Homeward Bound! A Tour of the British Isles - England, Wales & Scotland with Abby Bonell
- by Abby Bonell
I recently returned from hosting a ten-day tour of the United Kingdom with a terrific group of intrepid travelers thanks to Morris Murdock - Columbus Travel.
Britain is bursting with endless must-see iconic landmarks, treasures, and landscapes; I also wanted to make sure the tour visited some of my family favorites such as the rail trip to Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales. The crystal-clear view from the summit was breathtaking. We could even see Ireland in the distance. The pristine beauty of Snowdonia National Park is hard to match.
It is a nation steeped in rich heritage and history and our U.K. based tour guide, Esther Peterson was a wealth of information and led the charge. We delighted in her battle cry: “Come on darlings this way! “And we followed Esther from the city lights of London to bonnie Scotland on this grand adventure.
We hit the ground running! London is sensory overload, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, sailing the Thames, The Crown Jewels, a trip to Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace and so much more. Followed by a whistlestop tour of the Cotswold’s, and a hotel stay in the ancient Roman walled city of Chester.
We also visited the picturesque village of Audlem where I grew up and my family still lives today. The American flags were flying ready to greet the coach’s arrival. We rounded the visit off with a lovely lunch at our favorite family pub. It was a big hit with the group. A taste of real Britain topped off with delicious sticky toffee pudding. Sadly, it was time to wave goodbye to a large group of my relatives and school friends who joined the fun.
Last stop, Edinburgh, Scotland. Craggy castles, cobbled streets, royal residences, lots of shopping and last-minute gift buying. One lovely member of the tour bought himself a pair of red tartan fine woolen pants which he wore to our farewell dinner. I am sure they will appear at many future celebrations stateside!
One final highlight, a Loch Lomond cruise. It was a magical day with morning mist on the water and sunshine drenching those big beautiful Scottish views. Thank you for making it such a memorable tour. Until next time dear friends. I hope we meet again! #UK Tour 2025.
Join Abby Bonell on her 2025 tour of England, Wales & Scotland
