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 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 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 Cheltenham.
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 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 York or Harrogate.
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 Hexham/Northumberland.
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 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
Stonehenge, Bath Roman Baths, Chepstow Castle, Shakespeare’s
Birthplace, Alnwick Castle and Edinburgh Castle as well as many other
attractions.
- Enjoy open top City Sightseeing Bus Tour of Bath, Edinburgh or York.
Customize your Tour
- Make
your vacation extra special by upgrading to one or more Castle stays
near Bath, the north of England or in the Scottish lowlands.
- 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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