Day 1: Following your collection by our door to door taxi service you will join our luxury tour coach as we head north to Northumbria and our hotel for the next 4 nights, the 3 star White Swan in Alnwick, on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2: Today we enjoy time in our base of Alnwick. We include a visit to the delightful 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.
After your visit to the gardens, why not head to Alnwick Castle (entry not included), explore the cobbled streets near Bondgate Tower, visit the famous Barter Books, or maybe head into Bailiffgate Museum (entry not included).
Day 3: Today we journey through beautiful countryside to the capital of Coquetdale, Rothbury. This traditional market town is a peaceful and picturesque haven, which is built of the same mellow sandstone as the rolling hills that surround it. Enjoy the scenery with the many walking routes around the town, and take in the beautiful River Coquet meandering through the centre. You can also relax at the many shops, pubs, and tea rooms on Rothbury’s bustling high street.
From here we head for magnificent Cragside House, an impressive Victorian building described as ‘a palace of the modern magician’. Rising from an outcrop of rocks and surrounded by towering trees, Cragside is a masterpiece of late nineteenth century architecture. A dynamic and visionary couple, the first Lord and Lady Armstrong commissioned era-defining architect Richard Norman Shaw to create their dream home. Lord Armstrong, inventor and industrialist, made Cragside the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectric power.
Alongside the fascinating house, the gardens are spectacular, with towering conifers, rocky crags, waterfalls and more.
Day 4: Today’s excursion takes us across the causeway to Holy Island and the mysterious Lindisfarne (Holy Island), the birthplace of British Christianity. Holy Island is a pint-sized island that holds pubs and cafés a-plenty, Lindisfarne Castle and ancient Lindisfarne Priory (attractions today are subject to individual choice and payment). Words cannot describe the magic of The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, particularly as you cross the causeway, admiring staggering views as you go, and feel as though you are entering a secret world as you approach the island.
NOTE: The crossing of the causeway to Holy Island is governed by tide times. It may be necessary to amend this excursion.
Later, we visit Bamburgh for free time. As the royal capital of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, spell-binding Bamburgh holds a history worth discovering. All the while, awe-inspiring Bamburgh Castle will be your backdrop, and you can wander down the main street, past Bamburgh's cafes and towards the village’s landmark red phone box for an especially staggering and scenic view.
Day 5: Sadly this morning it’s time to bid farewell to our hotel and head back to Norfolk making suitable stops en route. Upon arrival our taxi service will be waiting to return you home.
Holiday Information:
4 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (Dinner will be table service)
Price: £825pp
Single Supplement: £142 (Will be allocated a twin or double room for sole occupancy, depending on availability)
Tour Reference: AWE5109
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure