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Boon’s Calibre Travel 2025 Magnificent County Durham…History & Heritage
Departs Monday 1st September 2025 for 5 days, half-board
This exciting tour is based at the 4* Redworth Hall Hotel, a grand Jacobean manor house, which sits within 150 acres of beautiful woodland in County Durham. In addition to its natural beauty and industrial heritage, this region is famous as the home of the railway and this year marks the bi-centenary of the first journey of steam train, Locomotion No.1, on the Stockton to Darlington line. Our three included excursions include the historic town of Barnard Castle, the magnificent French-style Bowes Museum & Gardens, the university city of Durham, the vibrant market town of Hexham, the glorious Durham Dales and the stunning North Pennines. There will be the opportunity explore the fabulous, award-winning, Beamish Open Air Museum, and we also visit two museums that have dedicated exhibitions honouring the railway’s milestone anniversary, Locomotion and Darlington’s Hopetown. On our outward and return journeys we spend time in the historic cities of Lincoln and York.
A stunning country hotel, the 4* Redworth Hall, is a Jacobean Manor house sitting in 150 acres of beautiful woodland in County Durham. The building still retains many of its original features, in particular the magnificent galleried Baronial Great Hall and ornate spiral stone staircase. All en-suite bedrooms are modern in design, yet maintain the Jacobean style of the hotel, with views of the courtyard or woodlands. The health club boasts an indoor swimming pool.
Day 1: On leaving our local boarding points, we head north, stopping en-route in the historic city of Lincoln, with its magnificent cathedral, ancient castle and medieval Bishops Palace. On arrival at our hotel, we enjoy welcome refreshments while porters take care of our luggage.
Day 2: Today, we have the opportunity to experience the award-winning Beamish Open Air Museum, a wonderful recreation of Northern life in the 1820s, 1900s and 1940s (admission extra). The 350 acre site, set in beautiful countryside, can be explored on foot or by vintage tram, and boasts a 1900’s town, pit village & colliery, a 1940’s farm, 19th century Pockerly Hall, an Edwardian railway station, a school house and various other carefully restored buildings and exhibits. For those who have already been to Beamish, we visit vibrant Hexham, England’s “favourite market town” with its range of independent shops, the ancient Shambles, magnificent Abbey, market and imposing 15th century Moot Hall. From Hexham we travel through the spectacular scenery of the North Pennines, our journey taking us past Derwent Reservoir, via the pretty border village of Blanchland, built with the remains of its 12th century abbey, to the Durham Dales Centre, in Weardale, where we stop for refreshments.
Day 3: Today’s excursion takes us to Shildon, the world's first railway town, where we visit Locomotion, a museum boasting the largest undercover collection of heritage rail vehicles in the world (free entry). The museum celebrates early pioneers of the Stockton to Darlington Railway and their impact on the global railway story. Time to explore and to visit the café & shop, before we make our way to the University City of Durham, beautifully situated in a loop of the River Wear, with its winding cobbled streets and iconic cathedral, dominating its magnificent skyline.
Day 4: Our final excursion takes us to the region's newest visitor attraction, Hopetown Darlington (free entry), a railway museum, with exhibitions, café and shop which, like Locomotion, it is honouring the milestone anniversary of the railway. We spend the remainder of the day in the historic market town of Barnard Castle, in the beautiful Durham Dales, which takes its name from the imposing castle around which it grew. A haven for discerning shoppers and treasure seekers, the town’s many antique shops and independent retailers provide a charming shopping experience. No visit to Barnard Castle would be complete without a visit to the magnificent Bowes Museum, a hidden treasure, and a jewel in the heart of stunning Teesdale. Purpose built, in a French-style, during the 19th century, by John and Joséphine Bowes, the Museum houses internationally significant collections of fine and decorative arts, fashion & design. The best loved exhibit, and one that is still operated on a daily basis, is the 230 year-old, life-size, Silver Swan bought by the Bowes in 1872. In addition to the outstanding exhibits, there are beautiful gardens and parklands to explore and a superb cafe
Day 5: We depart after breakfast, and commence our return journey. Our visit today is to the fascinating, walled city of York, renowned for its exquisite architecture, tangle of quaint cobbled streets, including the famous Shambles, and the iconic York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe.
Includes: 4 nights half-board (dinner, bed & breakfast) in en-suite bedrooms, porterage, adapted rooms, lift, leisure centre, three excursions, visits on outward & return journeys. Entry to Bowes Museum. Cost per person: £689 Supplement for Single-occupancy of a Double Room: £96 (8 only)
Deposit: £65 per person. Balance due 8 weeks prior to departure
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