The Italian lakes conjure a dreamy image of romance and beauty, amongst the bucolic landscapes. All around mountains tumble steeply into ribbons of blue, islands float enticingly just offshore, whilst mellowed villas sit in perfect gardens along the shorelines. Lake Garda, together with the surrounding area, exhibit an enchanting combination of Mediterranean foliage set against the back drop of snow-capped mountains.

The Alps are renowned for both their beauty and ability to offer outstanding driving roads. The Stelvio National Park is one of Italy’s major national parks. covering the whole Ortles range of mountains and topped by one of Europe’s largest glaciers, and crossed by the Stelvio Pass, at 2,757m the second highest pass (by 12m) in the Alps.

Accommodation

Stay two nights each in three hotels. All the hotels are comfortable and delightfully charming, and enjoy captivating views of the lakes or mountains. Suitable parking is obviously a feature of each hotel as well.

The first hotel, to the east of Lake Garda, is a wonderful 18th century mansion, recently refurbished to a very high standard. The atmosphere is very relaxing, helped by a large swimming pool, surrounded by extensive gardens. The restaurant serves wonderful, fresh, seasonal, locally-grown food. accompanied by an ample wine list.

The second hotel is situated right on the western shore of Lake Garda, with gardens leading down the the lake. All the rooms have a balcony or terrace overlooking the lake.

The final hotel is a family-run hotel on the slopes above Merano, dating from the 15th century. It has a fabulous spa, sauna and pool, set in delightful gardens. The atmosphere is homely, yet with contemporary, luxurious furnishings. The hotel has an excellent reputation for sensational cuisine and exquisite wines.

Itinerary

May be subject to change

Day One:

For those arriving by air to either Venice, Verona, Brescia or Treviso airports, you will be met at the airport with your chosen vehicle. (Please see below for vehicle details).

Drive to the first hotel, where you will stay for two nights, just to the east of Lake Garda. The hotel has a very good restaurant, or it is a short drive to nearby villages for dinner.

Day Two:

Spend the day exploring the eastern shore of Lake Garda, with its idyllic little villages such as Torri di Benaco, Garda or spending time at Punta San Verolo, right on the lake edge. While away time wandering the narrown lanes or enjoying good Italian coffee or ice cream sat by one of the many small harbours. Alternatively, visit Verona, with its wealth of Roman sites, and streets lined with beautiful, medieval buildings. The town is well known for its operas, and for being home to the Montagues and Capulets, with Juliets House (and balcony) on Via Cappello.

Day Three:

Drive around the south of Lake Garda, visiting some of the Scaligera Castle that are dotted around the shores. Enjoy a wander around Sirmione, a popular, walled town, situated on a long promontory protrudung 4km into the lake. Drive on to Desenzano and through to Salo and onto Gardone Riviera. It is a short drive, which gives you plenty of time to enjoy exploring the area.
There is an optional detour to Brescia to visit the Mille Miglia Museum.

Stay for two nights in a lovely hotel right on the lake shore. It is a short walk to a number of good restaurants for dinner.

Day Four:

Enjoy a circular drive to Lake Idro and Lake Ledro, returning to Lake Garda at Riva, at the northern end, which is surrounded by mountains, often snow-capped. Bagolino, on Lake Idro, is a quiet little place, with some wonderfully preserved medieval houses, decorated with 15th century frescoes. Riva is a great place to stop and enjoy a coffee or pizza by the lake. The old town is very pleasant, with the castle alongside the port.

Return to Gardone along the western shore, also known as Riviera del Limone, due to the citrus groves on the steep hillsides. The road is a fun drive, often quite high above the lake, affording superb views.

Day Five:

Drive north back along the western shore of Lake Garda to Riva, and onto Trento. The town is encircled by mountains, and has pleasant squares lined with shops and cafes, and streets lined with frescoed palaces. Continue north to Bolzano along the wine route (Strada di Vino) and then onto Merano. Merano is also surrounded by mountains, but the valleys are rich with vines, peach and apple trees. This is a very Germanic part of Italy, one having been South Tyrol and part of Austria and the Habsburg empire.
Stay for two nights in a beautiful 15th century country inn hotel, with fabulous spa and pool. The hotel also has a wonderful restaurant offering good Tyrolean and Italian food.

Day Six:

Drive a circular route starting out along the Adige Valley, which is lined with apple orchards. Turn off for the Stelvio Pass and head over the 48 hairpin bends (all numbered with stones) from the north side, and just 12 bends on the descent to Bormio. It is a fabulous drive and you will no doubt want to stop at one of the restaurants at the summit to enjoy the view and your achievement!

Return to Merano for your final night.

Day Seven:

Head south to Bolzano and Trento, and then back to your arrival airport to return the car and fly home

Details

Duration: 7 days
Price: £785 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room
Car Hire: From €915 to €1,480 for seven days classic car hire, depending on car

Classic cars for hire include:
Alfa Romeo: Duetto spider, Boat tail spider, Giulietta spider,
Mercedes 280Sl Pagoda, MGA, MGTD, Porsche 911 cabriolet, Porsche 912 coupe, Ferrari Testarossa (€6,000/wk)
Terms and conditons apply to car hire

Cost of delivery & collection of hire car to local airports:
Treviso - €50; Venice - €80; Verona - €125; Brescia - €190

What’s included

• All accommodation for six nights
• Breakfast every morning
• Tour book - includes a brief history of Italy and the area to be visited, basic Italian dictionary, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books.

What’s not included

• Travel to Italy
• Fuel, road tolls and any Italian lake ferry crossings,
• Lunches and dinners
• Entry into attractions and activities, and personal travel insurance are extra.
• If you are taking your own vehicle, we strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.
• Any increase in the rate of exchange leading to the increase in the land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to the departure.

Requirements

• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Italy and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour
• If you are taking your own car you will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check your travel and motor insurance that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
  You are also required to safety equipment: carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.

Bands playing music from the forties and fifties, shops selling fish and chips wrapped in 1950s newspaper, parades of Ford Cortinas, aerobatics featuring Spitfires and Messerschmitts, and transport within the circuit provided only by period vehicles, all ensure that this occasion is an authentic period experience. You will have grandstand tickets for Sunday in the popular and much sought-after Startline Grandstand.

Accommodation

This two night tour is based at the Macdonald Botley Park Hotel, near Southampton. The hotel is set in landscaped grounds of 176 acres, with golf and leisure facilities and a health spa.

Itinerary

Saturday 20 September

Check into your rooms before a welcome drink and illustrated talk given by Stephen Volkins, author and film editor, who will set the scene and show film footage of motoring events. Dinner will follow.

Sunday 21 September

Early breakfast before an executive coach (or you can drive yourself if you prefer) takes you to the Goodwood Revival to enjoy the day with grandstand seats and plenty of opportunity to soak up this unique occasion. You may wish to turn out the attic, dig out the furs, hats and gloves and dress to be part of the occasion - most people do! Refreshments can be found during the day from a variety of restaurants and eateries - from the Champagne Bar to fish and chips.

Return to the hotel for dinner.

Monday 22 September

Breakfast at leisure and depart for home.

Details

Dates: 20-22 September 2008
Price: £449 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room
Single supplement: £60
Non-refundable deposit: £150 (payable by 10 February to guarantee a grandstand seat)

This tour is run by Heritage Touring, for whom we are acting as an agent.

What’s included:

• Two nights accommodation with breakfast and dinner
• Welcome reception
• Illustrated lecture on Saturday evening
• Startline Grandstand seats and entry tickets into Goodwood Revival on Sunday
• Professional guide
• Executive coach to and from Goodwood Revival

Classic Travelling has driven the route to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking. Cross from the UK to Stavanger in southern Norway and then head north to Bergen for a couple of nights, and then onto Alesund. Leave the coast and turn inland to the fjords and stay at the end of most famed, Geirangerfjord. Climb over the mountains and pass through valleys to Lom and then onto Sogndal. Take a ferry cruise across Sogndalfjord and then stay on the shores of the Hardangerfjord, famed for its orchards. Then return to Stavanger for the ferry crossing back to the UK.

This tour will not be accompanied by Classic Travelling

Route

Accommodation

Stay in some delightful hotels, including wonderful wooden Gothic hotels, mountain log cabins, converted wharf-side warehouses, and stylish city hotels. All the accommodation is individual and unique and of a high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury.

We have hand-picked each hotel for its unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast and most include dinner. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely under cover. In the cities we shall be using small, public parking houses that are locked at night, adjacent to the hotels.

Itinerary

Day One

Leave Newcastle, UK and take the overnight crossing to Stavanger in southern Norway. Two-berth, sea-view cabins have been booked for your overnight comfort. Dinner is not included.

Day Two

Arrive in Stavanger, European Captial of Culture 2008, at 3pm. Stay right in the centre of town in an old converted warehouse, right next to the water. Take a couple of hours to explore the quaint old town with its white-washed wooden buildings. Dinner is not included but reservations will be made.

Mileage: 0

Day Three

Drive north to Bergen and stay for two nights. Once in Bergen the tour will spend two nights in a fabulous hotel on the waters edge, just seconds along the quay from the World Heritage-listed, and very picturesque, Bryggen. Light evening meals are included at the hotel, but if you want something more substantial there are many good restaurants to sample in Bergen.

Mileage: 115

Day Four

The day is yours to explore the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Elgar concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen.

Day Five

Leave Bergen and drive to Voss and then north for a wonderful drive to Vagsnes, passing Vik, with its medieval wooden stave church. It is then a short ferry trip, across Søgnefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand, where we shall be staying in a beautiful wooden hotel. The evening meal is included.

Mileage: 118

Day Six

Wind your way around the fjords and over the mountains to Stryn. Continue onto Alesund, a picturesque art deco town, entriely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904, and stay for two nights in another converted warehouse hotel, alongside the water. Alesund & Sunnmøre is the perfect place to explore some of Norway’s most famous natural and cultural attractions. Alesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation that give the town its distinctive character are like something from a fairytale. Sunnmøre’s has a wonderful profusion of fjords, small fishing communities, island gems and majestic mountains to discover.

Mileage: 189

Day Seven

We hope to arrange a private tour of the town during the day, followed by a fjord boat trip in the evening. Only one hour from the centre of Ålesund is one of the most beautiful fjords in the world, Hjørundfjorden. Surrounded by majestic mountains, crusie along the fjord enjoying some of Norway’s most wonderful scenery. There will be a stop at a local farm, accessible only by water, for a traditional Norwegian dinner.

Day Eight

Leave Alesund and drive along the coast to Andalsnes, a quaint little town on a lake. Drive up the famous Trollstigen - an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Continue onto Geiranger and down the Eagle’s Highway into the valley. The hotel overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful and photographed parts of Norway. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit. Stay for two nights in a beautiful wooden hotel above the town and overlooking the area. A buffet dinner is included on both evenings.

Mileage: 127

Day Nine

Spend the day relaxing. There are some fabulous walks in the area, or take a boat trip down Geirangerfjord to Hellesylt to see the fjords from a different angle. The fjord is reputed for its magnificent waterfalls, such as Friaren, De syv søstre and Brudesløret. The area is also famous for the many mountain farms, clinging to the mountain hills along the fjord. This beautiful place also offers some of the worlds most famous viewpoints; Ørnesvingene, Flydalsjuvet and Dalssnibba.

Day Ten

The ascent south from Geiranger is a fabulous road of 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (there will be a chance to indulge if you wish) at Strynefjell and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Lom. Visit Roisheim, in the heart of the beautiful valley of Bøverdalen, which consists of 12 perfectly preserved buildings from the 18th century. The chalets have been lovingly restored with utmost care. Its excellent cuisine and wine cellar are only some of the reasons to visit this place, situated close to some of Norway’s tallest mountains. Continue over the mountains and descend to Lustrafjord, an arm of the Sogndalfjord. Visit the stave church at Urnes and then stay overnight at Solvorn, on the edge of the fjord.

Mileage: 145

Day Eleven

To avoid some of Europe’s longest road tunnels, we shall take a 2.5 hour ferry cruise along Sogndalfjord from Kaupanger to Gudvangen. Head south to Voss and then onto the orchard-growing area of Hardangerfjord. Stay overnight on the edge of the fjord at Lofthus.

Mileage: 89

Day Twelve

Drive along the edge of the fjord to Odda and then over the mountains, heading south. The scenery is beautiful and the driving fun. Stay overnight at Byrkjedalstunet, in some traditional log cabins with grass roofs, which are simply but beautifully furnished. Dinner will be a tradtional Norwegian affair.

Mileage: 172

Day Thirteen

It is only an hour’s drive back to Stavanger for the return ferry to the UK, so make the most of your final day. There are some wonderful walks, across Europe’s largest boulder scree, or explore more of Stavanger, or shope at Norway’s largest shopping mall, just outside Stavanger. The ferry departs at 17.00 and arrives in Newcastle at 10.30am the following day. Two-berth sea-view cabins have been booked. Dinner is not included.

Mileage: 39
Total Mileage: about 995 miles

Details

Dates

• Route
• Accommodation
• Itinerary
• Details
• Requirements
• Booking

A wonderful two week tour of the Norwegian fjords and mountains. Visit Bergen and Alesund and discover the stunning scenery of southern Norway. This tour takes you on an amazing journey through historical, cultural and scenic delights. Highlights include visiting the spectacular fjords, exploring the exquisite towns of Stavanger, Bergen and Alesund, driving some of the world’s most thrilling mountain passes, past breath-taking scenery, and discovering one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Classic Travelling has driven the route to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking. Cross from the UK to Stavanger in southern Norway and then head north to Bergen for a couple of nights, and then onto Alesund. Leave the coast and turn inland to the fjords and stay at the end of most famed, Geirangerfjord. Climb over the mountains and pass through valleys to Lom and then onto Sogndal. Take a ferry cruise across Sogndalfjord and then stay on the shores of the Hardangerfjord, famed for its orchards. Then return to Stavanger for the ferry crossing back to the UK.

Route

Click image to enlarge

Accommodation

Stay in some delightful hotels, including wonderful wooden Gothic hotels, mountain log cabins, converted wharf-side warehouses, and stylish city hotels. All the accommodation is individual and unique and of a high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury.

We have hand-picked each hotel for its unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast and most include dinner. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely under cover. In the cities we shall be using small, public parking houses that are locked at night, adjacent to the hotels.

Itinerary

May be subject to change

Day One - June 10

Leave Newcastle, UK and take the overnight crossing to Stavanger in southern Norway. Two-berth, sea-view cabins have been booked for your overnight comfort. Dinner is not included.

Day Two - June 11

Arrive in Stavanger, European Captial of Culture 2008, at 3pm. Stay right in the centre of town in an old converted warehouse, right next to the water. Take a couple of hours to explore the quaint old town with its white-washed wooden buildings. Dinner is not included but reservations will be made.

Mileage: 0

Day Three - June 12

Drive north to Bergen and stay for two nights. Once in Bergen the tour will spend two nights in a fabulous hotel on the waters edge, just seconds along the quay from the World Heritage-listed, and very picturesque, Bryggen. Light evening meals are included at the hotel, but if you want something more substantial there are many good restaurants to sample in Bergen.

Mileage: 115

Day Four - June 13

The day is yours to explore the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Elgar concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen.

Day Five - June 14

Leave Bergen and drive to Voss and then north for a wonderful drive to Vagsnes, passing Vik, with its medieval wooden stave church. It is then a short ferry trip, across Søgnefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand, where we shall be staying in a beautiful wooden hotel. The evening meal is included.

Mileage: 118

Day Six - June 15

Wind your way around the fjords and over the mountains to Stryn. Continue onto Alesund, a picturesque art deco town, entriely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904, and stay for two nights in another converted warehouse hotel, alongside the water. Alesund & Sunnmøre is the perfect place to explore some of Norway’s most famous natural and cultural attractions. Alesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation that give the town its distinctive character are like something from a fairytale. Sunnmøre’s has a wonderful profusion of fjords, small fishing communities, island gems and majestic mountains to discover.

Mileage: 189

Day Seven - June 16

We hope to arrange a private tour of the town during the day, followed by a fjord boat trip in the evening. Only one hour from the centre of Ålesund is one of the most beautiful fjords in the world, Hjørundfjorden. Surrounded by majestic mountains, crusie along the fjord enjoying some of Norway’s most wonderful scenery. There will be a stop at a local farm, accessible only by water, for a traditional Norwegian dinner.

Day Eight - June 17

Leave Alesund and drive along the coast to Andalsnes, a quaint little town on a lake. Drive up the famous Trollstigen - an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Continue onto Geiranger and down the Eagle’s Highway into the valley. The hotel overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful and photographed parts of Norway. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit. Stay for two nights in a beautiful wooden hotel above the town and overlooking the area. A buffet dinner is included on both evenings.

Mileage: 127

Day Nine - June 18

Spend the day relaxing. There are some fabulous walks in the area, or take a boat trip down Geirangerfjord to Hellesylt to see the fjords from a different angle. The fjord is reputed for its magnificent waterfalls, such as Friaren, De syv søstre and Brudesløret. The area is also famous for the many mountain farms, clinging to the mountain hills along the fjord. This beautiful place also offers some of the worlds most famous viewpoints; Ørnesvingene, Flydalsjuvet and Dalssnibba.

Day Ten - June 19

The ascent south from Geiranger is a fabulous road of 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (there will be a chance to indulge if you wish) at Strynefjell and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Lom. Visit Roisheim, in the heart of the beautiful valley of Bøverdalen, which consists of 12 perfectly preserved buildings from the 18th century. The chalets have been lovingly restored with utmost care. Its excellent cuisine and wine cellar are only some of the reasons to visit this place, situated close to some of Norway’s tallest mountains. Continue over the mountains and descend to Lustrafjord, an arm of the Sogndalfjord. Visit the stave church at Urnes and then stay overnight at Solvorn, on the edge of the fjord.

Mileage: 145

Day Eleven - June 20

To avoid some of Europe’s longest road tunnels, we shall take a 2.5 hour ferry cruise along Sogndalfjord from Kaupanger to Gudvangen. Head south to Voss and then onto the orchard-growing area of Hardangerfjord. Stay overnight on the edge of the fjord at Lofthus.

Mileage: 89

Day Twelve - June 21

Drive along the edge of the fjord to Odda and then over the mountains, heading south. The scenery is beautiful and the driving fun. Stay overnight at Byrkjedalstunet, in some traditional log cabins with grass roofs, which are simply but beautifully furnished. Dinner will be a tradtional Norwegian affair.

Mileage: 172

Day Thirteen - June 22

It is only an hour’s drive back to Stavanger for the return ferry to the UK, so make the most of your final day. There are some wonderful walks, across Europe’s largest boulder scree, or explore more of Stavanger, or shope at Norway’s largest shopping mall, just outside Stavanger. The ferry departs at 17.00 and arrives in Newcastle at 10.30am the following day. Two-berth sea-view cabins have been booked. Dinner is not included.

Mileage: 39
Total Mileage: about 995 miles

Details

Dates

Start: 10 June 2008
End: 23 June 2008
Duration: 14 days, including travel

Price

£1,995 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room, including return ferry crossing to Norway from the UK
£1,790 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room, excluding ferry travel

What’s included

• Return ferry crossing for 2 people in an en-suite sea-view cabin, and a car
• All accommodation for 13 nights, based on 2 people sharing a twin or double room (including 2 nights on board)
• Breakfast every morning
• Day cruise from Alesund, with dinner
• Cruise-ferry from Kaupanger to Gudvangen (Day 11, June 20)
• Tour book - includes a brief history of Norway and Sweden, basic Norwegian and Swedish dictionaries, emergency details, overview maps and detailed directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book eliminates the need for any other guide books.
• Norway road atlas
• Friendly and knowledgeable Classic Travelling tour guides

What’s not included

• Fuel, road tolls and Norwegian domestic ferry crossings (across fjords)
• Lunches & evening meals (unless stated)
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal, travel and medical insurance are extra
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
• Any increase in the rate of exchange leading to the increase in the land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to the departure.

Requirements

• This tour is only open to members of the 20-Ghost Club or owners of pre-1945 Rolls-Royces.
• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Norway.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour. You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two flourescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• Dinner on most evenings will be a smart-casual affair, and a jacket and tie is usually expected for men.
• However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.

Import/Export Regulations

Entrants from outside the European Union need to be aware that there are special regulations covering the importation and subsequent re-export of historic vehicles over 75 years old with a value of more than £30,400. Since this applies to all Silver Ghosts, it is important that the correct paperwork is completed on entry, so the necessary permissions can be given for re-export.

Guidance for issuing an Export Licence for Cultural Goods is now provided by the Export Licencing Unit, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council. www.culture.ov.uk/cultural_property/export_licencing.htm or telephone: 020 7273 8265/66/69/73

“See the Lakes in style … fold down the roof and follow a specially designed scenic route that snakes around the back roads between Maggiore, Como, Iseo and Garda.” The Sunday Times, Italian Top 20 (Jan ‘06)

This ten day tour will explore Lakes Maggiore, Orta, Lugano, Como, Iseo and Garda, together with the surrounding areas which exhibit an enchanting combination of Mediterranean foliage set against the back drop of snow-capped mountains. There are some of the most beautiful towns and striking gardens in the whole of Europe to be visited. Experience aristocratic villas, glorious sunsets, boat trips to islands with magical villages, a fascinating range of cuisines, truly superb wines and, of course, the lakes themselves and all they have to offer.

Route

Italian Lakes route: Lake Orta to Lake Garda. Click image to enlarge

Accommodation

The Italian section of the tour will stay in three delightful hotels, each on a lake shore. All the hotels have wonderful character and individuality, whilst being of an excellent standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, all the rooms are different, and will vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked and visited each hotel to ensure it has an enchanting atmosphere, as well as suitable parking for your car. All the accommodation includes breakfast.

Itinerary

May be subject to change without notice

Day One

Depart from Dover at 12.40pm to Calais. Drive to Laon and stay in a fabulous chateau hotel just to the north of the city.

Day Two

Drive through France and across the Jura mountains into Switzerland. Visit the medieval hilltop town of Gruyeres, famous for its cheese. Stay in a gorgeous chalet hotel in Chateau d’Oex. Dinner is included.

Day Three

Arrive in Piedmont, Italy. From northern Europe the most spectacular route is over the Alps from Switzerland, via the Simplon Pass. Descend into the Ossola valley and drive along the shores of Lake Maggiore to Stresa. Stay for three nights in the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, overlooking the lake and the Borromean Islands. There is a welcome dinner at the hotel tonight.

Day Four

Spend the day relaxing and enjoying the delights of Lake Maggiore. Discover the town of Stresa – perfect for an evening promenade by the lake. Maybe take a boat ride to see the jewel-like Borromean Islands and enjoy the spectacular palace and beautiful gardens.

Day Five

A short tour today to circumnavigate Lake Orta and visit the captivating town of Orta San Guilio, set entirely on its own garden peninsula. Take a short boat ride across to the island in the middle of the lake. Lanes are too narrow for cars so take a few hours to discover the town on foot. The scenic journey around the perimeter of the lake makes for a gentle and interesting drive.

Dinner will involve a boat trip to the Borromean Islands to dine in a local restaurant.

Day Six

Take the ferry across Lake Maggiore to Laveno. Drive up the east shore of Lake Maggiore, which is dotted with religious sanctuaries and churches, decorated with fine frescoes. Head inland on some sensational mountain roads to Sacro Monte, a holy way that winds 2km to the sanctuary at the top, and is lined with 14 chapels decorated with frescoes and statues. Drive to Lake Lugano and cross the border into Switzerland and drive around its northern shore before crossing over to Lake Como, where you will spend the next three nights in the centre of the town of Como. Enjoy the hotel’s splendid position on the shores of the lake, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral and the magnificent Cavour Square right in the heart of town. Dinner is at the hotel.

Day Seven

Discover the lovely little walled city of Como and its fine monuments. Take a scenic drive around the southern half of Lake Como - Italy’s prestigious romantic lake since the early Roman times. Visit Bellagio; a town as charming as its setting.

Day Eight

Spend the day either relaxing or take a circular tour to Como and Bellagio along the lake shore. Or it is not far to the fashion capital of Milan, and Monza, for racing fans.

Day Nine

Drive northwards to Menaggio and take the ferry across Lake Como to Varenna. Drive some fabulous mountain roads, past the spa town of San Pellegrino and onto Lake Iseo. Continue onto Brescia and visit the Mille Miglia Museum. Drive to Lake Garda to stay for three nights on the west shore in Gardone Riviera. The hotel is situated right on the shores of the lake and each room overlooks the lake and has a balcony.

Day Ten

Enjoy wandering around the various little towns along the lake and taking it easy, relaxing in the local vicinity, or take the opportunity to visit the city of Verona, which is about 40 miles away.

Day Eleven

Take a circular tour to drive around the whole of Lake Garda, visiting the charming towns of Riva in the north, Torri del Benaco and Desenzano.

Day Twelve

Leave Lake Garda and start the journey homewards. Either take the fast route on the motorways to Milan, Genva and France, or drive north to the Alps and experience the famous Stelvio Pass and Bernina Pass to Switzerland. Stay overnight in the town of Chur.

Day Thirteen

From Chur you can either join the main motorway network in Europe, or take a leisurely drive through Switzerland to Interlaken and the capital, Bern. Cross over the Jura Mountains to the Alsace region of France. A good opportunity to stock up on some wine! Stay overnight in a wonderful hotel in a pretty Alsatian village. There is a final dinner at the hotel.

Day Fourteen

Drive across northern France to Calais and cross to Dover at 16.10 and then depart for home.

Details

Dates:

Start: 12 May 2008
End: 25 May 2008
Duration: 14 days

Price:

£1,950 per person, based on two people per car and sharing a double or twin room.

£1,440 per person, based on two people sharing a room, if you just wish to do the Italian Lakes section only (nine nights in Italy)

There is now, sadly, a £95 surcharge, per person, due to the fall in the Sterling:Euro exchange rate.

What’s included

• All accommodation for thirteen nights
• Breakfast every morning
• Dinner on five evenings. (On the other evenings dinner is available in most of the hotels, or you are welcome to make your own arrangements.)
• Return ferry crossing from Dover to Calais with P&O Ferries.
• Tour book - includes a brief history of Italy, basic Italian dictionary, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books.
• Road map of Italy

What’s not included

• Fuel, road tolls and any Italian lake ferry crossings
• eight evening meals, and any lunches
• entry into attractions and activities
• personal travel insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.
• Any increase in the rate of exchange leading to the increase in the land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to the departure.

Requirements

• This Italian Lakes Tour is only open to members of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club.
• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Italy and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check your travel and motor insurance that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to safety equipment: carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.
]]> http://classictravelling.com/jaguar-drivers-club-italian-lakes-tour/feed/ http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-normandy-gardens-tour/ http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-normandy-gardens-tour/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:41:30 +0000 sarah All tours 2008 Escorted Tour Europe Club Tour 1 week or less http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-normandy-gardens-tour/ Enjoy the gardens and region of Normandy in northern France. Three days will be spent discovering some of the beautiful and little-known gardens of Normandy, with gardens expert Clare Whately, and the garden owners themselves. The particular fascination of these Normandy gardens is that the climate and the range of plants are similar to Britain yet the French create quite different and truly exceptional gardens. There are some real treats which will intrigue and inspire you.The other days will explore this lovely region of France.

“Some amazing landscapes lie just across the Channel. Admire the breadth and originality of French planting and design.” Telegraph Gardening, Sept ‘07

September is a good month to visit Normandy as it is quieter, yet the gardens still look fabulous.

Route



Normandy Tour route: Click image to enlarge




Accommodation

The tour will be based at three wonderful hotels, with two nights stay at each. The first is a lovely inn alongside a small stream in a seaside village, not far from Dieppe. The second hotel is a fabulous chateau, to the east of Rouen, near the Foret de Lyons, and the last hotel is an old converted farm, near the coast, close to Bayeux. Each hotel is well placed to visit a variety of gardens and the D-Day landing beaches.

Itinerary

May be subject to change

Day One

Cross from Newhaven at 07.00 to Dieppe with Transmanche Ferries, arriving at 12 noon. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing and wandering around Dieppe or along the coast. Maybe visit the gardens and house, designed by Lutyens, at Parc de Moutiers, or the 16th century farm at Varengeville-sur-Mar. Stay on the Alabaster coast, near to Dieppe, for two nights in a beautifully restored, 17th century coaching inn. Dinner is not included, but is booked at a seaside restaurant in the village.

Day Two

Drive along the coast to Dieppe. Visit Le Vasterival at St Marguerite sur Mer in the morning. The formidable and stylish Norwegian, Princess Sturdza, came to these cliff tops nearly fifty years ago, as an experienced gardener, already in her forties, and began to plant what has become known as one of the best gardens in the country. Protected by the lie of the land, the garden benefits from a micro-climate which has allowed one of the finest plant collections in France to be put together. We shall find woodland walks, long valleys, streams, bogs and hillside borders of glorious foliage plants. There is marvellous contrast between secret paths leading to dense, jungle-like plantings and long, serene vistas across open glades. It is a treat to meet the gardener who planned and placed these plants so long ago to achieve the glorious woodland we see today – many plants rarely seen of the maturity and size achieved here. The Princess’s planting style dramatises the changing seasons, and the atmosphere of her garden develops and transforms itself throughout the year. Those who have visited at other times of year will see the genius of a garden perennially in bloom. The Princess herself will welcome and guide us, introduce us to some of her thousands of different species, share some of her gardening secrets and explain what has inspired her. Penelope Hobhouse and Patrick Taylor in their book, The Gardens of Europe, say: “Few gardens elicit superlatives as easily as Le Vasterival. It sets standards that all gardeners should aim at but few will attain”.

Have lunch (included) at the wonderful Chateau de Miromesnil, which will also include tours of both the garden and chateau. Monsieur and Madame Romatet inherited this magnificent late 17th century Chateau from her grandmother who came here before the Second World War. In 1850 Guy de Maupassant was born here and the Chateau contains much of his memorabilia. The park is sheltered by a splendid beech grove to the north and a line of lime trees to the south. The view behind the Chateau is dominated by a 200 year old cedar. More than eighty varieties of clematis decorate the walls, trees and shrubs giving colour from spring through until autumn. The large walled kitchen garden beside the house is laid out in square beds where vegetables alternate with flowers for cutting. The borders contain bulbs and perennials and rely much on annuals for shape and colour – the emphasis is on pastels to harmonise with the pink garden walls. The whole effect is of a joyful abundance.

Then, in mid afternoon, head for L’Etang de L’Aunay for another garden tour, which is never open to the public. Monsieur Jean Louis Dantec is a successful antique dealer who began planting this fascinating fifteen acre garden around his contemporary house only fifteen years ago. He has bought an original eye and sure touch to his planting which is overwhelmingly green but cleverly emphasises the many unusual barks and shapes of trees and shrubs. The atmosphere on entry is strikingly formal with plants clipped into square columns and high hedges, separated by wide lawns. He has a grandiose Noah’s ark of topiary animals as well as obelisks, balls and less formal shapes. He plants no roses and few perennials but adores magnolias, stewartias, hydrangeas, unusual conifers and many other rare plants. Beyond the house the lawns lead down to the lakes around which are planted an astonishing variety of trees, shrubs and water loving perennials. There is much new planting towards the perimeter if we can reach it – it will be hard to cover the distance in this garden where there is so much to take in and to distract the keen gardener! Monsieur Dantec’s enthusiasm for his garden is evident. Even though he very rarely opens his garden it is nevertheless much respected and admired by the other illustrious garden owners in this small town. We are lucky to have been invited to visit.

Return to the hotel. Dinner will be at another restaurant within walking distance (not included).

Day Three

Visit two more gardens, starting at Les Jardins Agapanthe, where we shall also have lunch (included). Monsieur Alexandre Thomas trained as a landscape designer and has created this unusual garden in just over an acre. The visitor is drawn immediately into a lush and green labyrinth and moves from dark tunnels through light enclosures to open terraces and back again. Topiary is everywhere. There are constant views and surprises with plenty of benches and chairs placed to enjoy the sights and scents. He eshews lawns and uses hellebores for greenery at low level. From a flat field, he created rises and hollows, introduced flowing and still water and fountains; he sited balustrades, bridges, gates, antique sculpture and urns; and put in ‘as many plants as possible’. It is easy to get lost in this paradise. Huge trees, sourced from Belgium, Italy and Germany, are grown in pots and are moved around the garden for different effects. In May the tulips are glorious; the height of his season is in July and there is still much to admire in September. White, violet, blue and green are his preferred colours. He adores agapanthus – hence the garden’s name. Madame Joselyne Thomas, Alexandre’s mother, works with him in the garden and will help to guide us around. In the adjoining Nursery you will find many of his plants for sale.

After lunch head to Chateau de Bosmelet for a tour of the garden and the chateau. Generations of the family of the Baron and Baroness de Bosmelet have contributed to the marvellous gardens and parkland which surround this attractive 17th century Chateau. Le Notre’s Head Gardener, Colinet planned the classical layout of the park and recently Louis Benech, who worked on the Tuileries Gardens, has given advice. However the current Baroness Laurence de Bosmelet is the force behind the wonderful potager which was the inspiration for their Chelsea 2000 Gold Medal winning garden. Within the ancient walled garden flourish hundreds of vegetable varieties planted to colour themes alongside rose arbours and mixed borders all anchored by a central stone pool. You will see amazing shapes and colours of cabbages, courgettes, celeriac, lettuce, marrows, tomatoes and more. A superb avenue of three hundred year old lime trees leads us there. We will dine here tomorrow night.

Stay at a beautiful chateau hotel to the east of Rouen for the next two nights. Dinner is not included.

Day Four

It is a short drive to Jardin de Valerianes. Michel and Marilyn Tissait are a most remarkable couple. They have not only planted and looked after this astonishing garden with no outside help since 1982 but have also built their house and barns entirely themselves. They aim for self-sufficiency and low maintenance – by clearing, removing invasive plants, pruning and mulching during the winter and early spring they allow the garden to ‘look after itself’ over the summer. They plan for no staking or dead-heading. Their design is more formal around the house with a pond (collecting rainwater for irrigation) and wide herbaceous and shrub borders linked by a pergola, steps and paths. Again, all the hard landscaping is their own. Roughly every ten years, they extend their planting to a further area of the garden and in 2002 they began to plant another garden with a specialist tree and shrub collection around a lake – excitingly and unexpectedly, this one offered different soil conditions to accommodate a different range of plants. You will hugely impressed by their energy, talent and knowledge. Michel is a professional gardener at Rouen Hospital. They were one of the first winners of the highly coveted Société Nationale d’Horticulture de France - Prix Bompland in1996.

Lunch (included) will be at Les Jardins d’Angelique, in the pretty tea house, followed by a tour of the gardens. The Lebellegard family came to this charming 17th century manor house twenty one years ago and began to plant their glorious and romantic garden five years later. Beyond the lawns in front of the house the atmosphere is intimate and enclosed. Paths meander through the rose garden where carefully placed seats and benches invite calm contemplation and enjoyment of the scents and colours, while a stream glides by. Madame Gloria Lebellegard has collected hundreds of species of roses – a real favourite – and has inter-planted with shrubs and perennials in pastel colours. Behind the house, abundant flower beds are contained by mature box hedges around a central pale stone fountain. Beautiful displays of many species of hydrangea complement the roses and ensure a long flowering season. It is hard to believe that Madame Lebellegard looks after this garden with the help of only one other gardener but her passion and commitment are evident the moment you meet her.

The final tour will be of Jardins Plume. Patrick and Sylvie Quibel came to La Plume in 1997 to develop their garden and nursery in a bare field swept by strong winds from the north east. They planned a contemporary and natural garden with a careful sense of balance. The symmetry of their hedges holds the different parts of the garden together - the box, beech and hornbeam providing the framework for luxuriant plantings – perennials are thoughtfully planted alongside shrubs and grasses. The whole effect is unmistakeably French but brilliantly combines the traditions of several nationalities. Near the clipped box table around the terrace grow tall and elegant perennials; a maze of miscanthus leads into the potager; square hot-coloured beds and a clear, mirror pond in front of their house look out over apple trees set in a grid of mown lawn. The sound of the wind blowing through their tall grasses is as effective as their movement and vibrant colour. Last year, Robin Lane Fox gave this garden his gold medal: “I have just seen the best garden with a modern twist that has come my way in years”. Elfreda Pownall in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine September 2005 described it as “the most exciting of the new generation of French gardens”. Their marvellous Nursery supplies many of the rare plants you will see growing in the garden.



Return to Chateau de Bosmelet for dinner (included).

Day Five

Meander your way through the Normandy countryside, visiting places such as Camembert and Livarot, famous for their cheeses. Take the opportunity to visit the area of Calvados, just back from the coast. Calvados is made from apples and is produced by many farms in the area and it is possible to visit a number of places to see production and taste and buy the finished product. Enjoy a scenic tour of the area and then travel west to Bayeux and stay for two nights in a lovely hotel near the coast.

Dinner will be a menu terroir, with all local products, in the hotel restaurant (not included).

Day Six

Enjoy a battlefields tour of the Normandy beaches with an expert from the British Army, detailing World War II’s Operation Overlord. We shall start at Pointe du Hoc where the US Rangers mounted an assault up the cliffs to capture the German coastal guns. Then progress to Omaha Beach, which was the famous ‘dog’ beach scene of the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’. We shall then visit a US war cemetary followed by the Hillman/Perriers Ridge, to visit the German defences that held up the British breakout from Sword Beach. Finally there is a visit to Pegasus Bridge, where there was a glider assault to seize the key crossing sites. There is also a good museum here.

Return to the hotel for a final dinner (included).

Day Seven

There is a scenic drive to the beautiful village of Beauvron en Auge and then to the coast at Deauville. Drive along the headland to the lovely fishing port of Honfleur, which is perfect to while a way a few hours.
To return to the UK, drive to Le Havre for the return ferry to Portsmouth at 17.00, arriving at 21.30, with LD Lines Ferries.

Details

Dates - Normandy Gardens & Battlefields Tour

Start: 7 September 2008
End: 13 September 2008
Duration: 7 days
Price: £1,475 per person - based on two people sharing a double or twin room and one car
N.B. The garden tours are on three days only

What’s included

• Return ferry crossing for 2 people and a car (outbound: Newhaven-Dieppe; inbound: Le Havre-Portsmouth)
• All accommodation for 6 nights, based on two people sharing a twin or double room
• Breakfast every morning
• Three lunches and two dinners.
• Services of Clare Whately and an interpreter for the gardens to be visited
• Entry into the gardens
• British Army guide for the Normandy beaches area (Friday 12 September)
• Tour book - includes a brief history of Normandy, emergency contact details, overview maps and detailed directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book eliminates the need for any other guide books.
• France road atlas

What’s not included

• Fuel
• Road tolls (if applicable)
• Lunches & evening meals (unless stated)
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal, travel and medical insurance - which we strongly recommend you have.
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
• Any increase in the rate of exchange leading to the increase in the land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to the departure.

Requirements

• This tour is only open to members of the 20-Ghost Club or owners of pre-1945 Rolls-Royces.
• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour. You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• Dinner on most evenings will be a smart-casual affair, and a jacket and tie is usually expected for men.
• However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.

Import/Export Regulations

Entrants from outside the European Union need to be aware that there are special regulations covering the importation and subsequent re-export of historic vehicles over 75 years old with a value of more than £30,400. Since this applies to all Silver Ghosts, it is important that the correct paperwork is completed on entry, so the necessary permissions can be given for re-export.

Guidance for issuing an Export Licence for Cultural Goods is now provided by the Export Licencing Unit, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council. www.culture.ov.uk/cultural_property/export_licencing.htm or telephone: 020 7273 8265/66/69/73

]]> http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-normandy-gardens-tour/feed/ http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-centenary-cornwall-tour/ http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-centenary-cornwall-tour/#comments Sat, 17 Mar 2007 06:43:42 +0000 sarah All tours United Kingdom 2008 2 Weeks or less Club Tour By year http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-centenary-cornwall-tour/ By September 1907 Claude Johnson and the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost had completed several demonstration hill climbs, two trips to Scotland and the 15,000 mile Reliability Trial, all in the space of just over 3 months! Not surprisingly he decided to take the car, his family, and a few friends down to Cornwall for a holiday.

The 20-Ghost Club intends to do likewise, although not emulating Johnson’s exuberant start, which involved driving all 300 miles from London to Penzance in one day! The tour will start on Thursday 6th June at Brooklands which, like the Silver Ghost, is celebrating its centenary in 2007.

Accommodation

The tour will stay in a variety of lovely hotels, including a magnificent castle, one of the country’s top spa hotels and some very fine country manor houses. Dinner will be included every evening.

Itinerary

Maybe subject to change without notice

Wednesday 5th September

There is an optional stay overnight at the Oatlands Park Hotel, near Weybridge and the Brooklands Museum, before starting the tour tomorrow.

Thursday 6th September

All tour participants to meet in at Brooklands Museum at 9.30am. Visit Mercedes Benz World and the Brooklands Museum. After lunch drive to the New Forest in Hampshire, via the South Downs and Winchester. Stay for the next two nights near Brockenhurst, in two hotels - New Park Manor and Whitley Ridge. There will be a welcome gastronomic dinner for all participants at Whitley Ridge - the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the area.

Friday 7th September

After a delicious breakfast, drive to the beautiful village of Beaulieu, home to the National Motor Museum. Enjoy a private tour of the cars, palace, and grounds, or visit the Beaulieu Autojumble. Explore the 200 acre grounds of the captivating Exbury Gardens. They are renowned for the azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as the beautiful autumn colours.
After lunch, visit the unique village of Buckler’s Hard, on the banks of the Beaulieu River, and discover its distinguished ship building history. Drive down the coast to Lymington and then return to Brockenhurst via the Setley Ridge vineyards for a free wine tasting. Take a stroll before dinner through the open forest to work up an appetite for dinner.

Saturday 8th September

Leave the New Forest and drive along the Jurassic Coast through Dorset and into Devon. Stay overnight at the Palace Hotel in Torquay, where dinner is included.

Sunday 9th September

Leave Torquay and head across Dartmoor. Stop for a private lunch at the fabulous Boconnoc House and enjoy a tour of the house and deer park. If you like gardens, spend the afternoon at either the Eden Project or the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Stay for the next two nights in St. Ives, in the magnificent 18th-century Tregenna Castle, where dinner is included on both nights.

Monday 10th September

There are two circular day trips to choose from today. One will take you to Lands End, St Michaels’s Mount and Falmouth. The other is for garden lovers and will take you to Eden, Heligan, Trebah, Trelissick or Glendurgan. Sadly it isn’t possible to do justice to more than one or two of them in a day.

Tuesday 11th September

Meander up the north Cornwall coast and visit Padstow. Enjoy lunch at Rick Stein’s St Petroc’s Bistro. Stay for the next two nights on the north Devon coast at The Imperial Hotel in Barnstaple.

Wednesday 12th September

Spend the day exploring Exmoor and climb the famous Countisbury and Porlock Hills, as well as many smaller hills around Lorna Doone country.

Thursday 13th September

Leave Devon behind and head north, through Somerset, to the Cotswolds. Visit the unique Cheddar Gorge, and then pause in Bath or Cirencester for some shopping or culture. For garden enthusiasts there is Westonbirt Arboretum. Due to the terrible flooding in Gloucestershire in July we have had to change hotels. We are now staying at Wyck Hill House in Stow on the Wold. Dinner is included.

Friday 14th September

A lovely scenic drive will explore the Cotswolds with its pretty, honeyed-stone buildings and gently rolling countryside. There is the Cotswold Motor Museum at Bourton on the Water or Sudeley Castle to visit, as well as the Prescott Hill Climb at Gotherington, home to the Bugatti Owners’ Club. There will be a Gala dinner tonight to end the tour.

Saturday 15th September

Celebrate the RREC’s golden jubilee celebrations at Walton Hall near Stratford on Avon. There is an option of staying a third night at Wyck Hill House.

Details

Dates:

Start: 6th September 2007
End: 15th September 2007
Duration: 9 nights

Price:

£1,500 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room
Single Supplement: £125 per person

Optional extras:
5th September: Oatlands Park Hotel - £166 (double)/ £140 (single) per room including breakfast
15th September: Wyck Hill Hotel - £170 (double)/£130 (single) per room including breakfast

What’s included:

• Tour participation
• Nine nights accommodation
• Breakfast every morning
• Dinner every evening
• Lunch at Rick Stein’s St Petroc’s Bistro in Padstow
• Private lunch at Boconnoc House near Lostwithiel, Cornwall
• Tour book - includes a brief history of the areas to be visited, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books
• Rally plaques for each car
• A Phillips UK road atlas - 3 miles:1 inch
• Classic Travelling tour guide

What’s not included:

• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have appropriate breakdown cover
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
• Optional overnight stays on 5th September and 15th September

Requirements

• This tour is only open to members of the 20-Ghost Club or owners of pre-1945 Rolls-Royces.
• Dinner on most evenings will be a smart-casual affair, and a jacket and tie is usually expected for men.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.

Import/Export Regulations

Entrants from outside the European Union need to be aware that there are special regulations covering the importation and subsequent re-export of historic vehicles over 75 years old with a value of more than £30,400. Since this applies to all Silver Ghosts, it is important that the correct paperwork is completed on entry, so the necessary permissions can be given for re-export.

Guidance for issuing an Export Licence for Cultural Goods is now provided by the Export Licencing Unit, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council. www.culture.ov.uk/cultural_property/export_licencing.htm or telephone: 020 7273 8265/66/69/73

]]> http://classictravelling.com/20-ghost-club-centenary-cornwall-tour/feed/ http://classictravelling.com/scandinavian-arctic-adventure/ http://classictravelling.com/scandinavian-arctic-adventure/#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:52:58 +0000 sarah All tours Anytime Independent Tour Europe More than 2 weeks http://classictravelling.com/scandinavian-arctic-adventure/ A three week trip to Norway and Sweden, including the Arctic Circle. A motoring experience that gives you the opportunity to enjoy driving your car along some of the world's best roads.A holiday that gives you the chance to enjoy charming hotels, good food and captivating scenery in the land of the midnight sun.]]>
• Accommodation
• Itinerary
• Details
• Booking

A three week trip touring Norway and Sweden, including the Arctic Circle. A motoring experience that gives you the opportunity to enjoy driving your car along some of the world’s best roads. A holiday that gives you the chance to enjoy charming hotels, good food, and captivating scenery in the land of the midnight sun.

The tour starts in southern Norway, crossing the mountains to the fjordland and Bergen, then Alesund. From the ancient capital of Trondheim take the Coastal Voyage north to the Lofoten Islands, within the Arctic. Drive into Swedish Lappland and stay at the Ice Hotel, and then south, along the High Coast to Lake Siljan, the quintessential Sweden. Spend a couple of days discovering Stockholm and then drive Malmo and cross to Denmark and Copenhagen.

May to September is the best time to visit as there are carpets of flowers, yet snow still caps the mountains, the weather is warm and the daylight hours are very long. In summer the sun doesn’t set north ofthe Arctic Circle.

Accommodation

Stay in some of the most delightful places, including wonderful Gothic hotels, mountain log cabins, restored fishermen’s huts, and comfortable manor houses. All the accommodation is individual and of a high standard (generally 4 star or equivalent). Due to the nature and age of these hotels, the rooms vary from harmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked the hotels for their unique atmosphere.

“The hotel accommodation as excellent - way beyond our expectations” P.C., Dorset

Itinerary

May be subject to change without notice

For those travelling from the UK, drive to Newcastle to take the ferry to Kristiansand in southern Norway, which can be booked on your behalf. For those travelling from mainland Europe, the tour starts in Kristiansand.

Day One

Arrive in Kristiansand and spend the morning discovering the town, maybe visit the castle, or have lunch by the water. The drive into the Telemark region to Dalen to stay at the historic, wooden Dalen Hotel. Dinner is included.

Day Two

Spend the morning at the small, but excellent ethnographic museum. Drive through Telemark passing stave churches and old silver mines. Head north into the mountains through forests anbd past alpine villages to Hemsedal, to stay at a peaceful and comfortable mountain retreat, in log cabins with traditional grass roofs. Dinner is included.

Day Three

Drive across the ‘roof of Norway’ to Bergen. Head across the mountains to the fjords and there is a short ferry journey to cross one of them. The roads hug the edge of the fjords and offer some thrilling driving. Spend two nights in Bergen at a lovely hotel in the centre of town. Evening meals are not included as there are many good restaurants to sample.

Day Four

Discover the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Elgar concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen.

Day Five

Leave Bergen and drive to Voss and then north for a wonderful drive to Vagnsnes. It is then a short ferry trip, acorss Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand, to stay in a beautiful wooden hotel, Kvikne’s. The evening buffet meal is included.

Day Six

Wind your way through the fjords and mountains to Stryn. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (where you can partake if you wish) and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Geiranger. The descent to Geiranger is fabulous with 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. The hotel overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit. A buffet dinner is included.

Day Seven

Drive up the Eagle’s Highway, and look back down to Geirangerfjord and across the mountains. After a short ferry crossing drive down the famous Trollstigen road. This is an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Journey onto Andalsnes, and then onto the lovely coastal town of Alesund. Stay in an old converted warehouse on the waterfront.

Day Eight

Drive the beautiful Atlantic Road north of Alesund to Molde, Kristiansund and Orkanger. Tonight stay at a comfortable manor house near Trondheim. Dinner is included.

Day Nine

Leave early to spend the morning exploring historic Trondheim. At midday leave Trondheim on the Hurtigruten coastal voyage north to the Arctic. Stay on board, relax and take a break from driving.

Day Ten

If you are up early, at about 7am, you will be able to see the landmarker for the Arctic Circle as you sail past. Most of the day will be spent on board, gliding past the fjords and along the coast. The boat will call into a number of ports along the route, including a 2 1/2 hour stop in Bodo, so take the opportunity to go ashore and walk around.

Disembark the boat in Stamsund on the Lofoten Islands at 7.30pm and drive to Kabelvag, to spend two nights in rorbu, which are old fishermen’s cabins, converted into accommodation. There are two bedrooms in each cabin,sharing a bathroom. Alternatively stay in a nearby hotel in Henningsvaer. Dinner is included at the rorbu, but not the hotel.

Day Eleven

A free day to discover the Lofoten Islands and enjoy 24 hours of sunshine. The islands are truly beautiful and there is so much to see and do. Lucky it never gets dark in summer!

Day Twelve

Leave Lofoten and drive back to mainland Norway at Narvik. Cross the border into Sweden and Lappland and drive through the Abisko National Park, Europe’s last true wilderness, with the chance of seeing reindeer and elk in their natural environment. Visit Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost town, famous for its iron ore mine, the world’s largest underground mine. Stay in the nearby Ice Hotel, in wooden cabins, since the ice has melted in summer! Various activities are available such as canoeing, mountain biking or fishing.

Day Thirteen

Visit the incredible frozen art centre of the Ice Hotel, to see pieces of furniture and other artifacts, created from the river and snow, that are kept from year to year. Head south, crossing the Arctic Circle at 66degrees 33′N. This is the southernmost latitude where the midnight sun can be seen at the summer solstice. Visit a stone-age settlement and onto Storforsen, Europe’s largest rapids. The hotel overlooks the rapids and the river. It is a fasciniting area to walk around. Dinner is included.

Day Fourteen

Drive to the east coast of Sweden and then south through the towns of Umea and Ornskolsvik and along the High Coast, a World Heritage site. The