Based
in the town of Alnmouth, we tour Northumbria - that ancient kingdom
stretching north to the Scottish border. Our tour
brings alive thousands of years of history in countryside of wild hills and stunning coastline
dotted with castles. We see Hadrian's Wall which was built by the Romans
to separate Britain from Scotland,
the Holy Isle monastery at Lindisfarne built in 635 where Christianity first arrived
and St Cuthbert, patron saint of Northumbria, was abbot. We
visit mighty Bamburgh Castle which was the model for
Shakespearian drama and whose formidable stone walls have seen
royal rebellion, spellbinding legends, millionaire benefactors
and ghosts galore.
Itinerary: The
following are just some of the highlights. Our back-roads
touring will include lovely scenery, visits to interesting
villages and many historic sites.
Saturday : Arrive at the hotel in Alnmouth in time for afternoon
tea. Alnmouth is a quiet harbour
village in an outstanding area of natural beauty and with
magnificent sea-views.
Sunday: We start the week with a visit to the 14th Century
Preston Tower. Built in 1392, when warfare between Scotland and
England was endemic, the tower has rooms furnished as they might
have been in the 14th century and there are fascinating displays
about the life of the Border Country. We continue along the
Northumberland coast to the village of Bamburgh and the Bamburgh
Sand Dunes to an imposing castle standing on a rocky outcrop.
This castle has been described as the finest in England.
Our
last stop for the day is Craster, home of the famous kippers and
here we have a chance to stroll along the seashore before
heading home for afternoon tea.
Monday: The National Park Visitor Centre at Ingram is set
beside the river in the Breamish Valley, with its high rolling
hills and ancient monuments. On the hills there are many remains
from the Neolithic and Bronze Age - hillforts, farmsteads,
field systems as well as deserted medieval villages. On our explorations we’ll encounter isolated farming
communities and villages such as Alwinton deep in the Cheviot
Hills where ancient settlements go back to the Iron Age.
Tuesday: Today is a long day but rewarding as we head west
to the World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s
Wall - the great wall that was once the boundary of the Roman
Empire. After visiting the windswept landscape and the wall we
go to Vindolanda, site of a Roman fort with its museum of Roman
finds. At Chesters we view the best preserved Roman Cavalry Fort
in Britain with its famous Bath House. There will be a gentle stroll along a section of the path
alongside Hadrian's Wall.
On our return we stop at the historic village of Corbridge
and at Hexham to visit the abbey where there has been a church
for 1300 years. The original church was constructed using Roman
ruins.
Wednesday: Free day to
explore the seaside town of Alnmouth including its castle. An
optional excursion to Edinburgh by train can be arranged for those who
feel energetic.
Thursday: Our first stop this morning is
Warkworth where there is an interesting castle whose occupants
in the past inspired several Shakespearian characters. We
continue to Brinkburn Priory, a beautiful 12th-century church picturesquely
set by a bend in the River Coquet and a perfect setting for a
picnic. In the afternoon we continue to Wallington, a
magnificent mansion set in extensive gardens and parkland.
Treasures of the interior include huge Pre-Raphaelite paintings
depicting the history of Northumbria, an intriguing
Cabinet of Curiosities and collection of dolls' houses. Outside
there are fabulous naturalistic gardens in the style of
'Capability' Brown, stone
griffin heads on the lawn and an enchanting hidden garden that
offers a variety of walks.
Friday: In the morning we cross over to
the mysterious Holy Isle of Lindisfarne where there are many
myths and legends about St Aidan and St Cuthbert who brought
literacy from Ireland. In the early 700s the famous illuminated
manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels was made probably at
Lindisfarne. Today, the island is accessible over a causeway at low tide
only and we have a short stroll around Holy Isle to see some
spectacular scenery and wildlife and perhaps sample Lindisfarne
"Mead". Attractions on the island includes the Priory and the Heritage
Centre with an electronic version of the famous Gospels.
In the afternoon we travel to a once battle-torn region - the
English border with Scotland. We'll hear about some of the
border battles including Flodden as well as enjoying the charm
and beauty of the villages of Ford where there may be the
opportunity to see the fascinating paintings of Lady Waterford.
Our last stop is Etal with its castle before heading back to
Alnmouth for our final dinner.
Saturday: Tour ends after breakfast.
Cost per person: (based on double occupancy) 729 GBP
(Great Britain pounds)
Sole occupancy supplement: 257 GBP
A few small single rooms are sometimes available with a
supplement of 49 GBP.
Extra charges for admissions to museums approximately 50 GBP
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