And Now For Something Different

As a Military Historian, visiting battlefields is the only way of bringing to life what the opposing generals saw (and could not see) centuries ago. But this can be a solitary pastime as my wife Mary rarely wants to trek across dusty fields or survive basic accomodation whilst looking longingly out of the bus window as we simply pass major cultural sites which are ignored because they do not fit the narrative. But as a historian and a lover of visiting all cultural sites, this doesn't work for me either and I have been forced to avoid such battlefield tours and to add snippets into a more varied holiday which appeals to both Mary and I. This combination works so well for both of us and it was this realisation that caused me to team up with Robert Pocock to form the company Campaigns and Culture which aims to offer an interesting range of such cultural tours - combining the story of a military campaign, whilst visiting every other cultural site in the area from palaces, castles, monasteries, aqueducts, even vineyards and not forgetting to enjoy the simply stunning views. Indeed offering something that will stimulate and excite with constantly changing sights. We also ensure that the travelling is kept to a minimum and stay at 4* hotels throughout.

In our initial offering, we offer two particularly special tours, one of which is not offered by any other cultural/battlefield tour company in the world. The beautiful island of Zealand in Denmark is often visited for a Copenhagen city break, but visitors rarely get beyond its confines and get to understand much of its rich history. Very few know that the waters adjacent to the city were the scene of Admiral Horatio Nelson's second great victory of 1801 or that the British returned in 1807 to bombard the city for three days and eventually left with almost the entire Danish navy of some 60 ships! Many of the important sites of these interesting events are still there and can be visited, within Copenhagen there is the citadel, the city defences, Trekroner battery, the sailor's housing at Nyholm and the final resting place of those killed in the battle, but further afield there is Cronborg castle where the first shots were fired in anger, the town of Koge, the scene of 'The Battle of the Clogs' and Frederiksvaerk which houses the only original and still working black powder mill in the world. But beyond this, we will enjoy visiting Roskilde for the cathedral, the final resting place of the Danish kings and queens and also a facinating Viking centre, whilst also visiting palaces, castles, fortresses, cathedrals and more....Interested to know more? visit https://www.campaignsandculture.com/tours/battle-of-copenhagen

Then there are the joys of Northern portugal, whilst visiting the battlefield associated with the Duke of Wellington from 1808-1811, we also visit the main sites of Lisbon and journey on for ten days to delight in Cintra, Obidos, Tomar, Coimbra, Aveiro, Oporto and Almeida, visiting churches, castles, fortresses, vineyards, canals, battlefields and all. For those who only know Portugal for the beaches of the Algarve, then a great delight and surprise awaits you in the historical and cultural heartland of central and northern Portugal. For further details visit ...https://www.campaignsandculture.com/tours/wellington-in-portugal

Gareth & Mary in Lisbon!