THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH EAST

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Selected departure dates throughout 2008 & 2009
From 5 day durations
Return executive coach
From 4 nights half board at a 3 star hotel in the Newcastle area
FREE INSURANCE on selected dates

EXCURSION OPTIONS

Alnwick Castle & Gardens
Bamburgh Castle
Included visit to Lindisfarne (Holy Isle)
Beamish Open Air Museum
James Cook Country
Barbara Cartland Country
Housteads Roman Fort
Included guided tour of Newcastle & Durham
city of Bishops
Castle Howard
York
Cragside House
Escombe Saxon Church
Crook Hall

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1 - Departing from the Kent area this morning you travel north stopping en route @ Newstead Abbey (example - other venues will be offered depending on your departure point) where you can purchase lunch. You will have a couple of hours at your leisure here before we continue northwards arriving at the hotel later in the day in time to freshen up before dinner.

Day 2 - Today there is not too much travelling as we first visit the city of Bishops, Durham. Here you will be given a guided tour of the city after which there will be some free time to purchase lunch locally before we continue on to Beamish, Britain’s favourite ‘open air museum’. This museum is set in over 300 hundred acres of beautiful countryside which vividly recreates life in the North of England in the early 18 and 1900’s. This attraction demonstrates the recent history of the region in a ’living’ way and provides entertainment and education for all ages and interests The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore this living museum before we return to the hotel later in the day to freshen up before dinner.

Day 3 - Today your included full day excursion includes Castle Howard, a stunning privately owned house with spectacular gardens  where you will have a couple of hours at your leisure to explore this magnificent stately home. We then continue into the centre of York where having had time for lunch and some sightseeing, you will board a York Cruise for your 1 hour river cruise with afternoon cream tea served on board. We will return to the hotel later in the day for dinner.

Day 4 - Today we travel north into Northumbria where we have included a visit to the famous Alnwick Castle and Gardens. You will have ample time to discover the delights of this magnificent and historic place. The Duchess of Northumberland's vision was to create a beautiful public space accessible to everyone. A garden which is a place of contemplation, a place of fun, a place of inspiration and education. Adrian Fisher the world's leading maze designer, Caroline Holmes a renowned figure in the horticultural world and William Pye a celebrated water sculptor combined their talents to create stunning features within the Garden. You can enjoy lunch at Alnwick Castle (payable locally) which is also known as the 'Windsor of the North'. The foreboding medieval castle with stunning State Rooms containing fine furniture and paintings by Canaletto, Van Dyck and Titian and has been owned by the same family for nearly 700 years. It offers much to the visitor, not just in the beauty and history of the castle but in the garden project, the country walks in wonderful scenery, restaurant, shop, museums and a host of other entertainments. The castle was also fortunate and privileged in being a location for the Harry Potter films the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. As we head south we will make a stop at Cragside Gardens and Estate, a National Trust property, which was a creation of Victorian inventor and landscape genius Lord Armstrong and is a garden of breathtaking drama whatever the season. Entrance is free for card carrying NT members - non members will have to pay entry locally at approx £ 6.50pp. From here we then continue back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 5 - Departing the hotel after breakfast we travel south stopping at the Freeport discount shopping outlet near Castleford (other venues offered) where you can also purchase lunch before continuing the journey south making comfort stops as required en route.

PRICE & SUPPLEMENTS

Price on application
Single room supplements & minimum numbers will apply

HOW TO BOOK

Choose your departure date
For your instant quote / more information:
Call Simply Groups on 01943 605999 or
click here to use our online enquiry form.

WE WILL DO THE REST