Exploring Hadrian's Wall Traveller Reviews

Absolutely wonderful! Having visited Hadrian's Wall many years ago (as an archaeology student), I was delighted to see the new tourist centers and to learn the new interpretations. The folks at Peter Sommer Travels Ltd., knowing this, made a point of indicating those sites that would be of most interest for me (and had terrific recommendations for dining and drinking out). I'd always wanted to take my husband to see the Wall, and this was the perfect blend of Romano-Brisitsh history, archaeology, and British history. Yay!

Peter Sommer Travels Ltd. always does their best (and succeeds!) at pointing out things of interest to their diverse clientele. They also work hard to make sure everyone is comfortable. We've been on two other trips with this company before; the first was our introduction to Turkey, which was SPLENDID (and inspired my writing) and the second was to Wessex, which was also wonderful (I mean, c'mon--Stonehenge at dawn? Whoa!), and gave me even more fodder for my writing. Peter and his fellow guides are so well-versed in their history and archaeology and the local culture. It is always a treat to travel with them, and I heartily recommend their trips.

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Peter Sommer Travels provided an experience that could not be bettered on this trip. The group was small enough to be very personalized, and great care had been taken in arranging every detail. Our tour guide was one of the best I've had on any tour, not only extremely knowledgeable but genuinely enthusiastic and able to convey that enthusiasm to others. Each day was well planned, and I felt we saw and learned about all the key sites associated with Hadrian's Wall. There were no formal lectures, but detailed information was presented at each site where it was easier to put it in context. Obviously this is an active trip, but I appreciated the tour manager's ability to ensure an excellent experience for a few on the tour (myself included) who were less physically able. For example, rather than undertaking a strenuous morning walk in the rain, we were provided an alternative and easier morning by van and gentler walk. Much thought also went into ensuring a variety of dining experiences, including some great local pubs. One had the sense that supporting the local community is important to Peter Sommer Travels. I'd looked for the "right" tour for this particular trip for several years and I am very happy with what Peter Sommer Travels provided. I hope to travel with them again in future. All the details were managed so smoothly that we were able to fully concentrate on the tour and immerse ourselves in the Hadrian's Wall experience.

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The tour included visiting important Roman British sites both on Hadrian's Wall and nearby as well as later historical sites in the area that were the successors to Roman rule. We hiked along a couple of sections of Hadrian's Wall which was great because it really put you in the shoes of Romans and local peoples back then and situated the history and the architecture in the landscape. Plus it was very pretty country to walk through. We had lovely lunches and dinners at local pubs, excellent beers, and we stayed at a former Castle. The group was a very manageable size and easy to travel with and fun to interact with. The days were very well planned and there was always a plan B for folks that might feel a walk would be too strenuous. I highly recommend this tour.

Peter Sommer Travels is top notch, I've traveled with other excellent tour operators and Peter Sommer Travels meets or exceed them in quality, service and content. Peter himself was our tour coordinator and he made sure everyone was very well taken care of, dealing with any issues seamlessly and making the whole tour feel effortless and stress free. Paul Beston was the expert tour guide and his fantastic story telling and encyclopedic knowledge of the sites and history across many hundreds of years is just amazing.

I chose a Peter Sommer Travel tour because I’ve always been drawn to learning about archaeology and history in England. It was through a random web search that I discovered their “Exploring Hadrian’s Wall” tour. I honestly cannot think of any way that it could have been better! This was the first time I’d tried an organized tour. Everything about it was seamlessly positive. Having Peter himself as co-leader was a delightful bonus. Paul was an inexhaustible source of knowledge and so patient with so many questions. What I liked most about this tour was the perfect blend of historical information/experience and the relaxing times at the many local pubs and restaurants. Peter’s logistic skills are exceptional. I appreciated the.fact that there was always flexibility built in to the tour so that you had options if something like a challenging hike might be too challenging. Our minibus driver Dave was another delight. Everything about this tour was in balance. Just the right blend of learning, local experiences, and relaxed guidance from the leaders. I highly recommend Peter Sommer Travels.

Both Peter and Paul did an excellent job. They were knowledgeable, flexible, patient, and helpful. The group atmosphere was fun and relaxed while still educational because of their personalities.

If someone had told me that climbing and sliding and crawling up and down hills and vales along the remaining stones of Hadrian's Wall on a rainy, misty morning would be one of my most memorable life experiences, I would have thought them crazy. But there I was, walking through history with each step. All the sites we visited on this tour, from Roman camps to medieval castles to monastic settlements, were brought to life by Paul, our guide, with his vast knowledge. And what a thrill to observe archaeological excavations in process. Our accommodation was first class, each meal provided us excellent food in an interesting location and the van trips took us through green countryside and old villages, all of importance within the context of understanding the long history of the area. This was truly one of the best travel experiences I have had in many years.

The tour developed a theme of discovery and preservation by highlighting not only the wall and its remains but the efforts of later visionaries, such as Armstrong, to preserve it. The commentary provided throughout by our guide was almost encyclopedic in nature and each site was carefully explained in detail. All details of the trip appeared to proceed smoothly and without problems, which is the mark of very carefully planning and excellent day by day management. Peter Sommer Travels is one of the best in the business in my opinion.

I was drawn into and explored (on wheels and on foot) a wonderful landscape I’d seen only in books and my imagination. In reality the landscape told many tales, signs of which are widespread but whose significance would have remained hidden had our guide, Paul Beston, not pointed out so much detail, explained it, put it in its local historical context and then into the broader context of the Roman and, later, Medieval world. The experience was delightfully enlightening and considerably deepened my word view.

Peter Sommer was the finest of hosts. He welcomed his guests, thoughtfully anticipated individual needs and abilities and made contingency plans to accomodate them, and he was interested in guests’ perspectives and feedback. The tour ran very smoothly because of his earlier research and because of his thoughtful anticipation of guests’ needs and wants. Peter also chose an excellent guide, Paul Beston, with whom he worked to ensure a great experience for guests.

The tour explores the highlights of Hadrian's Wall, how it was preserved, and other aspects of the history of the border country. Plus Bamburgh Castle! Day hikes in beautiful countryside with an expert historian, great lodging and wonderful food (and beer)! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in Roman or British history, or just an interest in spending a week in this beautiful part of England.

Peter Sommer Travels is a small company specializing in small-group cultural tours. This tour seemed very well planned; the logistics worked well, and the guide really was an expert in his field. An advantage of small-group tours of this nature is that the participants self-select by interest. It was a very enjoyable group to spend a week with.

This was an extremely well organized tour of Hadrian's Wall, its forts and related museums, and of the later cultural history of the Borders. The tour was comprehensive but conducted at a relaxed pace that allowed us to appreciate the spectacular landscapes and historic settings of northern England. The unique accommodations at our castle hotel were very comfortable and we particularly appreciated the convenience of staying there for the entire tour. The pubs and inns chosen for our dining venues were also superb. A great deal of our enjoyment of this tour must be attributed to the congenial company of the expert guide (Paul Beston) and the tour manager (Peter Sommer) who generously shared with us their passion for the Wall country. As someone who’s always wanted to see the Wall, I can’t imagine a better experience and it was worth waiting many years to do this tour with Paul and Peter.

Exploring Hadrian’s Wall was our third tour with Peter Sommer Travels and again it was a wonderful experience. Their small group tours are led by extremely knowledgeable guides and impeccably organized by their equally congenial tour managers. Accommodations are very comfortable, often unique, and the dining venues always interesting, with excellent food and beverages. When you travel with the Peter Sommer company, you feel part of a family in which the office manager, the expert guides, the tour managers, and Peter Sommer himself work together to ensure your comfort and enjoyment and to provide you with the best possible travel experience. Peter Sommer Travels is by far the best tour company we’ve travelled with and we give them our highest recommendation.

Our holiday consisted of a Peter Sommer walking tour in northern England along Hadrian's Wall and through the lovely estates, towns and countryside in the area. This was a tour replete with historical and archaeological perspectives on the Romans in Britain, the Border Reivers and the more recent Romantic period. The hikes and walks through the archaeological sites and around the spectacular estates and castles of the area were just enough to help work off some of the extra calories from the excellent food and beverages provided during the tour. The weather was excellent....warm and sunny every day. The pace of the tour was relaxed and the accommodations (at Langley Castle) were outstanding. Our expert guide, Paul Beston, had an incredible breadth of historical and archaeological knowledge and was very congenial and remarkably capable of making the story of this part of England's history both colourful and coherent. Our Tour Organizer, Peter Sommer, as well as being a very kind and considerate host for the tour, did an outstanding job of scheduling the various archaeological site visits, museum visits and estate visits. Also very much appreciated were the unique and interesting drinking and dining venues provided during the tour. All in all, the holiday couldn't have been better.

We have travelled with many tour operators over many years and have now travelled on three different Peter Sommer tours---one in Crete and two in England. All three of these Peter Sommer tours have been outstanding, head and shoulders above any of other tours from other companies. The attention to detail and the accommodation of the guests has been superb in all Peter Sommer tours. The expert guides have always been remarkably well informed about their subject, they have always been congenial and have always gone out of their way to make the trip enjoyable and informative. I cannot recommend Peter Sommer Tours highly enough.

An incredible tour of Hadrian Wall with outstanding accommodation and visits to local pubs for a terrific holiday.

Nothing was too much trouble and was presented in a very friendly manner.