Wizards and Magic

An excellent 8 day itinerary for fans of J K Rowling's famous young wizard with this tour of the locations that have inspired the books and featured in the films. Taking you to England , Scotland and Wales , through stunning landscapes, to iconic historic landmarks and to places you may never have heard of but will instantly recognise.

The Tour

Day 1 - Winchester, Salisbury and Stonehenge

Journey in to the old English countryside where magic and myths await. Begin your tour with a stop in the ancient city of Winchester , once the capital of England and the centre point for the ancient land of Wessex. Some believe Winchester to be the fabled city of Camelot. Journey on to Salisbury to explore the city's gothic cathedral, winding cobbled streets and market square before heading in to the eerie Salisbury Plains where you will find the iconic standing stones of Stonehenge, their purpose still a mystery, these monoliths are the subject of endless myths and tales.

Overnight the White Hart Hotel, Salisbury.

Day 2 - Avebury, Lacock and Regency Bath

Begin day two at a lesser known but equally magical stone circle; Avebury makes for a haunting picture on the landscape where you can walk amongst or even touch the giant standing stones. Continue to Old Sarum and then Silbury Hill, a mysterious prehistoric earthwork swelling out of the Wiltshire countryside, before visiting the quaint, medieval village of Lacock whose streets and cottages have appeared as the homes of both magician's and muggles alike. Stunning Lacock Abbey and its lawned courtyard provided some of the set pieces of Hogwarts itself! Close by is the historic city of Bath where you can experience glorious Georgian architecture and the fabulously preserved Roman Baths.

Overnight the Abbey Hotel, Bath

Day 3 - Chepstow Castle, the Wye Valley and Gloucester Cathedral

Today stop in Bristol one of the areas where J.K. Rowling grew up, and visit the nineteenth century Cabot tower on Brandon Hill offering excellent views over the city. Cross the Severn estuary to Wales to visit border town Chepstow where the famous author went to school; Chepstow Castle no doubt offered inspiration for Hogwarts. From here follow the beautiful Wye Valley northwards taking time to wander the ruins of the spectacular Tintern Abbey. Passing through the Forest of Dean you will arrive in Gloucester whose eleventh century Gothic Cathedral and its stunningly vaulted Great Cloister act as the corridors of the young wizard's School. Nearby is the charming regency city of Cheltenham .

Overnight Queens Hotel, Cheltenham or Salford Hall, Evesham.

Day 4 - The Cotswolds and Oxford University

From Cheltenham you are perfectly located to explore the Cotswold countryside and its tiny villages brimming with traditional inns and thatch cottages. Head south through Cirencester, largely considered capital of the Cotswolds and once the second largest Roman settlement outside of London before veiwing the mysterious 375ft white horse scoured in to the chalk hills near Uffington, whic dates back to 1000 BC. Continue to the famous academies of Oxford which produced literary greats from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, to Oscar Wilde, not to mention a great many eccentrics! Amble around the college quads and see if you recognise Bodleian Library and New College Hall from the Harry Potter movies.

Overnight the Linton Lodge Hotel or Eastgate Hotel, Oxford.

Day 5 - York and Harrogate

From Oxford journey north through Robin Hood country passing Nottingham and Sherwood Forest before reaching Yorkshire in the North of England. First visit the spa town of Harrogate , home to the quintessentially English "Betty's Tea Rooms" offering the best in morning teas and English baking, before traveling York itself, a magnificent city which mixes Roman, Viking and medieval history with a great many surviving structures (including much of the Roman City Wall) and exhibitions such as the Jorvik Cente outlining its ancient past. A visit to the fabulous York Minster and a stroll down the cobbles of the Shambles (Britain's oldest shopping street) is a must.

Overnight Yorkshire Hotel, Harrogate or the York Pavillion, York.

Day 6 - Yorkshire Dales, Alnwick Castle and Hadrian's Wall

On to the village of Pickering to board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a magical journey through the rugged scenery of the Yorkshire Dales to the famous Goathland Station also known as Hogsmeade Station. Continue northbound, stopping at Durham Cathedral before reaching Alnwick Castle on the stunning Northumberland Coast. This magnificent medieval castle was used for numerous exterior shots of Hogwarts and the beautifully kept grounds are the location for the nail-biting quidditch matches of the first two movies. Complete the day at Hadrian's Wall , once the physical frontier of the Roman Empire, and border with Scotland.

Overnight Beaumont Hotel , Hexham.

Day 7 - Rosslyn Chapel and Edinburgh

Cross Scottish border today with a journey through the sweeping lowlands. Make a brief stop the Rosslyn Chapel famed by Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code before continuing in to the heart of the Scottish Capital. Edinburgh is where J.K. Rowling lived while writing her early manuscripts in local cafes. While in Edinburgh take some time to explore the nooks and crannies of this great city and its famous sights such as Princes Street, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile.

Overnight Point Hotel, Edinburgh.

Day 8 - Return Home

Make your return journey from Edinburgh having lived the magic of Britain.

Optional Extras

• Purchase a Great British Heritage Pass offering entry and queue-skip to a number of sites on your itinerary.

• Enjoy open top City Sightseeing Tour of Bath, Edinburgh or York.

Customize your Tour

• Make your vacation extra special by upgrading toa stay in Thornbury Castle near Bath.

• Extend your tour by a few days to include a city break either in London at the beginning of your stay or in Edinburgh at the end. Or both!

• Combine this self-drive with the "Highland Fling" self-drive tour to explore Scotland and to take in the famous Glennfinnan viaduct, also from the Harry potter movies.

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