the hotel is a treat with its spa and great food. Dinner is included.

Day 3:

Drive south to visit the captivating town of Colmar. A little further south still is the town of Mulhouse, home of the Musee National de L’Automobile, also known as the Schlumpf Collection, the most stupendous motor museum in the world, and well worth a visit. Leave France behind and cross into Germany. Virtually every road in this area of the Black Forest is designated as a scenic route and the driving is superb. Lake Constance is a beautiful area with lovely half-timbered houses in the towns along the shore. Drive the corniche road along the northern shore, through Meersburg, and pay a visit to the Zeppelin Museum, before heading to the medieval, tiny island town of Lindau. Stay in a beautiful quality, family-run hotel next to the lake towards Switzerland. Dine overlooking Lake Constance.

Day 4:

Heading east from Lindau enter Bavaria, home of many of Germany’s best-known cliches: beer, lederhosen, sausage dogs, sauerkraut and fairy-tale castles. Drive along the thrilling Alpine Road and visit the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, the latter is the ultimate story-book castle. Drive through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, host of the 1936 Winter Olympics and onto Tegernsee. Stay in a charming country house hotel for the next two nights, on the outskirts of a small spa town, one of the country’s most elegant resorts, and where the thermal springs are at a constant 27ºC. Dinner is included tonight only.

Day 5:

A day off to either relax, or take a boat trip around the lake, stopping off at Tegernsee to visit the town and brewery. Tegernsee is among Bavaria’s most beautiful lakes and the area has long been a favourite with the rich. The little town of Tegernsee has a 1300 year old monastery, now a castle. From the southern end of the lake there is a cable car up into the mountains giving access to wonderful views and walks.

Day 6:

Drive along scenic roads all the way into Austria and to Kitzbuhel, where the tour will spend the next two nights. Stay in an 18th century chalet-style villa that was once the summer residence of an important American banking family. Set in a very quiet part of town yet only a few minutes walk from the centre the villa is perfectly located. Dinner is included, in the lovely panelled library.

Day 7:

Kitzbuhel has a picturesque centre and is a fashionable and prosperous resort. There are many lovely walking trails surrounding the town or there is a circular, scenic half-day drive we recommend to Zell am Zee.

Day 8:

An easy drive through the mountains and then along the Inn River valley to the beautifully situated town of Imst. On the way visit Innsbruck with its 15th century baroque facades and mountain backdrop. Dinner is included at the comfortable hotel in the centre of town.

Day 9:

Leave Austria and cross the border into Italy to drive some of the world’s most famous and thrilling mountain passes, including the Stelvio Pass, the highest road pass in Europe. Then head into Switzerland and over the Bernina Pass in time to explore St Moritz and the nearby, famous Cresta run. Travel over the startlingly dramatic Julier Pass and stay in the little village of Lenzerheide, in the mountains, in a stunning old converted farm. There are some wonderful hikes amidst unique alpine flora from the traditional hotel. Dinner is included.

Day 10:

Another excellent day of sensational mountain driving. Drive north to Chur and then east to Andermatt. Climb over the beautiful Furkha Pass and Grimsel Pass, and see the glaciers before descending to Brienzer See. Pass through Meiringen, location of Sherlock Holmes’ ‘death’, and head for Brienz, a quiet town renowned for its beautiful wood carvings. Visit the wonderful ethnographic museum at Ballenberg, which shows Switzerland as it used to be with buildings, animals, historical gardens and fields, and typical crafts and customs. Stay in a gorgeous and charming hotel above Brienz and its lake, where dinner is included.

Day 11:

It is a gentle drive along from Brienz to the spa town of Interlaken, nestled between the lakes of Thun See and Brienzer See. There is a wonderful side trip to the stunning Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfraujoch. Take a trip up to the Schilthorn, by funicular railway, where the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ was filmed. Then wind your way through classic Swiss scenery to Gstaad, playground of the rich and famous, and a perfect place for afternoon tea and a stroll. If you are feeling energetic try some summer skiing on the glacier at Les Diablerets. Stay for two nights in the beautiful town of Chateau d’Oex in an 18th century wooden chalet, blessed with delightful views across the valley. Dinner will be a traditional Swiss meal in the chalet.

Day 12:

Spend the day exploring the surrounding area. Visit the Nestle chocolate factory or discover how Gruyeres cheese is made. The medieval hill-top town of Gruyeres is very pretty and well worth a visit. This is the home of fondue so dinner here is recommended to sample the world famous cheese cuisine. There are also some beautiful walks in the surrounding mountains including botanical floral paths.

Day 13:

Drive south over the col to Aigle and then on to the lovely towns of Montreux and Vevey and drive alongside Lake Geneva to Lausanne. Then head north towards the Jura mountains, on the Swiss/French border and cross into the Franche-Comte region of France. Stay in a wonderful, mellow chateau situated in tranquil gardens. Dinner is included.

Day 14:

Visit the nearby Royal Saltworks at Arc-en-Senans and then tour Burgundy, one of France’s wine producing areas. The pretty town of Beaune makes a pleasant stop to sample the wines. Visit the medieval town of Troyes – particularly the most beautifully restored 15th century buildings around the Cathedral. Continue on to Laon, driving through the Champagne region and Epernay, and stay in the same hotel as the first night of the tour. A final farewell dinner is included.

Day 15:

For UK participants, drive to Calais or Zebrugge and take the ferry back to the UK and depart for home.

Details

Dates: 28 August – 11 September 2011
Duration: 15 days
Price: All prices are in Euros and are per car, based on 2 people sharing a car and a double or twin room
€5,495 – including Dover-Calais ferry
€5,895 – including Hull-Zeebrugge ferry with outside cabin, dinner and breakfast
€5,375 – for participants from continental Europe (no ferry)

There will be a supplement of €250 per car if there are 8 cars or fewer on the tour

What’s included

• Tour participation
• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• All accommodation for fourteen nights for two people sharing a twin or double room
• Breakfast every morning
• Dinner on 11 evenings. You will be able to dine at restaurants of your choice on other nights.
• Return crossing the UK for a car & two people – see ferry details above (UK participants only)
• Tour book – includes a brief history of the countries to be visited, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of recommended sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books
• Rally plaque for each car
• European road atlas for each car
• Experienced and friendly tour director/guide: Sarah Dowding

What’s not included

• Fuel
• Three evening meals
• All lunches
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• This tour is open to anyone with a classic, vintage or sports car
• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France, Germany, Austria, Italy & Switzerland and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.

Classic Travelling has driven the route many a time to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking. Cross from the UK to Denmark and spend a night in Jutland. Then cross to Kristiansand in southern Norway and stay overnight near Stavanger. Drive north to Bergen for a couple of nights, and then onto Alesund for two more nights. Leave the coast and turn inland to the fjords and stay at the end of most famed, Geirangerfjord, where we shall stay for two nights. Climb over the mountains and pass through valleys to Lom and then onto Sogndal. Take a ferry cruise across Sogndalfjord and then stay on the shores of the Hardangerfjord, famed for its orchards. Then return to Stavanger for the ferry crossing back Denmark and then to the UK.

As of September 2008 there are no direct sailings from the Newcastle to Norway, hence the route now via Denmark.

We are currently making hotel and ferry reservations. Please contact us to pre-register and you will be the first to know when this tour is open to book.

Please note that at this stage the dates are provisional.

Route

Accommodation

Stay in some delightful hotels, including wonderful wooden Gothic hotels, mountain log cabins, converted wharf-side warehouses, and stylish city hotels. All the accommodation is individual and unique and of a high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury.

We have hand-picked each hotel for its unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast and most include dinner. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely under cover. In the cities we shall be using small, public parking houses that are locked at night, adjacent to the hotels.

Itinerary

May be subject to change

Day One

Leave Harwich, England at 17.45 (check in at 17.00) and take the overnight crossing to Esbjerg, Denmark. Two-berth, sea-view cabins will be booked for your overnight comfort. There are two restaurants on board, a cinema and a cafe.

Day Two

Arrive in Esbjerg, Denmark at 13.00. Drive north, along the coast, to north Jutland. The scenery is graceful and dotted with pretty farms and log cabins. Stay overnight in a lovely old manor house near Hirtshals, in northern Denmark.

Mileage to Hirtshals: 175

Day Three

Take the ferry from Hirtshals, Denmark to Kristiansand, Norway, which is a 2 1/2 hour crossing. Enjoy the drive north, past lakes and over the mountains into Telemark, to Dalen and stay in a fabulous, wooden Gothic hotel at the top of a fjord. The interior and exterior of this hotel are exquisite.

Mileage from Kristiansand to Dalen: 132

Day Four

Drive north to Bergen through the most beautiful scenery. There is a lovely little stave church to visit shortly after leaving the hotel. Drive over the mountains and along valleys, past the famous twin waterfalls of Latefossen to Bergen and stay for two nights. Once in Bergen the tour will spend two nights in a fabulous hotel on the waters edge, just seconds along the quay from the World Heritage-listed, and very picturesque, Bryggen. Light evening meals are included at the hotel, but if you want something more substantial there are many good restaurants to sample in Bergen.

Mileage: 193

Day Five

The day is yours to explore the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Grieg concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen. Or climb up Floibanen and enjoy the view from the top, looking over the city and the sea.

Mileage: 0

Day Six

Leave Bergen and drive to Voss and then north for a wonderful drive to Vagsnes, passing Vik, with its medieval wooden stave church. It is then a short ferry trip, across Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand, where you will stay in a beautiful wooden hotel right on the fjord edge.

Mileage: 118

Day Seven

Wind your way around the fjords and over the mountains to Stryn. Continue onto Alesund, a picturesque art deco town, entirely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904, and stay for two nights in another converted warehouse hotel, alongside the water. Alesund & Sunnmore is the perfect place to explore some of Norway’s most famous natural and cultural attractions. Alesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation that give the town its distinctive character are like something from a fairytale. Sunnmore’s has a wonderful profusion of fjords, small fishing communities, island gems and majestic mountains to discover.

Mileage: 189

Day Eight

Spend time exploring the picturesque town of Alesund. In the evening there is a cruise one of the most beautiful fjords in the world, Hjorundfjorden. Surrounded by majestic mountains, cruise along the fjord enjoying some of Norway’s most wonderful scenery. Disembark in Saebo and walk up to an historic period farm. After learning about the history have dinner in the beautiful original barn. Then return to Alesund late evening.

Mileage: 0

Day Nine

Leave Alesund and drive along the coast to Andalsnes, a quaint little town on a lake. Drive up the famous Trollstigen – an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Continue onto Geiranger and down the Eagle’s Highway into the valley. The hotel overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful and photographed parts of Norway. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit. Stay for two nights in a beautiful wooden hotel above the town and overlooking the area.

Mileage: 127

Day Ten

Spend the day relaxing. There are some fabulous walks in the area, or take a boat trip down Geirangerfjord to Hellesylt to see the fjords from a different angle. The fjord is reputed for its magnificent waterfalls, such as Friaren, Desyvsostre and Brudesloret. The area is also famous for the many mountain farms, clinging to the mountain hills along the fjord. This beautiful place also offers some of the world’s most famous viewpoints; Ornesvingene, Flydalsjuvet and Dalssnibba.

Mileage: 0

Day Eleven

The ascent south from Geiranger is a fabulous road of 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (there will be a chance to indulge if you wish) at Strynefjell and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Lom. Visit Roisheim, in the heart of the beautiful valley of Boverdalen, which consists of 12 perfectly preserved buildings from the 18th century. The chalets have been lovingly restored with utmost care. This is a great stop for lunch (not included) and its excellent cuisine and wine cellar are only some of the reasons to visit this place, situated close to some of Norway’s tallest mountains. Continue over the mountains and descend to Lustrafjord, an arm of the Sogndalfjord. Visit the stunning stave church at Urnes and then stay overnight at Solvorn, on the edge of the fjord, at Norway’s oldest family-run hotel, a beautiful wooden building in lovely gardens.

Mileage: 145

Day Twelve

To avoid some of Europe’s longest road tunnels, take a 2 1/2 hour ferry cruise along Sogndalfjord from Kaupanger to Gudvangen. Head south to Voss and then onto the orchard-growing area of Hardangerfjord. Visit the fabulous Voringsfossen. Stay overnight on the edge of the fjord at Lofthus in a lovely hotel.

Mileage: 89

Day Thirteen

Drive along the edge of the fjord to Odda and then over the mountains, heading south. The scenery is beautiful and the driving fun. Arrive in Stavanger, European Capital of Culture 2008. Take a couple of hours to explore the quaint old town with its white-washed wooden buildings.

Take the overnight ferry, departing at 18.00 to Hirtshals, Denmark.

Mileage: 134

Day Fourteen

Arrive in Hirtshals early morning (7am!! – sorry – but the superb Danish pastries are worth getting up for!) and drive south, through Denmark’s gentle countryside to Esbjerg. The ferry departs at 18.45

Mileage: 175

Day Fifteen

Arrive in Harwich, UK at 11.30 and depart for home

Total Mileage: about 1,480 miles

Details

Duration: 15 days, including travel

Price:
To be confirmed

The first night will be spent in Stratford upon Avon, our base for the E50 Weekend Celebrations at Silverstone. We then head south, through the beautiful Cotswolds, to the stunning city of Bath. We shall stay for three nights in a lovely hotel on the outskirts of the city, which has secure parking.

During our stay here there will be time to explore Bath, as well as enjoy some scenic runs around the surrounding quintessentially English countryside. We then travel south west, through the Mendips and Cheddar Gorge, and across the Quantocks, to Dartmoor. Stay for three nights at the gorgeous Bovey Castle, in the middle of Dartmoor. As well as exploring Dartmoor and south Devon, there are a number of activities to take part in at Bovey Castle.

We leave Devon on Sunday 31 July and drive across Dorset to Hampshire’s New Forest for the final two nights of the tour.

Please email us if you would like to be kept informed.

Accommodation:

After leaving Stratford upon Avon there are just three hotels for the main section of this tour of south-west England – with two or three nights in each.

We have a luxurious five-star hotel in Bath which is within a short stroll of the historic city centre. The hotel offers views superb across the city (executive rooms) or the surrounding area (classic rooms), and has a lovely spa and two pools, as well as plentiful parking, a fine dining restaurant and alfresco bistro.

Our next hotel is situated in the middle of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon in glorious parkland with far-reaching views. There is a championship golf course, holistic spa, and a vast array of activities on offer to entertain you, as well as fine dining in the main restaurant or a more informal bistro offering. There are four different standards of room, each luxuriously appointed.

Our final hotel, near Brockenhurst in Hampshire’s New Forest National Park, offers elegant English tradition combined with contemporary oriental sophistication and is a luxury four star hotel. There is an award-winning Thai spa with state of the art facilities, and the hotel has three restaurants, including a two AA Rosette restaurant, French bistro and Thai cuisine.

Itinerary:

May be subject to change

Day One: Sunday 24 July

After a busy and fun-filled weekend at Silverstone Classic & E-type Weekend, return to your hotel in Shakespeare’s Stratford upon Avon – or check in to your hotel if you haven’t attended the weekend.

Dinner will be a fun and informal barbecue accompanied by private performance by Shakespearian players at Mary Arden’s Farm.

Day Two: Monday 25 July

Next morning, as a contrast from driving, we start the day with a boat trip down and up the River Avon with lunch on board. The driving then begins as we head south, through the beautiful Cotswolds, to the stunning city of Bath. We shall stay for three nights in a lovely hotel, not far from the city centre, which has secure parking and private grounds. Dinner will be at the hotel.

Day Three: Tuesday 26 July

Take the opportunity to explore Bath, one of England’s loveliest cities and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe such as the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge alongside a diverse collection of museums and attractions including the Roman Baths nourished by natural hot springs, Bath Abbey and Thermae Bath Spa. Bath’s compact city centre offers irresistible shopping and superb restaurants for a little indulgence. Dinner is not included as there are some fabulous places to eat in the city or, of course, you can dine in one of two restaurants at the hotel.

Day Four: Wednesday 27 July

A scenic drive into Wiltshire taking in some of the ‘must see’ sights of southern England, including Stonehenge, Avebury, pretty villages with quintessentially-English thatched cottages, the charming market town of Marlborough and gorgeous Castle Coombe, driving on some delightful lanes and roads. Return to Bath. Dinner will be at a very special venue in Bath (TBC).

Day Five: Thursday 28 July

We then travel south west, across the Mendips and through Cheddar Gorge, and across the Quantocks, to Devon, where we stay for three nights at the gorgeous Bovey Castle situated in the middle of the Dartmoor National Park, set in glorious parkland with far-reaching views. Dinner is in the Edwardian Restaurant at the hotel.

Day Six: Friday 29 July

Explore Dartmoor and south Devon with a scenic drive around the area. Alternatively, if you want to stay put (and who could blame you) there are a number of excellent activities on offer at the hotel, such as hot air balloon trips, falconry, horse riding, fishing, or the championship golf course – or spa. There is a choice for dinner: either in the restaurant or the bistro.

Day Seven: Saturday 30 July

If you explored Dartmoor and Devon yesterday there is another scenic drive to discover the beauty of Exmoor and the north Devon coast, with views across to Wales. There is a gala dinner in the Edwardian Restaurant.

Day Eight: Sunday 31 July

Leave Devon and drive across Dorset to the final location in Hampshire’s New Forest National Park for the last three days of the tour. Created nearly 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror for hunting, the New Forest offers plenty to see with great driving through open heathland, lovely glades, imposing woodlands and classical English coastline.

The final two nights of the tour will be at a lovely hotel with reputation for fine dining, and a truly outstanding spa. Dinner will be authentic Thai cuisine.

Day Nine: Monday 1 August

There is a choice of two circular scenic tours in the New Forest to enjoy. One takes you to Beaulieu with its famous Motor Museum and Palace, and onto Exbury Gardens, Buckler’s Hard and Lymington. The other explores the western part of the Forest, visiting the Elizabethan Breamore House and the Roman Villa at Rockbourne.

There will be a final tour dinner tonight.

Day Ten: Tuesday 2 August

After a morning’s drive through Hampshire and the Test Valley, we shall be having a farewell lunch at a beautiful hotel, just outside the historic cathedral city of Winchester.

Departure from here is easy with great access to motorways, London and Portsmouth.

Details:

Duration: 10 days
Mileage: TBC
Price: To be confirmed

Requirements:

• This tour is only open to Jaguar E-type Club members.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the UK (for cars registered outside the UK).
• You are also recommended to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• Dinner on most evenings will be a smart-casual affair, and a jacket and tie occasionally expected for men.
• However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.

Highlights include the Champagne region, visiting Alsace and the Schlumpf Collection Motor Museum, touring Bavaria with its fairytale castles, travelling through the magnificent Austrian and Swiss Alps, driving some of the world’s most thrilling mountain passes, including the Stelvio, past breath-taking scenery, and sampling the wonderful cuisine and wines.

Classic Travelling has driven the route to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking.

Accommodation

Stay in some of the most glorious hotels, including stunning chateaux, cosy wooden chalets and medieval townhouses. All the hotels are individual and unique and, overall, are of an extremely high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels the rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked the accommodation for their unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast, and dinner is included where stated. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely undercover.

Itinerary

May be subject to change without notice

Day 1: May 28

For UK participants take the ferry from Dover to Calais, followed by an easy drive to Laon. Visit the largest war memorial area of France, Vimy Parc. This whole region was the scene of fierce fighting in both World Wars. Stay in an exclusive chateau set around a courtyard a few kilometres from Laon. A welcome dinner is included.

Day 2: May 29

Drive across northern France to the beautiful Alsace region. On the way visit the attractive town of Verdun, France’s ‘Capital of Peace’. Travel across the engaging Vosges Mountains to the hotel. Set in a tranquil and pretty village, the hotel is a treat with its spa and great food. Dinner is included.

Day 3: May 30

Drive south to visit the captivating town of Colmar. A little further south still is the town of Mulhouse, home of the Musee National de L’Automobile, also known as the Schlumpf Collection, the most stupendous motor museum in the world, and well worth a visit. Leave France behind and cross into Germany. Virtually every road in this area of the Black Forest is designated as a scenic route and the driving is superb. Lake Constance is a beautiful area with lovely half-timbered houses in the towns along the shore. Drive the corniche road along the northern shore, through Meersburg, and pay a visit to the Zeppelin Museum, before heading to the medieval, tiny island town of Lindau. Stay in a beautiful quality, family-run hotel next to the lake towards Switzerland. Dine overlooking Lake Constance.

Day 4: May 31

Heading east from Lindau enter Bavaria, home of many of Germany’s best-known cliches: beer, lederhosen, sausage dogs, sauerkraut and fairy-tale castles. Drive along the thrilling Alpine Road and visit the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, the latter is the ultimate story-book castle. Drive through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, host of the 1936 Winter Olympics and onto Tegernsee. Stay in a charming country house hotel for the next two nights, on the outskirts of a small spa town, one of the country’s most elegant resorts, and where the thermal springs are at a constant 27ºC. Dinner is included tonight only.

Day 5: June 1

A day off to either relax, or take a boat trip around the lake, stopping off at Tegernsee to visit the town and brewery. Tegernsee is among Bavaria’s most beautiful lakes and the area has long been a favourite with the rich. The little town of Tegernsee has a 1300 year old monastery, now a castle. From the southern end of the lake there is a cable car up into the mountains giving access to wonderful views and walks.

Day 6: June 2

Drive along scenic roads all the way into Austria and to Kitzbuhel, where the tour will spend the next two nights. Stay in an 18th century chalet-style villa that was once the summer residence of an important American banking family. Set in a very quiet part of town yet only a few minutes walk from the centre the villa is perfectly located. Dinner is included, in the lovely panelled library.

Day 7: June 3

Kitzbuhel has a picturesque centre and is a fashionable and prosperous resort. There are many lovely walking trails surrounding the town or there is a circular, scenic half-day drive we recommend to Zell am Zee.

Day 8: June 4

An easy drive through the mountains and then along the Inn River valley to the beautifully situated town of Imst. On the way visit Innsbruck with its 15th century baroque facades and mountain backdrop. Dinner is included at the comfortable hotel in the centre of town.

Day 9: June 5

Leave Austria and cross the border into Italy to drive some of the world’s most famous and thrilling mountain passes, including the Stelvio Pass, the highest road pass in Europe. Then head into Switzerland and over the Bernina Pass in time to explore St Moritz and the nearby, famous Cresta run. Travel over the startlingly dramatic Julier Pass and stay in the little village of Lenzerheide, in the mountains, in a stunning old converted farm. There are some wonderful hikes amidst unique alpine flora from the traditional hotel. Dinner is included.

Day 10: June 6

Another excellent day of sensational mountain driving. Drive north to Chur and then east to Andermatt. Climb over the beautiful Susten Pass, and see the glaciers before descending to Brienzer See. Pass through Meiringen, location of Sherlock Holmes’ ‘death’, and head for Brienz, a quiet town renowned for its beautiful wood carvings. Visit the wonderful ethnographic museum at Ballenberg, which shows Switzerland as it used to be with buildings, animals, historical gardens and fields, and typical crafts and customs. Stay in a gorgeous and charming hotel above Brienz and its lake, where dinner is included.

Day 11: June 7

It is a gentle drive along from Brienz to the spa town of Interlaken, nestled between the lakes of Thun See and Brienzer See. There is a wonderful side trip to the stunning Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfraujoch. Take a trip up to the Schilthorn, by funicular railway, where the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ was filmed. Then wind your way through classic Swiss scenery to Gstaad, playground of the rich and famous, and a perfect place for afternoon tea and a stroll. If you are feeling energetic try some summer skiing on the glacier at Les Diablerets. Stay for two nights in the beautiful town of Chateau d’Oex in an 18th century wooden chalet, blessed with delightful views across the valley. Dinner will be a traditional Swiss meal in the chalet.

Day 12: June 8

Spend the day exploring the surrounding area. Visit the Nestle chocolate factory or discover how Gruyeres cheese is made. The medieval hill-top town of Gruyeres is very pretty and well worth a visit. This is the home of fondue so dinner here is recommended to sample the world famous cheese cuisine. There are also some beautiful walks in the surrounding mountains including botanical floral paths.

Day 13: June 9

Drive south over the col to Aigle and then on to the lovely towns of Montreux and Vevey and drive alongside Lake Geneva to Lausanne. Then head north towards the Jura mountains, on the Swiss/French border and cross into the Franche-Comte region of France. Stay in a wonderful, mellow chateau situated in tranquil gardens. Dinner is included.

Day 14: June 10

Visit the nearby Royal Saltworks at Arc-en-Senans and then tour Burgundy, one of France’s wine producing areas. The pretty town of Beaune makes a pleasant stop to sample the wines. Visit the medieval town of Troyes – particularly the most beautifully restored 15th century buildings around the Cathedral. Continue on to Laon, driving through the Champagne region and Epernay, and stay in the same hotel as the first night of the tour. A final farewell dinner is included.

Day 15: June 11

For UK participants, drive to Calais or Zebrugge and take the ferry back to the UK and depart for home.

Details

Dates: 28 May – 11 June 2011
Duration: 15 days
Price: All prices are in Euros and are per car, based on 2 people sharing a car and a double or twin room
€4,350 – including Dover-Calais ferry
€4,750 – including Hull-Zeebrugge ferry with outside cabin, dinner and breakfast
€4,250 – for participants from continental Europe (no ferry)

There will be a supplement of €200 per car if there are 8 cars or fewer on the tour

What’s included

• Tour participation
• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• All accommodation for fourteen nights for two people sharing a twin or double room
• Breakfast every morning
• Dinner on 11 evenings. You will be able to dine at restaurants of your choice on other nights.
• Return crossing the UK for a car & two people – see ferry details above (UK participants only)
• Tour book – includes a brief history of the countries to be visited, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of recommended sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books
• Rally plaque for each car
• European road atlas for each car

What’s not included

• Fuel
• Three evening meals
• All lunches
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• This tour is only open to members of CAAR GB
• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France, Germany, Austria, Italy & Switzerland and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.

Classic Travelling has driven the route many a time to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking. Cross from the UK to Denmark and spend a night in Jutland. Then cross to Kristiansand in southern Norway and stay overnight near Stavanger. Drive north to Bergen for a couple of nights, and then onto Alesund for two more nights. Leave the coast and turn inland to the fjords and stay at the end of most famed, Geirangerfjord, where we shall stay for two nights. Climb over the mountains and pass through valleys to Lom and then onto Sogndal. Take a ferry cruise across Sogndalfjord and then stay on the shores of the Hardangerfjord, famed for its orchards. Then return to Stavanger for the ferry crossing back Denmark and then to the UK.

As of September 2008 there are no direct sailings from the Newcastle to Norway, hence the route now via Denmark.

As this tour is still some time away we are taking details of everyone who is interested in the tour. So please contact us to pre-register and you will be the first to know when this tour is available to book.

Please note that at this stage the dates are provisional.

Route

Accommodation

Stay in some delightful hotels, including wonderful wooden Gothic hotels, mountain log cabins, converted wharf-side warehouses, and stylish city hotels. All the accommodation is individual and unique and of a high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury.

We have hand-picked each hotel for its unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast and most include dinner. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely under cover. In the cities we shall be using small, public parking houses that are locked at night, adjacent to the hotels.

Itinerary

May be subject to change

Day One

Leave Harwich, England at 17.45 (check in at 17.00) and take the overnight crossing to Esbjerg, Denmark. Two-berth, sea-view cabins will be booked for your overnight comfort. There are two restaurants on board, a cinema and a cafe.

Day Two

Arrive in Esbjerg, Denmark at 13.00. Drive north, along the coast, to north Jutland. The scenery is graceful and dotted with pretty farms and log cabins. Stay overnight in a lovely old manor house near Hirtshals, in northern Denmark.

Mileage to Hirtshals: 175

Day Three

Take the ferry from Hirtshals, Denmark to Kristiansand, Norway, which is a 2 1/2 hour crossing. Enjoy the drive north, past lakes and over the mountains into Telemark, to Dalen and stay in a fabulous, wooden Gothic hotel at the top of a fjord. The interior and exterior of this hotel are exquisite.

Mileage from Kristiansand to Dalen: 132

Day Four

Drive north to Bergen through the most beautiful scenery. There is a lovely little stave church to visit shortly after leaving the hotel. Drive over the mountains and along valleys, past the famous twin waterfalls of Latefossen to Bergen and stay for two nights. Once in Bergen the tour will spend two nights in a fabulous hotel on the waters edge, just seconds along the quay from the World Heritage-listed, and very picturesque, Bryggen. Light evening meals are included at the hotel, but if you want something more substantial there are many good restaurants to sample in Bergen.

Mileage: 193

Day Five

The day is yours to explore the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Grieg concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen. Or climb up Floibanen and enjoy the view from the top, looking over the city and the sea.

Mileage: 0

Day Six

Leave Bergen and drive to Voss and then north for a wonderful drive to Vagsnes, passing Vik, with its medieval wooden stave church. It is then a short ferry trip, across Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand, where you will stay in a beautiful wooden hotel right on the fjord edge.

Mileage: 118

Day Seven

Wind your way around the fjords and over the mountains to Stryn. Continue onto Alesund, a picturesque art deco town, entirely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904, and stay for two nights in another converted warehouse hotel, alongside the water. Alesund & Sunnmore is the perfect place to explore some of Norway’s most famous natural and cultural attractions. Alesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation that give the town its distinctive character are like something from a fairytale. Sunnmore’s has a wonderful profusion of fjords, small fishing communities, island gems and majestic mountains to discover.

Mileage: 189

Day Eight

Spend time exploring the picturesque town of Alesund. In the evening there is a cruise one of the most beautiful fjords in the world, Hjorundfjorden. Surrounded by majestic mountains, cruise along the fjord enjoying some of Norway’s most wonderful scenery. Disembark in Saebo and walk up to an historic period farm. After learning about the history have dinner in the beautiful original barn. Then return to Alesund late evening.

Mileage: 0

Day Nine

Leave Alesund and drive along the coast to Andalsnes, a quaint little town on a lake. Drive up the famous Trollstigen – an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Continue onto Geiranger and down the Eagle’s Highway into the valley. The hotel overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful and photographed parts of Norway. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit. Stay for two nights in a beautiful wooden hotel above the town and overlooking the area.

Mileage: 127

Day Ten

Spend the day relaxing. There are some fabulous walks in the area, or take a boat trip down Geirangerfjord to Hellesylt to see the fjords from a different angle. The fjord is reputed for its magnificent waterfalls, such as Friaren, Desyvsostre and Brudesloret. The area is also famous for the many mountain farms, clinging to the mountain hills along the fjord. This beautiful place also offers some of the world’s most famous viewpoints; Ornesvingene, Flydalsjuvet and Dalssnibba.

Mileage: 0

Day Eleven

The ascent south from Geiranger is a fabulous road of 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (there will be a chance to indulge if you wish) at Strynefjell and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Lom. Visit Roisheim, in the heart of the beautiful valley of Boverdalen, which consists of 12 perfectly preserved buildings from the 18th century. The chalets have been lovingly restored with utmost care. This is a great stop for lunch (not included) and its excellent cuisine and wine cellar are only some of the reasons to visit this place, situated close to some of Norway’s tallest mountains. Continue over the mountains and descend to Lustrafjord, an arm of the Sogndalfjord. Visit the stunning stave church at Urnes and then stay overnight at Solvorn, on the edge of the fjord, at Norway’s oldest family-run hotel, a beautiful wooden building in lovely gardens.

Mileage: 145

Day Twelve

To avoid some of Europe’s longest road tunnels, take a 2 1/2 hour ferry cruise along Sogndalfjord from Kaupanger to Gudvangen. Head south to Voss and then onto the orchard-growing area of Hardangerfjord. Visit the fabulous Voringsfossen. Stay overnight on the edge of the fjord at Lofthus in a lovely hotel.

Mileage: 89

Day Thirteen

Drive along the edge of the fjord to Odda and then over the mountains, heading south. The scenery is beautiful and the driving fun. Arrive in Stavanger, European Capital of Culture 2008. Take a couple of hours to explore the quaint old town with its white-washed wooden buildings.

Take the overnight ferry, departing at 18.00 to Hirtshals, Denmark.

Mileage: 134

Day Fourteen

Arrive in Hirtshals early morning (7am!! – sorry – but the superb Danish pastries are worth getting up for!) and drive south, through Denmark’s gentle countryside to Esbjerg. The ferry departs at 18.45

Mileage: 175

Day Fifteen

Arrive in Harwich, UK at 11.30 and depart for home

Total Mileage: about 1,480 miles

Details

Duration: 15 days, including travel

Price:
To be confirmed nearer the time

Our Midlands Dinner will be at The Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, a beautiful country house hotel set in the delightful village of Charlecote, minutes from J15 M40, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa. The Hotel is just 14 miles (15 minutes drive) from the Jaguar Spares Day. It is also 50 miles (an hour’s drive) from the Technical Seminar at CMC in Bridgnorth, which takes place earlier on the day.

There will be a three course dinner, with coffee, in a private dining room.

Menu

There is a choice of menus to choose from in advance.Please note your choice on the booking form by stating the number of the dish you would like for each course.

Starters
1: Fresh home-made broccoli & Stilton soup
2: Warm Tomato and Goats Cheese Tartlet, Mixed Leaves, Pesto Dressing
3: Chicken Liver Parfait, Onion Marmalade, Toasted Brioche

Main Course
1: Oven Baked Chicken Breast wrapped in Smoked Bacon, Redcurrant Jus
2: Baked Salmon, Braised Leeks, Dill Cream Sauce
3: Char grilled Mediterranean Vegetable and Buffalo Mozzarella Tian, Salsa Verde

Dessert
1: Classic Glazed Lemon Tart, Berry compote
2: Profiteroles, Warm Chocolate Sauce
3: Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding, Vanilla Ice Cream

Freshly brewed coffee

Date: Saturday 27th March 2010
Price: £29.50 per person, excluding drinks
To book: Please fill in the booking form (scroll down to bottom) or pay now via PayPal (£1 surcharge per person)

Midlands Dinner

1 person £30.50 2 people £61.00 3 people £91.50 4 people £122.00

Venue

The Charlecote Pheasant Hotel
Charlecote
Nr Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire, CV35 9EW
Telephone: 0844 855 9126

Accommodation:
Single Bedded Room, to include accommodation, full English breakfast and VAT: £70.00 per night
Double/Twin Bedded Room, to include accommodation, full English breakfast and VAT: £80.00 per night

Please book your accommodation directly with the hotel by calling 0844 855 9126 or click here for the website

You will pay a visit to the Anderton Boat Lift – the first of its kind in the world – an industrial heritage marvel that hoisted fully laden salt barges from off the River Weaver over 50 feet onto the Trent & Mersey canal. You will pass through picturesque villages with their black and white timber framed Tudor cottages, catch a glimpse of the Jodrell Bank telescope that dominates its surroundings, cross innumerable canal bridges, even climb the occasional hill.

In Derbyshire it will be all hills, the towering tors and rocky outcrops, grand country houses (such as Chatsworth), and the spa towns of Buxton and Matlock Bath.

The contrast between the two counties is quite dramatic and fitting them together into a tour will be quite a challenge.
Limited to 35 cars the tour commences on Sunday evening, 26th September with dinner. There will be three days of driving on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the tour finishes after breakfast on Thursday 30th
September.

Mike Griffiths and Sylvia Percy are already at work on the detail. It will be up to their usual high standard.

Accommodation

The Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa is one of the finest luxury hotels in Cheshire. Two 18-hole golf courses and a 9-hole golf course plus the largest indoor golf academy in Europe will keep you entertained. For a relaxing break in the peaceful Cheshire countryside, dine in the award-winning onsite restaurant and indulge in the luxury spa and leisure facilities.The lovely hotel rooms will enhance your stay with their stylish design, plush fabrics and rich soft furnishings. Large comfortable beds, Samsung flat-screen TVs and spacious en-suite bathrooms with separate showers add a touch of opulence.

We have booked Classic rooms for the tour. Watch a movie on the flat screen TV and sink into a deep relaxing bath before climbing under the covers of your big, comfortable bed for a sound night’s sleep. Classic Rooms feature large comfortable beds, luxury en-suite bathrooms with a separate bathtub and shower. There is also broadband internet access.

Itinerary

The two counties of Cheshire (plains) and Derbyshire (peaks) offer contrasting topography, and they are also interlaced with some great driving roads, spectacular countryside, and are steeped in Victorian industrial grandeur.
Over the next few months Mike Griffiths will be devising routes and visits. We are spoilt for choice with lovely Cheshire villages with their black and white timbered, Tudor cottages, the picturesque Shropshire Union and Trent & Mersey canals, the Anderton Boat Lift, salt mines, Jodrell Bank telescope, stately homes and gardens. Then there is Derbyshire and the Peak district with Buxton, the Victorian spa town, the Goyt valley, Castleton, with its caverns and majestic limestone bluffs, Chatsworth House and a host of other grand country mansions.
There will be stops for coffee (comfort) and lunch, and time for a little retail therapy – Cheshire has some of the finest shops. We trust you will like the format.

Details

Duration: 4 days

Dates: 26 – 30 September 2010

Mileage: TBC

Price:
£575 per person – based on two people sharing a twin or double room
£740 per person – single occupancy

What’s included

• All accommodation
• All meals
• Coffee stop each day
• Mechanical back-up provided by Jaguar-specialist, Keith Fell. The first 30 minutes of work is free, and subsequent work will be charged at Keith’s normal rate
  

What’s not included

• Fuel
• Personal travel insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have breakdown cover. Although we have mechanical back-up, there may be cases that cannot be fixed on the tour and your car may need to be taken to a garage or back to your home.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• This Peaks & Plains Tour is only open to members of the Jaguar XK Club.
• You are also required to carry safety equipment: a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker (if not a UK registered car).
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.

Imagine a touring holiday which includes superb mountain driving in the morning, a relaxing afternoon at a fabulous ocean beach, a cozy dinner at an historic country inn, and a nightcap before retiring to a luxury hotel suite.

From late summer until around November 1st, Mother Nature paints her pictures in every shade in the spectrum, from the deepest oil colors of the reds and purples to the delicate pastels of the yellows and greens. Starting at the northernmost points in New England, she slowly sweeps her brush across the landscape, from the mountaintops to the city parks, from sea to rural settings in the west. Visitors who travel to see the spectacular foliage are known as ‘Leaf-Peepers’.

New England is well known as a distinctly American region rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. It is particularly known for its brilliant autumns to drive lazily through mountains blanketed with gold-and-red fall foliage. There are also plenty of other things to do such as stopping at country stores, orchards, local restaurants, wandering through antique shops lining a peaceful village green, exploring the museums and shopping of the cities, or to get a head start on some cool day hikes in the mountains and countryside.

Every autumn throughout New England, diminishing length of daylight and falling temperatures induce trees to shed billions of tons of leaves. Preceding this preparation for winter the trees present a spectacular color show. Leaves that have been green all summer turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Accommodation

Staying in a fabulous Georgian Manor to the south of Brecon offering exceptional standards in Welsh hospitality our chosen Country House Hotel has recently won awards for its exceptional dining where all the meat and poultry is reared on the home farm just 7 miles away.  The beds are superbly comfortable, too and all rooms, of course, have the ubiquitous CD player as well as multi-channel TV, which in this location of rural Wales actually works! An added bonus is the well-equipped gym, jacuzzi and sauna in the basement of the hotel.  There is also the swimming pool, but as this is an outdoor one, you may wish to check the weather before jumping in! The hotel has a lovely terrace overlooking the Usk Valley ideal for sipping your brandy on a warm summers evening, whilst on colder days the aforementioned sipping can be equally satisfactory in the cosy, wood-panelled library.

Itinerary

Day One

Arrive at your leisure anytime after 3pm.  For those arriving early, why not enjoy a delightful afternoon tea on the Hotel’s terrace or take a short walk  to see St Peter’s Church which is half way down the drive way.  Drinks will be served in the library from 7pm and dinner will be at 7.30pm.

Day Two

The first circular tour will lead you along the path of the old strongholds of the Normans as they fought to keep the Welsh armies at bay.  You will discover untold histories and and witness ancient architecture as well as enjoy a fabulous spot of lunch in the most charming of country pubs that overlook these wonderful relics of our time.  Heading north through the valley and up over the Black Mountains to Hay on Wye “Town of Books” known for its beautiful architecture, surrounding villages and renowned for its literary festival and the extraordinary number of second hand book shops throughout the town.

Day Three

Today’s tour leads you deep in to the heart of the Beacons and up over the edge of the Cambrian Mountains. Witnessing some of the most spectauclar valley views and scenic wonders this country has to offer, you will have a longer day than normal but an extravagantly beautiful one.  Taking in the Usk Valley, the Beacons, the Abergwysen Pass and the Devil’s Staircase and delightful Welsh villages and towns which were built on the back of the droving communities.

Details

Duration: 3 nights
Price: To be confirmed. The price is per person, based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Requests for single room accommodation will be extra. Please ask for the supplementary price at the time of booking.

What’s included

• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• Two nights accommodation in a twin or double room
• Full breakfast each morning and dinner each evening
• A complete route book detailing our suggested route, along with maps, and a tour book detailing places to visit and things to do in the areas you will pass through.

What’s not included

• Lunches
• Fuel
• Drinks
• Travel or medical insurance

Requirements

• Please ensure you have suitable travel insurance
• It is a good idea to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.