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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beth Gold (508) 698-6810, classic.pr@verizon.net
Tour Prince Charles's Private Estate on New Walking Vacation from Cross Country International
Millbrook, NY—March 7, 2005—Cross Country International (CCI), the world's premier adventure travel agency, is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to tour England's Highgrove Estate, the private estate of HRH Prince Charles.
Cross Country International's Royal Gardens walking vacation in England, June 20-25, will feature this special chance to wander through the famed gardens of the Prince's estate. In addition to enjoying the serenity and beauty of the Highgrove gardens, guests on this vacation will spend four days gently walking through picturesque countryside, green meadows and peaceful valleys. There are also stops at lovely old Manor Houses, castles, and abbeys.
When guests arrive for the Royal Gardens Walk, on Monday, June 20, they stay at one of three charming guesthouses bordering the Highgrove Estate at Tetbury. The following morning, visitors are driven to the Coln Valley, one of the escape routes used by King Charles after his defeat at Worcester in 1651. The old Salt Way takes guests to Coln St. Denis, where they can see the ancient Roman Fosse Way.
This valley, with its sense of deep calm and stillness, has been used by monks and religious communities for more than a thousand years. It is the site of a 12th century Norman church. For a time, the walking path parallels a river which winds toward Bibury, a village described by William Morris as the most beautiful in England. In Bibury, guests visit the Saxon church, built more than 1,000 years ago. The day ends with a visit to Lord Bathurst's deer park, where members of the Royal family still play polo.
Day three takes guests to Stanton, the most distinguished village in the Cotswolds. Stanton's agricultural community dates back to 2500 BC. Just above the village, an Iron Age hill fort still keeps watch just as it did in 700 BC. The day's walk meanders past thatch-roofed Tudor houses and across a deer park that was owned by Cenwulf, King of Mercia in the eighth century.
After lunch at the ruins of Hailes Abbey, visitors travel on to Sudeley Castle, given by King Henry VIII to Queen Katherine Parr, where they tour its extensive gardens, including the White Garden, the Queen's Garden, and the Secret Garden. In the evening, guests dine at The Bell at Sapperton, voted one of the 10 Best Pubs in Britain.
The next day begins at Sapperton and descends into the Golden Valley, where King Edward III (1327-1377) imported weavers, dyers and fullers from Flanders to set up the wool trade. This valley has inspired generations of artists and craftsmen.
Following a visit with a few of the current local artisans at Chalford, guests are driven south again to Tetbury to tour Prince Charles's National Arboretum at Westonbirt on the border of the Highgrove Estate. This cathedral of trees creates an unforgettable experience, and in high summer, there is a chance to visit the world famous “Avant Gardens” exhibition of futuristic garden designs.
On day five, guests revisit the old Salt Way, walking this time to the village of Bisley-with-Lypiatt. Here, visitors see the famous “Seven Wells,” a Norman church, and the Victorian lock-up before discovering a secret valley. Following the path over hills, streams and dingle nooks, and through beech forests, guests find themselves standing before the gates of Nether Lypiatt House, home of the Prince and Princess of Kent. Cross Country International's vacationers are allowed a private opportunity to view the estate, whose rose garden has nearly 1,000 roses, but is rarely open to the public.
The final day of the trip is spent leisurely touring Cirencester, the ancient Roman capital of Britain. There are plenty of things to do there, including visits to a famous museum, an abbey, or an old marketplace.
For more information about this vacation, including a full daily itinerary, please visit the England's Royal Gardens Walk page Cross Country International's website: http://www.walkingvacations.com/walking-vacations/eng_cotswolds.php.
Program Includes:
- Five nights country house accommodations
- Four days of gentle, guided walking (approximately six miles per day)
- English breakfast each day
- Four packed lunches
- Two dinners at country house
- Three dinners at local inns (excludes wine)
- Entrance fees, guide, transfers at pre-set time, and tax
Program Pricing:
- $2,095 per person
- $475 single supplement
For more information on any of Cross Country International's numerous other walking and hiking vacations worldwide, please call (800) 828-8768, email info@xcintl.com, or visit www.walkingvacations.com.
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