Great Cities, Castles, Cathedrals, and Holy Places of Scotland and England Hosted by: The Rev. Ted and Mrs. Ann Welty with Special Guide Kathleen Winch S e p t e m b e r 1 3 t h r o u g h 2 4, 2 0 1 2
Great Cities, Castles, Cathedrals and Holy Places of Scotland and England Day 1 September 13: Depart your home city and fly to Scotland. Dinner aloft. Day 2 Septembert 14 : Arrive in Edinburgh and travel towards St. Andrewshistorically the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. The University of St. Andrews was founded in 1410 and is the third oldest University in the English speaking world as well as the oldest in Scotland. We will settle into our lovely hotel and have dinner. (D) Day 3 September 15 : We will tour Edinburgh including the official residence of Her Majesty The Queen, Holyrood Palace. The Palace was once the home of Mary, Queen of Scots and was the setting for many dramatic episodes in her short life. We will also tour St Giles Cathedral, the historic City Church of Edinburgh, with its famed crown spire, it stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland s chivalric company of knights headed by the Queen). We will enjoy a walking tour of the famous Royal Mile with its cobbled streets and quaint small shops. We will tour Edinburgh Castle, dominating Edinburgh s skyline and giving stunning views across the city and countryside. The Castle is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the legendary Stone of Destiny. (B, D) Day 4 September 16: St. Andrews Morning worship and afternoon tour of the University and town. We will discover the legends of antiquity, the turmoil of the reformation, the ascendency of Scotland s first university, and the stories of the home of golf. (B) Day 5 September 17 : Today we leave St. Andrews and drive to Durham by way of Alnwick and Alnwick Castle, which sits proudly on a hillside above the river Aln with the town of Alnwick protected on its southern side. The castle is a magnificent Norman building and has recently been used as film sets for Harry Potter, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Black Adder. Alnwick has what many consider to be the finest garden in all of England at this time. We continue to Durham, our home for the next two nights. ( B,D) Day 6 September 18: Today we are going to tour Durham s amazing Cathedral and visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Durham Cathedral is an architectural marvel. The Cathedral was founded by monks from Lindisfarne fleeing with the remains of St. Cuthbert from Viking raiders, the site being high and easily defensible. The Cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the world. Lindisfarne, The Holy Island, from the seventh century was the source and stronghold of Christianity in Northern England. It is revered as the most remote and awesome of English pilgrimage places. St Cuthbert was sent here in 664 to instruct the monks in the rites and orders of Rome. His wisdom, holiness, and healing powers attracted numerous followers. Lindisfarne is not always an island because at low tide one can walk to it across the sands, but we will time our arrival carefully to coincide with the hours when it is possible to drive across a causeway. The island is three miles long with a village, a ruined abbey, and a castle on a rock. Rare birds, driven by storms, find refuge here, and it is a sanctuary for many other kinds of wildlife. (B, D) Day 7 September 19: This morning we leave Durham and travel to Cambridge. In Cambridge there is a real sense of living history almost everywhere you look. We will explore Cambridge with its atmospheric cobbled courts, chapels, gardens and bridges and meander
Great Cities, Castles, Cathedrals and Holy Places of Scotland and England through its 31 colleges. This afternoon we attend Eensong at one of the College Chapels. (B,D) Day 8 September 20: Today we will travel from Cambridge to London where we have a coach orientation tour of the city before checking into our hotel. We will enjoy a visit to Westminster Abbey and have a special tour of Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. We will have free time this afternoon to explore London. (B,D) Day 9 September 21: We will drive to the Cathedral City of Canterbury for a walking tour and a visit to the Cathedral. We begin our tour with a visit to St. Martin s Parish Church, the oldest church in continual use in the British Isles. We follow the route of the Canterbury pilgrims down the hill to the ruins of St. Augustine Abbey and on to the magnificent Cathedral and the site of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. We will have a special cathedral guide available for our tour of the Cathedral. After lunch we then continue on to visit the famous Sissinghurst Garden, created by the late Vita SackvilleWest and Sir Harold Nicolson. Sissinghurst is more than a garden. It is a garden in the ruin of an Elizabethan house, set in the middle of its own woods, streams and farmland, and with long views on all sides across the fields and meadows of the Kentish landscape. After our visit we return to London. (B) Day 10 September 22: Today we are off to Salisbury and Bath! Salisbury Cathedral is considered by many the single to be the most beautiful structure in England and the Cathedral s close around it the most beautiful space. The architecture is undoubtedly beautiful, but it is also a place rich in history: the world s oldest working clock, the Magna Carta, and Handel s recital room are all to be found within its medieval walls. We spend the afternoon in the City of Bath. It is a city with a remarkable variety of Roman, medieval and Georgian architecture. The City has given rise to a wealth of talent, great architects, writers, inventors, artists and royalty. In Bath we will tour Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths and then return to London for a free evening. (B) Day 11 September 23: This morning we attend service at St. Paul s Cathedral. Afterwards we will go to Windsor Castle, and the town of Windsor which is said to be the Queen s favorite home. St. George s Chapel holds the burial place of both her parents and sister as well as that of Henry VIII. Return to London for the remaining part of the day. Our farewell dinner this evening will be at the elite and private Royal Air Force Club. (B,D) Day 12 September 24: Travel to the airport for your flight home. Lunch and drinks aloft!
tour conditions AIR TRANSPORTATION The price of the tour is Land Only, and does not include air transportation. Connoisseurs Tours Travelers come from many different parts of the country. Therefore we have found that most travelers prefer to have flexibility in their air transportation. Connoisseurs Tours will provide a suggested group airline schedule and airfare and will assist with connecting flights to and from your home city. HOTELS First Class and First Class Superior Hotels are used throughout. All rooms with private bath. MEALS Full Breakfast daily - Dinner most evenings except where indicated. SIGHTSEEING By motor coach and ferry. Expert licensed guides throughout. Entrance fees to scheduled places included. SERVICE CHARGES, TIPS (GRATUITIES), TAXES Service charges, taxes, and tips for all items listed in the itinerary including baggage handling are included. Gratuities to the motor coach driver and guide are not included. PRICE OF TOUR Cost of the Tour: $3,495.00 per person double occupancy Single Supplement :$695.00 NOT INCLUDED Airfare and items of a personal nature, optional tips to coach driver and guide. RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT DEPOSITS SHOULD BE SENT TO CONNOISSEURS TOURS IN THE AMOUNT OF $300.00 PER PASSENGER TO RESERVE A PLACE ON THE TOUR. The balance of the payment is due June 10, 2012. Payment can be made via personal checks or any major credit card. Responsibility of the operators, CONNOISSEURS TOURS is limited. They act only as agents for the passengers in regard to travel whether by railroad, motor coach, private car, boat, aircraft or any other conveyances, and assume no obligation for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or through the acts of default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passengers or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. Connoisseurs Tours can accept no responsibility for loss or additional expenses due to delay or changes in schedule or other causes. The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of any tour or to change or withdraw the tour as circumstances demand. All rates are based on tariffs in effect at the time the tour was planned and are subject to change in the event of adjustment therein. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk and baggage insurance is recommended. The issuance of tickets and vouchers shall be deemed to be consent to the above. All carriers, steamship lines, and other transportation companies whose services are featured in these tours, are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances. The passage contract in use by the companies when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. CONNOISSEURS TOURS reserves the right to substitute hotels of equal or superior quality. INSURANCE Insurance is strongly recommended. Passengers who purchase trip protection, health and cancellation insurance may cancel at any time for a valid medical reason and receive a 100% refund. The cost of the insurance is $295.00 per person. The insurance covers the cost of the tour and airline tickets, for total insurance coverage up to $4995.00 per person. VALIDITY June 2011 through December 2012. CANCELLATIONS A $200.00 per person cancellation fee is charged for any cancellations after the deposit has been paid. 91 days up to the departure date and later 100% of the tour price is non-refundable. Connoisseurs Tours prepays all hotels, cruise lines, transportation, meals, guides, etc. in advance. Connoisseurs Tours strongly advises passengers to purchase Trip Cancellation interruption insurance, which is available through Connoisseurs Tours. RESPONSIBILITY
Great Cities, Castles, Cathedrals and Holy Places of Scotland and England T O U R L E A D E R S The tour will be led by Ann and Ted Welty who have lived in London for three years. Ted was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and was assigned as an Air Attaché to the U. S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square. Ann was active in the diplomatic wives activities and hosted many social and diplomatic events. Ted is an alumnus of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where he earned a Master of Letters Degree in divinity. Ann and Ted are members of the Royal Air Force Club as they continue to maintain ties with the U.K. Ted is also an Upper Freeman in the London Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. Presently, Ted is rector of St. Philip s Episcopal Church in Palestine, Texas.
R E S E R VA T I O N F O R M Great Cities, Castles, Cathedrals and Holy Places of Scotland and England September 13 through 24, 2012 Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Email: Telephone: Rooming with: Please reserve place(s) for this tour. I prefer a single room I / We require a: Twin Room Double Room Single Room I would like to purchase the Travel Insurance ($295.00 p.p. included with deposit) Total deposit with insurance is $595.00 Enclosed is a deposit of $300.00 per person for people. (Total deposit with Travel Insurance is $595.00 per person). Check Credit Card: Visa Mastercard Amex Discover Card #: Exp Date: / Security Code: Signature: Date: / / 2011 Please mail your reservation form and deposit to: Connoisseurs Tours One Tiffany Place Savannah, GA. 31406 (912) 351-9525 1-800-856-1045 www.connoisseurstours.com