Walworth Castle & Durham

Your holiday begins today as you meet your Tour Manager at Walworth Castle in Darlington, the perfect base for a holiday that will transport you through history. Built in the 12th century, this striking castle hotel is set on 18 acres of beautiful grounds and is your historic home for the next five nights. There's time to explore the lawns and woodlands before dinner with the rest of your group this evening.

• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, your group heads to Durham for a fascinating guided tour. Durham is a beautiful city, with its unmissable Castle and Cathedral complex boasting UNESCO World Heritage status. Take in the impressive Romanesque cathedral and 11th-century castle on a guided tour.

Your afternoon is at leisure to continue exploring the city at your own pace, discovering its maze of cobbled streets lined with historic and listed buildings. This vibrant university city offers many attractions including an excellent indoor market, some unique speciality shops, several art galleries and museums, and some delightful public gardens to relax and enjoy the views. You'll also find an excellent choice of places to get some lunch, from homemade treats in cosy cafes to hearty pub meals. This evening, your group meets back at the hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning your group steps back in time to experience 1820s Victorian Darlington. A visit to the Head of Steam - Darlington Railway Museum celebrates the city's innovative railway history. An impressive collection of locomotives, carriages, and railway artefacts give a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of steam-powered trains.

Your journey through the ages continues, landing in 1913 as a coach takes your group to the Beamish Museum next. Spanning over 300 acres, it showcases the history and heritage of the region through reconstructed buildings, exhibits, and interactive displays. Life-sized replicas of period locations are accurate down to the finest detail. The Edwardian Town features recreations of a typical inn, Co-operative store, sweet shop, bank and dentist. Elsewhere you'll discover a recreated mining village and colliery, an Edwardian railway station and steam railway, a Victorian farm, and a luxurious manor house.

The coach drives your group back to the hotel and you have some time to freshen up ahead of dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today your group discovers the beautiful dales, starting at the Wensleydale Creamery. Home of the famous Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese, you have time to look around the museum, watch a cheese-making demonstration, or maybe buy a treat or two in the gift shop where you'll find plenty of award-winning cheeses. Afterwards, there's time at leisure to grab lunch in Hawes, a peaceful market town where traditional stone houses are linked by charming cobbled lanes. The coach then takes your group to Redmire to board the Wensleydale Railway. A nostalgic heritage journey takes you through the verdant countryside to Leeming Bar, hauled by a steam or diesel locomotive. Your group returns to the hotel by coach for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning your group travels by rail and coach to visit Chester's Roman Fort and Museum, located at Hadrian's Wall. This is one of the Roman Empire's most northern outposts that lets you wander around the well-preserved baths and steam room.

Later you're at leisure to explore Hexham, enjoying the peaceful parks, beautiful architecture, and market town charm. The town has picturesque landscapes that create the perfect backdrop to enjoy some lunch at one of the cosy pubs or friendly cafes. Your group also has entrance to Hexham Abbey, a stunning Grade I listed monastery dedicated to St Andrew. The 12th-century building is known for its stained glass, historical significance and quiet ambience.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your north England adventure ends after breakfast this morning. Once you've checked out, it's time to make your way home, or you could continue exploring more fantastic sights on your own.

• Breakfast