Treasures of Northumberland

Departing our local area, we travel north to the City of York, one of the most attractive old cities in England. The city walls, themselves among York’s main attractions, enclose streets which follow their narrow and irregular medieval course, with overhanging rows of old buildings. The beautiful York Minster is the largest English medieval cathedral. We will stay here for lunch and sightseeing, and then we will continue on to our hotel, for the next 4 nights with dinner bed & breakfast.

Today we travel into Northumbria to Alnwick gardens, set within a secretive walled garden, its centrepiece the Grand Cascade, the largest water feature of its kind in the country. More than 120 separate water jets create spellbinding water displays. It is a garden for all seasons; the Tree House (one of the largest structures of its kind in the world) will provide an amazing selection of buildings linked together by suspended walkways in the sky. A place to eat, walk, rest and much more. Then on to the Castle, made famous as a setting for the Black adder series and Harry Potter Films. Home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumbria. The castle has magnificent views over the river Aln and surrounding countryside. Within the massive stone walls, the beautifully kept grounds contain fascinating exhibitions. Enter the wonderful family home; see the staterooms, refurbished in the mid 19th century by the fourth Duke, the Library also used in the Harry Potter Movie. Just a short walk away is the lovely old town of Alnwick. We return to our hotel after a great day out.

Departing after breakfast, we head north to Holy Island, also known by its Celtic name as Lindisfarne. Holy Island is accessible only at low tide, twice daily, by a three-mile long causeway, built in 1954. This was one of the principle centres of Christianity during the Dark Ages and was given to St Aidan in 635 AD by the King of Northumbria. Even more famous and influential was St Cuthbert, whose life and teaching was a magnet for pilgrims. He died in 687 AD and was initially buried in the church on the island, but later his remains were moved to Durham Cathedral. Sitting atop Beblowe Crag is the most prominent feature on the island, Holy Island Castle, built as a defence in Tudor times. Purchased in 1901 by Edward Hudson, the founder of Country Life magazine, Hudson commissioned the architect Edward Lutyens to transform the castle into a home, with much of the original fabric of the castle remaining to this day. We return via Bamburgh Castle to Newcastle and our hotel. Relax before dinner.

After breakfast and the cases have been loaded onto the coach, we say farewell to our hotel and head for home first stopping at the beautiful City of Durham. Durham is a compact city and was once described as 'a perfect little city'. Durham Castle and Cathedral are renound as one of the most popular historic sites in Europe and they are now designated a World Heritage Site. The Cathedral was founded in 1093 and is regarded as a fine example of a Norman Cathedral. The castle was formerly a Norman Fortress built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror on a hill overlooking the river Wear and was an ideal location to defend Northumbria against the Scots. On departing Durham, we continue our journey home, arriving in your local area by early evening.