Ever wondered what lies beyond the extensive, manicured grounds of Highclere Castle, the 19th-century Victorian stately home that doubles up as Downton Abbey (photographed by Bas Sijpkes)?
A celebrated walking holiday company is now running a week-long walking tour (six nights) around Highclere’s corner of England – the county of Wiltshire. Wiltshire incidentally, lies some 200 miles from the county of Yorkshire, where the show is set.
The walk trail includes Castle Combe – one of England’s most beautiful villages and on to the extraordinary Neolithic stone circles at Avebury and the village of Lacock, where Pride & Prejudice and Harry Potter were filmed.
The walk also explores the cathedral city of Winchester, Marlborough College where the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) was at boarding school, and the House and Gardens at Bowood House.
Even despite these beautiful and historic locations, we suspect the private viewing of Highclere Castle will be the highlight of the tour. The hefty per person double occupancy (single supplement $565 or £357) charge ($4,195 or £2,651) seems pretty big to us, even when you take into account the high price of travel in the UK. Holidaymakers willing to put their own trip together could probably save a few hundred pounds.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
