ITINERARY
FOR:
Travel Trade
MARKET:
China
AUDIENCE:
Social Pioneers
DURATION:
5 days
THEME:
Inspired Landscapes
Home to some of England’s most stunning landscapes, the North boasts five National Parks,
dramatic mountain ranges, romantic moorland, together with beautiful award-winning gardens,
studded with historic houses, shimmering lakes and idyllic waterfront locations. Discover the lands
that have fired many a writer’s imagination, honed the lines of poets, and inspired artists through
the centuries.
Wordsworth once said that poetry "takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity”.
Experience the North of England’s inspirational landscapes and find out why.
Day 1
Arrive in the Lake District from Manchester Airport (approx. 1hr 30mins north
along the M6 motorway)
The Lake District is often called ‘the most beautiful corner of England’, and a
Mountain Goat Tour will show you why. The Ten Lakes Spectacular takes you to
the area’s most famous lakes, sites of historical interest, and on a cruise which gives
a flavour of what inspired all those writers, poets and artists.
This unreservedly scenic and expertly-guided tour encompasses Windermere, Rydal
Water, Grasmere, Thirlmere, Derwent Water, Buttermere, Crummock Water,
Bassenthwaite, Ullswater and Brothers Water. Visit Romantic poet William
Wordsworth’s house and eat gingerbread made to a secret recipe. Castlerigg Stone
Circle, at around 4,000 years old, is another of the area’s historic gems. In Keswick,
enjoy lunch and explore the traditional Lakeland market town, while the lake cruise
will give you uninterrupted views of the Lakeland fells.
Following a taster of all things Lakes, celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of
Beatrix Potter (author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit), and be inspired by the places she
loved. Take another Mountain Goat Tour to Hill Top, once home to Potter, whose
picturesque rural location inspired many of her best-loved characters. Explore
Hawkshead, a scenic village where Wordsworth once studied.
The landscapes are picture-perfect, and a photo stop at Tarn Hows is a must, before
the tour continues onto Coniston Water for a lake cruise. You’ll pass the pretty lake
Yew Tree Tarn and the charming village of Skelwith Bridge , and have the option to
finish with a quintessentially English cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country House
Hotel, the former home of Beatrix Potter’s mother on the edge of lake Windermere,
before returning to your accommodation.
Potter was passionate about the Lake District and worked hard to preserve much of
the land we see today. Venture out to the beautiful and easily accessible Tarn Hows
for a walk, or to Wray Castle and the western shore of Lake Windermere.
The Briery Wood Country House Hotel has all the trappings of 19th century
opulence, including meticulously maintained gardens and traditional afternoon tea.
Holbeck Ghyll will win you over first with jaw-dropping views of Lake Windermere,
and second with its incredible food – breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are
all tantalising enough to make you resist ever leaving. Merewood Country House
Hotel is equally charming, and the in-house chocolatier will please those with a
sweet tooth. Finally, Gilpin Lake House is the ultimate in luxury, with six individual
suites and a hot tub with lake views.
Whilst in the Lake District take the opportunity to check out some of its marquee
events. Kendal Calling in Lowther Deer Park is a perfectly sized independent music
festival which hosts big name artists and has fields full of activities and attractions.
Or grab your Gore-Tex and amble over to the Keswick Mountain Festival for walks,
talks and like-minded outdoor spirits.
A distinctive and high quality range of food and drink is also on offer. Head to
Hawkshead Brewery at Staveley to sample some of their fine ales, popping next
door to the Artisan Bakery to sample their very own treacle bread. Alternatively
L’Enclume in Grange over Sands is one of England’s finest two-starred Michelin
restaurants.
Before you leave, a must from the Lakes is Grasmere’s famous Gingerbread,
Cartmel’s Sticky Toffee Pudding and Kendal Mint Cake but perhaps not all at once!
Day 3
Travel to Durham along the A69 visiting picturesque market towns along the way,
and stop off at the historic market town of Hexham (approx. 50 mins)
A 1300 year old abbey, ancient gatehouses and England’s first gaol: Hexham’s
heritage is a treat to explore. Discover curiously named streets and quaint buildings
as you trace the history of a typical traditional market town.
Arrive Durham (approx. 1 hr from Hexham)
Witness one of Europe's most stunning city panoramas and uncover the history of
Durham's breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site, before immersing yourself in
the countryside that inspired JMW Turner.
Set in countryside and mature woodland on the outskirts of Durham City, you’ll find
plant collections from North America, the Himalayas and China, glasshouse
rainforest and desert plants in the Botanic Garden. Six Colin Wilbourne sculptures
can also be admired in the landscaped garden.
Described as ‘a tapestry of colourful blooms’ by celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh,
Crook Hall is enchanting whatever the season. Discover the Medieval hall with
Jacobean drawing room, turret and gallery, set in four acres of gardens including
two walled gardens, a silver and white garden, an orchard, courtyard fountain, large
moat pool and a maze. Light lunches and home-made cream teas are served in the
Georgian dining room or in the pretty little courtyard.
Stay overnight in Durham to enjoy the charm of this heritage city and the warmth of
the people, their culinary delights and local ales.
Day 4
Travel to Haworth (approx. 2 hr) along the A1M from Durham. Stop off at Ripon.
Explore the hidden depths of Ripon Cathedral in the small market town of Ripon.
Dominating the skyline, this ancient cathedral has inspired more than one literary
legend and has one of the oldest Saxon crypts in the country. The author Lewis
Carroll was a regular visitor here while his father was canon to the cathedral in the
19th century. Hunt for the weird and wonderful medieval woodcarvings hidden
under the choir stalls, said to have inspired characters and events in Carroll’s book
Alice in Wonderland.
Continue your journey to the village of Haworth, a must for all fans of the works of
the Brontë sisters. This picturesque village is where the Brontë sisters lived and
were inspired.
See where Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë lived and wrote some of the most
powerful and dramatic novels in the English language. Visit The Brontë Parsonage,
the family's home, where you can see the rooms they used, filled with their
furniture, clothes and personal possessions. Then head to the village centre, with its
magnificent moorland views, to the quaint and bustling Main Street, an historic
cobbled road dotted with craft shops and tearooms.
Stride out onto the wild and beautiful moors that Emily Brontë depicted so vividly
and imagine you can hear Catherine, heroine of Wuthering Heights, calling out
Heathcliff’s name…
Enjoy the breathtaking and famous landscapes of Brontë country from a vintage
locomotive steam engine stopping at Haworth, on the Keighley & Worth Valley
Railway.
Day 5
Continue your journey to Chatsworth House through the villages and country
lands of the Peak District National Park (approx. 2 hrs)
Chatsworth House has been enchanting visitors for centuries. Since 1549 this has
been home to the Cavendish family, and its ornate rooms and diverse gardens burst
forth with rich history. There are over 30 rooms to explore, from the magnificent
Painted Hall to the regal state rooms and atmospheric Sculpture Gallery, while
private art haul the Devonshire Collection is one of the finest in Europe and worth a
visit in its own right.
Surrounding the house is a mesmerising horticultural tapestry of sweeping vistas,
cascading water features and finely crafted shrubberies, designed by worldrenowned landscape gardener Capability Brown. Writer Jane Austen was so taken
with it all that Chatsworth is believed to have inspired Mr Darcy’s residence
Pemberley in her novel Pride & Prejudice, and the estate took a starring role
alongside Kiera Knightley in the 2005 film adaptation of the book.
Head over to Bakewell, a charming market town in the Peak District, 14 minutes
from Chatstworth House, to enjoy the quaint ambience, the river and craft shops.
Visit one of the many bakeries to try the famous Bakewell Pudding; a flakey, jamfilled pastry topped with egg and almond paste, made by accident in the 19th
century. Its recipe is a closely guarded secret.