Best of England Actvity Level?

Start training in your walking shoes! The areas you are touring are favored by the hiking set. Just don't over extend yourself...when you need a break stop in a tearoom or a pub or take a boat ride. I think that they try to pace things; but you can skip climbing castle steps if you want to. Bon Voyage!

We took this tour last Summer and loved it! We are age 71 and 72. Most hotels have 1-2 flights of stairs to access your room; I recall just one hotel that had a third floor that was part of our reservations. Elevators were not available except in London and York. Our guide was very mindful of that and typically put the people with more mobility challenges on the lower floors. And, within our group there was always someone willing to lend a hand if someone needed help with luggage.

The tour stops themselves were pretty average in terms of walking, hills, etc. we had a lovely longer group hike in the Cotswolds through the beautiful countryside that was fairly easy and another jaunt to Castlerigg Stone Circles in the Lake District where you had to climb a stone wall to access the site. Hadrian’s Wall required a medium hike and ups/downs the terrain to view the site and we did it in pouring rain. But again all tour members helped others if needed. In the Lake District there were a couple of longer optional walks around the lakes that you could opt to take or not take, so choices were always there.

Bottom line, this is a fantastic tour that I’m confident that you will enjoy. As with any RS tour I would simply confirm the ratings they put in the Best of England tour description about the tour physical demands are pretty spot on.

We just returned from this tour a week ago. I would agree with the 2 replies before me. It is physically challenging, some days more than others, but I am 68 and husband is 73. My husband has a heart stent and I just had thoracic surgery in January. My recovery wasn't easy and I was worried about getting back to my walking routine in time to leave in May for this tour. Luckily, I was able to start back daily walking by start of April about 6 weeks before the tour. There were days physically challenging especially Caernarvon castle, but your choice to crawl through staircases and passageways, and in the Lake District where (our choice) we walked to Beatrix Potter house- a beautiful walk but some steep inclines. We slept well that night. As far as elevators, not until the York and London hotels. Pack light. We had one roller suitcase (carry on size) and one over shoulder day bag (not back pack). Also, no air conditioning until York and London. The first days in Bath were warm bordering on hot and the hotel rooms were stuffy although a nice fan was provided. All hotels before York I would advise asking for a fan when you first arrive. Luckily by time we got to Stow in Cotswolds the evenings were much cooler which helped. Cobblestones and rocky terrain but not at every location. Also, some side notes: most hotels before York and London do not provide Kleenex and not much toilet tissue. Best ask for more toilet tissue when you arrive as well. And when visiting Westminster Abbey, the group tour with guide gets long, so peel off and wander through on your own if you are looking for specific burials/memorials. You can ask for a map that will tell you exactly where people are buried, if you're into that. Bottom line: if you've done RS before you should be fine, just pace yourself and find a seat if possible during docent led tours of cathedrals, etc. It is definitely a lovely time and we plan to return.