The Trip Itinerary

The Modern Canterbury Tales

M Term 2011

An historical ramble through Jolly Olde England with Chaucer as tour guide! This course will integrate the history of the Middle Ages with creative writing and the personal experience of the Pilgrim’s Trail. The course will travel to London for four nights with visits to the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, the docks of Greenwich, the Royal Observatory and the National Gallery. While in London the students will also be introduced to the world of Chaucer and Medieval London. The group will then trek to Canterbury, the holiest pilgrimage site in Britain along The Pilgrim’s Trail, crossing the North Downs Way. This walk is from historic Rochester Cathedral (only 45 minutes by train from London) to the magnificent walled city and Cathedral of Canterbury. A large part of this walk takes the route used by pilgrims in the Middle Ages. The tour follows Kent's rural highways and by-ways, enabling the walker to discover the hidden secrets of this ancient county. Throughout the trip the students will read Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and also author their own story as a modern day pilgrim.

Itinerary

Monday February 28

On campus at Ross School. Students will be introduced to the world of Chaucer, portions of the Canterbury Tales, and prepare for the trip to England. We will discuss the writing process and begin character development for each student’s story.

Depart for JFK after 3:00.

JFK Virgin Atlantic VS 46 Dep. 7:30 pm Arr. London Heathrow (LHR) 7:50 am.

Heathrow Express to Paddington Station

London Underground to Swiss Cottage

Arr. Palmers Lodge 40 College Crescent Swiss Cottage London NW3 5LB

00 44 (0) 207 483 8470

Tuesday March 1- Sunday March 6 London Activities include the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster, British Museum, National Gallery, possible trips to Greenwich and/or Windsor, the Globe Theater, etc.

Sunday March 6 NationalRail Train to Rochester mid-afternoon meet Derek Bright of Walk Awhile Ltd., Montgreenan, St Catherine's Drive, Faversham, Kent ME13 8QL

Day 1 Sun 6th March - Walk Awhile to meet Ross School group at Rochester Railway Station. Taken to accommodation at The George Hotel (twin / triple and single rooms -sharing ensuite room) in the Victorian quarter of Rochester, within a short walk of the Castle and Cathedral and old High Street with good choice of restaurants and tea-rooms. The group will receive a full briefing on the route with maps and guidebooks as well as a discussion about the historical sites along the route. This takes just over one hour going through route with your Tracker who will provide plenty of literature to read each evening about what to see along the way. In the evening there will be time to explore medieval Rochester with its good choice of restaurants surrounding the castle grounds. Rochester has many connections with Charles Dickens and one can visit his summer house in Rochester High Street and Miss Havershams House from Great Expectations

Day 2 Mon 7th March - Met by Tracker (self-led tours) and provided with packed lunches using local produce. Walk along the Pilgrim’s Way to the ancient burial megaliths at Kits Coty. Afternoon walk along North Downs ridge to ruins of Thurnham Castle, and arrive at Inn for evenings accommodation. Black Horse 17th century Inn foot of Turnham castle (twin rooms sharing ensuite) (13 miles)

Day 3 Tues 8th March - Met by Tracker in morning and walk to Leeds Castle (optional 11 mile day or 9 miles along North Downs Way without visiting Leeds Castle). The morning can be spent exploring Leeds Castle, which is considered to be the most beautiful castles in England, built by Henry I, was the Palace of Henry VIII and home to the Queens of England for 300 years. Afternoon walk along ancient trackway to the medieval village of Lenham - accommodation in Dog and Bear timber framed Inn in village square (twin roomssharing en-suite). (11 miles)

Day 4 Weds 9th March - Met by tracker and shown the Lenham tithe barn. Walk along ancient trackway to the market town of Wye. Accommodation in old coaching Inn at Wye. 5 boys 1 teacher in Kings Head Coaching Inn in centre of old Market Town and 11 girls 1 teacher in New Flying Horse. The two Inns are 300 metres apart in the heart of Wye. (10 miles).

Day 5 Thursday 10th March- Met by Tracker and walk across Soakham Downs following Pilgrims’ Way. Visit Boughton Aluph church and Pilgrims Porch where Pilgrims met before ascending up the old drovers trail into King Wood. Follow Pilgrims Way through Kings Wood and walk through the grounds of Godmersham Park where Jane Austen kept house for her brother and was inspirational for Mansfield Park. Visit the medieval village of Chilham and its square that is often used for filming. After lunch follow Pilgrims Way to Canterbury visiting Bigbury Iron Age camp where Julius Caesar defeated the British tribes in 54 BC and then returned to Rome - the Romans did not to return to Britain for 100 years. Visit the village of Harbledown referred to by Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales / Manciples Tale and then go to the Black Princes Well where Henry II commenced his penitent walk for his role in the death of Thomas Becket. Enter Canterbury through city walls and West Gate and stay in medieval Guest House in one of the old Pilgrims Lanes leading to the Cathedral. (14 miles) Cathedral Gate Hotel timber framed medieval house in heart of old Canterbury twin rooms sharing

Day 6 Friday 11th March Rest Day for visiting Canterbury. Explore Canterbury and St Martins, England's first Christian Church established by Queen Bertha and St Augustine in AD 597. Visit St Augustine's Abbey and then onto Canterbury Cathedral. Other places to visit include the Canterbury Tales Exhibition, the Roman floor and walking round the medieval walls of the cathedral city. Cathedral Gate Hotel timber framed

medieval house in heart of old Canterbury twin rooms sharing. (Rest day)

Day 7 – Saturday 12th March Transport by coach to Folkestone and mornings walk along the White Cliffs of Dover and the chance to spend the afternoon at Dover Castle and the secret underground tunnels used as Sir Winston Churchill’s WWII HQ. Stay in Churchill Guest House at foot of Castle Hill Dover

Day 8- Sunday 13th March Follow Saxon Shore Way along the White Cliffs Country Trail and visit the St Margaret's light house and then onto the smuggling town of Deal passing Henry VIII's castle at Deal. (10 miles). Stay at the Kings Head Inn overlooking beach at Deal

Day 9 – Monday 14th March. Continue along Saxon Shore Way Trail to the Cinque Port of Sandwich passing Walmer Castle and visit Richborough Castle, the Roman Gateway to England. Met in afternoon by a Walk and take train back to Canterbury for final night in Canterbury (7 miles ) Cathedral Gate Hotel timber framed medieval house in heart of old Canterbury twin rooms sharing.

Day 10 – Tuesday 15th March. Rest day in Canterbury

Day 11 – Wednesday 16th March coach to Heathrow in morning.

London Heathrow (LHR) Virgin Atlantic VS 45 Dep. 12:00 pm Arr. JFK 4:05 pm.