Wellington in Spain

Wellington in Spain

A Classic Peninsular War Tour

Military History and Battlefield Tours

12th - 19th September 2024
(8 Days)

Expert Historian : Col Nick Lipscombe

Tour price: £2,795

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

click here to register

Wellington in Spain

A Classic Peninsular War Tour

Military History and Battlefield Tours

Your Holiday Essentials

12th - 19th September 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: £2,620

Incl. travel from UK: £2,795
Room sole occupancy supplement: £295
Non-refundable deposit: £275

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

This eight-day tour is led by award winning Peninsular War historian, Nick Lipscombe. It visits some of the most beautiful and historic parts of central Spain and Wellington’s most notable battles and sieges during the period 1809 – 1812. We begin with a drive down the Tagus Valley to Talavera and on down to Badajoz and Albuera in the agricultural centre of Estremadura. Then to the fortified town of Elvas, Portugal, a UNESCO world heritage site steeped in history, before heading north again via the atmospheric Roman bridge at Alcántara. Back across to Portugal and the perfectly preserved fortified town of Almeida and the hardly-changed village of Fuentes de Oñoro. Finally, we visit Salamanca, a beautiful and culturally rich city with the best preserved Peninsular War battlefield.

Background

After his initial successes in twice driving out the French from Portugal, Wellington advanced towards Madrid to fight his first battle in Spain at Talavera in July 1809. Uncomfortable with the support that he received from his Spanish Allies, 1810 saw him recuperating in the rugged countryside along the Portuguese border fighting a series of small actions, particularly around Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo, where the Light Division founded its legendary reputation. After defeating a third invasion of Portugal, he strengthened his position on the border with the twin sieges and bloody storming of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badjoz, before making his second advance on Madrid which resulted in the classic encounter battle of Salamanca.

Highlights

  • From Talavera to Salamanca via the border fortresses
  • Wonderful and wild Extremadura countryside
  • Walk the battlefield of Talavera
  • Visit the fortress town of Badajoz
  • Pay respects at the British Peninsular War Cemetery on the Bastion walls, Elvas
  • Walk the walls and visit the Cathedral in Ciudad Rodrigo
  • Walk-up the Greater Teson
  • Visit the wonderful battlefield of Salamanca
  • Climb the hill above Miranda de Azan and the Greater Arapile from where superb panoramas of the Salamanca battlefield

What's Included

  • Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
  • 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
  • Helpful and friendly travel advice
  • The company of like-minded travelers

Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly from London to Madrid

Travel to Toledo and check-in to our hotel before welcome drinks, an introductory talk and dinner. (D)

Day 2 – Talavera

Walk the battlefield of Talavera and thence to the bridge at Almaraz and Fort Napoleon to retrace the steps of General Hill’s raid of May 1812. We then check-in to our hotel, situated in the heart of the exquisite conquistador town of Trujillo. (B,D)

Day 3 – Albuera and Badajoz

At Albuera, Marshal Beresford secured a narrow victory over Marshal Soult in what was the bloodiest battle of the entire war. Thence to the fortress town of Badajoz, captured at such tremendous cost, where we will see the site of the breaches, stormed by the Light and 4th divisions and the castle, scaled by Picton’s Fighting (3rd) Division. We cross over the border into Portugal and check-in to our 4-star hotel in the historic fortified town of Elvas. (B,D)
Day 4 – Elvas & Alcantara

Before leaving Elvas, we pay our respects at the British Peninsular War Cemetery on the Bastion walls. Then we head north via the spectacular Roman bridge at Alcantara and continue on to Aldea del Obispo, where we check-in to our 17th century hotel for two nights, formerly known as Fort Concepion, sometime home to Craufurd’s Light Division in 1810/11. (B,D)

Day 5 – Almeida, the Coa and Fuentes de Oñoro

On the River Coa we see where ‘Black Bob’ Craufurd so nearly lost his celebrated Light Division and whilst walking through the beautiful walled town of Almeida we see the remains of the castle which was destroyed in a cataclysmic explosion during the siege of 1810. Thence to the village of Fuentes de Oñoro to explore the field of the battle that raged for three days in early May 1811. (B,D)

Day 6 – Ciudad Rodrigo

We drive to the lovely historical city of Ciudad Rodrigo to walk its walls to the cathedral. We walk up the Greater Teson where the heavy siege guns were sited and inspect the Great Breach assaulted by Picton’s 3rd Division, and the Lesser Breach, attacked by the Light Division. Continue to Salamanca where we check in to our hotel for two nights. (B,D)

Day 7 – Salamanca

Today we travel to the wonderful battlefield of Salamanca, one of Wellington’s finest victories. We climb the hill above Miranda de Azan and the Greater Arapile from where superb panoramas of the battlefield can be gained. There will be ample opportunity to continue exploration of the magnificent city later in the day. (B,D)

Day 8 – Avila

To Madrid, via a brief photo opportunity of the spectacular walled town of Avila, for our return flight to 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

Photo Gallery

  • Wellingtons HQ at Freneida
  • The old stone bridge at Almaraz
  • Salamanca
  • Our 2019 Tour Group
  • On the Salamanca battlefield
  • Fort Conception
  • Col Nick Lipscombe in action

Video

Your Holiday Essentials

12th - 19th September 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: £2,620

Incl. travel from UK: £2,795
Room sole occupancy supplement: £295
Non-refundable deposit: £275

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 Reviews

Journalist Simon Heptinstall travelled on our 2013 Classic Peninsula Tour. Read his account of the experience, which was published in Mail Online in October 2013

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

Take a look at some of the images taken on our most recent tour

Photo Gallery

tours by datethemesperiodsdestinations

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