Discover the history of this beautiful island. Stories of saints, and sinners, poets and politicians mix with the dramatic impact of industry, ideas and invaders. Themed tours based on full days out from superb Country House accommodation, with expert guides who will give you real insight into whatever you are into.

Important facts

• Each day we provide transport for guided trips (unless visits are in the immediate vicinity), leaving about 9.30am and returning around 5.30 to 6.00pm. The cost of this, and for any boats, trains or flights mentioned, is included in your holiday price.
• Evenings usually include a short briefing on the next day’s activities with time to socialise afterwards, unless specific events are described.
• You need to be fit enough to spend lots of time on your feet and walk around places of interest. There could be steps and occasionally a little steep ground. We allow plenty of time, but please ask if you need more details before making your choice.
• No specialist knowledge is needed to join any of these holidays.
• Admission to places of interest is included.

Please select a holiday from the left hand menu.

Bede’s Northumbria

There are some evocative survivors from the world described by the Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People (AD 731). We’ll visit Holy Island with its Priory, the breathtaking cathedral and treasury at Durham and St Paul's Church at Jarrow, where his story began. With Bamburgh, Coldingham Priory, and the Farne Islands, where St Cuthbert lived as a hermit, also on our itinerary, your expert guide will lead you through the fascinating remnants of a lost world.

Combine this break with ‘Hadrian’s Wall’ for a longer Northumberland holiday.

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Hadrian’s Wall

The Roman Empire found its northern limits in the wild and beautiful uplands of Northumberland and Cumbria. Emperor Hadrian’s bold frontier defences are now a World Heritage Site. We’ll visit the forts at Corbridge, Birdoswald, Chesters and Vindolanda. We might picnic at the Carrawburgh Mithraeum, and walk the wall on a dramatic section from Gilsland to Birdoswald. (optional, 11⁄2 miles, very steep in places). Your expert leader will explain the wall’s context and significance, as well as its lasting legacy.

Combine this break with ‘Bede’s Northumbria’ for a longer Northumberland holiday.

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Helston Flora Festival

West Cornwall is renowned for it ancient traditions and its fascinating remains. This holiday combines a visit to the Helston Flora Festival, famous for its ritualistic Furry Dance, with guided tours of the region’s best archaeological remains. On one day a short helicopter flight will take us to St Mary’s, one of the Isles of Scilly. Other highlights, in the company of expert leaders, might include dramatic St Michael’s Mount and ancient stones at Lanyon Quoit, Men-an-tol and Boscawen.

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Monasteries and Abbeys

Two key sites dominate this holiday. Furness Abbey was one of the richest Cistercian houses in England. Idyllically placed in the ‘Valley of the Deadly Nightshade’, it’s picturesque ruins remained remote until the coming of the railways. Cartmel Priory, built by Augustinian Canons, was also remote, lying to the north of the notorious sands of Morecambe Bay. We’ll also widen the historical theme with a trip to Sizergh Castle, an exceptional medieval house with superb oak-panelled rooms.

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Houses of Sussex

Several noble families made their homes in Sussex and many famous figures in history have lived in the county. Through the magnificent and interesting buildings that remain we’ll bring the past to life. Highlights include visits to Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, the exotic Regency Palace of King George IV, Uppark, a fine late 17th-century house high up on the South Downs, Petworth House with its famous art collection and Arundel Castle, home to the Duke of Norfolk.

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Castles and Houses of Northumberland

Northumberland is famous for its impressive castles, the legacy of centuries of Border warfare with Scotland. We’ll visit some of these majestic strongholds, many the homes of powerful local families such as the Percys. Changing military technology and increasing demands for aristocratic comfort caused some to be transformed into opulent country houses, and new mansions were added by wealthy families in the 18th and 19th centuries. Key visits will include Cragside, Wallington Hall and Warkworth, Chillingham, Alnwick and Dunstanburgh castles.

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Stone Circles of Cumbria

Join us as we peer through the mists of time at the stone, bronze and iron ages. Taking full day tours around this beautiful county, we’ll discover some lesser known sights as well as the most famous, such as Long Meg and her Daughters and Castlerigg. Depending on the conditions we may visit the remains of a bronze age village high in the fells and learn about the cultures that built and used these incredible monuments. You’ll need to be fit enough to walk over sometimes rough ground for short distances.

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Victorian Wight (from Freshwater Bay)

The Isle of Wight was a favourite holiday site for cultured Victorians and many chose to live there, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson. We'll visit Victoria’s home at Osborne House and the nearby church at Whippingham, and have tea at Tennyson's house at Farringford (now a hotel). A delightful boat trip to Hurst Castle will be another highlight, as we discover the influence and reminders of Victorian life on this lovely island.

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Victorian West Country (from Selworthy)

The extraordinary Gothic extravaganza of Tyntesfield is undoubtedly a highlight of this round up of the best of West Country Victoriana. The house, saved by the National Trust in 2002, has retained its lavish interiors, offering an unrivalled insight into Victorian life. We’ll explore this theme further through the legacy of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. His SS Great Britain, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge over the Avon Gorge survive, and we’ll link in other triumphs of the Victorian age to give a full picture of this fascinating period.

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Discover the Elizabethans

Queen Elizabeth’s Court was the focus for the flowering of the English Renaissance. Cultural developments in drama and poetry coincided with a zest for knowledge and exploration and the defeat of the Armada. Our two days of visits will include Sir Francis Drake’s Buckland Abbey, a boat trip in Plymouth Harbour, Berry Pomeroy Castle – a ruined Elizabethan house – and Compton Castle, home to a family of Elizabethan adventurers.

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English Medieval Architecture

Discover the amazing works of medieval craftsmen as we explore England's rich heritage of buildings. Our quest will take us to humble dwellings and grand places of worship, as we explore the relationship between homes, churches, cathedrals and castles. There’ll be illustrated talks each evening to discuss the day's research, and to help us towards an understanding of the medieval way of life and what made its craftsmen tick.

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Working Heritage

With an enthusiastic guide and talks from experts we’ll show how industry has shaped the landscape through the last 250 years. We’ll explore its dramatic legacy in the Welsh valleys, and visit the historic locations, such as the World Heritage Site at Blaenavon, with its Big Pit National Mining Museum and the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. We’ll also visit the Monmouth and Brecon Canal and find its network of tramways.

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Great Little Trains of Wales

Experience the nostalgic pleasures and romance of steam travel whilst exploring the Welsh countryside on this historic railways holiday. Highlights will include the famous narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway and a ride to the summit of Britain’s highest railway station on Snowdon. Another treat is the Llanberis Lake Railway. Many of it unrivalled views of the mountains of Snowdonia are from places completely inaccessible by road.

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Scenic Railways of the Lakes and Beyond

Enjoy some famous train journeys through spectacular South Lake District countryside. Highlights will include a trip along the Settle to Carlisle line one of the most scenic journeys in England. The line follows the natural pathways through the rolling hills of the Pennines and was constructed entirely by hand! In contrast we will travel along the amazing Ravenglass and Eskdale railway right in the heart of the National Park and taking in some of the hidden gems of this beautiful valley.

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Discover Britain’s Waterways

Discover Britain’s canal heritage with visits and walks around five miles each day. Each evening there’ll be briefings on related topics such horse power, how the boat people lived and what they wore.

Dovedale, Derbyshire
See how the engineer James Brindley changed our lives. We’ll see his beginnings at Leek, the Harecastle Tunnel, and the busy junction and pottery mill in Stoke on Trent. We’ll also visit the Duke of Bridgewater’s canal and terminus in Manchester and the city’s huge Ship Canal.

Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds
There’s a surprising number of canals in this part of England, developed to serve local agriculture, and then to meet the needs of the Industrial Revolution. We will visit several sites where canals have been restored to use, and seek the signs of others long gone. As well as the canals in the Cotswolds we’ll range as far as the Avon Valley and the Marlborough Downs.

Brecon, Wales
The Brecon and Abergavenny Canal is a delight, with its aqueduct at Brynich, the lift bridge at Tal-y-Bont, the tunnel at nearby Ashford and the lovely flight of locks at Llangynidr. We’ll contrast it with a trip to Cardiff Bay’s Tidal Barrage, including a boat trip to the waterfront. We’ll also see the Montgomeryshire Canal, which terminated at Newtown.

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Stained Glass Tour

Within easy reach of our Cotswolds base lies an unrivalled collection of glass from all ages. Ancient or modern, they all share a remarkable beauty. We’ll learn how glass is and has been made through talks and visits to places as varied as Fairford church, St Michael’s Church and the colleges in Oxford, Gloucester Cathedral, and Highnam, with its impressive Victorian work.

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Arts and Crafts tour of Cumbria NEW

Discover the traditional handicrafts inspired by teachings of John Ruskin and see some wonderful examples of how the Northern Industrialists employed Arts and Crafts Architects to design homes and gardens. Highlights of your tour will include a visit to Brantwood on Coniston, Blackwell on Windermere and Hutton in the Forrest in Penrith. You will see examples of an eclectic group of artists, craftsmen and architect.

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Romans in Cumbria

Explore the western end of Hadrian’s Wall and the coastal and Lake District forts, complemented by on-site and evening talks. The Roman sites will include the recently reexcavated fort at Birdoswald, spectacular Hardknott fort, and the Museum at Maryport, together with a recently excavated mile fortlet just up the coast. We’ll also see the Viking crosses and hog-backed tombs at Gosforth.

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In the Line of Beauty NEW

For the past 200 years the rugged mountain scenery of the Lake District been considered sublime. During the 18th Century the difficulty of Continental travel, created by England’s War with France, and improved roads produced new travellers who became to be known as “Tourists. Together we will follow in their footsteps - view sweet images, absorb perfect serenity and enjoy the beauties of nature. Our Grand Tour will take us on gentle walks along the Lakes’ shoreline, a cruise on Windermere and, aboard the steam boat Gondola, on Conistonwater.

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Art in West Cornwall

See the work of the Newlyn School of Artists, the St Ives Modernists and contemporary artists living and working in the area today. The Tate in St Ives, opened in 1993 and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden form the focus of our visit to St Ives town. Further afield we visit the Penlee Gallery in Penzance and the Falmouth Art Gallery. We shall also visit selection of smaller, private, galleries.

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William Morris and Burne-Jones

From our base in the Cotswolds we’ll learn about the achievements of this partnership of artistic innovators. Illustrated talks will complement visits to Birmingham Art Gallery and the city’s cathedral, with its Burne-Jones stained glass windows. We’ll also take in Morris’s home at Kelmscott Manor, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, and Wightwick Manor, a delightful and rare example of a home built and furnished in the Arts and Crafts style.

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