This tour is based around the anniversary celebrations of the two main battles of the first French invasion in 1808, Roliça and Vimeiro. We will be especially following the brave exploits of the 29th Foot (Royal Worcestershire) and the 50th Foot (The Queen’s Own).

Roliça, during the first campaign in 1808, was the first of many battles fought and won by Wellesley in this and later campaigns of the Peninsular War. It was made famous by Colonel George Lake’s spontaneous action of charging up a gully in the hills behind Columbeira that led to de Laborde’s retreat. We visit the monument at the very spot where he fell and then move on to Vimeiro where the subsequent victory led to the end of the first of the three invasions of Portugal by the French. It was at Vimeiro that Wellesley first proved that the line displacement of his troops was superior to the French columns and was also the first time that shrapnel was used.

At Bussaco, we walk the ridge and visit Masséna’s and Wellington’s Command Posts, the Military Museum and the Memorial. We also visit the famous Buçaco Palace Hotel next to the monastery where Wellington slept the night. On our way north we follow Masséna’s retreat from the Lines in 1811 and visit the sites where Wellington caught Ney's rearguard at Pombal and Redinha. At the rout at the bridge at Foz do Arouce, many French drowned crossing the river Ceira.

To quote the present Duke of Wellington: ‘The outcome of the spectacular nature of this defeat at the Lines of Torres Vedras has never been fully appreciated by military historians’. This is what we aim to show you during the tour of the Lines. We can demonstrate not only their strategic importance, but also how Wellington and his chief engineer, Colonel Richard Fletcher, managed to make use of the natural layout of the hills north of Lisbon to construct an impregnable line of defence. We visit several of the 152 forts and redoubts that constitute this amazing and vast engineering works that was carried by a small group of engineers and the local population in a remarkably short period of time.

Day 1, Tuesday, August 12.
Arrival in Lisbon and transfer to the Hotel Sana Malhoa.
Day 2, Wednesday, August 13.
We start our tour with a visit to the Lines of Torres Vedras, starting at the museum in Torres Vedras. We then visit the restored Fort St Vincent and drive up the ridge to visit forts 128 & 129 on the 1st Line. We then drive to Mt Socorro, the major signalling station, followed by Wellington’s headquarters at Pero Negro as well as Beresford’s headquarters at Casal Cochim. After lunch we visit the largest of the forts at the Grand Redoubt, move on to Forts 40, 41 & 42, above the river Tejo and walk up to Forts 5 & 120, where the famous warning shot was fired at Masséna. Return to Lisbon.
Day 3, Thursday, August 14.
Moving north we follow Masséna’s retreat in 1811 and visit the sites of the engagements at Pombal, Redinha, Condeixa and Foz do Arouce. Having booked into the Grand Hotel de Luso that evening we have the option to have dinner at the Palace Hotel in Bussaco which has an amazing set of tile panels depicting the battle.
Day 4, Friday, August 15.
This day is spent visiting the battlefield site of Bussaco, where we see the ridge from Masséna’s perspective and also from Wellington’s lookout. We visit the site where General Crauford, supported by the Portuguese, repulsed a French attack and then the Museum. In the afternoon we drive out to Lavos (Figueira da Foz) on the journey down south to see where Wellesley landed in 1808. We then book into a hotel near Obidos.
Day 5, Saturday, August 16.
We visit the site of the first skirmish of the Peninsular War at Brilos. At Roliça we visit the site of the initial action and pull back to the gullies at Columbeira and visit Col Lake’s Monument. We attend the anniversary celebrations and view the battlefield re-enactment. In the afternoon we walk round the historic walled town of Obidos. At night we join in a candlelit procession on the Columbeira Heights. Night near Obidos.
Day 6, Sunday, August 17.
At Vimeiro, we first visit the two ports where British troops landed and then visit the two sites of the battle in the village centre and on the ridge of Ventosa. We participate in the anniversary ceremony which will include a re-enactment and return to Lisbon in time for afternoon flights or optional sightseeing.