Wellington in Portugal

Wellington in Portugal

The French Invasions Thwarted

Military History and Battlefield Tours

13th - 20th June 2024
(8 Days)

Expert Historian : Col Nick Lipscombe

Tour price: £3,120

Sold out - use the button below to be put on the waiting list

click here to register

Wellington in Portugal

The French Invasions Thwarted

Military History and Battlefield Tours

Your Holiday Essentials

13th - 20th June 2024
(8 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated,

drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,

tour manager and expert historian

throughout, all internal travel,

optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Col Nick Lipscombe

Prices:

Standard price: £2,770

Incl. travel from UK: £3,120
Room sole occupancy supplement: £375
Non-refundable deposit: £300

Sold out

Use the button below to be put on the waiting list

click here to register your interest

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

On this eight-day tour, led by the award winning Peninsular War and Napoleonic historian Nick Lipscombe, we escape the main roads to discover the Portugal known so well to the men of Wellington’s Army during the years 1808– 1811. As well as visiting the magnificent battlefields, we will see one of the beaches on which Wellington landed his army in August 1808 amidst the treacherous rolling surf; explore the forts and signal redoubts along the Lines of Torres Vedras; wander around the historic centre of Lisbon; sample port wine in one of the many port houses in Porto besides the banks of the mighty River Douro; walk the walls of the pretty medieval town of Obidos the site of the first action of the Peninsular War; stay in a former palace in Lousa and marvel at the stunning Portuguese countryside as we travel over its mountain ranges and through its river valleys and national parks. All set amidst the background of wonderful local and international cuisine and great Portuguese hospitality.

Background

Three times the French invaded Portugal between 1807 and 1811 and each time the nation’s saviour was a professional mongrel army led by Arthur Wellesley the future Duke of Wellington. The first invasion by General Junot ended following the battle of Vimeiro in August 1808; the second by Marshal Soult ended abruptly following Wellington’s audacious operation to recapture the city of Porto in broad daylight, forcing Soult’s force into a harrowing retreat over the mountains in north Portugal; while the third invasion by Marshal Massena came to an equally dramatic end in front of the Lines of Torres Vedras necessitating, the following year, Marshal Ney to conduct a series of rear-guard actions for the French to escape.

Highlights

  • With Peninsular War expert, author & historian Col Nick Lipscombe
  • From Wellington’s observation tower we discuss the opening shots of the campaign
  • Explore the battlefield of Roliça and visit Lake’s monument
  • See the Vimeiro Battlefield
  • Visit Junot’s headquarters
  • Examine Wellesley’s audacious crossing of the Douro and the recapture of Porto
  • Drive to the formidable ridge on which the battle of Bussaco was fought
  • Visit the Bussaco battle monument, Massena’s headquarters, Wellington’s command post, the military museum and Craufurd’s rock
  • Explore the Lines of Torres Vedras
  • Colonel Fletcher’s monument at Alhandra

What's Included

  • Return flights from London (optional)
  • 4 Star Hotels
  • Buffet breakfast each morning
  • Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
  • Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
  • Dedicated Tour Manager
  • Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
  • Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
  • Tour information booklet
  • Access to the Cultural Experience app
  • Helpful and friendly travel advice
  • The company of like-minded travelers

"Wellington: A fine fellow with the best nerves of anyone I ever met with."

Major General Sir Lowry Cole: letter from Portugal 1811

Itinerary

Day 1 - Opening Shots
Fly London to Lisbon. Drive to Obidos for a short exploration of this rustic Moorish town with its crenelated walls. Thence to our hotel situated just outside the town where we check-in for one night. Introductory talk and drinks before dinner. (D)

Day 2 - Roliça and Vimeiro
We explore the battlefield of Roliça from Delaborde’s first position to Lake’s Gully and look out from atop the Columbeira Heights. Thence to Maceira Bay where British reinforcements came ashore amidst the rolling surf prior to the battle of Vimeiro. At Vimeiro itself we enjoy a great view of the battlefield from its interpretation centre; we visit Junot’s headquarters before travelling out to Ventosa to look at the French flanking attacks. Continue to the lovely spa town of Curia where we check in to our hotel for two nights. (B,D)

Day 3 - Porto
We examine Wellesley’s audacious crossing of the Douro and the recapture of Porto, and the events preceding it. En route from our hotel, we stop at Ovar to consider Hill’s attempt to outflank Soult’s forward screen by way of an ambitious amphibious operation. At Vila Nova, on the south bank of the Douro, we stand at the monastery, from where Wellesley commanded the operation and established his artillery, before crossing the mighty Douro River and visiting the seminary buildings. We end the day at one of Porto’s fine port lodges to enjoy a tour and sample their wares. (B,D)

Day 4 - Bussaco
We drive to the formidable ridge on which the battle of Bussaco was fought. We visit the battle monument, Massena’s headquarters, Wellington’s command post, the military museum and Craufurd’s rock. Check-in to our Lousa hotel for two nights. (B,D)

Day 5 – Massena’s Retreat
We drive south to pick up the first of a series of rear-guard actions fought by Ney’s corps to buy time for Massena’s army to escape in 1811. We will see the actions at Pombal, Redinha and Foz de Arouce, where the French 39 Regiment lost a coveted eagle. (B,D)

Day 6 – The Lines of Torres Vedras
We drive back towards Lisbon and pick up the Lines of Torres Vedras that encircle the city. We explore the forts in the First and Second Lines; the great redoubt of Sobral and the restored fort of San Vicente; Wellington’s headquarters at Pero Negro; Beresford’s headquarters at Casal Cochim; and finally visit Colonel Fletcher’s monument at Alhandra. Check-in to our Lisbon hotel for two nights. (B,D)

Day 7 – Lisbon
We spend a full day in Lisbon and its environs including the atmospheric castle at Belem guarding the entrance to the Tagus estuary, the impressive military museum with its large model of the Lines and an astonishing collection of artillery, before finishing at the dominating Castello de Sao Jorge.(B,D)

Day 8 - Home.
Subject to obtaining permission from the Portuguese Ministry of Defence, we will explore the fort of Sao Juliao which anchored the third line of defence around Lisbon. Fly Lisbon – London (B)

Recommended Reading List

Col Nick Lipscombe

Col Nick Lipscombe

Nicolas Lipscombe MSc FRHistS served for 34 years in the British Army; seeing considerable operational duty with the British and American armies. He is an accomplished historian, author and lecturer. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2016. He has concentrated on the Napoleonic Wars, and the Peninsular War in particular, but he is now working on projects associated with the English Civil War.

Read more

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Your Holiday Essentials

13th - 20th June 2024
(8 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated,

drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,

tour manager and expert historian

throughout, all internal travel,

optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Col Nick Lipscombe

Prices:

Standard price: £2,770

Incl. travel from UK: £3,120
Room sole occupancy supplement: £375
Non-refundable deposit: £300

Sold out

Use the button below to be put on the waiting list

click here to register your interest

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Review

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

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