Holidays 2027
Departs: Sunday 20th June 2027 | 5 Days
Golden Age of Northumbria & Farne Islands Puffins
Tour Price: £719.00 per person
Your Holiday Centre
The county of Northumberland is the most northern of the English counties bordering County Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne in the south, Cumbria and The Lake District to the west and, of course, Hadrian's Wall and the Scottish Borders to the north. Much of the area is unpopulated, tranquil, with mile-after-mile of clean and safe award-winning golden sandy beaches, quiet country lanes and an unequalled sense of freedom. Explore mile upon mile of gloriously uncrowded golden sandy beaches and stunning countryside set amongst two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the rugged Northumberland National Park. Discover more castles than anywhere else in England, the birthplace of English Christianity on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the historic World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall, picturesque towns and villages and, at the end of it all, historic houses and heritage sites abound in Northumberland.
Tour Inclusions
- All coach travel
- Porterage
- 4 nights half board
- Excursions
- Boat cruise to Puffin Island
- Entrance to museum
- Entrance to brewery & tasting
- Services of courier
Special Notes
- Insurance.
- Please inform us of any special dietary needs e.g: diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.
- Special requests are put forward to the hotel, and they will do their utmost to accommodate your needs.
- This hotel does NOT have a lift but has a few ground floor rooms.
- The itinerary could be subject to change.
Tour Price
- Price Per Person
- £719.00
Single Room Supplement: £142.00
(double/twin for sole use)
Your Accommodation
White Swan Hotel
Bondgate Within Alnwick NE66 1TD.
Tel: 01665 602109.
The White Swan is a 300-year-old coaching inn located in the heart of the historic market town of Alnwick. It's a short walk from Alnwick Castle and Gardens.
The White Swan is steeped in history and one of its most distinctive features is the stunning Olympic Suite, showcasing original panelling, mirrors, stained glass and an ornate ceiling, which was all salvaged from RMS Olympic, the sister ship of the famous Titanic.
Hardy's Bar proposes a more informal experience with its bar and bistro menu.
All bedrooms have en-suite facilities with bath/shower, hairdryer, free toiletries, TV, clock, Wi-Fi, and there is also a seating area and tea/coffee making facilities in each room.
There is no lift in the hotel and there are areas with odd steps.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Local Area
Departing our local area, we travel north to the City of York, one of the most attractive old cities in England. The city walls themselves, among York's main attractions, enclose streets which follow their narrow and irregular medieval course, with overhanging rows of old buildings. The beautiful York Minster is the largest English medieval cathedral. We will stay here for lunch and a little sightseeing, then we continue to our hotel in Alnwick, for the next four nights with dinner bed & breakfast.
Day 2: Afternoon Visit to Wooler
Enjoy a relaxing morning exploring the town of Alnwick. Why not visit Barter Books, this is one of Europe's largest second-hand bookstores, in Alnwick's old railway station. It's all indoors so perfect if the weather isn't playing ball. A spectacular range of books available to browse and purchase, lots of lovely second handbooks at bargain prices and a rather special station cafe serving light bites, cake and drinks. This afternoon we travel to Wooler to visit Ad Gefrin. This is a new attraction which showcases life at an Anglo-Saxon Royal Court. This immersive museum features a great hall with original artifacts telling the stories of the people who made up the Royal Court. Following our visit to the museum, we enjoy a guided tour and tasting in the distillery. Barley Strains dating back to the Anglo-Saxon times are used in the distilling process to recreate a heritage whisky of this area. Later we return to hotel.
Day 3: Seahouses & Farne Islands
After breakfast we make our way to the lovely little fishing port of Seahouses situated on the coast. Here you will have some free time to explore this delightful little town, browse the variety of shops, a range of local food delis serving freshly caught fish of the day - and make sure you have a look in Farne Gift Store for a wide range of interesting and unique products. At midday we make our way to the harbour to board a 2hr cruise to the Farne Islands. The boat trip offers the chance to see a variety of wildlife. The Farne Islands are home to over 150,000 seabirds, including puffins, razorbills and guillemots along with thousands of grey seals, as well as close-up views of the Grace Darling Light House.
Day 4: Holy Island
Lindisfarne - is also known as Holy Island - (only accessible by a causeway at low tide). Time here is governed by the tides. (It may be necessary to amend this excursion.) This is one of the most important centres of early English Christianity. Irish Monks settled here in AD 635 and the Monastery became the centre of a major saint's cult celebrating its bishop, Cuthbert. The masterpiece now known as the Lindisfarne Gospels was created here in the early 8th century. The ruins now visible are those of the 12th-century priory, which claimed direct decent from the early monastery. The castle is 16th century and not always open to the public, but the gardens are. Later we visit Bamburgh for free time. Maybe visit the majestic castle on the beach or the Grace Darling Museum. We then return to hotel.
Day 5: Depart for Home
After breakfast and the cases have been loaded onto the coach, we say farewell to our hotel and head for home first stopping at the beautiful city of Durham. Durham is a compact city and was once described as 'a perfect little city'. Durham Castle and Cathedral are renowned as one of the most popular historic sites in Europe and are now designated as a World Heritage Site. The cathedral was founded in 1093 and is regarded as a fine example of a Norman cathedral. The castle was formerly a Norman fortress built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror on a hill overlooking the River Wear and was an ideal location to defend Northumbria against the Scots. On departing Durham, we continue our journey home, with comfort stops arriving in your local area by early evening.