Wellington in the Peninsula

After landing in Portugal in the summer of 1808, the British Army under Sir Arthur Wellesley won two victories, at Rolica and Vimeiro, before begin forced into the ignominious retreat to Corunna by Marshal Soult, by which time the army was commanded by Sir John Moore. However, Wellesley was back in Portugal by early spring the following year and after driving the French from the country for a second time at Porto moved south to link up with Cuesta and the Spaniards, which is where we come in for this tour which follows Wellington’s campaigns between 1809 and 1812, years when he sought to consolidate his position in the Peninsula. The tour features most of Wellington’s major battles and sieges between 1809 and 1812, such as Talavera, Fuentes de Onoro, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and Salamanca, in addition to which we visit related sites such as Almeida, the Coa river, Freneida and Almaraz. Beresford’s bloody battle at Albuera is included also. This tour is taking place out of season, although it is still likely to be on the warm side. It is also a bed and breakfast tour, which has allowed us to keep the cost down. We will never be located anywhere where restaurants are difficult to find, notwithstanding the fact that all the hotels have restaurants anyway.

Day 1. Fly London to Lisbon. Drive to Badajoz and check-in at the 4-star Zurbaran hotel. Overnight.
Day 2. Breakfast. This morning, we drive a few miles south to Albuera, the bloodiest battle of the Peninsular War. We stand close to the 'Fatal Hill' and the main fighting area where the brigades of Zayas, Colborne, Hoghton, Myers and Abercrombie fought and died and visit the various monuments in the town and the visitors' centre. In the afternoon we explore Badajoz and consider the great siege of 1812. We visit the castle and the site of the breaches as well as Fort San Cristobal, scene of the failed attack in June 1811, before returning to our hotel in Badajoz. Overnight.
Day 3. Breakfast. We drive to the bridge at Almaraz, scene of Hill’s raid in May 1812, before continuing on to Talavera, fought in July 1809. We will view the battlefield from the Medellin and look out over the valley where the 23rd Light Dragoons came to grief. We view the fighting ground in the centre and see where the Guards came to grief. We also see the battlefield memorial. We then check-in at a centrally-located 3-star hotel in Talavera. Overnight.
Day 4. Breakfast. Today we drive north to Salamanca where we enjoy a free afternoon in this beautiful town. Check-in at a centrally located 3-star hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 5. Breakfast. We make the short drive out of town to the great battlefield of Salamanca. We view the battlefield from the opening French moves at Calvarrasa de Arriba, before driving west to the Pico de Miranda and the opening attack by Pakenham’s 3rd Division. We then cross over to the east of the Caceres road and view the battlefield from Wellington’s command post on the Teson de San Miguel before climbing the Greater Arapil to get a grandstand view of the battlefield. We take a late lunch in the village of Los Arapiles. In the afternoon we drive to Ciudad Rodrigo and check-in at the 3-star Conde Rodrigo Hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 6. Breakfast. We drive the short distance to Portugal and the beautiful fortress town of Almeida, and to the Coa river for Craufurd's controversial fight of 24 July 1810 which almost cost him his division. We visit Wellington's headquarters at Freineda, Fort Conception and the awesome bridge at Barba del Puerco, the scene of many famous incidents during the war, such as the fight of 19 March 1810 and the escape of the garrison of Almeida. Return to Ciudad Rodrigo. Overnight stay.
Day 7. Breakfast. We drive to Fuentes de Onoro and see the battlefield from Wellington’s southern flank at Nave de Haver before driving north to Poco Velho following the fortunes of Cotton’s cavalry and Craufurd’s Light Division and, finally, the village of Fuentes de Onoro itself, to consider the bloody fighting that took place in the village on 5 May 1811. We then make the short drive east back to Ciudad Rodrigo for lunch before studying Wellington's siege in January 1812. We visit the site of the great breach before considering the assault on the lesser breach by the Light Division. We then walk back to our hotel which lies close to the site of the breaches. Overnight.
Day 8. Breakfast. We make the return drive to Lisbon (3 hours) for our return flight to London.