Stuart was so busy on backpacking adventure travels during the summer of 2026, and Julie had so many musical and other commitments, that time ran out for writing about the big trip that we took to Great Britain in the spring. We are writing this in September 2026 to first share a bit about Stuart's two summer backpacking trips, and then talk about our Great Britain adventure:
Summer 2026 Backpacking Adventures:
- June 15-25, 2026 - Susquehannock Trail System (STS) Circuit Hike
- July 17 - August 16, 2026 - Appalachian Trail Month In NH/VTSaturday May 23, 2026 - More of London and Day 1: Tour Group
Day 2, Sunday May 24, 2026 - LONDON–STONEHENGE–ILMINSTER–PLYMOUTH
Day 3, Monday May 25, 2026 - PLYMOUTH. EXCURSION TO CORNWALL
Day 4, Tuesday May 26, 2026 - PLYMOUTH–GLASTONBURY–BATH–CARDIFF, WALES
Day 5, Wednesday May 27, 2026 - CARDIFF–BUILTH WELLS–LLANGOLLEN–LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Day 6, Thursday May 28, 2026 - LIVERPOOL–GRASMERE–GRETNA GREEN, SCOTLAND–GLASGOW
Day 8, Saturday May 30, 2026 - INVERNESS–CULLODEN–PITLOCHRY–ST. ANDREWS–EDINBURGH
Day 10, Monday June 1, 2026 - EDINBURGH–ALNWICK, ENGLAND–YORK
Day 11, Tuesday June 2, 2026 - YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LONDON
Summer 2026 Backpacking Adventures
Here are the highlights of Stuart's Susquehannock Trail System (STS) 11-Day Circuit Hike and his month along the Appalachian Trail. The music that we used with the photos from Stuart's two backpacking trips were written a friend of ours from the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA), Walkin' Jim Stoltz, who passed away in 2010.
June 15-25, 2026 - Susquehannock Trail System (STS) Circuit Hike
Stuart learned about the Susquehannock Trail System (STS) from the FarOut Map App website a few years ago, and previously had backpacked smaller sections of the trail the past two years. (See May 13-15, 2024, of Stuart's blog post My HCM Part Seven: 2024 Odyssey from Pain to Recovery.)
Stuart plans to show his cardiologist the photo of him completing the STS's "infamous Cardiac Climb." On a rotten-tree bridge, Stuart had a fall from a higher point than a normal trail fall, but fortunately didn’t have any real damage other than some minor cuts. Stuart is used to seeing rattlesnakes on the trails he hikes, but on the STS, he saw the biggest rattlesnake he's ever seen in his life!!!
Thank you to the Susquehannock Trail Club for this great trail and for sending Stuart the “Susquehannock Trail System Circuit Hiker” certificate, patch, and wallet card recognizing his accomplishment.
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Music by
Walkin' Jim Stoltz: "Heart of This Wild Land"
Video of LARGE rattlesnake:
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July 17 - August 16, 2026 - Appalachian Trail Month In NH/VT
A BIG thank-you to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s staff, volunteers, and trail angels for Stuart's month-long 2026 backpacking adventure in New Hampshire and Vermont! He saw two bears during this trip, which was very exciting, and swam in Vermont’s beautiful ponds.
This year, Stuart did something different and took a relaxing trip southbound on the trail, visiting some of the very special places he saw last year when he backpacked all of Vermont and southern New Hampshire. (See our 2025 New Hampshire/Vermont vacation blog post.) With backpacking, there are so many special moments and people along the trail:
Hiking through Hanover, New Hampshire, which is home to the Dartmouth Outing Club, before crossing the Connecticut River to enter Vermont, where Stuart resupplied at Dan and Whit's General Store in Norwich, Vermont.
Thundering Falls, which the the FarOut Appalachian Trail smartphone map applists as the ". . . highest waterfall on the AT in Vermont. It is also home to a boardwalk and the only handicap accessible part of the AT in Vermont." The Appalachian Trail Conservancy website states: ". . . Thundering Falls, a 100-foot waterfall, [is] the sixth largest in the state of Vermont."
Seeing the new (in 2026) North Country Trail eastern terminus sign.
At the Inn at Long Trail, several Trail Angels, who had already helped Stuart on the first part of his journey, happened to be enjoying the live music at the Inn's McGrath’s Irish Pub. Good times!
Taking the historic former A.T./Long Trail route (Sherburne Pass Trail) toward Pico Peak.
The view of Little Rock Pond is truly breathtaking in the morning!
Small world! Stuart talked to a current northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who he had met while backpacking 600+ miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019.
After a swim in Griffith Lake, and taking an alternative trail, there was special trail magic (delicious prepared food) where Stuart camped that night!
Camping on Bromley Mountain offers an incredible sunset and sunrise from its observation tower. From Bromley Mountain, a backpacker can see Stratton Ski Resort, toward which Stuart was heading.
Stuart took a dip in Stratton Pond, and enjoyed watching the two loons that live there. As he was leaving the pond to prepare dinner, Stuart saw a large bear at the water's edge.
After spending his last night camping on Stratton Ski Resort's mountain, Stuart took a gondola ride down to the resort's village before taking some zero days at Wicked Waystation Hostel.
Julie picked up Stuart from the Wicked Waystation Hostel on August 16, 2026. Please watch for our future blog post that we plan to write about our vacation after leaving Vermont.
Stuart will be camping at two hiking-related events this fall. In September, TrailFest 2026 took place at Ohio's Salt Fork State Park and Lodge and was co-hosted by the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA), the North Country Trail Association (NCTA), and the Ohio Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA). Then, in October, the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) will have their 44th Annual Gathering at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. It is at the ALDHA Gathering where Stuart learns about trails around the world.
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Music by
Walkin' Jim Stoltz: "The Appalachian Trail"
Great Britain!
After much anticipation and preparation, we left for our 15-day adventure in Great Britain on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. We planned to have two days to explore London on our own before joining our Globus bus tour on May 23rd. The tour took us through parts of England, Wales, and Scotland, finishing in London on June 3, 2026. At the beginning of each section of this blog post, we have included the official description of each day's activities from the Globus Tours travel packet.
Two Days On Our Own In London
Though the trip was challenging, with a three-hour delay in New York (due to a thunderstorm), uncomfortable seats, and less-than-satisfactory food, we arrived in London tired, but happy. After successfully navigating the Tube system (London Underground) upon arrival at Heathrow Airport, we checked in at the Bermondsey Square Hotel, where we discovered Julie's suitcase had been left out in the rain by British Airways, and much of the contents were wet.
After this somewhat rough start (and a little rest), we set out on a Thursday evening walk to explore the area. Highlights of that walk included our first view of the Thames River, The Shard, the original location of the Globe Theatre, and the modern-day reconstruction of the theatre (Shakespeare's Globe). We also saw a reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake's ship, The Golden Hinde, and enjoyed walking among the local pub patrons and theatre-goers.
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On, Friday, May 22, 2026, we spent most of the day at the Tower of London, and in the evening, seeing more of London. It was a fascinating place, and we learned a lot of history! When we saw the Crown Jewels, Stuart commented that he was very glad that we have no kings in the United States.
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Saturday May 23, 2026 - More of London and Day 1: Tour Group
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
200 Westminster Bridge London, United Kingdom
Welcome to London!
Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon.
After checking in with our Globus Tour at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, we had another full day to explore London! We saw so much! Some of our favorite spots included:
The London Eye - World's tallest cantilevered observation wheel (Ferris wheel)
Big Ben and the Parliament Building
The many statues, monuments, and memorials throughout the city
Entrance to Downing Street where Prime Minister lives
Covent Garden - We had lunch there! Julie wanted to visit this after seeing it featured in My Fair Lady.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace - We heard a Grenadier band!
Green Park and St. James's Park
Picadilly Circus, Chinatown, and more!
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Music by a Grenadier Band during the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace:
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Great Britain Tour Day 2, Sunday May 24, 2026 - LONDON–STONEHENGE–ILMINSTER–PLYMOUTH
Crowne Plaza Plymouth
Armada Way Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
Secrets of the Stones
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions, to depart London at 8 am. First, try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric Stonehenge. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then take time to view the monument up close.
Head to the quaint market town of Ilminster for a welcome lunch at a local pub.
219 mi / 352 km (Breakfast, Lunch)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Quench your thirst with local ales and ciders while tasting traditional pub fayre prepared following century old recipes. Nothing eases homesickness like hearty cooked food concocted with care and love like grandma used to make. Just like home away from home!
On this first morning of our tour, we met our tour guide, Huw Davies, from Wales, and our coach driver, Garry Rankin, who was from Scotland. We highly recommend Huw and Garry, who were very knowledgeable and friendly. We also met our 37 fellow travelers. They were a fun group!
Although the weather was very hot, we enjoyed our visit to Stonehenge. Stuart had been there twice before (as a teenager and as a college student), but this was Julie's first time. She had always wanted to see it ever since learning about it in elementary school! Our next stop included a traditional, English "Sunday roast dinner" at the Flying Fish in Ilminster. We even had Yorkshire pudding!
After seeing more of the beautiful countryside, we arrived in Plymouth, where we would spend two nights. We enjoyed exploring the waterfront Barbican area, where we saw plaques commemorating the departure of the Mayflower from the town in 1620. Some of the members of our tour group were from other countries, and enjoyed other plaques recognizing other historic events significant to their countries (former British colonies) that originated from the port of Plymouth.
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Great Britain Tour Day 3, Monday May 25, 2026 - PLYMOUTH. EXCURSION TO CORNWALL
Crowne Plaza Plymouth
Armada Way Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
Legends of Land & Sea
Start the day with a scenic cruise on Plymouth Sound, following in the footsteps of the Pilgrim Fathers, before enjoying a drive through the West Country into Poldark’s Cornwall. Visit the thriving fishing village and former smugglers’ port of Looe. Head back to Plymouth and enjoy some free time.
42 mi / 70 km (Breakfast)
LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE Stunning views of Cornwall, the setting of Winston Graham's ‘Poldark’ saga of Cornish life in the 18th century, will leave you breathless on a scenic drive through the West Country. Get carried away with a spectacular scenic cruise on Plymouth Sound, a magnificent inlet on the English Channel.
This day started with a relaxing, narrated boat tour up the River Tamar, where we learned more about Plymouth. We then traveled to the charming town of Looe, in Cornwall. The weather was still very hot, but we enjoyed walking through the town and along the East Looe River, where we saw young boys lowering buckets in the water to catch crabs. Julie tried a traditional Cornish pasty, a kind of handheld meat pie filled with beef, potatoes, gravy, and swede (rutabaga). Delicious!
We returned to Plymouth that evening, where we explored Tinside Lido (a 1935 Art Deco style saltwater swimming pool), more of the waterfront and Hoe Park, which was next to our hotel.
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Great Britain Tour Day 4, Tuesday May 26, 2026 - PLYMOUTH–GLASTONBURY–BATH–CARDIFF, WALES
Holland House hotel Cardiff by Sunday
24-26 Newport Road Cardiff, United Kingdom
Timeless Kings & Thermal Springs
At Glastonbury, hear about the legend of King Arthur and the Holy Grail, and then head to the Georgian city of Bath, visit the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths, and take time to explore this fascinating city on your own. Stay the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital.
184 mi / 295 km (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE The Somerset town of Glastonbury is the site of King Arthur’s legendary quest for the mythical Holy Grail, the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper. Hear how, while Arthur failed in his search, a noble knight named Galahad found the Holy Grail because of his pure heart.
Our next day's adventure started with a ride to the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. They were much larger than Julie had imagined. Julie had heard of this place from Stuart, who visited there when he studied in Bath, England, for one semester in college. At that time, he also went to Glastonbury Tor and Chalice Well.
Our next stop was Bath, England. Stuart was excited to show Julie some of the places he remembered from his college days at the University of Bath. One of the highlights was seeing the Roman Baths. It was a much larger complex than Julie had thought! Stuart also showed Julie a medieval gate which he had learned about from one of his University of Bath professors, which was once the entrance to the city. The city of Bath, with its abbey and riverfront area, was beautiful!
We enjoyed seeing both Pulteney Bridge and Pulteney Weir in Bath. The bridge is unique in that you don't realize it is a bridge when you are walking on it, since it appears to be just a street of shops.
Unfortunately, while in the city of Bath, we did not have time to walk over and see the famous townhouses that make up the Royal Crescent and The Circus ("Circus" in Latin means a ring, oval, or circle). Stuart has seen these townhouses, and said they reminded him of the "Who Will Buy?" scene in the 1968 movie, Oliver! Our tour guide said that the city officials did not allow tour buses to drive by these examples of historic eighteenth century Georgian architecture. While writing this blog post, we found articles stating that the city was concerned about buses bringing pollution and damaging roads, while the tourists drove by without spending any money within the city. If we ever get back to England in the the future, we will definitely need to spend more time in Bath and the area surrounding it in Somerset, England.
We ended the day in Cardiff, Wales. We learned a little bit about the Welsh language from our tour guide, and were fascinated by all the signs in Cardiff that were in both English and Welsh.
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While we did get to see the Glastonbury Tor from a far distance from the coach as we approached "the town of Glastonbury — possibly the quirkiest town in England," Stuart was very disappointed that we did not get to see the Tor more closely. He had also hoped to drink again from the reddish, flowing water from the Chalice Well Lion's Head Fountain, which is near the Tor. (tor: noun - a high craggy hill.)
Here is some information about the area and its mythology:
Stuart remembers first climbing the Glastonbury Tor and drinking from the Chalice Well with his dad, before starting his classes at the University of Bath. Later, Stuart's Bath professor arranged a special private tour for the American students with a local authority on King Arthur lore. While writing this blog post, Stuart found some old photos from the day, and confirmed that the tour was led by international expert on the historical King Arthur, Geoffrey Ashe.
Despite being many, many years ago, Stuart remembers that during the tour at Glastonbury Tor, Geoffrey Ashe mentioned that he was featured in the television show In Search of..., hosted by Leonard Nimoy. Stuart had never seen the episode of the show until now!!! He was very excited to finally see the episode so many years later, and is very pleased to be able to share it with you here:
Great Britain Tour Day 5, Wednesday May 27, 2026 - CARDIFF–BUILTH WELLS–LLANGOLLEN–LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Pullman Liverpool
Kings Dock, Monarchs Quay Liverpool, United Kingdom
Moor than Meets the Eye
Your journey through Wales takes you on a scenic drive along the Taff Valley and through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and via the ancient market town of Builth Wells. Take a stroll in picturesque Llangollen, host to one of the world’s most colorful annual music festivals. On arrival in Liverpool, there’s some free time to enjoy this vibrant city.
190 mi / 306 km (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Discover the extraordinary natural beauty of Brecon Beacons National Park while driving through its mountains, moors, and magnificent views. Look out for Welsh mountain ponies and sheep grazing in the wild and red kites gliding gracefully in the sky.
After leaving Cardiff the next morning, we stopped in Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, where we admired the peaceful, green vistas. We also visited the two Welsh towns of Builth Wells and Llangollen. The picturesque, small towns were so beautiful, and the people we met were very friendly and helpful.
We spent the evening in Liverpool, England, home of The Beatles! The Royal Albert Dock, which we explored on our own, was formerly a busy port and shipyard, but has how been transformed into an area with many shops, restaurants, and historical sites. We even rode a colorful carousel. In England, unlike the United States, carousels run clockwise!
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Great Britain Tour Day 6, Thursday May 28, 2026 - LIVERPOOL–GRASMERE–GRETNA GREEN, SCOTLAND–GLASGOW
Clayton Hotel Glasgow
298 Clyde St Glasgow, United Kingdom
Songs, Sonnets & Secret Vows
Start the day with a visit to The Beatles Story, for a fascinating journey into the life and music of the “Fab Four.” Take a scenic drive through the tranquil Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a break in Wordsworth’s beloved Grasmere and try original Grasmere Gingerbread. Head north to the Scottish border and stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith performed weddings for runaway young couples, and join in a fun wedding re-enactment. Overnight in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city.
236 mi / 380 km (Breakfast, Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITE
TIMELESS TRADITIONS Love will find a way to sweeten the day with classic gingerbread in Grasmere, or by parents hot on the trail of runaway brides and grooms who crossed them (and the Scottish border) to get hitched in 18th-century Gretna Green. Hear how romance was forged by a blacksmith who helped eloping couples hammer out the vows.
We had a very interesting time at The Beatles Story, where we learned all about the history of the famous foursome. We then drove through the beautiful Lake District, and stopped in the lovely town of Grasmere, where we got a taste of their unique and famous gingerbread. (Julie didn't like it, but Stuart enjoyed it.) After a break in Grasmere, we crossed the border into Scotland.
In Gretna Green, we learned how young runaway couples from England would come to this town in Scotland to be married by the local blacksmith. The woman acting as the officiant for a wedding reenactment asked for volunteers from our tour group to be the bride and groom. Stuart nudged Julie forward, and the next thing we knew, we were getting married (again)! It was a perfect way to celebrate our upcoming 40th wedding anniversary!
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Great Britain Tour Day 7, Friday May 29, 2026 - GLASGOW–FORT WILLIAM–INVERNESS
Mercure Inverness Hotel
Church St, Inverness, United Kingdom
Landmarks, Lochs & Legends
An orientation drive shows you Glasgow’s landmarks, including the 12th-century cathedral, university buildings and Georgian squares before heading on a scenic drive past Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, and Glen Coe. View Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak from Fort William before following the length of the legendary Loch Ness, en route to Inverness, the Highland capital.
178 mi / 286 km (Breakfast, Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Survey the shores of famed Loch Ness for the chance to catch a glimpse of its mysterious Nessie. Hear of the folklore and firm believers in the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, which is said to swim in the shimmering waters.
After spending the night in Glasgow, Scotland, we continued our journey further into Scotland. We stopped in Loch Lomond, where we walked in the rain and mist. At Loch Ness, we walked to the water's edge, and enjoyed the views of the five-mile-long lake, but did not see any signs of "Nessie" -- the Loch Ness Monster. We then rode down the length of Loch Ness through the Highlands to Inverness.
While in Inverness, we went on a special excursion with some members of our tour group to Clava Cairns, an ancient burial ground. We even tried using "divining rods" to sense the mysterious forces there. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Cawdor Tavern for drinks and camaraderie.
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Great Britain Tour Day 8, Saturday May 30, 2026 - INVERNESS–CULLODEN–PITLOCHRY–ST. ANDREWS–EDINBURGH
Mount Royal Hotel Edinburgh
53 Princes Street Lothian Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Bravery, Birdies & Bagpipes
View the battlefield of Culloden Moor, scene of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans, before a walk through the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Visit St. Andrews, the home of golf and famous university town before a drive over the elegant Forth Road Bridge takes you to Edinburgh.
202 mi / 326 km (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 1, 8, 15 and 22.
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS See the fairways and greens at the birthplace of golf, where legendary players of the Scottish game made history in the university town of St. Andrews.
Day eight was our special day -- it was our turn for the coveted front seat on the bus.
Our first stop was the Culloden Battlefield, where we learned about the battle that took place there between the Jacobites and the British government forces.
As we drove on, we had wonderful views of the Scottish Highlands, including some snow-capped mountains in Cairngorms National Park, which we did not expect! Not only were we surprised to see snow in May, but we did not know Scotland had such high mountains! We also saw sheep everywhere, and even some Highland "Coos." We had a nice break in Pitlochry, where we walked through the picturesque town. Julie had real English tea (served with milk), which was a favorite of her dad's. It (and the pastries) were delicious!
In St. Andrews, we learned about the town's history of being the birthplace of golf. We also saw the beach where the real-life race took place that was depicted in the 1981 movie, Chariots of Fire, which is "based on the true story of two British athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice."
We then rode on to Edinburgh, where we would spend the next two nights. Our hotel was across the street from the very impressive Sir Walter Scott monument. After seeing some of the sights from our bus, we spent the evening walking around Edinburgh.
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Great Britain Tour Day 9, Sunday May 31, 2026 - EDINBURGH
Mount Royal Hotel Edinburgh
53 Princes Street Lothian Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Crown Jewels & Castle Views
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
The afternoon is free to enjoy the Scottish capital at your own pace.
(Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with a 1,100-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, see the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
The next morning began with another bus tour through this beautiful city. We had a special tour guide on this day, John Kelley, who also led us on a walk through the amazing Edinburgh Castle. We then had time to explore the castle on our own. It was a fascinating walk through history. It was raining at first (not unusual for Scotland), but the weather soon cleared and we were very lucky to have some incredible views of Edinburgh!
Edinburgh Castle lies at one end of the Royal Mile. After a great morning at the castle, we decided to walk the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King of England's official residence in Edinburgh. On our walk, we enjoyed street performers, a pub lunch, and lots of amazing architecture. We detoured from the Royal Mile to visit the National Museum of Scotland. This museum had so many incredible exhibits that we only had time to see a small portion of them. Back at the Royal Mile, we saw the Scottish Parliament Building. It had a very modern design compared to the rest of the city. We didn't get to visit the inside of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, but we walked through its beautiful gardens.
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Great Britain Tour Day 10, Monday June 1, 2026 - EDINBURGH–ALNWICK, ENGLAND–YORK
Mercure York Fairfield Manor
Shipton Road Skelton, NR York Skelton-York, United Kingdom
Spend your day your way in Alnwick
This morning, head to Alnwick Castle, ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, and more recently featured in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey. Explore more of Alnwick with your choice of Globus Choice excursions.
BLOOMING MARVELOUS
See the vision of the Duchess of Northumberland blooming as a true 21st century experience full of imagination, inspiration and fun. Stroll the Alnwick Garden for an eye- popping experience in one of the world's most ambitious new gardens.
CAPTURE THE CASTLE
The second largest inhabited castle in England, Alnwick Castle has been home to the Duke of Northumberland's family, the Percys, for over 700 years. Explore the castle and its grounds, featured in historical films, Shakespeare productions, and Harry Potter movies.
Next, make your way to York, England’s most complete medieval city. Admire the great structure of the Minster and follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles.
214 mi / 344 km (Breakfast, Dinner)
After leaving Edinburgh, we visited another castle! Alnwick Castle has been the home of the family of the Duke of Northumberland for over 700 years. The family still lives there in the fall and winter. This beautiful castle was used for filming the first two Harry Potter movies.
The ancient, walled city of York was our next stop. After a short walk and introduction by our tour director, Huw, we had time to explore the city. We learned that Guy Fawkes was born here, and that merchants' shops used to be grouped together, with street names reflecting the goods being sold. We enjoyed the atmosphere and architecture of this charming town, which was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies! Cats are considered as good luck in York, and cat imagery can be seen all over the town. A portion of the wall around the town still exists, and we were able to walk on it before we left York.
Since this was our tour group's final evening together, we enjoyed a farewell dinner at our hotel, the Mercure York Fairfield Manor. We celebrated and thanked our wonderful tour guide, Huw Davies, and our fun and excellent coach driver, Garry Rankin. After dinner, we walked around the lovely grounds of the hotel. We had to walk carefully so that we would not step on the many snails there!
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Great Britain Tour Day 11, Tuesday June 2, 2026 - YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LONDON
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
200 Westminster Bridge London, United Kingdom
Mr. & Mrs. Shakespeare
Head back to London via historic Stratford-upon-Avon, take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and enjoy a visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace. You will return to London at about 3.30 pm.
255 mi / 410 km (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, young love! Even more true, as young Shakespeare’s fiancée was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard’s wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of Shakespeare’s family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
On the last day of our bus tour, we stopped in Stratford-Upon-Avon. We first were surprised by having a picture of our tour group taken at Anne Hathaway's Cottage (Shakespeare's wife's childhood home). We then toured Shakespeare's birthplace. It is amazing that these places still exist after more than 500 years!
We arrived back in London, where we spent the last evening of our trip walking along the Thames River and seeing places we had not seen before. We also walked through the HUGE Waterloo Station.
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Great Britain Tour Day 12, Wednesday June 3, 2026 - LONDON
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
We enjoyed one more drive through the sights of London as we headed to Heathrow Airport in our luxury shuttle. We boarded our plane, and flew to Dublin, Ireland, where we had a short layover before heading directly back to Cleveland. As we traveled home, our heads were filled with the memories of this very special trip!
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Related Blog Posts
We always like to include in our blog posts a list of related posts that may be of interest to our readers:
In recent years, we have increased the number of "Travel" blog posts (15 blog posts total). See our blog posts about Rocky Mountain National Park, Niagara Falls, Mohican State Park, Alaska, Norman Rockwell Museum, Merry-Go-Round Museum, Hershey’s Chocolate World, and much more!
Here are related blog posts which are tagged as "Shakespeare" posts:
Blog Date: July 7, 2022 - A Day of James A. Garfield History and a Night of Shakespeare's Hamlet!
Blog Date: July 12, 2017 - Four Days of Fun -- Four Lake Erie Sunsets
See video clip of The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival's performance of "The Taming of the Shrew" at James A. Garfield National Historic Site. "Almost 300 people attended this evening's production as Cleveland Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year!"Blog Date: September 4, 2013 - Cleveland's One World Festival & Shakespeare
Backpacking-related blog posts:
Blog Date: December 31, 2025 - My HCM Part Seven: 2024 Odyssey from Pain to Recovery
See the section of the blog entitled "Monday-Wednesday, May 13-15, 2024 - Testing Hypothesis 3: I Can Ignore Chest Discomfort and Backpack for Over a Week" which is about my backpacking on the Susquehannock Trail System (STS) in 2025.Blog Date: September 23, 2025 - Exploring New Hampshire, Vermont, and the USS Enterprise!
This blog posts contains ". . . some photos from Stuart's [2025] month-long Appalachian Trail backpacking trip, where he finished the final few miles in Massachusetts before hiking all of the Vermont section, and 50+ miles into the New Hampshire section."
You can find more related past blog posts under "Backpacking" - Nine blog posts that overlap with blog posts about "Trails" (39 posts) and "Hike" (32 posts).
Thank you for reading our blog post! This is our fifteenth "Travel" blog post! Watch for future blog posts about our local activities in Cleveland and Akron, as well as our travels, at: sosAssociates.com/Blog