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September 13-25, 2013
With tour leader Wilmer Martin
and co-hosts David & Joyce Eshleman
Join Wilmer Martin and co-hosts David and Joyce Eshleman for this lovely tour of The British Isles (England, Scotland & Wales). Together, you will explore picturesque countryside, small towns and metropolitan cities as you visit sites where history was made and see the homes, burial sites and important places in the lives of influential poets, theologians and royalty. You will come to understand the ancient origins of Britain, with glimpses of the Roman and Viking pasts, and the way Christian faith came to this island that has shaped Western civilization. You will also have opportunity to shop, to explore, to relax and to enjoy the vistas of these lovely countries in the company of new and old friends.
Click here to view past blog posts from England & Scotland.
 The beautiful Kew Gardens
The group will depart from Newark, New Jersey on an overnight flight arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday morning. We will begin our tour in the most delightful way: by visiting the beautiful Kew Gardens. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a famous double-decker sightseeing bus tour of London to see the sights and to get an overview of the city.
This morning, we will start our day by worshiping with the congregation at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, where Charles Spurgeon was the pastor from 1854-1892. After lunch, we will participate in the Evensong worship service at the world-famous Westminster Abbey, the site of every coronation since 1066. We will also visit Marylebone Chapel Cemetery, where we will pay our respects at the grave of Charles Wesley, remembered for his many hymns.
 Conventry Cathedral ruins
Today we depart London, and our first stop will be the beautiful university town of Oxford, where we will have lunch and visit the home of writer and theologian C.S. Lewis as well as the famous Blackwell Bookshop. Travelling on to Olney, we will remember John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” during a visit to his grave. We will also recall John Bunyan, also from this region, and his celebrated allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress. This afternoon we will visit Coventry Cathedral, located next to the ruins of the old cathedral devastated by bombing during World War II. We will continue on our journey through the beautiful Cotswolds to William Shakespeare’s birthplace, the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, where we will stay for two nights.
 Anne Hathaway's Cottage
This morning, we will enjoy a visit to Warwick Castle and its depictions of life in England from the early medieval times through to the Victorian era. After this, we will make a visit to Anne Hathaway’s thatched-roof cottage. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore and enjoy Stratford-upon-Avon on your own. We hope to offer the option to attend an evening performance of a Shakespearean play at the Royal Shakespearean Theatre in Stratford.
Today is our day to see Wales. We will drive north through beautiful Snowdonia National Park on our way to the popular inland resort town of Betws-y-Coed, where the River Conwy meets its three tributaries flowing from the west. In Llanberis, we will visit the National Slate Museum, where we learn about the industry that shaped this country’s past and way of life. We will make other interesting stops on our drive north to Liverpool, England, where we will stay for the night.
This morning we will have a city tour of the splendid city of Liverpool with our coach driver, Alex Stratford. Then it’s on to the beautiful Lake District to learn about the Lake poets – Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey – as we view the landscape that inspired their pastoral poetry. On Friday, we will visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and Museum to learn more about this famous English poet. We will gather by Lake Grasmere to hear some of his poetry. In Grasmere, we will see the cemetery where Wordsworth is buried. In the afternoon, you will have free time to enjoy this town on your own.
 Loch Lomond
This morning before we cross into Scotland, we want to see a portion of Hadrian’s Wall and an old Roman fort built sometime after 122 A.D. After a stop in Gretna Green for lunch, we will go on to Glasgow and have a guided city tour. Have your camera at the ready on Sunday! This will be a day to enjoy beautiful Scottish scenery as we head further north past Loch Lomond with a stop at Luss and other scenic spots. We will return to Glasgow for the night.
We will have a city tour of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, this morning including the Royal Mile (flanked on one end with the Holyroodhouse Palace and at the other end by Edinburgh Castle) and the John Knox House. We will learn about Sir Walter Scott, famous Scottish historical novelist and poet. Then it’s on through the Borders area before arriving in Middlesbrough, England, for the night.
 Enter the world of James Herriot
Today we will enjoy a charming visit to The World of James Herriot museum in the market town of Thirsk to get a glimpse into the life of this country vet. In York, we will see England’s finest gothic cathedral, as well as tour the Jorvik Viking Centre to learn about the Viking presence in Britain. Tonight we will share a farewell dinner together.
All too soon it is time for us to leave this beautiful land. We have a morning departure from Manchester Airport and will arrive in Newark this afternoon, filled with memories, history come to life, and new friendships.
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