Small group tours of Britain and Ireland

This is perhaps the best tour you can take, either as a first time visitor wanting an introduction to these historical, cultured and scenically wealthy islands, or as a return visitor wanting to see a little more than the regular sites, discovering life behind the tourist faade. Four countries in one. Not too rushed, but in a way that allows time to see a selection of our many attractions - from the better known to the lesser known - and to experience our many differing cultures.

Days of touring combined with days of organised independence and with the opportunity to explore what you see. There's a little of everything for everybody; cathedrals and castles, mountains and lakes, ancient mystic sites and Georgian towns, eating and drinking, and opportunities for shopping and meeting the locals.

Tour Code	Arrive London	Depart London
WISE	Saturday	Saturday
WISE01	26 Apr	10 May
WISE02	24 May	07 Jun
WISE03	21 Jun	05 Jul
WISE04	19 Jul	02 Aug
WISE05	16 Aug	30 Aug
WISE06	13 Sep	27 Sep
WISE07	11 Oct	25 Oct

Stepping out onto England's 'green and pleasant land', you're met at the airport and you know that you're in good hands. A short drive brings you to our London base and after a short orientation of the area, you'll be free to relax and discover the area. Dinner is not included tonight to enable you to make choices about what to do with your first day; will you sleep and recover from the arduous of travel, or perhaps immediately set about exploring one of the world's most exciting cities?

Our experience starts with one of the country's best know jewels, the Cotswolds. Honey-coloured villages, nestling in the folds of the gently undulating hills, are the order of the day. Our choice of stops will depend on the weather and your interests but we've the Slaughters, Stowe, Burford, Bibury, Chipping Campden and Minster Lovell all to choose from. Whether Spring, Summer or Autumn, the flower-filled gardens and rolling hills make this one of England's most picturesque areas. We'll also be visiting one of the region's famed country houses and gardens such as Snowshill or Hidecote.

We've a varied day to day that sees us following the River Severn along the Wales-England border back-roads with potential stops at the borders town of Worcester, famed for its cathedral and pottery (Royal Worcester), and some of the pretty Severn-side villages like Bewdley, Stourport or Bridgnorth. Then we change tack, use a more direct route and head for the Roman city of Chester, with its surrounding wall and remarkable shopping 'rows', set in Tudor-style black and white half-timbered buildings.

Today, a day of outstanding beauty in the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park. Our route takes us through the Vale of Clwyd to Lake Bala, then to the ancient Welsh capital of Dolgellau where Owain Glyn Dwr held court. Then breathtaking scenery as we drive to Blaenau Ffestiniog, where we'll have an option of going down a slate mine. We're in the heart of Snowdonia now as we drive through the forests to Betws-y-Coed where one highlight will be a working woollen-mill. Depending on time and weather, the day offers other potential delights such as Llangollen with its amazing canal aqueduct, and the Horseshoe Pass.

This morning sees us taking the North Wales coast road. En route, we're spoilt for choices as ever with the Victorian resort and pier at Llandudno, the coastal resorts, Menai Bridge and town of Beaumaris all vying for our attention. . A stop at one of the great 12th and 13th century castles of Edward 1st is obligatory, and we've several to choose from including Conway and Caernafon. Our route to the afternoon Dublin ferry takes us through the town with the longest name in Britain, shortened for convenience to Llanfair PG but properly having 26 letters! Then, following perhaps a picnic lunch on this mystic Celtic Isle of Anglesey, it's on to Holyhead and our fast ferry across the Irish sea.

We arrive in Dublin in time to enjoy a brief orientation tour of the city before finding our city centre accommodation. Tonight we'll find a traditional music bar and sample the 'craic'.

Organised Independence in Dublin. We have a full day to discover the many delights that Dublin has to offer. You'll be given a briefing by your guide before having some free time to explore at leisure. This is a small city and offers easy walking. Options include Trinity College, the Book of Kells, the Guinness Brewery (where you can take a tour and enjoy a free sample!); St. Patrick's Cathedral, Grafton Street, Halfpenny Bridge and much, much more. Dinner tonight is not included to enable you to perhaps take an optional evening at one of Dublin's many 'cabarets' or Irish nights.

It's as if the Lake District had been brought to your doorstep; the Wicklow Mountains are the beautiful 'backyard' of Dublin's fair city. An area that has long exercised an attraction on those seeking solitude and contemplation. Monks settled here as early as 545 AD. Birdsong, the sound of running water and remains of ancient monastic life remind us of the sanctity this area must have held for those who sought to live here. Passing through the Wicklow Gap, we'll enter into the secluded and seductive valley of Glendalough. Remains of an 11th century cathedral, several churches and a 110ft (33m) round tower are all that's left of the monastic settlement that called this area home. Given Ireland's bounty of natural beauty, Glendalough must surely be one of its loveliest retreats. Heading back north towards Dublin, we'll also pay a visit to Powerscourt with its splendid landscaped gardens embracing the erstwhile 18th century mansion (destroyed by fire in 1974). Nearby are Powerscourt Falls, the highest waterfalls in Ireland (270ft or 90 metres).

We've an earlier than usual start today, with much to see. Undoubted highlights of the day will be visits to the most remarkable prehistoric tomb in Europe at Newgrange (entry to the tomb itself conditional on availability), and to the Hills of Tara, the foremost spiritual and political centre of Ireland for 1000 years and the seat of power until the coming of St Patrick. Other of the day's options include visits the site of the Battle of the Boyne, and if there's time the historic Norman coastal town of Drogheda.

We then continue north to our ferry departure point and sail across the Irish sea to South-Western Scotland.

We're on the edge of Robbie Burn's country and we'll follow the 'Burns trail' this morning travelling north though the beautiful Lowlands of Scotland. Troon, the Brig O Doon and lochs of Galloway are all on our itinerary. Continuing north, we cross the great River Clyde over the Erskine Bridge and make our way, edging past Loch Lomond into the Highland region of the Trossachs. Here you see the traditional heather-covered bens, the babbling braes and lochs that so characterise the enchanting highlands.

Finally, towards the end of a perfect and full day, we make our way past the might Sterling, to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. This morning there will be a panoramic tour of the major sites: Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, Prince's Street and the New Town - all under the shadow of Arthur's Seat. For the rest of the day you will be free to explore this exciting and vibrant city at leisure. Dinner is not included tonight to allow you to take advantage of theatre visits if wished.

Heading south, our first stop is at Jedburgh where you will have time to visit the local woollen mill. We'll also find abbey ruins, the castle jail and Mary Queen of Scots house, which is open to visitors. From here it is only a short drive to the English border. Here we'll visit some Roman remains on part of the great wall, which the Emperor Hadrian built to protect England from the fierce Picts north of the border. The market town of Hexham once suffered frequent raids by the marauding Scots. Today it is a bustling town where we will lunch before continuing our journey south, through picturesque Northumberland to our base on the North Yorkshire Moors or to the city of York.

A short drive from our North Yorkshire Moors base, is the market town of Helmsley. Here we'll find the 12th century ruins of Helmsley Castle, much of which was destroyed during the English Civil War. The most spectacular stately home in Yorkshire, Castle Howard, is next on the agenda. This beautiful palace is still lived in by the Howard family who built it back in the 18th century. You'll have free time here to explore the house and grounds and to have lunch. This afternoon we head back to the heather-covered moors for a change of transport. You'll board a train at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and for the duration of the journey you'll relive the nostalgia of the steam age. The area we'll be passing through is Captain Cook country. After our steam train ride we'll continue our explorations of this sometimes bleak and remote countryside as we head back to our base.

We begin this morning with the Viking city of Jorvik (York) . This fabulous walled city boasts arguably the most impressive Minster in the UK. It is also famed for its medieval 'shambles', where walking these atmospheric, narrow, cobbled streets take you back hundreds of years in time.

There's never enough time to see York, even if you lived here! But we must tear ourselves away and head south. But there's a compensation; Lincoln! This lovely city, dominated by another fabulous castle, cathedral and shambolic streets is one that quite undeservedly gets overshadowed by its northern neighbour.

Well, we have finish on the highest of notes and you'd think it hard to better all that we've seen thus far. But no, there's no possibility of anti-climax with the flat, windmill-covered, East Anglian fenlands, Oliver Cromwell's Ely and the picturesque university city of Cambridge all to be toured before our final run-in to London. Ely is a treasure for both its history, and for the fabulous stained glass of its cathedral. Cambridge, of course, offers not only the medieval architecture of the colleges, such as King's, but also the opportunity of a gentle 'punt' on the 'backs' of the River Cam. There's also one of England's finest museums and an opportunity for some last minute shopping.

Alas, unless you're extending your stay in the UK's capital it's time to leave and you'll be taken to your airport of departure. Please note: if you'd like to see more on this visit , you can combine this tour with our 4-day 'Red Dragon' tour of South Wales or extend your stay by taking our 4-day 'In Search of King Arthur' tour to Devon and Cornwall.

Islands Of Wisdom

Wales , Ireland, Scotland, England