Walking in Cornwall

Walking in Cornwall (16-26 May 2011)
Galleries and gardens, flora and fishing, churches and cliff-tops.
Enjoy coastal walking led by a marine biologist and proud Cornishman on this 11-day journey around one of England's most distinctive counties.
This tour explores Cornwall's exotic shrubs, prehistoric sites, vernacular and ecclesiastical architecture and flourishing arts scene. There are visits to the gardens of Trewithen, the galleries of St Ives and Falmouth, the cathedral in Truro and John Betjeman’s grave in Trebetherick. Fine British food is also a feature, as this tour stays in hotels chosen for high standards of food and service, culminating in two nights at Rick Stein’s famed restaurant in Padstow.
Price: £2,840 per person including private transport on the tour, hotel accommodation, most meals, tips and the services of the lecturer.

In Churchill’s Footsteps (17-21 October 2011)
Discover places intimately connected with Churchill in the company of his granddaughter.
As recent biographies put Churchill’s life and achievements under the spotlight – Max Hastings’ 2010 book declares ‘Winston Churchill was the greatest Englishman and one of the greatest human beings of the twentieth century’ – this tour gives unprecedented access to distinctive houses and buildings associated with Churchill. Arrangements have been made for private, out-of-hours visits to the Cabinet War Rooms, the WSC collection at Blenheim Palace and a dinner at the Savoy in the room where Churchill regularly dined. The Hon. Celia Sandys and a Churchill historian, Terry Charman, accompany the 5-day tour.
The group stays at Ditchley Park in Oxfordshire, Churchill’s weekend retreat, and The Royal Horseguards, a five star hotel in central London.
Price: £2,460 per person includes private transport, hotel accommodation, all admissions, four lunches and four dinners and the lecturers’ talks.

Country House Opera (19-23 June 2011)
Singing stars of the future in intimate surroundings.
Four operas, including a rare production of Vivaldi’s La Verita in Cimento (“The Truth put to the Test”) are on stage in some of England’s most elegant country house estates. Longborough’s small but exquisite theatre lends itself to an ‘up-close’ performance of Cosi, the glorious grounds of the Getty estate is the setting for Garsington Opera’s La Verita, and the tour culminates with powerful operas from Verdi (Rigoletto) and Wagner (Tristan und Isolde) at Grange Park in Hampshire. There are daily talks by a cultural historian and plenty of free time for individual exploration in historic Oxford and Winchester. The two carefully chosen hotels are comfortable and well located for relaxed contemplation between the performances.
Price: £2,240 per person includes 4 opera tickets, hotel accommodation, private transport, four dinners with drinks and the lecturer’s talks.