Northumbrian Castles and Gardens

Day 1

Departing the local area, we make our way north with a stop in the historic city of Durham. We arrive at the 4* Holiday Inn Gosforth Park with time to settle in before dinner.

Day 2

Today we make our way to the medieval market town of Alnwick, which still retains many of its cobbled streets, narrow alleys and fine stone buildings. Here we visit Alnwick Castle and Gardens. The castle is one of the finest medieval castles in England and is famously known to many as "Hogwarts" in the Harry Potter movies, as well as the location for the Downton Abbey 2014 Christmas special. The gardens are believed to be one of the oldest walled gardens in the world, surrounded by walls over 250 years old. The Garden is home to the world's largest Tai Haku Cherry Orchard, a Grand Cascade comprising 120 water jets, the world's largest Treehouse Restaurant and the infamous poison garden.

Day 3

Today we experience Britain's original smart home; Cragside House (NT). Illuminated by hydro-electricity and powered by hydraulics, this pioneering home was filled with Victorian gadgets for efficient modern living. Man-made lakes, tumbling waterfalls and swathes of rhododendron combine to form the surrounding fantasy mountain landscape imagined and engineered by inventor and arms manufacturer Lord Armstrong and his wife Lady Margaret. You can wander amongst the towering trees in the Pinetum, explore the weaving paths and tumbling cascades in the Rock Garden and witness the changing seasons in the Formal Gardens.

Day 4

After breakfast we commence our journey home with suitable stops on route arriving back late afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast