Cotswolds & Castles including Highclere (Downton Abbey) 4 days staying at the Madison Hotel Swindon – £259

12 Aug 2012

Cotswolds & Castles

Including “Downton Abbey”

Staying at the Madison Hotel – Swindon

Sunday 12^th August 2012 ~ 4 Days  – £259

Deemed an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds are picture book England, a quintessential cluster of time defying, honey stone villages and towns with endearing names like Adlestrop and Minchinhampton. Boasting ivy-clad cottages, some of the country’s most unspoilt scenery and cosy pubs, its little surprise that Cotswolds charm never fades. A visit to Highclere Castle is included in this tour, where the ITV drama Downton Abbey is filmed. Highclere Castle has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679. Built on an ancient site, the original house was recorded in the Domesday Book. The present day Castle was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, the architect also responsible for building the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The Castle’s history also includes a fascinating connection with ancient Egypt, as the 5th Earl, with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. The Castle now houses an exhibition that commemorates this historic event, including some rare antiquities from the 5th Earl’s earlier Egyptian excavations.

INCLUDES:                                                                                           

• Luxury Coach Travel with Local Pick Up Points
• 3 nights Half board accommodation
• En-Suite Bedrooms with TV and Tea/coffee making facilities
• Free Excursion Programme
• Admission to Highclere Castle, grounds & Egyptology Exhibition
• Tour of the Cotswolds
• Single train journey from Toddington to Cheltenham
• A limited number of single rooms are available without a supplement

Call Dalesman Now to Book 01943 - 870228