A tour for the XK Club to celebrate 75 years of the conception of the XK engine exploring the Cotswolds, Wales and Yorkshire. The 11-day tour will be based at four 4-star hotels with day trips exploring the local area, driving some very scenic routes and exploring the beautiful countryside. The trip will end with the opportunity to join the XK Club Weekend at Whittlebury Hall.
The Jaguar XK engine is one of the most successful engine designs in motoring history. It was produced for 43 years and was the backbone of Jaguar Cars through their XK 120, 140 and 150 models, their iconic C, D and E type range and then into the 1960s and 1970s in every saloon car the company produced right up until the Jaguar XJ6 in 1987 and the Daimler Limousine in 1992! Renowned for its raw power, smoothness and unmistakable sound, it powered their racing cars to victories around the world but most notably, no less than five wins at famous Le Mans 24-Hour race. It was hardly surprising then that when they transferred these engines into their road cars, they sold like hotcakes and the XK Legend was born!
13 September 2023
The first day of our tour where we meet at Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa, Stratford upon Avon for mid/late afternoon check-in.
You will then have the chance to settle into your rooms prior to a welcome drinks reception and dinner of three courses with paired wines.
The first of three nights at this wonderful country hotel.
14 September 2023
Grand Tour of the Cotswolds – 100 miles / 3hrs
We will head out for our first day tour, which will include a mid-morning coffee stop at Bibury Classic Motor Hub. This will be a chance to have a look around their museum.
After lunch in the Cotswolds, we will then visit the Cotswold Distillery, nestled in the heart of the Cotswold countryside, and take part in one of their award-winning experiences before returning to Billesley Manor.
Dinner tonight will be a free choice in Stratford, including an option to book a pre-theatre dinner and theatre production at the famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre. You can book your tickets direct with the theatre from February 2023.
Alternatively, you can make your own reservation and dine in the hotel.
Billesley Manor is 4.5 miles outside the centre of Stratford upon Avon.
15 September 2023
Today is your Experience Day, with the opportunity to explore the local area at your leisure. Some of the highlights you can visit are:
– Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (advance booking with CGT essential)
– Shopping in Stratford upon Avon or Broadway / Chipping Campden
– Visit Wappenbury Hall the former home of Sir William Lyons (advance booking with CGT essential)
– Visit British Motor Museum at Gaydon
Alternatively, you may stay at the hotel and relax enjoying the facilities and the Spa.
Dinner tonight will be at the hotel.
16 September 2023
Today we will drive 120 miles from Warwickshire to the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa in Chester for three nights.
The route we take is made up of some wonderful country roads skirting the ancient salt and brine town of Droitwich Spa, then through Shropshire and the Shropshire Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We then thread our way north along the Welsh/English border to Chester.
Lunch along the way will be of your own choosing, but we will make some varied suggestions closer to the time.
We can also arrange a slightly different route to allow you to go through the town of Bridgnorth and visit Classic Motor Cars, the world-class specialists in classic cars and in particular, Jaguar! They have a fantastic facility that is well worth a look!
Arriving at the Grosvenor Pulford hotel, there will be time to park the cars, unpack for the next three nights and then meet for a drink before having a BBQ supper together in the hotel.
17 September 2023
Tour of Wales – 160 miles / 5h30
Today we will have an incredibly scenic driving loop through North Wales.
Leaving from the hotel, we head to Ruthin, Betws-y-Coed, then up to Tregarth so we can cut back and drive the world-famous Llanberis Pass.
We will then head South into the Snowdonia National Park before cutting across Wales in an easterly direction to drive the Horseshoe Pass on our way back to the hotel.
This is a 160-mile route that will take us the best part of 5h30 including lunch in Beddgelert.
This evening is open to you to go out and explore the restaurants of Chester.
Alternatively, you can make your own reservation and dine in the hotel.
18 September 2023
Today is your Experience Day, with the opportunity to explore the local area at your leisure. Some of the highlights you can visit are:
– Visit Portmeirion
– Visit Chirk Castle
– Shopping in Chester
– Visit the North Wales coastline and Conwy Castle
Alternatively, you may stay at the hotel and relax enjoying the facilities and the Spa.
Dinner tonight will be at the hotel.
19 September 2023
Chester to Yorkshire +/- 140 miles / 4h30
Today we will drive from the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel to The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.
We leave Chester and head east into the Peak District National Park before heading north, threading our way through some lovely countryside avoiding the cities of Manchester and Sheffield, before looping around the top of Leeds to take us to the beautiful town of Harrogate and The Majestic Hotel.
Lunch along the way will be of your own choosing, but we will make some varied suggestions along the way closer to the time.
We are staying in the centre of Harrogate, so dinner tonight will be open to your choice, there are lots of varied and wonderful restaurants within a 5-10 minute walk of our hotel. We will make some suggestions closer to the time.
Alternatively, you can make your own reservation and dine in the hotel.
20 September 2023
Tour of the Yorkshire Moors – 137 miles / 3h45
Today’s scenic drive will be through the North Yorkshire Moors via York, Malton, Pickering, Goathland, Danby, Kirkbymoorside and Coxwold.
Lunch is included today in Goathland with Dinner at the Hotel.
21 September 2023
Today is your Experience Day, with the opportunity to explore the local area at your leisure.
For those who wish to tour the area further away, we have a Scenic Drive of the Yorkshire Dales which is about 4h33 / 152 miles and includes Wensleydale Creamery, Buttertub Pass, The York Arms, and Ripley.
If you plan to stay a little more local, some of the highlights you can visit are:
– Holmfirth, where Last Of The Summer Wine was filmed. You can visit the museum and take a vintage bus tour of the filming locations.
– Holmfirth vineyard
– Pennine helicopter pleasure flights
– Visit the ‘carding shed’ – classic car displays, nostalgia, I.K sport classic restoration facilities. Afternoon tea is available here.
– Harrogate for shopping, Royal pump room museum (sulphur wells), Turkish baths
Dinner tonight will be in the hotel.
22 September 2023
The Final Leg – 165 miles / 4h15
We leave The Majestic Hotel and head to our final stop to the spiritual home of Jaguar, Coventry. Lunch today will be en route and will be of your own choosing, but we will make some varied suggestions closer to the time.
Our final evening will be at Coombe Abbey with a smart casual dinner and Champagne reception.
23 September 2023
Check out and head home or on to the XK75 weekend at Whittlebury Manor.
We have a minimum number of participants required for all of our events enabling them to be viable for us to run – this is usually 10 cars unless stated otherwise. In the event that we don’t reach the minimum numbers, the tour may be cancelled at which point your booking deposit will be refunded to you, or if preferred, allocated to another event of your choice.
As with all of our tours and events, this tour is protected by ABTOT and ATOL.
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