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 £2,499pp
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Experiences
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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 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 Medellín Hill and study the landscape on which the principal fighting occurred, before travelling to our hotel in the Madrid or Toledo area, 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
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 Pamplona 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
Got a question about
this holiday?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!
Accommodation
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.
Travel Options
When it comes to getting you to your destination, Leger Holidays makes it easy with a selection of travel options to choose from.
The pinnacle of luxury coach travel
Exclusive to Leger Holidays, these exceptional vehicles blend state-of-the-art features with sophisticated design, offering business-class comfort on the road. Try Luxuria once, and you’ll never look back – the journey will stay with you long after the holiday ends.
With just 31 spacious seats, enjoy a calm, unhurried atmosphere from the moment you step on board – because true comfort means more space, more privacy, and more time to relax. You’ll also benefit from a choice of seating, allowing you to travel in a way that suits you...
- Double Seats Designed for two, double seats are great for couples or friends travelling together – offering comfort, connection, and a relaxed way to share the journey.
- Single Seats Offering privacy and comfort, single seats are perfect for solo travellers who prefer a little more personal space.
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Face-to-Face Seats
Face-to-face seats with personal tables are the sociable way to travel, ideal for card games, coffees and conversation.
With a superior average seat pitch – 32% greater than many leading short-haul airlines – Luxuria double seats offer unmatched personal space. Enjoy comfort that’s built in, not added on.
Luxuria Features
Entertainment at your fingertips
Immerse yourself in your own touch-screen TV, offering a world of films, TV shows, music, and games – entertainment designed around you.
The perfect pour
Our crew serves a selection of hot and cold beverages directly to your seat – ideal for staying refreshed throughout your journey.
Relax in unmatched comfort
Recline in spacious, ergonomically designed, armchair-style seating with generous legroom and experience a refined sense of luxury, crafted exclusively for your relaxation.
Stay connected
Keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey with USB ports and plug sockets at every seat – perfect for capturing memories and staying connected with loved ones.
Departure Dates
Got a question about
this holiday?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!
