BATTLEFIELD TOURSF O R D I S C E R N I N G T R A V E L L E R S

For those interested in the conflicts which have shaped our continent, a holiday which includes visits to key battlefields, in the company of an expert military historian, is an illuminating and memorable experience. One hundred years since the Armistice which brought the Great War to an end, there has never been a more poignant time to revisit the sites of the Great War’s most infamous battles, and this October military historian Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan will lead our tour of the Western Front, visiting Ypres, Cambrai, Amiens and the Somme. Next spring, Hugh shall turn his attention to the Duke of Wellington’s campaigns in Iberia during the Peninsular Wars of 1809-1812, with a wonderful itinerary which combines fascinating history with beautiful scenery and delicious Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. Then, in autumn 2019, Richard Goldsborough, historian and veteran of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, will head to southern Italy to the notorious abbey at Monte Cassino – pivotal to the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943 – as well as the spectacular Amalfi Coast and the ancient Greek temples at Paestum.We look forward to hearing from you soon.

PS. If you prefer to travel independently, our experts would be delighted to create a tailor-made holiday which includes a visit to one of Europe’s other key battlefields – from Normandy, Gallipoli or Malta to the field outside Vienna which saw the tide of history turn decisively in 1683. See back page for ideas.

Published August 2018. Terms and conditions apply. Prices are per person based on 2 sharing.

Ted Wake, Joint MD & Director of Sales & Marketing

THE WESTERN FRONT – THE ROAD TO VICTORYA FIVE NIGHT HOLIDAY | 24 OCTOBER 2018 & 30 OCTOBER 2019

with Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan

Lead by military historian Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan, we will visit the principal battlefields of the British Expeditionary Forces, starting at the notorious Ypres Salient which saw intense action throughout the war. We follow the progress of the troops until we reach Amiens where in August 1918 the Allies began their journey to victory. In between, we visit Passchendaele, Arras, the Somme and Cambrai. Visits to some exceptional museums help tell the story of how the troops fought both underground and above, in the mud and on horseback. The Great War was not the “war to end all wars” but it left an indelible impression on Europe and the world.

The itineraryTravelling out by Eurostar, the first part of our itinerary will be based in Ypres, where we will visit the excellent “In Flanders Fields” Museum in the former Cloth Hall, where the story of the invasion of Belgium unfolds through a series of personal stories. We will also visit the battlefields of the notorious Ypres Salient and important cemeteries including Essex Farm, Langemarck and Tyne Cot, as well as attending The Last Post at the Menin Gate Memorial.Continuing to Lille for one night, we will visit Arras, Vimy Ridge and Notre Dame de Lorette with its graves of more than 40,000 fallen French troops. The final part of the tour will be based in Amiens, from where we visit the Somme – including Lutyens’ Thiepval Memorial, Beaumont Hamel, La Boiselle and the Lochnagar Crater – followed by Cambrai, where massed tank formations were used for the first time.

Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan leads a variety of cultural tours in the UK and specialises in military history especially in Wellington’s Peninsular Campaigns 1808-1814, the Battle of Waterloo 1815, the Western Front 1914-1918, the D-Day Landings 1944 and the Fall Of France 1940. Military walking tours in London include the London Blitz 1940-1941

(in the City of London), WW1 (in Whitehall and Westminster) and Britain’s Military History (in Whitehall). Hugh has led many small group tours for Kirker, as well as a variety of tailor-made itineraries private groups, students and charities. Please ask for details.

Price from £1,498 per person (single supp. £358) for five nights including return Eurostar, transfers, accommodation with breakfast, five dinners, all sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities and the

services of the Kirker Tour Lecturer.

To make a reservation please speak to your independent travel agent

THE BATTLES OF MONTE CASSINOA SEVEN NIGHT TOUR| 24 OCTOBER 2019

The focus of our new tour is a study of the major battles which took place as part of the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943/44. Starting in the area around Salerno, the tour moves northwards to Monte Cassino, allowing us to follow the events chronologically. We begin with the landings of the US 36th Infantry Division before travelling to the Allied headquarters at Caserta, learning about the four battles for Cassino and ending at Anzio where the last major Allied landings took place. The tour takes us to the spectacular Amalfi coastline, to Paestum, and through the mountainous landscapes of Lazio and Campania.

The itinerary

We fly to Naples and transfer to our hotel for the first two nights. The tour is based at the 3* Hotel Villa Aequa in the small resort of

Vico Equense.

We start our tour at the site close to Salerno where Operation Avalanche took place. This was the landing zone of the US 36th

Infantry Division. Afterwards we go to Paestum with its Doric temples overlooking the sea. We get wonderful views of the landing sites from the village of Agropoli.

Leaving the Sorrento Peninsula, we make our way to the Royal Palace at Caserta. Formerly the home of the Bourbons, during the

war it was the headquarters of General Sir Harold Alexander. We then visit San Pietro Infine where the American 143rd Regiment fought, and the Italian War Cemetery. Here we see fighting vehicles from one of the first battles between the Italians and the Allies. At the summit of Monte Camino we see the scene of fierce fighting in the last months of 1943. We stay for three nights at the 3* Hotel Al Boschetto in Cassino.

We discover the foothills of Monte Trochio and from Via Belvedere we see fine views of the monastery and town of Cassino. The King

visited this area in July 1944. At the village of Sant’Angelo in Theodice the US 36th (Texas) Division tried but failed to cross the River Gari, sustaining 1,681 casualties. After seeing the site of the Amazon Bridge we will stop at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery.

DAY1

DAY2

DAY3

DAY4

DAY5

DAY6

DAY7

DAY8

Flight InformationFlights with British Airways/Easyjet:Depart London Gatwick 15.25, arrive Naples 19.00Depart Rome Fiumicino 13.15, arrive London Gatwick 14.55tour lecturer:

RICHARD GOLDSBROUGHRichard Goldsbrough served in the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards of which he is the Regimental Historian and trustee of its museum in Cardiff. He is the author of ‘The Cavalry that Broke Napoleon,’ a book about his regiment’s exploits at Waterloo. In 2017 he went to Oxford to further his studies in history at Balliol. Richard Goldsbrough writes: “I am looking forward to explaining just how some of the most strategic battles of the war took place in the beautiful landscapes of southern Italy.”

Price from £2,160 per person (single supp. £290) for seven nights including flights, transfers, accommodation with breakfast, five lunches (some will be picnics), seven dinners, all sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities and the services of the Kirker Tour Lecturer, Richard Goldsbrough and a

Kirker Tour Escort.

Park Hotel Villa Grazioli

Monte Cassino Abbey

We travel along the Cavendish Road, the vital supply route for the Allies. Then comes the German Cemetery at Caira, the Cassino

museum, and the caves used by German paratroopers. Driving along the winding road to the monastery we visit the much contested Castle Hill, the site of desperate attempts by the Allies to reach German positions on the summit.

Today we go to the Polish Cemetery and see the remnants of the German defences at Point 593. We visit the Monastery at

Cassino before leaving for Frascati where the last two nights of the tour are based at the 4* Park Hotel Villa Grazioli. This is one of our favourite hotels in the region, a former Cardinal’s residence dating from 1850, with spectacular vaulted ceilings, original frescoes and a gallery painted by Panini in 1736. There is an excellent restaurant, which has views out across the plain to Rome from the terrace.

We drive to Anzio to see the beachhead where the Operation Shingle landings took place. We then retrace the Allied advance

north to the Wadi area and we visit the Anzio War Museum with its collection of WWII equipment abandoned in Italy.

The day is free to enjoy the hotel’s park before we drive to Rome airport for the flight back to London.

Park Hotel Villa Grazioli

Flight InformationFlights with TAP (outbound) & Easyjet (inbound)Depart London Gatwick 12.50, arrive Oporto 14.20Depart Madrid 16.35, arrive London Gatwick 18.00

Today we travel to the final destination for the tour, the beautiful city of Salamanca, where we stay for the final two nights at the

4* Parador. The Battle of Salamanca was a decisive moment and not only led to the Allied army marching on to capture Madrid, but cemented Wellington’s reputation as a master tactician.

As well as a crucial strategic landmark, Salamanca is also one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, and our visit today will explore the

cityscape of tiled roofs, gothic churches and elegant squares. The Plaza Mayor is one of the finest public squares in the whole of Spain, and we will explore on foot and see the Patio de las Escuelas, the University and both the new and old cathedrals.

On our final day we will drive to Madrid airport, breaking the journey at El Escoriál, a royal palace built for Philip II.

Here we see the imposing Royal Apartments with works by Titianand other Venetian masters.

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND THE PENINSULAR WAR

SEVEN NIGHT TOURS |16 OCTOBER 2018 & 24 APRIL 2019with Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan

The itinerary

We fly to Oporto and transfer to our centrally located hotel,the 4* Hotel Carris Ribeira for a two night stay.

Our first day begins in Oporto itself, spread out along the banks of the Douro. We will have a panoramic tour of the city and see the

spot where Wellington made his daring assault across the river in 1809. Later we drive to the battlefields close to the city where The Iron Duke won his unexpected victory over Marshal Soult’s occupying force. This evening we will enjoy a port tasting, followed by dinner, in the elegant surroundings of Taylor’s Port Wine lodge, overlooking the river.

Today we travel on the scenic railway which skirts the flanks of the River Douro as far as the town of Pinhão,where we spend a night

in the 4 star Vintage House Hotel. This charming property is set on the river bank in the heart of the UNESCO protected Douro Valley wine region. All the rooms here have balconies overlooking the river, there is a restaurant with a riverside terrace and an atmospheric library bar.

Leaving Pinhão, we cross into Spain and drive to the small city of Ciudad Rodrigo, a key border fortress during the Peninsular Wars

and the site of two major sieges. In 1810, Marshal Ney took the city for the French after a costly battle which delayed the French invasion of Portugal significantly, whilst in 1812 Wellington stormed the city, opening up the route into French held northern Spain for his Allied force. We stay in the historic Parador of Ciudad Rodrigo for two nights.

We will explore the open countryside today, visiting all the important sites where key battles and skirmishes took place. The

fortress of Almeida guarded one of the major roads between Spain and Portugal and was besieged by both sides, whilst the surrounding region became a crucial strategic battleground; we will visit the Côa Valley, Fuentes de Oñoro and Barba del Puerco.

DAY1

DAY2

DAY3

DAY4

DAY5

Salamanca Old Cathedral

Military historian Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan leads our tour to Spain and Portugal, which combines fascinating history with spectacular scenery and delicious food and wine. The Peninsular War began in 1808, one year after Napoleon decided to stop Britain from trading with the rest of Europe. But Napoleon had neither considered that the Portuguese would prove to be a steadfast ally of Britain nor that the Spanish would be swept up in their own revolts. The Battle of Salamanca in 1812 saw the beginning of the end for Napoleon, which led to his abdication and exile in Elba.

DAY6

DAY7

DAY8

Price from £1,998 (October, single supp. £364) or £2,239 (April, single supp. £398) per person for seven nights including flights, transfers, accommodation with breakfast, five dinners, all sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities and

the services of the Kirker Tour Lecturer, Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan.

Oporto

SHORT BREAKS TO EUROPE’S BATTLEFIELDSMany of the most important battlefields in European history can be visited on an independent tailor-made holiday and we would be

delighted to create a personal itinerary for you including the best places to stay and private guides to bring the setting to life. We have selected four of the best below, but please do speak to your independent travel agent for a quotation to visit the battlefield location of your choice.

NormandyCodenamed Operation Neptune, the D-Day landings were some of the most fiercely fought and strategically significant battles of the last century,

creating the foothold which was to lead to the eventual Allied victory over Nazi Germany. The five landing beaches are today marked with a

number of memorials and cemeteries, as well as remains of bunkers and the Mulberry harbours used to land vehicles and armour.

Château La Chenevière **** DeluxeThe 18th century Château La Chenevière is just 12km from the town of Arromanches, home to the D-Day Landing Museum and at the heart of the key landing area. It offers 29 rooms, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, a bar and a gastronomic restaurant. Bicycles are available for guests to explore the idyllic Normandy countryside, and the hotel’s grounds include 12 hectares with

delightful rose gardens.

4 nights for the price of 3 all year - price from £648,

saving £154

Includes ferry crossing

ViennaSite of the largest massed cavalry charge in history, the Battle of Vienna in 1683 relieved the Ottoman siege on the city and set the foundation for centuries of dominance by the Hapsburg rulers of the Austrian Empire. Polish king Jan III Sobieski led the assault by 18,000 horsemen on the

hills of Kahlenberg just outside the city, in the Vienna Woods.

Kaiserhof **** SuperiorA hotel of excellent quality, located in a small side street just outside the south western corner of the Ringstrasse, some ten minutes’ walk from the Opera House. It was built in 1896, and all 76 elegantly furnished rooms are spacious and attractively decorated. A delicious full Austrian buffet breakfast is served, whilst from noon the hotel’s bar/lounge offers snacks and drinks, with piano music most evenings. There is also a fitness centre, steam bath and sauna.

3 night price from £779 including return flights, a

Vienna Masterticket and a half day

private excursion to the Vienna Woods

VallettaThe Grand Harbour of Malta’s capital Valletta, has formed the dramatic backdrop to a series of major battles, from the Ottoman’s Great Siege of 1665 to Napoleon’s invasion and the WWII bombardment which

earned the island the George Cross for bravery. Visitors to Valletta today can explore the fortifications which have borne the brunt of each attack, and explore the fascinating Lascaris War Rooms from where the Allied

invasion of Italy was orchestrated.

The Phoenicia **** DeluxeSituated at the gateway to Valletta, The Phoenicia has a majestic setting overlooking Marsamxetto Harbour and reopened in Summer 2017 after a painstaking renovation. Guests are footsteps away from St. John’s Cathedral, with its Caravaggio masterpiece, the Grand Master’s Palace and the War Museum. The 136 bedrooms are pleasantly furnished and some have harbour views. The Phoenicia has a wonderful Colonial feel

about it with its large domed Palm Court lounge, fine dining restaurant, brasserie

and veranda bar overlooking the lush terraced gardens and outdoor heated swimming pool below.

3 night price from £797 per person including a 2 hour walking tour of Valetta with an expert local guide.

GallipoliOne of the most tragic campaigns of the First World War, the assault by British and ANZAC forces on the strategic Gallipoli Peninsula ended in unmitigated failure, and dealt a blow to the early career of Winston Churchill. The landing beaches can still be visited in a two day round

trip from Istanbul, during which it is also possible to visit the remains of ancient Troy.

Istanbul & GallipoliOur recommended five night holiday includes a direct flight to Istanbul, where you will stay for two nights at the 4* Hotel Sultanhan, just a stone’s throw from the magnificent Blue Mosque in the heart of the historic Sultanahmet part of the city. Explore one of the most fascinating cities in the world, including the vast Hagia Sofia and the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, before your private driver takes you to the Gallipoli peninsula, for a three night stay at the3* Hotel Kolin in Canakkale. Two full days with a driver and guide will allow you to discover the landing beaches, battlefields and memorials, as well as the site considered to be the location of the legendary city of Troy.

5 night price from £1,974 including 2 nights in Istanbul, 3 nights in Gallipoli, transfers throughout and two full days

with an expert guide and driver.

Published August 2018. Terms and conditions apply. Prices are per person based on 2 sharing.

Battle of Vienna, 1863Józef Brandt

Prices are per person and include accommodation with breakfast, Kirker Guide Notes to restaurants, museums and sightseeing and the services of the Kirker Concierge to arrange private guides and entrance tickets as required.

Aerial view showing the effectiveness of the breakwaters

Agents details: