7-Night Northumberland Discovery Tour Destinations: Northumberland & England Trip code: ALHCR-7 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW Northumberland has a great variety of scenic landscapes. On the coast you’ll find charming fishing villages and dramatic sandy bays. Head inland to historic battle sites and open moorland. Castles at Bamburgh and Warkworth – one of the largest, most impressive fortresses in northern England – and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall give a glimpse into the area’s history. The magnificent mansion house of Wallington and the peaceful Island of Lindisfarne offer calmer, more reflective destinations. WHAT'S INCLUDED • High-quality Full Board en-suite accommodation and excellent food in our country house • The services of our knowledgeable HF Holidays’ leader, ensuring you get the most from your holiday • Full-day excursions with all transport on touring days in a good-quality, comfortable mini-coach For 2022 departures, all admission costs are included on Discovery tours, including National Trust & English Heritage. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the mightly Bamburgh Castle • Journey to the Isle of Lindisfarne like the pilgrims of old • Witness the might of the Roman Empire at Hadrian's Wall • Discover Warkworth Castle, one of the strongest and most impressive fortresses in the North TRIP SUITABILITY Our Discovery holidays give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the local area through active sightseeing. On each Discovery day, you will be walking between 3-5 miles (5-8km), hopping on and off the coach throughout, so you should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Some of this walking may be across country tracks or footpaths so be sure to bring sturdy shoes! There will also be stairs to climb in the majority of the venues you visit, though other more accessible options may be available. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Lindisfarne & Border Country For many today will be the highlight of the trip. At low tide, we cross the narrow causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne where the main attraction is the remains of the Norman Priory. The island was one of the most important centres for early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England; it was from here that the religion spread out across the world. Following our visit, we continue on to the villages of Ford and Etal, two of the prettiest in Northumberland, before ending the day at the 16th century Flodden Battlefield. It was here that soldiers from all over England and Scotland faced each other and fought a bloody battle which cost the lives of over 14,000 men in just a few hours. Among those to die was King James IV of Scotland – the last monarch to die in battle in the British Isles. A series of information boards on the Flodden Battlefield Trail tell the story of the two armies meeting in combat which helps visitors to visualise events as they unfolded on that fateful day in 1513. Please note that the order of this day may be reversed due to Holy Island tide times. Day 3: Cheviot Hills & Cragside Explore the beautiful area of the Cheviot Hills with a walk through Ingram Valley. After passing through the traditional market town of Rothbury, our afternoon will be spent at Cragside. This magnificent estate is the former home of the inventor and industrialist Lord William Armstrong and is famous for being the first house in the world to be lit by hydraulic electricity. The house contains a wealth of gadgets which were ahead of their time including fire alarm buttons, telephones, a lift and Turkish bath suite. The house is surrounded by splendid gardens and woods and has over 30 miles of footpaths and lakeside walks. There are five lakes, a large rock garden and around seven million trees and shrubs including some made into a rhododendron maze. Day 4: Free Day A free day for you to explore the local area or to relax in the Country House. Our Discovery Points help you make the most out of your free day. There’s plenty of maps and a selection of the best local walking routes, as well as weather forecasts and public transport options – plus details about other places to visit. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Day 5: Hadrian's Wall & Hexham Transport yourself back 2,000 years with our visit to the World Heritage site of Hadrian's Wall. After Corbridge, we travel past Housesteads fort to Cawfields where we take a short walk along a dramatic section of the wall. We visit Chesters, a former Roman Cavalry fort, before ending the day at Hexham with its magnificent abbey. Day 6: Along The Northumberland Coast Experience the border history of the area with our visits to Preston Tower, a 14th-century tower house, and Bamburgh Castle, one of the finest in England. There are fantastic views from the battlements across to the Farne Islands. We end the day at Craster, where a walk along the seashore towards Dunstanburgh Castle should not be missed. Day 7: Warkworth & Wallington A short drive takes us to the attractive village of Warkworth where we can visit Warkworth Castle, with its links to the Percy family, Harry Hotspur, and William Shakespeare. In the afternoon we visit the beautiful estate of Wallington. This great house was home to many generations of the Blackett and Trevelyan families who all left their mark. Day 8: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. ACCOMMODATION Nether Grange Sitting pretty in the centre of the quiet harbour village of Alnmouth, Nether Grange stands in an area rich in natural beauty and historic gravitas. There are moving views of the dramatic North Sea coastline from the house too. This one-time 18th century granary was first converted into a large family home for the High Sheriff of Northumberland in the 19th century and then reimagined as a characterful hikers’ hotel. Many of the 36 bedrooms look out across the sea, while a large lounge, conservatory and adjoining bar are there to entertain you. Easily accessible from the house are the coast path while inland lies the Northumberland National Park. North are the Farne Islands and their spectacular seabird colonies and close by is Lindisfarne and its romantic castle accessible at low-tide via an ancient pilgrim’s path. Nearby too is the medieval market town of Alnwick and its eponymous castle, as well as the atmospheric ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, perched on a grassy peninsula to the south of Embbelton Bay. Best of all though is Bamburgh Castle, built to resemble a magnificent medieval fortress but actually an impressive Victorian folly. Matchless Country House Accommodation Accommodation Info Need To Know Important Covid-19 Steps We Have Taken For Guest Safety: Please Read Following the relaxation in government guidance on 19 July, we are continuing to take extra steps to keep our guests leaders, and staff safe in our HF country houses. We ask all our guests to respect the measures put in place. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 The English, Scottish and Welsh governments are not in sync, so measures in our country houses will vary between the nations. With the relaxation of social distancing in England, from 19 July we will be allowing larger groups to dine and relax in the bar together. However, we will still give guests space e.g. we will seat 6 people at a table where pre-pandemic we may have seated 8. We will ensure our public rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and windows wherever possible. If you have any concerns about distancing, please speak to the House Manager. The government recommendation for England is to wear face coverings in crowded areas. You must wear a face covering by law in public areas in hotels in Scotland. This is mandatory in public spaces; however, face coverings will not be required whilst eating and drinking in the restaurant and bar areas or whilst you are outside our houses. In Wales face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. As a temporary measure, we will not be servicing rooms during a stay. Extra tea, coffee, milk, and toiletries will be made available on request for all guests. It is recommended that guests bring their own toiletries for the duration of their stay. We will though be increasing the frequency of cleaning in our public areas providing particular attention to frequently touched items including door handles and handrails. Menus for the week will be available in your room on arrival. A self-service breakfast will be served from 7.45am – 9am. Picnic lunches will now be pre-ordered the night before from an order form in the room. Evening meals will be table service. A dinner order form will be available in each room for completion. Dinner is served at either 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Please check at the house for details. The bar will be open. We will be offering a table service but guests can also come to the bar to order (depending on local restrictions). Join our team after dinner on Wednesday evenings for the HF Big Pub Quiz. There will be one other evening of entertainment at the start of the week, which will vary depending on the country house that you are staying at.