At War With Wellington: The Peninsular War

At War With Wellington: The Peninsular War

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At War With Wellington: The Peninsular War

12 Days Starting in Plymouth, UK and ending in Paris, France

Visiting: Plymouth, Santander, Tordesillas, Salamanca, Ciudad Rodrigo, Fuentes de Oñoro, Badajoz, British Cemetery, Elvas, La Albuera, Toledo, Talavera de la Reina, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Burgos, Orthez, Toulouse, Paris

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

12epw

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

In a new version of this popular tour, we travel to Spain and follow the battles and engagements of the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellington, in the Peninsular War, battles popularised in the Bernard Cornwall’s ‘Sharpe’ novels.

Highlights

  • Travel to Spain and follow the battles and engagements of the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellington

  • Visit the Salamanca Battlefield. Here, in July 1812, Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese Army defeated the French in a battle that cemented his reputation as a skilful commander

  • Visit the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro, one of Wellington’s closest run and finest victories in May 1811

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Travel To Santander

Location: Plymouth, Santander

Accommodation: Overnight Ferry

We take the overnight ferry from Plymouth to Santander in Spain.

Day 2 : Tordesillas 1812

Location: Tordesillas, Salamanca

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

On arrival in Spain we travel down to our hotel in Salamanca for three nights, stopping at the Tordesillas battlefield from October 1812. On the first evening, we have a briefing from the Battlefield Guide on the history of the Peninsular War, along with an overview of the battlefields that will be visited on the tour.

Day 3 : Salamanca 1812

Location: Salamanca

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we visit the Salamanca Battlefield. Here, in July 1812, Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese Army defeated the French in a battle that cemented his reputation as a skilful commander. We have a full day exploring this important battlefield, offering a fascinating insight into the fighting which led to more than 13,000 French casualties. We also visit the Battle of Salamanca Museum.

Day 4 : Fuentes De Onoro And Ciudad Rodrigo

Location: Ciudad Rodrigo, Fuentes de Oñoro

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we visit the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro, one of Wellington’s closest run and finest victories in May 1811. After lunch, we will walk the defences used in the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812, when Wellington’s men besieged the French garrison here. Walking the ramparts, our journey will end at the castle to get an impression of how formidable the defences were.

Day 5 : Badajoz 1812

Location: Badajoz

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Departing Salamanca, we go to Badajoz for a look at the costly siege of this walled city. We see where the fighting took place in 1812, at the infamous Breach involving the men of the Forlorn Hope. Once the position was taken, Wellington stood on the walls and looked down at the losses and visibly wept. We continue to our hotel in Badajoz for two nights.

Day 6 : Albuera And British Cemetery, Elvas

Location: British Cemetery, Elvas, La Albuera

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Our destination is Albuera, where one of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War took place in May 1811. We walk the battlefield and see the ‘Fatal Hill’ as well as the monuments in the nearby town, and visit the Battle of Albuera Museum. We also travel to Elvas, to view the burials made in the British cemetery after the Battle of Albuera.

Day 7 : Toledo Museum

Location: Toledo

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

We visit the temporary exhibition at the museum of the Spanish Army in Toledo, before travelling to our hotel near Madrid, where we stay for two nights.

Day 8 : Talavera 1809

Location: Talavera de la Reina

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

We spend the day on the battlefield at Talavera, where the battle took place in July 1809. It was here that Richard Sharpe took an Eagle from the French while serving in the Light Company of the fictional South Essex. We examine the real events of the engagement and tour the battlefield – visit the memorial sited on the slopes of the Cerro de Medellin Hill and study the landscape on which the principal fighting occurred.

Day 9 : Burgos And Vittoria

Location: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Burgos

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Madrid, we head to northern Spain, looking at the British retreat from Burgos and then the Battle at Vittoria in June 1813. From here, we continue to Pamploma for our last night in Spain.

Day 10 : Orthez And Toulouse

Location: Orthez, Toulouse

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

Departing Spain, we head into France, just as Wellington’s Army did in 1814. We visit the battlefield of Orthez where the fighting took place in February 1814, and then continue to the ground near Toulouse, where the city was captured by Wellington in April 1814. We stay overnight in Toulouse.

Day 11 : Travel To Paris Area

Location: Paris

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3 or 4-star city-style hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

We travel from Toulouse to the Paris area for an overnight stay.

Day 12 : Return Home

Location: Paris

Meals Included: Breakfast

Return home.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Additional Services

    Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

    This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point

  • Fully Guided

  • International Travel

  • Meals

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Transport

    Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach

What's Not Included

Accommodation

Throughout your tour you will stay in 3 or 4-star city-style hotels.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

    On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    No

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    Low

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes

  • What type of coach will be used?

    You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach

  • Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

    Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown

  • Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

    Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?

    Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Gary White (Google Reviewer)  

Just got back from a...

27-May-2024

Just got back from a holiday with leger holidays to callea spain which my wife done as a surprise for my 60th and wedding anniversary together my wife and i had a great time the coach journey there was excellent regular stops for toilet breaks and a stretch. Our two drivers Geoff and katrina were brilliant serving regular drinks and making the trip pleasant all the people on the coach were pleasant the hotel in spain was so nice the best we've stayed in lovely staff lovely bar the guy at the bar was great really friendly nice room. Overall our journey there and our return journey was brill the only thing that was not good at all was the ibis hotel on the return journey the room was horrible not a nice breakfast not polite French staff. Not really interested in trying to speak some english if i was leger should try and use a different hotel. Once again a big thank you to Geoff and katrina well done guys for making our holiday lovely. Hope to see you on another holiday soon

Will (Google Reviewer)  

I went on the 4...

05-Jan-2024

I went on the 4 countries trip and swiss glacier express and overall it was a great trip. The coach I was on was silver service, it was tidy had nice seats and other accessories such as charging points and headsets which was very handy. The drivers Alex and Dave were fantastic, very kind, funny and respectful throughout the whole trip and a pleasure to talk to. The excursions were very pleasant and all ran very smoothly. The hotels were decent and offered a good service. I overall very much recommend leger holidays.

Sally Matson  

Excellent customer service

10-Jan-2023

Booked our ‘Christmas in Austria & Scenic Trains of the Tyrol’ through George on the customer Helpline. Nothing was too much trouble, everything clearly & patiently explained. He even had permission to log in on his day off to finalise the sale! A charming and helpful young person and a credit to the company.

Euan Donald (Google Reviewer)  

Been on two tours now...

10-Oct-2023

Been on two tours now the “D Day beaches” and “ All Quiet on the Western Front” tour of the Somme and Ypres. Both four days in total, two travelling and two on the site of the various battles. This is outstanding value for money, picked up from Carlisle , Cumbria and literally looked after all the way through the tours. The coaches are great and the accommodation spot on . The guides are very knowledgeable ( Mark Hope brilliant guy)and the bus drivers professional . Absolutely fantastic .

Remon Wanis (Google Reviewer)  

We have been working with...

05-Aug-2024

We have been working with them for nearly a year now as Sussex Airports Taxis, and they offer the best customer service ever. All their customers are always happy when they return from their holidays. We look forward to continuing our partnership for many more years to come.

William Olley (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

21-Aug-2024

I recently went on a coach holiday with this company. Everything was on time but there can be traffic hold ups with jams and roadworks! The coach was comfortable and the driver stopped for rest periods. The hotel was a 3 star close to a spectacular beach and was adequate. The catering was excellent! I went on the excursions included in the package and visited some lovely places.

Gordon Price (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from Italian holiday....

21-Jul-2024

just returned from Italian holiday. It was great spoilt a little by the high temperature even Ledger can't control that. The only real thing to spoil the trip was one of the hotels. The Krystall hotel in Diano Marina was terrible the room was dire with cracks in shower bogged up shower fittings noe control for AC end so on. The food was very poor, limited choice luke warm food on cold plates. After 4 evening meals (3 or four courses) we were only able to remember 2 we enjoyed. Breakfast was poor no bread except for hard rolls. No fresh fruit if you liked cake for breakfast you were good. If this is a 3 star hotel Italian standards have fallen which I don't think they have. Ledger brochure states "some of Europes most fascinating unique hotels" for Luxuria trips. This hotel should be removed from your list at once. The holiday was other wise good I cannot praise your coach crew too to much they were excellent. A highlight of the trip was the return trip through the swiss alps. It was superb and deserves mention in your holiday iteniary description.

Hilary Jackson (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

12-Jun-2024

I recently went on a 4 night tour to Scarborough. Driver was great hotel superb. My criticism is too many destinations crammed into day excursion. Example visit to Flamborough head stop for 1 hour it was teeming nobody got off coach but even if fine pointless. Then on to Bridlington coach Park 1.5 ml from centre. Most people are hard pressed to get to center & back in 1.5 hours pointless. Incidentally if Leger paid a permit they could alight us in the resort. Very bad logistics. On to Whitby with a decent stop should have taken us there & bypassed the other stops. I will not go with them again. I will source a better holiday with excursions to one place only.

aled blackshaw (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from a solos...

25-Mar-2024

just returned from a solos break to valkenburg and rhine valley i enjoyed the break overall although both journeys were considerably longer than expected due to several picks ups. I could have done without the 3 countries meeting point excursion to be honest and the lunch on rhine cruise was very basic. The drivers/couriers were efficient and good humoured and provided free lunch vouchers on the ferry which were much appreciated. I probably would book another break with leger but to somewhere a lot closer to home.

laura young (Google Reviewer)  

We booked a holiday to...

09-Aug-2024

We booked a holiday to Edinburgh with some excursions. In the travel agents we booked the excursion to sterling which we didn’t do as they went to Loch Lomond instead. The drivers Mike and Heidi were not very polite at times. Moaning that they weren’t allowed to sell alcohol to passengers and then trying to on the sly. Mike quote “if I leave this and £3 appears then great” They read off Google for facts and read like they couldn’t be bothered. Which there was very little facts passed along. We did an excursion to glassglow which was 20 mins away from our hotel. We left at 13:00 meaning we only got around 3 hours there. The trip was lots of people in their 70s meaning they walk slow, some with mobility issues. So not a lot of time there. The Edinburgh tattoo was fantastic but again we left the hotel at 13:00 meaning less time there. When we asked about why we left late they just huffed and said because of legal hours for drivers. While I appreciate this and they need a break there were two drivers. Meaning one could drive the night before and the other the next day meaning we are not left sat around the hotel untill 13:00 each day with very little to do in this area of eaglesham. This was my first trip with ledger and I am very dissatisfied and disappointed at this mainly due to the drivers. The trip was far from cheap and there was no value for money I feel.

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.