Inspirational England: A Journey From Stonehenge to Hadrian’s Wall

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Arrivals continue, with free time for those who have already arrived. At 5:30pm we will have an Orientation in the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with both a Group Leader, who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics, and a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips and serve as an information resource on program-related topics. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: A seated dinner will be taken in the hotel dining room with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure to unpack, relax and prepare for the program ahead.

Activity note: At Old Sarum, the ground level is accessible in the ruins and there is a slope leading to the upper levels. The main pathway on the site is tarmac and there is also a bonded gravel driveway with a steep wooden bridge.

Breakfast: Full English and Continental buffet breakfast in the hotel. A variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, baked beans, hash browns, fruit, yoghurts, toast, marmalade, jams, cold cuts, cheeses, juices, tea and coffee and water.

Morning: This morning walk the short distance to Salisbury Cathedral for an expert-led field trip to discover the architectural highlights of the country's most complete 13th century Gothic style cathedral. The building is home to the tallest spire in England, the best preserved Magna Carta from 1215 and Europe's oldest working clock. Following our exploration of the cathedral you will have some time to independently explore the timbered buildings and lush water meadows of this "city in the country".

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader will be happy to give suggestions, and Salisbury has many historic pubs, quaint tearooms and lively cafes.

Afternoon: We will gather at a meeting point after lunch and board the motorcoach, which departs for Old Sarum, a journey of two miles. The site of the original cathedral of Salisbury, this Iron Age Fort has seen Normans, Romans and Saxons over 2,000 years of history - we'll explore together, with the help of our Study Leader and some excellent graphic interpretations of the site through the ages. The motorcoach will then return to the hotel in time for us to attend choral Evensong at 5:30pm in the Cathedral.

Dinner: At a local restaurant we’ll have a three-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: The visitor facilities at Stonehenge have been designed to be as accessible as possible in order to meet the different needs of those with access requirements. Sensible shoes are required for walking through muddy fields.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: The motorcoach departs for the eight mile journey to English Heritage's Stonehenge, the heart of the Salisbury Plain UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we will walk in the footsteps of our Neolithic ancestors at the best known prehistoric monument in Europe. Stonehenge has a world-class visitor centre, housing quality permanent exhibitions as well as the opportunity to view the stones themselves and take in the immense sense of ancient history. The site remains a source of inspiration and spirituality as well as a feat of engineering and building.

Lunch: Lunch will be served in Avebury.

Afternoon: We'll continue by motorcoach to Avebury, part of the World Heritage Site, and the largest prehistoric stone circle in Europe. The first farmers made their imprint 6000 years ago and signs of the continuous working landscape can be seen in grazing sheep and areas of mud. Our Study Leader will walk us through the site, before we return to Salisbury via motorcoach.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we'll depart by motorcoach to London, a journey of approximately 89 miles. We'll arrive at Paternoster Square, in the shadow of St. Paul's Cathedral, where we will have some free time to stretch our legs.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. London is a bustling, international metropolis with food to suit all tastes.

Afternoon: This afternoon we'll explore Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral, built in 1673. Uncover the stories behind the various parts of this magnificent building on an expert-led 90 minute walk. We'll see the altar frontal dedicated to those who fell in World War I, the resting places of Nelson, Wellington and Churchill and much more. We'll spend the afternoon here with our Study Leader before making our way to the hotel by motorcoach for check-in before dinner.

Dinner: Two course dinner or buffet in the hotel including tea, coffee and water. Other drinks may be purchased at the bar.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: The Tower has a large number of steps, many worn down and smoothed by age, and cobbles laid in some of the roads.

Breakfast: Full English and Continental breakfast in the hotel. A variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, baked beans, hash browns, fruit, yoghurts, toast, marmalade, jams, cold cuts, cheeses, juices, tea and coffee.

Morning: We'll travel by motorcoach to the Tower of London, the city’s ancient defensive centre. Built at the behest of William the Conqueror in 1078, the White Tower still stands guard over the Thames. It is here that monarchs, importunate princes and lesser mortals were imprisoned and beheaded. Now the Tower is best known as the repository of the world-famous Crown Jewels, including the Koh-i-Noor and Cullinan I Diamonds — two of the world’s largest cut diamonds — and the world’s most comprehensive collection of coronation vestments and regalia. The Crown Jewels were remade for Charles II after the originals were melted down in the Civil War and provide a spectacular insight into the power of the Royal Family throughout history.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: At leisure to further explore the fascinating streets of London. The Group Leader will be happy to give suggestions and offer directions.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: There is a ramp at the South Porch of the Chapel, and the grounds have level paths of flagstones or shingle.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Today we’ll transfer by motorcoach via the college city of Cambridge, an ancient site of learning. On arrival we'll take a walk through the bustling central market square and discuss the city's history, and admire the colleges' different architectural styles.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. There are various restaurants, cafes, tea rooms, pubs and sandwich outlets in the city centre.

Afternoon: This afternoon we’ll embark on an exploration of the city's most famous college and chapel, King's College. With our expert we'll explore the gothic architecture and fascinating history, walk the famous Backs alongside the River Cam and watch the famous punts go by. We'll then continue our motorcoach transfer with a short journey to our overnight hotel conveniently located about 17 miles from Cambridge. We'll have time to check in and relax before dinner.

Dinner: Three course served dinner in the hotel with tea, coffee and water included. Drinks may be purchased at the bar.

Evening: At leisure.

Breakfast: Full English and Continental breakfast in the hotel. A variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, baked beans, hash browns, fruit, yoghurts, toast, marmalade, jams, cold cuts, cheeses, juices, tea and coffee. Water included.

Morning: Today we’ll transfer by motorcoach to York via splendid Burghley House, an Elizabethan masterpiece. The house was built and designed by William Cecil, Lord Treasurer to Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587 and the impressive gardens and parkland were largely designed by "Capability" Brown in the 18th century.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. The restaurant and café at Burghley House offer a full range of meals and snacks, from a cup of coffee and homemade cake to a full lunch.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our transfer by motorcoach to York, and check in at our centrally located hotel with time to relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a three-course served dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Breakfast: Full English and Continental breakfast in the hotel. A variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, baked beans, hash browns, fruit, yoghurts, toast, marmalade, jams, cold cuts, cheeses, juices, tea and coffee.

Morning: This morning we'll set out on foot to take an expert-led walk of the famous York city walls, the most complete example of medieval city walls still standing in England today. Beneath the medieval walls are the remains of earlier fortifications, some dating back to the Romans.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. There are many interesting places to eat in the centre of York.

Afternoon: This afternoon we’ll walk to majestic York Minster, the cathedral of York and the second largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, which we’ll explore with our Study Leader and independently. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in 1472.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: All rooms except the High South and Chapel are accessible by wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. A wheelchair lift is located at the house entrance.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: We’ll travel by motorcoach to Castle Howard, Yorkshire's finest country house. Built in 1699 and set in over 1000 acres of parkland, we'll explore the delightful interior as well as woodland gardens, lakes, fountains and magnificent rose gardens. After enjoying the castle we will return to York for a day of independent exploration.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Free time. This block of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. If you wish to attend Evensong at York Minster, this is held at 5:15 p.m.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Cobbled streets and some steep ascents in Whitby.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Our transfer by motorcoach to Durham will take us across the North York Moors National Park, the largest expanse of continuous heather moorland in England. We’ll continue on to the picturesque seaside town of Whitby, little changed since the days of Captain Cook. We'll have time to wander the cobbled streets and picturesque houses, and before lunch we'll visit Whitby Harbour. The centre of the crucially important local fishing industry, it is still very much thriving today.

Lunch: We’ll sample Whitby's local traditional fish and chips, with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will also pay a visit to Whitby Abbey, an ancient structure perched imposingly on the cliffs, casting its eye across the bay. Bram Stoker's "Dracula" was inspired by the eerie clifftop and abbey. The motorcoach then continues on to our destination in County Durham, a journey of 50 miles and just over 1 hour. We'll check into our hotel with time to relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a three-course served dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Walking on rugged terrain at Hadrian's Wall.

Breakfast: Full English and Continental breakfast in the hotel. A variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, baked beans, hash browns, fruit, yoghurts, toast, marmalade, jams, cold cuts, cheeses, juices, tea and coffee.

Morning: This morning the motorcoach will take us 55 miles to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hadrian's Wall. We’ll begin with an exploration of this area’s wild terrain at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, a recently completed exhibition centre in the tiny village of Once Brewed — a popular overnight location for walkers traversing the length of the Wall. We’ll board the motorcoach for a short journey to Steel Rigg, which offers spectacular views across the landscape overlooked by Hadrian’s Wall.

Lunch: At The George Hotel near Hexham.

Afternoon: We’ll continue by motorcoach to Chesters Roman Fort, considered to be the best preserved of the cavalry forts along the wall. The fort guarded a bridge across the North Tyne river, the remains of which can still be seen on the bank opposite the fort’s bath house. The museum at Chesters houses a great many stone altars from the Hadrian’s Wall area, providing a vivid insight into the complex religious lives of the soldiers from across the Empire stationed on this frontier. As we return to our hotel by motorcoach, we’ll pass Antony Gormley’s huge “Angel of the North” sculpture — controversial when it was constructed in 1998, but now much loved by locals and travellers alike — and enjoy a panoramic excursion through the city of Durham.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Steep slopes in Durham.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: We’ll check out of our hotel and travel by motorcoach into Durham. Here we’ll have an expert-led field trip to Durham Cathedral, part of the UNSCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral sits high on a rocky promontory next to Durham Castle and overlooks the medieval city below and river running by. Originally constructed in 1093, Durham Cathedral is a place of worship and also served a political and military function by protecting the crown's interests on England’s northern border. After we visit the Cathedral we’ll have some free time for independent exploration.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like in Durham.

Afternoon: We’ll regroup after lunch and travel by motorcoach to our Manchester Airport hotel, stopping to stretch our legs in one of the many pretty towns along the way. We’ll check in and have some time to relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a three-course served dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Relax in preparation for your journey home tomorrow.

Breakfast: In the hotel. Some participants may depart prior to breakfast.

Morning: Transfer by the complimentary hotel shuttle bus to Manchester Airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!