May 22 - June 04, 2023
14 Days
Tour Status - Available
A brand new tour for Select Holidays. Join us on this customized, small group departure as we travel to the United Kingdom & un-hurried back roads. We arrive in London for a city tour, then go onto the York region, the rural communities, with its vast variety of farming and vistas. Then continue into Edinburgh, Scotland, plus much more!…..
This tour can also be combined with the Ireland OR Norway departures.
Tour Highlights
Return Economy Airfare from North America major cities
City & Rural Accommodations
All meals and tours as outlined
London City Tour plus more
Small Group Departure
Hosted by Select Holidays
Day 01: Mon. May 22, 2023: Depart North America for London, England IFM
Depart North America with an overnight flight into London, England
Day 02: Tues. May 23, 2023: Arrive London, England IFM/D
Afternoon arrival into London, England. Transfer into London and check into a central located hotel for a 2 night stay.
Day 03: Wed. May 24, 2023: London, England B
Visiting some of London’s capital’s most popular sites (by coach) passing famous sights such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Houses of Parliament and Tower of London, several photo stops along the way and entry to Buckingham Palace included. There will be time to explore on your own. In the evening you may choose a West End Theatre Show, or just relax in one of the many pubs and restaurants.
Day 04: Thur. May 25, 2023: London – York, UK B/L/D
Meet our guide who will stay with the group for the remainder of the tour. Check out and depart for a full day, heading west for a visit to Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the UK. Packed lunch to enjoy on route to your next visit. Visit to a large Estate with 16,000 acres made up of arable, woodlands and permanent grassland for livestock grazing. Meet with the farm manager for a tour and talk followed by a visit to the Estate’s stately home and gardens, currently occupied by a Duke & Duchess and their family. Continue north and check into your city central hotel for a 2-night stay. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 05: Fri. May 26, 2023: York, UK B/D
Morning guided walking city sightseeing tour of historic York ending with a visit to York Minster. Rest of the day free to explore the city with dinner in a traditional British pub overlooking the Minster. Maybe visit the Railway Museum, take a boat cruise or simply wander around the beautiful city, at leisure
Day 06: Sat. May 27, 2023: York - Castle Stay, UK B/L/D
Check out and depart north for a visit to a livestock farm with a clear objective to breed quality pedigree and commercial cattle that perform well off forage. They also have around 700 pedigree sheep so good grassland management is also important. Short drive for a tour of a local brewery for a tour and tasting of their beers made with local malted barley. Lunch in the café with beer! Another short drive for a visit to one of Britain’s leading racehorse trainers in their scenic 300 acre based yard, with their hi-tech equipment and some of the finest facilities in Britain for the care and training of racehorses. Afterwards, head north and check into your castle for a 1 night stay. Dinner tonight will be an Elizabethan Theme with entertainment & wine included. Lumley Castle Hotel.
Day 07: Sun. May 28, 2023: Castle Stay - Alnwick, UK B/D
Check out and depart north. Photo stop at The Angel of the North. Continue for a visit to a livestock enterprise producing rare & traditional breed beef, pork, poultry and seasonal game and Christmas turkey/goose for their farm shop enterprise. This farm operates a holistic farming policy returning to traditional farming methods, feeding their animals on cereals grown on the farm using green fertilisers whenever possible. Continue heading north into Northumberland and a visit to Alnwick Garden, 12 acres of magnificent gardens home to the world’s largest cherry orchard, a grand cascade featuring 120 water jets, a poison garden and the world’s largest treehouse restaurant! Afterwards, check into your nearby hotel for dinner and a 2 night stay. The Olympic restaurant in the hotel is the original pannelling, mirrors, ceiling and stained glass salvaged from RMS Olympic, the sister ship to RMS Titanic.
Day 08: Mon. May 29, 2023: Alnwick, UK B/L/D
Short drive for a visit to a 1500 acre arable farm growing wheat, oil seed rape and potatoes, for seed and ware: sold directly to the public, local chefs and restaurants. The business uses precision farming technology to assist in soil fertility, improve efficiency and ultimately increase yields. Short drive to the coast for lunch in a restaurant overlooking the harbour. Here you will enjoy a stunning seafood platter lunch that includes the potatoes from the farm you have just visited. Afterwards, transfer for a visit to a pedigree dairy farm that have recently installed a raw milk vending machine as raw milk is becoming more popular due to its mainly nutritional qualities and flavour that cannot be found in the supermarkets. They also make ice cream – tasting included! Return to Alnwick. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 09: Tues. May 30, 2023: Alnwick, UK - Castle Stay Scotland B/L/D
Check out and continue north for a visit to Chillingham Wild Cattle, the only wild cattle in the world and sole survivors of herds that once roamed the forests of Britain. Short drive north for a visit to a family farm that have been potato farmers for over ninety years, working hard to ensure the land is cultivated by the most ecologically sympathetic method, whilst always aiming for top quality. Here they’ve also built their own processing unit to supply peeled & chipped potatoes direct to the catering industry. Lunch on arrival in their polytunnel with their home cooked chips to try! Continue for a scenic coastal drive into Scotland and check into your castle hotel for a 1-night stay. Dinner and overnight stay at Melville Castle.
Day 10: Wed. May 31, 2023: Castle Stay - Pitlochry, Scotland B/D
Check out and depart towards Stirling with a photo stop at The Kelpies on the way. Visit to Stirling Auctions for a tour of the home of our famous pedigree bull sales. Last visit of the day to a Scottish whisky distillery. Continue to Pitlochry and check in for a 2 night stay. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 11: Thur. June 01, 2023: Pitlochry, Scotland B/D
Head north into the Scottish Highlands for a visit to a Highland Estate to see and hear about this stunning location offering deer, Highland Cattle, forestry and various country pursuit activities including fishing, shooting etc. Visit to a reindeer farm established over 50 years ago, predominantly bred for meat but also for countrywide Christmas events! On the way back to the hotel, visit a brewery for a tasting of their selection of ales and beers! Dinner in a local Scottish pub.
Day 12 - Fri. June 02, 2023 - Pitlochry - Edinburgh, Scotland B/D
Check out and depart for a full day of farm visits in the Scottish Highlands including a hill sheep farm offering bed & breakfast in their stunning home, a visit to a fruit grower – Scotland is world renowned for their soft fruits - and ending with a visit to a pedigree beef operation – the farmer is also a director of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland. Head back south and check into your city centre hotel for a 2 night stay. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 13 - Sat. June 03, 2023 - Edinburgh, Scotland B/D
Enjoy a guided city walking tour of Edinburgh ending with a visit to Edinburgh Castle. Afternoon visit to Royal Yacht Britannia and free time to explore the nearby shops. Evening dinner tonight will be a traditional Scottish Ceilidh, a four-course dinner, with wine and entertainment included.
Day 14 - Sun. June 04, 2023 - End of Tour OR Continue to Ireland OR Norway B/IFM
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning then transfer to the airport for your flight back to North America.
