On this 5-night and 6-day tour we explore the exploits of the legendary Light Division immortalised in Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels. Based out of comfortable hotels in Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca we traverse this evocative conflict landscape visiting some of the best Peninsular War battlefield sites. These include the narrowly won victory at the River Côa, the brilliantly executed action at Bussaco, the spectacularly disciplined manoeuvres at Fuentes de Oñoro, and the impressive victory at Salamanca. Throughout we will focus on the actions and personalities of the soldiers and officers involved and for Sharpe fans one or more of the novels is used as a theme for each day.

The tour stands alone as an intimate and easily digested introduction to the wider Peninsular War so participants need have no prior knowledge of the region or the events.

Between 1808 and 1813 the Duke of Wellington fought a grinding but ultimately outstandingly successful campaign in the Iberian Peninsula. During this time he honed his troops into arguably the most professional army Britain has ever produced and literally bled Napoleon’s available manpower dry, contributing to his defeat and exile to Elba in 1814.

Pivotal to the campaign was the legendary Light Division, Wellington’s crack troops who, spearheaded by the 95th Rifles, marched the length and breadth of Portugal and Spain during the course of the Peninsular War. The ubiquity of the Division was remarkable - acting as the British Army’s vanguard in advance; screen in defence; and rearguard in retreat - there was no major battle in which they were not involved.

Their exploits are recorded in a wealth of contemporary diaries written by officers and soldiers which paint a vivid picture of what it was like to march with them ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ (to quote The Rifles marching song).