THE BEST OF NORTHUMBRIA

• Personalised touring experience in small groups of no more than 16 guests
• Slow pace to relax and experience the locations visited
• Cultural & curiosity-led tours immersing you in comprehensive sightseeing and experience programs led by our local experts
• Small luxury chauffeured vehicles taking you off the beaten track
• Attentive, knowledgeable & passionate tourist guides and/or driver-guides
• Stay in one place and experience the diversity of this great region on day trips out
• Your accommodation has a minimum 4 star rating & includes breakfast each morning
• Enjoy a variety of local produce during lunches & dinners on some of your touring days
• Authentic local experiences for a true taste of Northern Britain
• Travel the road less well-trodden to immerse yourself in Northern England

Step back in time to visit the home of the (once powerful and noble) Percy family, Duke of Northumberland, at Alnwick.

Explore the magnificent Alnwick Castle, largest inhabited castle outside Windsor and home to one famous magician as well as the stunning set for Downton Abbey in 2014. The sumptuous interior state rooms are one of the region’s gems...

Later, discover the contemporary Alnwick Garden with its famous water features and Poison Garden: entry is through a locked gate with one of the guides telling the tales of the darker side of plants, the worst offenders being banished into cages for fear of the harm they could do.

Meals included: Dinner

Travel along the beautiful Northumberland AONB coast past little fishing villages grand castles until you reach the beautiful Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the cradle of English Christianity.

Later, in the village of Bamburgh, explore St. Aidan’s church and quaint local shops with views of the grand Northumbrian castle and former capital of the Kingdom of Northumbria. Traditional fish n chips should not be missed.

In the afternoon embark on a breathtaking boat trip to England’s Galapagos Islands. Host to thousands of seabirds and seals, the Farne Islands are stunning to explore and discover.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore the history behind Lord Armstrong – from humble beginnings to the powerhouse of modern engineering.

Discover classical architecture, culture and a world-class quayside during your panoramic tour of fantastic Newcastle. See the medieval castle, the modern Sage Gateshead and understand the great changes this city has lived through over the past 25 years. Travel North and enjoy lunch in one of the many little pubs in Northumberland before exploring Cragside House, Gardens & Estate, innovative home of this great industrialist.

Marvel at the genius inside this grand building and enjoy the glorious gardens in beautiful surroundings.

Meals included: Breakfast

Your journey today takes you back 2,000 years as you travel along the final Roman frontier: Hadrian’s Wall.

From its beginnings at Pons Aelius into today’s Northumberland National Park all the way to the Irish Sea – this impressing feat of engineering is still to be discovered and explored. Visit one of the great forts along this frontier and relax in one of the region’s most beautiful villages for lunch.

In the afternoon travel into the Durham Dales and experience a hidden part of North East England – which may very well be the most stunning, too… The small village of Blanchland is the perfect spot for a traditional tea (or a beer in the haunted village pub).

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning, why not visit one of the lesser known, yet one of the most important sites in Anglo-Saxon history: Jarrow Monastery, birthplace of the Venerable Bede and his life-long home.

Afterwards, explore the hidden history behind Durham and discover the finest Norman cathedral in Europe. Home of St. Cuthbert and also final resting place of Bede, uncover the history behind the city and its grand cathedral during a bespoke tour of the site.

After your tour of this magnificent place of worship, relax in one of many cafes overlooking this glorious World Heritage Site. There is also a short walk along the riverbanks to enjoy stunning views of castle and cathedral… End your tour with us in either Durham or back in Newcastle in the afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast