The Classic Tour
Wellington in the Peninsula: From Talavera to Salamanca
The Talavera to Salamanca tour is the classic tour of the Peninsula, taking in a host of great battles, sieges and other important sites. We begin our tour at Talavera, the bloody battle which earned for Wellesley the title ‘Wellington’. Here, we view the battlefield from the Medellin hill, Wellington’s command post during the battle. We continue by visiting the bloodbath of Albuera, where we view Napier’s ‘fatal hill’. We then stand in the terrible breaches at Badajoz, and on the walls escaladed by the 3rd Division. At Fuentes de Onoro we walk the bloody maze of alleyways, the scene of much savage fighting on May 5th 1811. After driving north across the Sierra de Gata, we check-in at the pousada at Almeida, our base for a tour of an area full of Peninsular War sites. We stand on Craufurd’s bridge over the Coa, and see the spot where he fell leading his Light Division into the breach at Ciudad Rodrigo, we view the heights of El Bodon, and view the spectacular bridge at Barba del Puerco, the scene of a very sharp fight in March 1810. Finally, we tour the great battlefield of Salamanca, where Wellington’s army defeated ‘forty thousand Frenchmen in forty minutes’. In addition, we visit the site of Hill’s raid on the bridge of Almaraz, we visit Fort Conception, visit Wellington’s headquarters at Freneida and walk the famous field of Garcia Hernandez, where Bock’s KGL dragoons broke two French infantry squares. A massive tour; the classic tour of the Peninsular War.
Day 1. Fly London to Madrid and drive to Toledo where we check-in at the 4-star Hotel Beatriz. Introductory talk, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2. Breakfast. We begin by visiting Talavera. We view the battlefield from the Medellin Hill and the Cascajal, and visit the battlefield memorial. We continue on to the bridge at Almaraz and Hill’s raid of May 1812. Drive to the superb 4-star parador at Zafra, a 13th century castle. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3. Breakfast. Drive to Albuera. We get an overview of the battle from the town before moving on to Colborne’s hill, from where we view the entire battlefield, including the scene of the firefight between Hoghton, Abercrombie and the French 5th Corps, and view the advance of the Fusilier Brigade to Napier’s ‘Fatal Hill’. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4. Breakfast. Depart Zafra for Badajoz. We visit Fort San Christobal, explore the area of the breaches and the castle and its walls, and the San Vicente bastion. We then drive north via the great roman bridge at Alcantara and cross the Sierra de Gata with its spectacular views. We pass the heights at El Bodon and continue on to Almeida where we check-in at the 3-star Pousada Senhora das Neves. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5. Breakfast. We begin the day with a stroll round the fortifications of Almeida, a beautiful fortified town which was badly damaged by the great explosion of August 1810. We then visit Wellington’s old headquarters at Freneida, Craufurd’s bridge over the Coa river, Fort Conception and, finally, the spectacular gorge over the Agueda at Barba del Puerco. Return to Almeida. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6. Breakfast. Drive to Fuentes de Onoro for battlefield tour; the village, Nave de Haver, and Poco Velho. Drive to Ciudad Rodrigo for tour of the town’s defences, the breaches, and Craufurd’s memorial. Return to Almeida. Talk, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7. Breakfast. Drive to Salamanca for battlefield tour: Battlefield museum, Miranda de Azan, Calvarassa de Ariba, and the Greater Arapile. Free time in Salamanca. Check-in at the 5-star Palacio San Esteban Hotel, Salamanca. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8. Breakfast. Drive to Garcia Hernandez and the famous action of 23 July 1812. Drive to Madrid for return flight to London.
Departure date 5-12 May 2007
Price £1500
Single supplement £175
Tour Package includes:
• return air fare
• coach transport
• seven nights’ half-board accommodation with seven 3-course dinners with wine, seven buffet breakfasts
• guide, Ian Fletcher, plus tour manager
