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At War With Wellington: The Peninsular War
In a new version of this popular tour, we travel to Spain and follow the battles and engagements of the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellington, in the Peninsular War, battles popularised in the Bernard Cornwall’s ‘Sharpe’ novels.
Tour Includes
- 10 nights hotel accommodation with continental breakfast and 8 evening meals
- Overnight ferry crossing with Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander in an en suite inside cabin (meals at extra cost).
- Convenient local joining points
12 days from £1,899pp
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Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 12 day itinerary
We take the overnight ferry from Plymouth to Santander in Spain.
On arrival in Spain we travel down to our hotel in Salamanca for three nights, stopping at the Tordesillas battlefield from October 1812. On the first evening, we have a briefing from the Battlefield Guide on the history of the Peninsular War, along with an overview of the battlefields that will be visited on the tour.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
Today, we visit the Salamanca Battlefield. Here, in July 1812, Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese Army defeated the French in a battle that cemented his reputation as a skilful commander. We have a full day exploring this important battlefield, offering a fascinating insight into the fighting which led to more than 13,000 French casualties. We also visit the Battle of Salamanca Museum.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
This morning, we visit the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro, one of Wellington’s closest run and finest victories in May 1811. After lunch, we will walk the defences used in the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812, when Wellington’s men besieged the French garrison here. Walking the ramparts, our journey will end at the castle to get an impression of how formidable the defences were.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
Departing Salamanca, we go to Badajoz for a look at the costly siege of this walled city. We see where the fighting took place in 1812, at the infamous Breach involving the men of the Forlorn Hope. Once the position was taken, Wellington stood on the walls and looked down at the losses and visibly wept. We continue to our hotel in Badajoz for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
Our destination is Albuera, where one of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War took place in May 1811. We walk the battlefield and see the ‘Fatal Hill’ as well as the monuments in the nearby town, and visit the Battle of Albuera Museum. We also travel to Elvas, to view the burials made in the British cemetery after the Battle of Albuera.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
We spend the day on the battlefield at Talavera, where the battle took place in July 1809. It was here that Richard Sharpe took an Eagle from the French while serving in the Light Company of the fictional South Essex. We examine the real events of the engagement and tour the battlefield – visit the memorial sited on the slopes of the Cerro de Medellin Hill and study the landscape on which the principal fighting occurred, before travelling to our hotel near Madrid, where we stay for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
We visit the temporary exhibition at the museum of the Spanish Army in Toledo.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
Leaving Madrid, we head to northern Spain, looking at the British retreat from Burgos and then the Battle at Vittoria in June 1813. From here, we continue to Pamploma for our last night in Spain.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Key Visits
Departing Spain, we head into France, just as Wellington’s Army did in 1814. We visit the battlefield of Orthez where the fighting took place in February 1814, and then continue to the ground near Toulouse, where the city was captured by Wellington in April 1814. We stay overnight in Toulouse.
Includes Breakfast
Key Visits
We travel from Toulouse to the Paris area for an overnight stay.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
Accommodation
Throughout your tour you will stay in 3 or 4-star city-style hotels.
Brittany Ferries
Sail on Brittany Ferries’ cruise ferry, the Pont-Aven, enjoying the stunning features this wonderful ship has to offer. There’s a pool and leisure area, cinema, wrap-around promenade for scenic, leisurely strolls around the deck – and even an impressive five-deck high atrium, complete with panoramic views from the lifts.
Noain Pamplona
Hotel Facilities
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
General
- 3 Star
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Extra Pillows and Blankets
- Air Conditioning
- Non-Smoking Rooms Available
- Telephone
- Shower over Bath
- Free Wifi
Service
- Safe Box in Reception
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- Dogs Allowed on Request
Accessibility
- Fridge Available for Medical Requirements
- Disabled Rooms Available
- Wheelchair Access
Food & Drink
- Vegetarian Meals
- Gluten Free Meals on Request
- Lactose or Dairy Free Menu
- Vegan Menu
Transport
- Bus Stop Nearby
Hotel
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
- WiFi Available
Ac Hotel Badajoz
The Ac Hotel Badajoz is located near the IFEBA Exhibition centre and University. This urban hotels location is great as it has good links to local transport and is only 20minutes walk away from attractions such as Arabian Fortress with La Plaza Alta, the Old Town, the cathedral and museums. You can also visit local restaurants, pubs and entertainment places like the cinema. The hotels facilities include safety deposit box at reception, air conditioning, lounge, terrace, restaurants, fitness room and bar. All bedrooms feature hairdryer, T.V, mini bar (beverages/snacks for a fee), telephone and en-suite bathroom.
Hotel Facilities
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
General
- English Speaking Staff
- 4 Star
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Extra Pillows and Blankets
- Air Conditioning
- Fridge
- Non-Smoking Rooms Available
- Bath
- Telephone
- Chargable WiFi
Service
- Safe Box in Reception
- Room Service Available
- 24 Hour Front Desk
Food & Drink
- Vegetarian Meals
Accessibility
- Disabled Rooms Available
- Wheelchair Access
Hotel
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
Silver Service Coach
More than simply your method of transport, Silver Service offers a coach with added comfort and facilities, such as deluxe reclining seats with leather headrests, an onboard entertainment system, and a spacious rear lounge so you can socialise with your fellow passengers.
Silver Service Features
- Specially designed reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and extra legroom.
- A spacious rear lounge where you can relax, socialise and get to know your fellow passengers.
- Our onboard entertainment and satellite navigation system makes your journey fly by.
- Free personal headphones mean you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs being played by your crew.
- Personal tables so you can enjoy your refreshments in comfort as you take in the passing scenery.
Reviews
3.7 Out of 5 ( 6 Reviews )
Reviews
Quality
3.7 / 5
Value for Money
4.7 / 5
Lesley Butler, 1 year ago
The guide was really good, he was extremely informative and enthusiatic about his subject and he brought the battles to life. He was also able to compare warfare in the Napoleonic wars with battles of other periods, so his knowledge was impressive. The coach driver was an extremely skillful driver who could get down the narrowest lanes. I would have given the tour 5 out of 5 if only I hadn't had to continually ask the driver to raise the front blinds on the non-driver's side. That these were not down for glare or safety reasons was proved by them being raised whenever I asked. I had paid extra for the front seats for the better views, so thought this was a waste of money. Shame, because overall, this was a wonderful tour.
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John Wilks, 1 year ago
Good programme let down by poor guiding: garbled descriptions of complex landscape by guide who had set his face against much needed maps. If this had been my first battlefield tour it would have been my last.
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ian morton, 1 year ago
It was very enjoyable as well as informative. Gary Ashley was most erudite and helpful. Reading about the Peninsular War is one thing, but seeing the actual battlefields is some- -thing else. Worth experiencing!
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Mr Rowe, 1 year ago
Brilliant tour, great guide and a brilliant crew, the tour covers all of the main battles and is very informative. Only downside was a couple of hotels had no restaurant and the last night hotel had no bar, apart from that the accommodation was very good.
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Joan Eyles, 1 year ago
Wrong time of year - far too hot! Lack of vegetables with evening meal. Itinerary around Madrid needs rethinking as too much unnecessary travelling over same roads. A hotel in Toledo would have been better - otherwise tour was OK.
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Graham, 1 year ago
The battlefield tour leader was excellent as was the driver. The great value for money meant that the hotels were a little out of town (e.g. we did not stay in Salamanca proper and did not see the wonderful centre) and the food ( and I am a modest 'eater') was 'hit and miss'. The itinerary was excellent but might be improved by examinining more battlefields of the Pyrenees and returning from Spain rather than spending two pointless days beating up the length of France. A simple rail ticket for anyone needing to return to here would suffice.
Verified, collected via Trustpilot
Departure Dates
