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Robin Hood and Heroes of England
3 days/2 nights
Go in search of our central figure, a man of great romance and mystery in English folklore - Robin Hood. Surely, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, Little John and all of the merry men of the green wood will be with us in spirit as we embark on our journey of discovery about the truth and legend of the ‘hooded outlaw.’ We’ll explore what life was like for everyday people in Medieval England, discuss the real, historical figures of the period and along the way, see some stunning scenery, regal stately homes and introduce some sites of other ‘Heroes of England!’
Why not Link it? This tour ’links up’ with other short literary tours: Herriot Country: Yorkshire, Peak District: Stately Homes and Regency Film Sites, Literary Heart of England and Dylan Thomas Trail tours and more. Create a holiday break to suit your schedule!
Tour Dates: Your choice! Any day of the week.
Cost: Depends upon the number of guests in your party.
What your tour package includes: The private services of your driver/guide for 3 touring days, your accommodation for 2 nights while on the tour including breakfast and dinner daily, all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.
Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.
This tour begins and finishes in Manchester. You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 09:00.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
Day 1
Today, we will depart from Manchester and enter into the areas well known to our legendary hero and his merry band of men. There’ll be a visit to Nottingham and the castle of the infamous sheriff. Enjoy a drink in one of England's oldest pubs, carved out of the rock beneath the castle and so beloved of our crusaders. Also, there’s St Mary's Church at Edwinstowe where Robin Hood and Maid Marion were said to have married and the unique village of Wellow to investigate. Thence to Sherwood Forest itself and a pleasant stroll through the famed 'greenwood' to the 'great oak' under which Robin is said to have camped.
Our accommodation for the next two nights is located in the heart of the Sherwood Forest area.
Overnight: Nottinghamshire
Day 2
Robin Hood was a hero of England’s medieval times. We begin our day with a visit to the little-known gem, Gainsborough Old Hall, which is amongst the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England. Partly brick and partly timber-framed, it has a noble great hall and an imposing lodgings tower.
Next, some time exploring the astounding, historical city of Lincoln. Our walking tour of the city will include the old Jewish area and there will be free time for shopping and a nice lunch. Its magnificent cathedral was used as a film setting for the ‘Da Vinci Code’ film but, more importantly, an original of the Magna Carta is to be seen at the castle. The Magna Carta is arguably the most significant historical step that led to constitutional law as we know it today in the English speaking world.
King John will be part of our discussions today. He is oft depicted as an evil figure and nemesis for Robin Hood, but it was King John who signed into law the “Great Charter” or Magna Carta. Although signed under duress, perhaps Sir Winston Churchill said it best: “When the long tally is added, it will be seen that the British nation and the English-speaking world owe far more to the vices of John than to the labours of virtuous sovereigns.”
This afternoon we’ll visit the town of Horncastle. This town is famed for its antique shops, Roman town walls and fine 18th & 19th century buildings including the county’s original mud and stud construction pub. Later, we will stop at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Conigsby. This tremendous museum houses Hurricanes, Spitfires, Lancaster bombers, Chipmunks and assorted other World War II historical artifacts. This is an opportunity to pay our respects to the brave young men, true heroes, who protected Britain against Nazi invasion.
Overnight: Nottinghamshire, as above
Day 3
We depart Sherwood Forest and drive through the Peak District and the magnificent Pennine Hills scenery. Here, where the dry-stone walls make criss-cross patterns of the sheep covered hills, we will find ancient folk customs such as 'well-dressing,' wander the rural Derbyshire villages such as favorite film location towns Bakewell, Longnor, and the 'blue john' mining town of Castleton. We will enjoy a visit to the Duke of Devonshire's Stately Home at Chatsworth, one of many treasure houses in the area, said to have been the inspiration for one of the heroes of English literature, Jane Austen, as her ‘Pemberley.’
Our day will include the town of Hathersage, known as ‘Morton’ in Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel ‘Jane Eyre’. Here, we simply must call in at the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, to pay our respects at the grave of Robin Hood’s best mate, Little John. His giant-sized grave measures ten feet long! The town itself is an attractive, prosperous gritstone village of charm and character, perched rather picturesquely on a hillside. We’ll view the soaring Stanage Edge, a site famously captured in the recent Keira Knightley film, ‘Pride & Prejudice.’ Interest permitting, there is also the Ladybower and Derwent reservoir nearby, the scene of the ‘Dam Busters’ practice runs during WWII.
Our tour will conclude in Manchester at approximately 6pm. Accommodation is not included tonight but it can be added for a supplemental fee.
Please note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website.
While we will do our utmost to include all of the properties mentioned as central visits, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to deliver a planned visit due to changes in opening days or times that we could not have been aware of at the time of loading this tour to our website.
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