Event Description 4 star Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel
28 June -2 July 2009
5 days £295 (non-members £319)
single supplement £80
includes
•
air-conditioned executive coach travel
•
four nights dinner, bed and breakfast
•
visit to Keswick and a cruise on Lake Ullswater
•
excursion to Holy Island, Seahouses/Bamburgh
•
afternoon excursion to Hexham
•
excursion to Alnwick
•
visit to Bowness on Windermere and Kendal
•
services of a Group Choice Tour Manager
The 4 star Gosforth Park Hotel is set in over 12 acres of woodlands 5 miles north of Newcastle. All rooms are en-suite with satellite TV,
telephone, hairdryer, tea/coffee making facilities, iron/ironing board, trouser press and mini-bar. There is a restaurant, bar and indoor
leisure facility including pool, spa bath, steam room, sauna, gym, outdoor tennis court and fitness trail.
SUNDAY
We depart Chester at 8.30am and travel to Keswick, arriving by 11am. In the Market Square is the Moot Hall which contains the Tourist
Information Centre on the ground floor and an art gallery above, there is a Cars of the Stars museum (admission approx £5), Keswick
Mining Museum (admission approx £4) and parks, shops and cafes. At around 1.15pm we travel to Glenridding from where we take the
Ullswater steamer for a one hour cruise to Pooley Bridge which takes in the entire length of the lake. We rejoin the coach at Pooley Bridge
at around 3.10pm and continue to our hotel, arriving by 5pm.
MONDAY
We depart at 9am and expect to arrive in Seahouses by 10.15am. From here you can join a special Grey Seal cruise around the Farne
Islands (departing at 10.30am, approx £11, lasts 90 minutes). For those who prefer dry land, after dropping-off at Seahouses we continue
the short distance to Bamburgh, dominated by its magnificent castle (admission and tour approx £5.50). St Aidan’s Church is one of the
finest in Northumberland with a memorial to local heroine Grace Darling. We depart Seahouses at 12.15pm, Bamburgh at 12.30pm and
travel to Holy Island where attractions include Lindisfarne Castle (NT members free or approx £6 admission), Lindisfarne Priory (small
admission charge) and the Heritage Centre where there is an electronic version of the famous Lindisfarne Gospels (small admission charge).
At 4pm we leave Holy Island and should arrive at our hotel by 5.30pm.
TUESDAY
We depart at 12 noon and travel the short distance to Hexham, arriving just after 12.30pm. This attractive old market town is above the
River Tyne. There are old houses around the market square and near the abbey, including the Moot Hall and the 14th century Manor Office
which used to be the town jail and now houses the Border Country Museum. Hexham Abbey was first built in 648 by St Wilfrid, a crypt
th th
remains; the present abbey is 12century with a 15century hall used as a council chamber until 1838. Alternatively there will be the
opportunity of visiting Chester’s Fort on Hadrian’s Wall (small admission charge) a short distance from Hexham. We return to our hotel by
4.15pm.
WEDNESDAY
After breakfast, we depart at 10am and travel to the historic market town of Alnwick, arriving around 10.45am.
There is much to enjoy at Alnwick Gardens (group admission approx £6.50) including a unique water feature,
Ornamental Garden, Rose Garden, woodland walks, Serpent Garden, Poison Garden, Labyrinth and one of the
world’s largest tree houses. Alnwick Castle (admission approx £8) is described as the “Windsor of the North”
and is occupied by the Duke of Northumberland. The state rooms contain beautiful furniture, paintings and
porcelain. In the nearby town the Bailiffgate Museum depicts the history of the region through traditional
displays and exhibits. There are several shops including one of the largest second-hand bookshops in the
country. We leave at 3.30pm and expect to be back at our hotel around 4.15pm.
THURSDAY
After checking out we depart at 10am and travel to Bowness-on-Windermere, arriving just after noon. Attractions include the World of
Beatrix Potter and plenty of shops and cafes. After lunch we travel the short distance to the market town of Kendal. The 13th century Parish
Church is one of the largest churches in England; nearby is Abbot Hall Art Gallery and Museum and the Museum of Lakeland Life (admission
charges apply). The Quaker Tapestry is housed by the River Kent at the Friends Meeting House, close to the town centre (admission approx
£5). We drop off near to the new K Village outlet with Clarks factory shop, Denby and others which is now open in the centre of Kendal. At
4.30pm we head for home and expect to arrive in Chester by 6.30pm.
Other pick-up/return places can be arranged if enough peple interested.
£25 NON-RETURNABLE DEPOSIT REQUIRED WHEN BOOKING - BALANCE PAYABLE 1ST MAY.
| |
