A passage to the famous setting of Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Highclere Castle
This might be the most recognized castle in England, thanks to the Masterpiece series, Downton Abbey.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
To the Manor Born tour participants with WLIW staff in front of Highclere Castle for a private visit.
Among the WLIW staff on the tour, led by Transcendent Travel, are Vice President Diane Masciale, journalist Jim Paymar, host of Long Island Business Report; Alexandra Blair, Director of Leadership Giving and Individual Giving, and Kate Legg, Senior Specialist, External Relations.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
WLIW Vice President Diane Masciale in front of the Highclere Castle entrance
Follow Diane on the To the Manor Born tour via her Twitter handle @DianeMasciale and the hashtag #WLIWTravel on Twitter and Instagram.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Interior of Highclere Castle
The interior of the castle is stunning. The height of this Gothic-style saloon is not conveyed as clearly as the drama in Downton Abbey episodes.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
The saloon in Highclere Castle
WLIW’s Alexandra Blair, seated on couch at right, enjoys the saloon with tour participants, under the watch of oil paintings of ancestral Earls of Carnarvon.
Private Luncheon at Highclere Castle
Not only did Transcendent Travel schedule WLIW to visit the castle on a day it was closed to the public, but it also arranged for a private luncheon.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Highclere Castle's special welcome to the private luncheon for To the Manor Born.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Highclere Castle luncheon
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Highclere Castle luncheon
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Andrew Lannerd of Transcendent Travel welcomes the To the Manor Born tour participants to HighClere's dining room.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Staff of WLIW on the grounds of Highclere Castle
(left to right): Kate Legg, Senior Specialist, External Relations; Vice President Diane Masciale; Alexandra Blair, Director of Leadership Giving and Individual Giving.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath
Baker Richard Bertinet and his staff taught us his fine baking recipes and techniques.
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Baking class at The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath
Baking class at The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath
Baker Richard Bertinet and WLIW Vice President Diane Masciale
The baking class took place in the evening, so the tour shared some wine as well as bread!
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Scones with clotted sweet cream and sauce
Please recreate this when you come home!
Photo courtesy Transcendent Travel
Day 2 of the To the Manor Born tour with WLIW was a busy one! After breakfast at The Castle Hotel in Windsor, the coach rolled off for a one-hour journey to Highclere Castle near Newbury. Yes, that castle, the one famous for serving as the setting for six seasons of Downton Abbey on Masterpiece! The visit was extra special because the castle was closed to the public except for our tour group, who also enjoyed a private luncheon in the dining room.
As if that weren’t enough excitement, the tour continued to the city of Bath, a little over an hour’s journey further westward. Hungry for more adventure, the group was treated to baking lessons by chef Richard Bertinet. He trained as a baker in his native Brittany in France and operates Bertinet Kitchen in Bath. It was a relaxed, fun experience, with none of the pressure of The Great British Baking Show (WLIW21 Passport members can stream the whole new fifth season starting June 22!). See more photos from our time in Bath.
WLIW Vice President Diane Masciale is tracking the trip on Twitter with @dianemasciale.
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