Come to Britain for a taste of the fictional world of mystery, crime, and suspense in Herefordshire and Bristol. Tour the area known as "The Marches" and attend CrimeFest, the international crime fiction convention. "The Marches" is the name given to the border area of England and Wales – a land of rolling green countryside, hills, forests and pastures. Offa’s Dyke, an 8th century rampart which once defined the border, can still be traced. Ellis Peters said of the Middle Marches, "No ground in England has been more tramped over by armies, coveted by chieftains, ravaged by battles, sung by poets and celebrated in epics of legend and tragedy." The 6-day pre-CrimeFest tour is a journey through history to present day including Edward Marston’s eleventh century Domesday series, Ellis Peters’ twelfth century Brother Cadfael series, and, coming up to date, Andrew Taylor’s Lydmouth series and Phil Rickman’s Merrily Watkins series. The sense of history and the heritage of the borders are brought alive by these border country writers. The tour includes the following:

• Lodging for 6 nights in Ross-on-Wye and 5 nights in Bristol
• All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 afternoon teas, and 8 dinners
• Transport from and to Heathrow Airport, all entrance fees, and daily transfers to sites
• A tour of Hereford, where you will see the 14th century Mappa Mundi in the cathedral and meet Phil Rickman for lunch
• A tour of Shrewsbury, setting for the Brother Cadfael series; lunch with Edward Marston, who will talk about his novels set in the Welsh borders; visits to the abbey of St. Peter & St. Paul and Stokesay Castle, a fortified medieval manor house
• An exploration of the villages that inspired Phil Rickman’s Merrily Watkins series and a walking tour of Ludlow (often called the "prettiest town in England"); tea with Kate Charles in Ludlow; supper and a wine tasting at the Bodenham winery
• A visit to Monmouth, on which Andrew Taylor’s Lydmouth series is based; a drive into the Forest of Dean; lunch at the Speech House with Andrew Taylor; visits to Hellens, a 13th c. monastery, and Berkeley Castle
• A visit to Hengest Court, home of "Black" Vaughn, which inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles; a drive along the line of Offa’s Dyke to Hay on Wye for free time to explore the bookshops; tea at the Skirrid Inn
• Attendance at CrimeFest in Bristol, 19-22 May, with panel sessions, interviews of featured guest authors, book signings, a Gala dinner, and a Sunday buffet dinner
• A panoramic coach tour of Bristol and a short guided walk of the city
• A day trip to Torquay for a private tour of Greenway, Agatha Christie’s summer home, with Christie expert John Curran as our guide

Participants make their own flight arrangements.
Lodging: The cost of the trip is based on double occupancy in twin-bedded rooms in the following hotels:

• The Chase Hotel, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire (http://www.chasehotel.co.uk/)
  Note: The Chase has no lifts and no ground floor rooms. Most rooms are on the first floor, accessible by a set of shallow steps.
• Marriott Royal Hotel, Bristol (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/brsry-bristol-marriott-royal-hotel)

Approximate Cost: $3,748.00, based on double occupancy. Single supplement: $596.00.

Participants make their own flight arrangements

Program Leader: Kathy Ackley, Professor Emerita of English, taught literature and composition at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for 24 years before her retirement. She and her husband twice led UWSP’s Semester Abroad program in London and she has led ten summer Mystery and Crime Writers programs. She has made more than 30 trips to England.  

REGISTRATION, DEPOSITS, AND PAYMENTS: Formal registration should be accompanied by an initial non-refundable deposit of $200.00. Early registration is strongly advised. A payment schedule will be sent for the balance of the payment. Up to 120 days before departure, fees except the initial deposit will be refunded on withdrawal. After that, lodging and other cancellation charges will also be assessed. Price may fluctuate due to currency exchange rates but is likely to stay fixed. Trip insurance is highly recommended.

Contacts:

Kim O’Flaherty UWSP Continuing Education 324 CAC University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 346-2426 or (800) 898-9472 fax: (715) 295-8923 e-mail: koflaher@uwsp.edu

Kathy Ackley 6125 E. Old Trail Road Columbia City, IN 46725 (260) 244-4043 e-mail: kackley@kconline.com www.britishmysterytrips.com

For more information on the UWSP Continuing Education Program go to http://www.uwsp.edu/conted

To make your deposit for UWSP Mystery Writers: The Marches & Bristol 2011, send your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address along with a check for $200 (payable to UWSP Continuing Education) to:

Kim O'Flaherty
UWSP Continuing Education
324 CAC
UWSP
Stevens Point, WI 54481

A complete registration form will be sent to you upon receipt of your deposit.