Bath and Stonehenge

The tour will start with a visit to Stonehenge and then proceed to Bath.

Stonehenge was built in three phases. The first stage was built about 5,050 years ago.

Then about 4,500 years ago – 2,500 BC and about 2,400 years before the Romans set foot in Britain, it was rebuilt. This time in stone called : Bluestones. These came from the Prescelli Mountains in Pembroke, South Wales 245 miles (380kms), dragged down to the sea, floated on huge rafts, brought up the River Avon, finally overland to where they are today. It was an amazing achievement when you consider that each stone weighs about five tons.

Before the second phase of Stonehenge was complete, work stopped and there was a period of abandonment. Then began a new bigger, even better Stonehenge, the one that we know today- this was approximately 4,300 years ago, about 2,300 BC, the third and final stage of what we see now.

The bluestones were dug up and rearranged and this time even bigger stones were brought in from the Marlborough Downs, 20 miles (32 kms).

How did they get these stones to stand upright? The truth is nobody really knows. It required sheer muscle power and hundreds of men to move one of these megaliths, the heaviest of them weighing probably about 45 tons.

It's thought that the name Stonehenge originates from the Anglo-Saxon period – the old English word ‘henge' meaning hanging or gibbet. So what we have is literally ‘the hanging stones', derived probably from the lintels of the trilithons which appear to be suspended above their massive uprights. Today the word ‘henge' has a specific archaeological meaning: a circular enclosure surrounding settings of stones and timber uprights, or pits.

After leaving Stonehenge behind we travel towards Bath.
A city of gracious crescents and golden streets, Bath is a city with a unique character and inviting atmosphere, full of colour and culture, style and sophistication.

Bath is a very old Roman Town where the Romans built the first Central Heating system as we know it today
The main attraction is the Roman Baths where Britain's only hot spring can be found and where almost every visitor goes to see the water's source still flowing with natural hot water and walk where Romans walked on the ancient stone pavements. The extensive ruins and treasures from the spring are beautifully preserved and presented using the best of modern interpretation.

On your way out you will go through The “Grand” Pump Room: overlooking the spring is the social heart of Bath. The elegant interior of 1795 is something every visitor to Bath should see. You can enjoy a glass of spa water from the fountain, perhaps as an appetizer to a traditional Pump Room tea. Musical accompaniment is provided by The Pump Room Trio at certain times.

Then you can visit No.1 The Royal Crescent. Number 1 was designed by John Wood the Younger, and was the first house to be built in the Royal Crescent, now designated a World Heritage Building. It has been redecorated and furnished to show how it might have appeared in the late eighteenth century.

The City of Bath has a beautiful Church right in the city centre waiting to be visited.

Because these are individual tours, (up to 16 persons), the minibuses used for these is far more versatile than the usual large and cumbersome coaches, so we can take you to see places where otherwise many tourists undoubtedly miss out.

One other great advantage is that we can stop anywhere you choose rather than the pre-arranged, obligatory stops tourists have to do when in larger groups.

The tour will last approximately 8 and half hours departing from your Hotel at 09.00 returning to the hotel by 17.30.

Duration:
Full-Day

Cost:
Price on application.

More information:
Bath
Stonehenge

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