We have all had a great year in 2024, with holidays throughout the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe being enjoyed by coaches full of happy customers! As always, feedback has been exceptional with regards to our pickup service, coaches, hotels and most importantly our drivers.
This brochure covers holidays from January through to October. Our next brochure will be out in June 2025 with some more late summer holidays plus Autumn, Christmas and New Year.
Many customers now find it easier to book their holiday online: at: barnescoaches.co.uk
As normal, there is a mix of repeated tours, which are popular year after year as well as a selection of new tours marked with this logo:
To give you further peace of mind, please also be assured that we are protected by the BCH-ABTOT bond scheme, so your money is always safe with us. Further details are on the next page.
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2025:
If you want to enjoy London from a 5-star hotel see (P08) and to see the Jurassic Coast from a 4-star hotel called Moonfleet Manor see (P16). Luxury train rides are always a hit and in 2025 we travel on the Belmond British Pullman (P21). We now offer three holidays to Suffolk to reflect its popularity, the new one is on (P22) and stays in a waterfront hotel with three great experiences. See some of Humberside’s Hidden Heritage on (P29) and for a completely different holiday we stay at a hotel that is in a Wildlife Park (P30). The Northeast is always popular, and we have a new tour staying at the fabulous Derwent Manor Hotel (P36).
Wales
Llandudno was hugely popular in 2024 and for 2025 we visit the Four Oaks Hotel which is at the heart of the picturesque, panoramic promenade (P46).
Scotland
All the usual favourites to all corners of Scotland and its islands and we have a revamped holiday to the 4-star Grant Arms Hotel in the Highlands, the title is Kilted Charm and comes with five experiences including a private Highland Games demonstration.
Three holidays to the Isle of Man in 2025 are already sold out! We have just added two more on (P64) but please book quickly!
Ireland
Visit County Mayo on our new holiday that stays in a 4-star hotel in Westport (P68), it is a fabulous holiday that includes an Abbey, Fjord Cruise, and a local guide.
Europe
Two holidays to Keukenhof have already sold out for 2025 and we have added one more that stays on the coast (P73). There are two new Germany holidays, the Black Forest (P74) and a Moselle Cruise (P76). We return to Poland (P77) after the sold out success of our 2024 tour. And finally we visit Portugal for a fabulous Douro Cruise (P84).
Thank you as always and we look forward to seeing you onboard soon! Barnes Coaches
Customer Satisfaction Report £200 Draw: The winner is Miss D Green from Swindon - Congratulations! Please do all continue to return your feedback as it is invaluable to ensure we are getting everything right! All feedback is read by us and is forwarded onto the hotels. Read our latest reviews at: barnescoaches.co.uk/reviews
We have a few options available to make your booking process as easy as possible!
A £40 per person deposit is required to reserve a booking, plus the premium for our travel Insurance (should you require it). A confirmation of your booking will then be sent to you by email (Or by post if requested) and will show when the remaining balance is payable. Your final travel documents will be issued 14-10 days before departure.
Our office opening hours are: Monday to Friday: 08:45-17:00 | Saturdays: 09:00-12:00
You can book all of our holidays and pay your holiday balance on our website at: barnescoaches.co.uk
Simply follow the booking instructions, you will then be sent a confirmation via email.
If you would prefer to speak to our team to book your holiday, please call us on the number above and we will be happy to help. We will reserve your place, give you a booking reference number and ask for a deposit to secure your places.
If you are local to us and would prefer to book your holiday in person, you are welcome to pop in and visit us at our depot in Swindon: Unit E, Woodside Road, South Marston Park, Swindon, SN34AQ.
Our holiday prices are per person and include all coach travel during the holiday. The itinerary for each holiday will make it clear if any entrances are included or not. If tours are listed as A, B, C etc. this means these tours may operate in a different order to how shown in the brochure. This is to accommodate for attractions, weather conditions, driver rest days etc.
Our drivers are renowned for their care and professionalism whilst driving and their helpful attitude, which all contribute to the enjoyment of your holiday. All executive coaches have comfy, reclining seats with arm and foot rests, air conditioning, a toilet, fridge and all new coaches that are rolled into our fleet now come with USB charging ports! View our full fleet gallery online at: barnescoaches.co.uk/fleetgallery
An important part of the holiday, so we are very careful about the hotels used. All are to a good standard with en suite rooms with televisions and are described individually under each holiday. Many hotels offer entertainment in the evenings. Any requests should be advise at point of booking.
A large number of our passengers are single travellers and we of course welcome you aboard all of our tours. On some holidays, unfortunately, hotels will charge a supplement for single rooms, this is shown under each individual holiday. Where there is no mention of a supplement it means that we have some single rooms available without a supplement, these rooms tend to get booked up extremely quickly and any further rooms may attract a supplement from the hotel. To help you find holidays without a single supplement, look for this logo:
For European tours, you will be required to have a passport that has more than three months left.
For some UK tours with a ferry/flight involved, you will be required to have government issued photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence. We have marked our tours that require this with either a passport or photo I.D symbol.
© RobertKordula
We are happy to carry conventional wheelchairs, however, motorised scooters do create a series of practical difficulties, and we are unable to carry them on holidays that are to more than one hotel. They need to be class 2 and a maximum of 24” wide, 40” long and a maximum weight of 60kg. If you do wish to bring a motorised scooter, then we do request that you inform us at the time of booking so that we can check that there is space as we can only carry one per holiday. Please also ensure that the scooter is a type that we are able to carry and that you know how to fold it up (or at least can show your driver how to fold it up). If you are taking a motorised scooter, you will also need to be picked up from none of our main pickup points as shown on the reverse of this brochure, as our feeder vehicles cannot carry them.
The combination of travel services offered to you is a package within the meaning of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Therefore, you will benefit from all rights applying to packages; Barnes Coaches Ltd. will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the package as a whole. Additionally, as required by law, Barnes Coaches Ltd. have protection in place to refund your payments and, where transport is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation in the event that they become insolvent. Barnes Coaches Ltd. are members of the Bonded Coach Holiday Group, overseen by The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited. This is a government approved consumer protection scheme. This ensures that in relation to the coach package holidays described in this brochure (or website) that a Bond, which may be called upon in the unlikely event of the members Insolvency, protects the clients’ monies. Clients are recommended to inspect the current membership certificate at our registered office or alternatively go to www.bch-uk.org or telephone 0207 065 5316. to confirm current membership. Your attention is also drawn to the Bonded Coach Holiday Group Trading Charter that will apply to these coach package holidays. Details of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 can be found at The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
Start your holiday from your front door, (yes, literally!) and take advantage of our FREE* home pickup & drop off service!
We have a range of smaller vehicles (like the one pictured below) in our fleet (plus taxis), which act as feeder vehicle to pick up customers and then meet the main coach at a central point en-route. All holiday pickup timings are issued at least 14-10 days prior to departure and advise on what type of vehicle will be picking you up initially for your holiday.
If you do not live locally but would still like to join us for a holiday, why not opt for an overnight hotel the night before your holiday that’s within our pickup area?
We can pick up from the hotel the morning of your holiday. This can be from any area covered on our pickup map below.
We have teamed up with the 4-star Blunsdon House Hotel for a discounted rate. More information on this offer can be found on our website: barnescoaches.co.uk/holiday-pickups
PLEASE NOTE: any overnight hotels prior to your holiday with us, would need to be booked in by yourself.
Map Key:
free pickup area Our outer pickup area, pickup fee of £20pp.
of
• Astrid
• Bob
• Brunel
• Centurion
• Charles
• Cyril
• Dabchick
• Daniel
• Elizabeth
• Gordon
• Iris
• Jim
• Moonraker
• Mikey P
• Nellie
• Poppy
• Sebby
• Simon
• Tommy
• Ziggy
• Zara
Did you know, several of our coaches have their own names! Follow our
All executive coaches have comfy, reclining seats with arm and foot rests, air conditioning, a toilet, fridge and all new coaches that are rolled into our fleet now come with USB charging ports! View our full fleet gallery online at: barnescoaches.co.uk/privatehire
We use airline-style numbering on our holiday tours, and this runs 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A etc. A and B are door side seats and C and D being driver side seats. 1 is the front row through to 14 being the rear row.
PLEASE NOTE: Our coach layouts (e.g. windows / pillar positions etc.) do vary due to our various makes and models of vehicles.
Front of coach
Seating is selected at point of booking and is on a first-come, first serve basis.
DATE DESTINATION DAYS PAGE
JANUARY 2025
Mon 6th Paignton 5 12
Wed 22nd Warners, Norton Grange 5 44-45
Fri 24th Falmouth 4 10
FEBRUARY 2025
Mon 10th Paignton 5 12 Sandown, Isle of Wight 5 18
Mon 17th Falmouth 5 10 Torquay 5 12
Lincolnshire 5 27
Fri 21st Harrogate, Joe Loss 3 32 St Agnes 5 09 Eastbourne 4 20
MARCH 2025
Mon 3rd Bournemouth 5 16 Eastbourne 5 20
Fri 7th Torquay 4 12
ABBA Chique, Harrogate 3 32
Mon 10th Newquay 5 10
Sun 16th Paris Floating Hotel 4 WEB
Mon 17th North Wales Singles Only 5 WEB Ireland, St Patrick’s Week 5 71 Paignton 5 12
Mon 24th Great Yarmouth 5 24
Mon 31st Weymouth 5 15 Warners, Cricket St Thomas 5 44-45
APRIL 2025
Sun 6th Italy, Lake Garda 8 WEB
Mon 7th Ryde, Isle of Wight 5 17 Tenby 5 50
Fri 11th Sidmouth 5 15
Sat 12th Falmouth 5 10
Scotland’s Angus Coast 7 50
Sandown, Isle of Wight 6 18
Sun 13th Netherlands, Keukenhof 4 WEB
Thu 17th Jersey by Air 6 62
Easter Mystery 5 08
Mon 21st Scenic Suffolk 5 22
Splendours of Shropshire 5 43
Fri 25th Looe 4 11
Netherlands, Keukenhof 4 73
Sat 26th The Outer Hebrides 8 59
Sun 27th Hayling Island 5 19
Mon 28th Harrogate 5 32
Pennine Explorer 5 41
MAY 2025
Fri 2nd Ilfracombe 4 14
Warners, Thoresby Hall 4 44-45
Mon 5th Potters Five Lakes 5 24 Harrogate 5 31
Tue 6th St Agnes 5 09
Thu 8th Isle of Skye 6 53
Fri 9th Isle of Man 5 WEB Paignton 4 12
Sun 11th Welsh Wonder, Caernarfon 5 48 Costa Brava & Little Trains10 83
Mon 12th West Wales, Gwbert 5 49
Wonders of the Weald 5 20
Wed 14th Orkney & North Scotland 6 60
Sat 17th Isles of Scilly 6 WEB
Sun 18th Boats & Trains of Norfolk 5 25
Jersey by Sea 6 63
Guernsey by Sea 6 63
Hooke & Crooke, Ireland 5 66
Mon 19th Suffolk Villages & Coast 5 22
Skegness 5 27
Fri 23rd Llandudno 4 46
Sun 25th River & Rail in Ireland 5 65
Mon 26th Scotland, North Coast 500 8 WEB Mystery 4 08 Tenby 5 50
Thu 29th Chateaux & Gardens of Paris 5 72
JUNE 2025
Mon 2nd Weymouth 5 15 Lake District, Kendal 5 38 North Wales, Llanberis 5 47
Thu 5th Austrian Lakes 8 79
Sun 8th Morecambe 6 40 Dolomites, Italy
Some of our 2025 holidays were featured in our previous brochure / released to our presale list, this brochure includes a great selection of new tours just added up to the end of Autumn 2025!
If you do not see a holiday listed inside our brochure that you have already booked, please do not panic! It is most likely not included because it has sold out already! You can still view tour information via our website or in our previous brochure. Our next holiday brochure is
and will include our
England Pages: 08-45
Channel Islands Pages: 62-63
Isle of Scilly Pages: 09
Belgium Page: 45
France Pages: 71-72
Netherlands Pages: 73
Wales Pages: 46-50 Scotland Pages: 50-61
Isle of Man Page: 64
Ireland Page: 65-71 Isle of Wight Pages: 17-19
78-79
Germany Pages: 74-76
81
Always a huge success and in 2025 we have two great hotels to visit. There will also be interesting towns visited on the way to and back from the destination, plus days out when we are there. Please see below for clues to where you are staying and any included extras!
5-star London With Afternoon Tea & Wine Hour!
3 Days Fri 8th August 2025 £429
+£230 Single Supplement
3 Days from
Enjoy one of the most famous cities in the world whilst staying in a 5-star Luxury Lifestyle hotel. Our hotel provides us with a scrumptious afternoon tea, wine hour and complimentary nonalcoholic mini bar in the rooms!
Friday To London and you can choose to be dropped at either Kensington (close to the museums) or Park Lane (close to the shops). And you can of course explore further afield if you wish by public transport. We will arrive at the hotel for 15:30 when we are treated to an Afternoon Tea. After we have checked in there is also Wine Hour in the evening from 18:00-19:00 with canapés.
5 Days Thu 17th April 2025 (Easter) £449
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! (LIMITED) AFTER SOLD +£90
CLUE: Easter Mystery break with a hot cross bun on arrival, an Easter egg and a Easter Sunday lunch (with a buffet in the evening) at a 3-star hotel set in attractive countryside near a National Park.
5 Days from 4 Days from
4 Days Mon 26th May 2025 £519
+£109 Single Supplement
CLUE: Two very different boat trips whilst staying at a 4-star hotel offering the perfect mix of traditional and modern in a grade I listed mansion.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Saturday The city is yours to explore at your own leisure! There is so much to see and discover in London. Maybe enjoy a spot of shopping, or perhaps visit some of the great range of museums and galleries! Maybe even treat yourself and book a West End show? Anything you fancy!
Sunday Following a relaxed breakfast, we check out and at 10:30 and our coach will take us to Covent Garden for free time. We depart here at 16:00 for home.
PLEASE NOTE: It is advisable to do your own prior research as to where you would like to visit in London for your free time and check availability for any attractions.
Andaz London Liverpool Street
A 5-star hotel that celebrates the heritage of its location.
LIFT | BAR WIFI | FREEVIEW TV MINI BAR hyatt.com/andaz
Obviously a secret! But will be of a good standard.
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Tours as indicated (Inclusions admissions as stated)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast and evening meal Hotels
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
PLEASE NOTE: This holiday is bed and breakfast only, however the hotel has five dining options if you wish to dine onsite, or of course there are plenty more within a short walk. The hotel is a 3-minute walk from Liverpool Street Underground Station.
• Central point pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Afternoon Tea & Wine Hour at hotel
• Hotel accommodation of bed & breakfast
6 Days
Thu 14th August 2025
£1,469
+£178 Single Supplement | +£50pp Sea View
7 Days (Inc. overnight in Looe)
Sun 7th September 2025 £1,499
+£180 Single Supplement | +£50pp Sea View (Scilly only)
The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago of five inhabited islands and numerous other small rocky islets 28 miles off Lands End. With a total population of just over two thousand, an exceptionally mild climate, and countless golden sandy beaches, Scilly is a beautiful haven of peace and tranquility. Our base is St Mary’s where you can chill out watching the tide change, the flowers open and the sunshine. We get to the island via a 20-minute flight from Land’s End Airport.
6 DAY TOUR:
Tours at Resort
5 Days (Inc. tours A, B & C) Fri 21st February 2025 £429
Winter Warmer Package: sherry reception, cream tea, and glass of wine. Tue 6th May 2025 £519
7 Days from 6 Days from 5 Days from 6 Days from
6 Days (Inc. all tours) Tue 14th October 2025 £629
7 Days from OR
7 Days (Inc. all tours + a free day in resort) Wed 30th July 2025 £769
Experience all that Cornwall has to offer whilst based in this lovely hotel in the quaint Cornish Coastal village of St Agnes. Lots of the scenic local area is used in the TV drama Poldark.
Our February holiday has a Winter Warmer package, including a sherry reception, afternoon cream tea and a glass of wine with dinner on our final evening.
First Day To Cornwall and Land’s End Airport for our flight to St Mary’s. It is a 20-minute flight, and we are met and transferred to our hotel.
A | A full day guided walking tour of the island of St Mary’s.
B | An ‘off-island’ trip to one of the other islands arrange by the hotel. Please note: if it is Tresco, then the Gardens are not guided. PLUS 2 FREE DAYS on St Mary’s or maybe catch a boat to one of the other islands (not included).
Last Day We have a transfer to the airport for our lunchtime flights back to the mainland. Here our coach meets us to return us home.
7 DAY TOUR:
Sunday We make our way to Looe and our overnight hotel The Portbyhan. We arrive in time to explore the harbour town before dinner.
Monday A relaxing journey to Land’s End Airport for our flight to St Mary’s. It is a 20-minute flight, and we are met and transferred to our hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | A full day guided walking tour of the island of St Mary’s.
B | An ‘off-island’ trip to one of the other islands arrange by the hotel. Please note: if it is Tresco, then the Gardens are not guided. PLUS 2 FREE DAYS on St Mary’s or maybe catch a boat to one of the other islands (not included).
Last Day We have a transfer to the airport for our lunchtime flights back to the mainland. Here our coach meets us to return us home.
PLEASE NOTE: guided walking tours require reasonable levels of fitness and mobility and are subject to local tides and weather conditions.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Flights
The Atlantic Hotel, Scilly A delightful old inn which adjoins the harbour from which boats make daily trips to Tresco and other delightful islands. atlantichotelscilly.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
First Day To Cornwall and we make a lunchtime stop in Boscastle which is a picturesque, sheltered harbour on a rugged coast where the quaint old buildings have been converted into pubs, restaurants and coffee shops.
Tours at Resort
A | Views of Mount’s Bay, overlooked by the beautiful St Michael’s Mount, before arriving at Land’s End where we make a short stop in this dramatic location. Then the coastal route to St Ives. St Ives is described as the jewel in Cornwall’s crown and has a picturesque fishing harbour.
B | We pass through Perranporth and travel along the north coast of Cornwall and after enjoying the scenic coastal drive we make a stop in Padstow. Padstow has a lovely setting by the Camel Estuary where narrow streets lead to the harbour. Free time to enjoy St Agnes on our return.
C | We make a morning stop in Porthleven with its picturesque high walled harbour with colourful boats. Then to the south coast of Cornwall and we visit Falmouth in its beautiful position on the estuary, which is the deepest in Western Europe.
D | We visit Truro, a great, little city filled with friendly pubs, restaurants, shops, and an iconic cathedral. Then to Mevagissey which has narrow streets that lead down to the old centre with distinctive, picturesque twin harbours.
Last Day We return by a different route and remain in Cornwall with a lunchtime stop in the historic fishing port of Looe, where two rivers create a tidal harbour. The bustling harbour is the hub of the town and home to fishing vessels as well as a pleasure craft.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Rosemundy House Hotel
3-star property set in four acres of woodland and gardens. In the evenings relax in the bar or cosy snug lounge.
BAR | GROUND FLOOR ROOMS rosemundy.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days from 5 Days from
5 Days from
5 Days Mon 10th March 2025 £389
We experience the best of the North Coast of Cornwall whilst based in a hotel with fabulous Atlantic Ocean Views in a quiet part of Newquay, but with the town centre in walking distance. We even get to see some of the southern coast on our way to the hotel! This holiday and hotel and receive great feedback.
Monday Our first taste of Cornwall as we visit Looe, a picturesque Cornish fishing harbour with a rich history.
Tours at Resort
A | We enjoy views of Mount’s Bay, overlooked by the beautiful St Michael’s Mount, before arriving at Land’s End where we make a short stop in this dramatic location. Then the coastal route to St Ives. St Ives is described as the jewel in Cornwall’s crown and has a picturesque fishing harbour.
B | To Boscastle which for many years was the only accessible harbour in over 40 miles of craggy coastline and is full of history. Then to Tintagel, famous for its castle which is entwined with the legend of King Arthur and there is now an iconic bridge linking it with the headland. We haven’t included entry (as it is not advised for those with limited mobility) but we will be here long enough to give you time to visit. Or if you would prefer to stay in the village, there is a myriad of shops and cafés to explore.
C | A free morning in Newquay and later to Padstow, a charming fishing port and a foodie destination ever since Rick Stein opened his first restaurant here in 1975.
Friday A different route home as we follow the Atlantic Highway through Cornwall and Devon to a lunchtime stop in the Devon town of Barnstaple on the River Taw, with its covered Victorian Pannier Market and famous ‘Butchers Row’.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Kilbirnie Hotel
Overlooking the Atlantic with a heated indoor pool and other great facilities.
BAR | FREEVIEW TV | GYM
INDOOR POOL | SAUNA kilbirniehotel.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days (Inc. tour A) Fri 24th January 2025 £299 5 Days (Inc. tours A & B) Mon 17th February 2025 £389 Sat 12th April 2025 £449 Fri 17th October 2025 £469
7 Days from
7 Days (Inc. all tours + a free day) Sun 27th July 2025 £789
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS!
Falmouth has a beautiful position, and our hotel is well located on the seafront, with far-reaching views. Having such a mild climate, sub-tropical plants bloom here. The magnificent natural harbour and interesting town add to the charm of this excellent resort.
First Day To Cornwall and we make a lunchtime stop in Boscastle which is a picturesque, sheltered harbour on a rugged coast where the quaint old buildings have been converted into pubs, restaurants and coffee shops.
Tours at Resort
A | We enjoy views of Mount’s Bay, overlooked by the beautiful St Michael’s Mount, before arriving at Land’s End where we make a short stop in this dramatic location. Then the coastal route to St Ives. St Ives is described as the jewel in Cornwall’s crown and has a picturesque fishing harbour.
B | We visit Truro, a great, little city filled with friendly pubs, restaurants, shops, and an iconic cathedral. On our return we make a short stop in Porthleven, an unspoilt fishing harbour steeped in history.
C | We visit Par Market & Food Hall (open Wednesdays and weekends), one of the largest indoor markets in the UK with a huge choice from essentials to specialties and curios plus holiday memories. Or if you would prefer, you can instead visit Charlestown and step in to Cornwall’s Historic Maritime Village, used extensively as a film set. Then to Mevagissey where narrow streets and steep valley sides lead down to the distinctive twin harbour which provides a safe haven for the many fishing boats that land their daily catch. In typical picture postcard style, pubs, cafés, galleries and shops cluster around the harbour walls.
D | We travel to the north coast of Cornwall and after enjoying the scenic coastal drive from Newquay, we make a stop in Padstow. Padstow has a lovely setting by the Camel Estuary where narrow streets lead to the harbour.
Last Day We return with a lunchtime stop in Exeter. Membly Hall Hotel
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
The hotel is situated on the sea front with panoramic views.
LIFT | BAR | SAUNA | SPA SATELLITE TV memblyhallhotel.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days (Inc. tours A & B) Fri 25th April 2025
£379
Fri 26th September 2025 £479
+£30pp River View | +£60pp Balcony River View
5 Days (Inc. all tours)
Mon 23rd June 2025 £619
+£40pp River View | +£80pp Balcony River View
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! (LIMITED)
INCLUDES FOWEY, PADSTOW, POLPERRO, FALMOUTH, MEVAGISSEY AND TRURO!
Explore Cornwall’s harbour towns and Villages from the historic fishing port of Looe, where two rivers create a tidal harbour. The bustling harbour is the hub of the town and home to fishing vessels as well as pleasure craft.
First Day We travel to Cornwall, and you have the choice between free time in Looe, or visit nearby Polperro, where picturesque and tightly packed cottages appear to tumble down to the harbour. PLEASE NOTE: There is a 500m walk into Polperro from coach park. Tours at Resort
A | We visit Fowey, one of the most unique and beautiful destinations in England with lovely views and interesting shopping. Later we call at Mevagissey, a beautiful harbour village much loved by artists.
B | To Falmouth which has a beautiful position, and with its mild climate, subtropical plants bloom here. The magnificent natural harbour and interesting town add to the charm of this excellent resort. Later, we visit Truro, Cornwall’s Cathedral city, with Georgian houses and interesting streets.
C | We head west and visit St Ives, with beautiful sandy beaches, picturesque, cobbled streets and rich cultural heritage.
Last Day To the north coast of Cornwall and we take the scenic road from Watergate Bay to Padstow, where we make a lunchtime stop. Then the homeward journey.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Portbyhan Hotel
3-star hotel situated in an unrivalled position, right at the heart of Looe. LIFT | BAR portbyhan.com
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Days from
5 Days Mon 7th July 2025 £649 +£91 Single Supplement
INCLUDES EDEN PROJECT, THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN, A HARBOUR CRUISE, PLUS TWO DEVON SEASIDE TOWNS AND A CORNISH FISHING VILLAGE!
The charming fishing villages, pretty harbours and rolling countryside have attracted visitors to Devon and Cornwall for years. In addition to this we also visit the iconic Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and enjoy a Plymouth Harbour cruise.
Monday We travel to Devon and make a lunchtime stop in the seaside resort of Teignmouth.
Tuesday We visit the world-famous Eden Project, a unique regeneration project that has transformed a scar into a global garden featuring two enormous Biomes. There is so much to see that it will fill our day!
Wednesday We enjoy a one-hour cruise of Plymouth Harbour and for the remainder of the day you have a choice; experience Plymouth yourself or join the coach for a trip to Dartmouth.
Dartmouth is a beautiful historic town situated on the west bank of the stunning River Dart in an area of outstanding natural beauty Thursday To the Lost Gardens of Heligan, amazingly discovered in 1991 under a blanket of brambles after seventy years of neglect. Many of the original plants have been rescued. In the afternoon we visit the nearby fishing village of Mevagissey which is extremely picturesque.
Friday We return home with a stop in Exmouth.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Duke of Cornwall Hotel
An iconic hotel dating back to 1863 & full of Victorian grandeur. LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV thedukeofcornwall.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan & a harbour cruise)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days (Inc. tour A)
Fri 7th March 2025 (Belgrave) £359
Fri 9th May 2025 (Palace) £389
Fri 12th September 2025 (Queens) £389 The English Riviera, including Cornwall! Paignton or Torquay
January, February and March holidays include ‘Cosy Break Entertainment ‘ which includes bingo, quiz, nightly entertainment etc. The 17th March 2025 Cosy Break is a new on sale!
5 Days (Inc. all tours) Mon 6th January 2025 (Palace) £399 Mon 10th February 2025 (Queens) £379
The warmest of welcomes awaits you on the English Riviera, South Devon’s beautiful bay. Surrounded by stunning coast and countryside, all with fine views over Torbay with its vivid blue sea and sky. As well as the beautiful coastline, our tours will show us much of Devon’s enchanting countryside. We have been operating these tours for many years now and they are always popular and often sell out quickly!
First Day To Devon and a two-hour lunchtime stop in Exeter. Tours at Resort
A | We cross the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall and visit the picturesque harbour town of Looe. It also has a beach and cobbled streets with independent boutiques.
B | We visit Dartmouth in its beautiful setting between steep hills and the picturesque harbour. Then a highlight of the holiday as we follow the picturesque coast road with great views of Blackpool Sands, known as Nature’s golden beach with clear blue water surrounded by magnificent evergreens and pines. We also pass Slapton Sands, with its WWII tank, and Kingsbridge on a truly memorable drive. Later we stop in Totnes, a captivating town set on one of Britain’s most picturesque waterways.
C | To Teignmouth, a stunning coastal town with historic, Georgian buildings, long sandy beaches and fresh, local food. Then, in the afternoon, we visit Sidmouth, a beautiful coastal town with a regency feel which is ideal for visitors of all ages. Last Day We return home with a stop in Wells.
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal 4 Days from 5 Days from
Belgrave Sands Hotel, Torquay
4-star hotel situated a stone’s throw from Torquay’s seafront.
LIFT | BAR | POOL SAUNA GYM | STEAM ROOM belgravesands.com
Queens Hotel, Paignton
3-star hotel situated near to the front and shops.
LIFT | BAR | POOL queenspaignton.com
Headland Hotel, Torquay
3-star iconic hotel with heartstopping seaviews of Torbay.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVEW TV WIFI | (SPA AVAILABLE AT ADDITIONAL COST) headlandtorquay.com
Palace Hotel, Paignton
3-star period hotel has fantastic unspoilt views across Torbay.
LIFT | BAR | GYM | SPA | POOL SAUNA palacepaignton.com
Torbay Court, Paignton
A warm and friendly welcome at a hotel famed for its friendliness, location and comfort.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI torbaycourthotel.com
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
4 Days
Fri 18th July 2025
+£15 Single Supplement
+£45 per room Sea View Upgrade
+£75 per room Balcony & Seaview Upgrade
4 Days from
£389
P.S upgrades do not apply to single rooms
If you’re looking for a laid-back, tranquil holiday without the hassle of fighting through the crowds to get to the beach, Babbacombe is a great alternative to its busier neighbours in Torbay.
Affectionately known as the ‘Jewel in the crown of the English Riviera’, the beach resort of Babbacombe includes a great range of things to do and see in a quiet, laid-back setting.
Friday To the Devon coast and we make a late lunchtime stop in Dawlish, then we continue along the coast to our hotel in Babbacombe.
Tours at Resort
A | A scenic tour of Dartmoor with a lunchtime stop in Tavistock. On our return you can choose between being dropped back at the hotel or spending some time in Torquay.
B | We visit the other side of Torbay with stops in Paignton, with its great beaches, and Brixham with its famous harbour.
Monday To nearby Teignmouth, a stunning coastal town with historic, Georgian buildings, long sandy beaches, and fresh, local food. From here we make our way home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
The Babbacombe Hotel
A seafront hotel with beautiful views of the Babbacombe Downs and Lyme Bay. LIFT | BAR babbacombehotel.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Sun 3rd August 2025
+£136 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£629
INCLUDES RHS ROSEMOOR, HESTERCOMBE HOUSE, SHEPPY’S CIDER FARM & A CREAM TEA!
Two famous gardens are visited plus one of the country’s favourite drink producers and we are also treated to a famous Cream Tea! This is also a great time of year to visit Devon’s great seaside towns on the North and South Coast. This tour is always a huge success!
Sunday Great scenery as we travel cross-country to the West Country a drive down Cheddar Gorge where we make a lunch time stop. Then on to our hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | To RHS Rosemoor which is nestled in a Devon valley and blends formal and informal plantings to create a magical effect. Then we continue to Woolacombe and its famous three-mile-long beach for an late afternoon stop.
B | Over the Blackdown Hills to the Victorian resort of Sidmouth where we have free time to explore. Later we call visit Sheppy’s Cider for a tour of the orchards and press house, and of course a tasting!
C | We visit Hestercombe House and Gardens where we can explore three centuries of garden design. Then a scenic drive over the Quantock Hills to Minehead, where we make a stop before we return to the hotel with a scenic drive through the Exmoor National Park.
Thursday We return home with a stop in the delightful little city of Wells with its wonderful cathedral.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Tiverton Hotel
3-star hotel set in 2.5 acres of grounds on the outskirts of the market town of Tiverton in the heart of the beautiful mid-Devon region. GROUND FLOOR ROOMS WIFI | BAR | FREEVIEW TV tivertonhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Including three attractions)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days (Inc. tour A & B) Fri 2nd May 2025 £399 Fri 3rd October 2025 £389
5 Days (Inc. all tours) Mon 21st July 2025 £529 NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! (LIMITED)
4 Days from 5 Days from 5 Days from
Ilfracombe has a picturesque harbour along with narrow streets and the North Devon coast is renowned for its unique character and spectacular scenery.
First Day We travel to Devon with a lunchtime stop in Wells which has an historic centre, magnificent cathedral, and a unique, moated Bishop’s Palace.
Tours at Resort
A | To Barnstaple on the River Taw, with its covered Victorian Pannier Market and famous ‘Butchers Row’. We then return for free time to explore Ilfracombe.
B | Over Exmoor and via Simonsbath and Wheddon Cross to Dunster, perhaps its most picturesque village where we make a short stop. We then continue to a lunchtime stop in Lynmouth Here there is the opportunity to take the cliff railway (not included) to Lynton.
C | We visit the historic harbour town of Bideford which is packed with independent shops, local produce, and a picturesque quay. We then make a stop in Woolacombe where magnificent scenery meets the swell of the Atlantic waves on its famous beach. It is also a lively place with lots of shops and cafes etc. if you would prefer you can be returned to Ilfracombe for free time there.
Last Day We return with a drive through the Valley of Rocks with its majestic skyline before making a stop in Minehead.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
The Ilfracombe Carlton Superb hotel in the heart of Ilfracombe with a Victorian exterior and a 21st century interior.
LIFT | BAR | GYM ilfracombecarlton.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Mon 4th August 2025 £499
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS!
INCLUDES DONKEY SANCTUARY!
Exmouth commands a wonderful position where the River Exe joins the sea. It is renowned for its red cliffs and has a long, level promenade with fine views to sea and along the coastline.
Monday To Exeter, one of Britain’s most historic towns with a lovely cathedral, great shopping, and riverside walks. From here it is a short drive along the Exe Estuary to our hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | Along the coast to visit the resorts of Sidmouth, an attractive town set between red cliffs, and Lyme Regis, which boasts breathtaking scenery and a special mystique. It’s historic Cobb and harbour are iconic features.
B | To Budleigh Salterton, a quiet town that feels like a step back in time. Later we visit the Donkey Sanctuary, founded in 1969 and now home to hundreds of donkeys! (Entry is free but donations are gratefully received.)
Friday Home with a stop in the small city of Wells, with its fine cathedral and market square.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Ashton Court Hotel Situated on the town’s historic beacon with magnificent views and a short walk to town.
BAR | LIFT | WIFI ashtoncourt.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Fri 11th April 2025
5 Days from
5 Days Mon 31st March 2025 £399 Mon 2nd June 2025 £499
Mon 22nd September 2025 £499 5 Days from
£519
Sat 18th October 2025 £519
+£64 per person Sea View Upgrade (not single rooms)
Sidmouth is a beautiful coastal town with a regency feel which is ideal for visitors of all ages. Set in the middle of spectacular countryside Sidmouth is home to beautiful beaches, stylish eating places and great shopping, with everything from unusual gifts to lifestyle goods available.
First Day To Devon and we make a lunchtime stop in historic Exeter. We continue to our hotel by following the coastal route via Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton.
Tours at Resort
A | Along the Jurassic Coast with stops in West Bay and Lyme Regis. West Bay is a charming fishing village that has enjoyed a surge in popularity since Broadchurch was filmed there. Lyme Regis boasts breathtaking scenery and a special mystique, it’s historic Cobb and harbour are iconic features.
B | Taking in views of Torbay and the Exe Estuary with its fine views, we visit Dawlish and Torquay, two contrasting seaside resorts.
Last Day We return home with a stop in the compact city of Wells.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
The Kingswood
A 3-star elegant relaxing retreat at the centre of Sidmouth’s delightful historic esplanade and backed by sixty years of renowned family service and hospitality. LIFT | BAR kingswoodsidmouth.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Looking for a holiday by the sea with beautiful scenery? Then look no further, Weymouth is the perfect holiday destination! With beautiful golden sands sprinkled with deckchairs, safe shallow waters, and a pretty harbour side, you certainly won’t be disappointed. All our coastal visits during the week form part of the famous Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for outstanding rocks, fossils and landforms.
Monday Heading for Weymouth we call at Poole Quay for a lunchtime stop.
Tours at Resort
A | A choice to begin the day between West Bay and Bridport (market day on Wednesdays). West Bay is a charming fishing village that has enjoyed a surge in popularity since Broadchurch was filmed there. Bridport is a thriving, quirky and cultural market town with a fantastic antiques quarter. Then to Lyme Regis which boasts breathtaking scenery and a special mystique, it’s historic Cobb and harbour are iconic features. We conclude the day with scenic drive following Chesil Beach, one of the most iconic sights on the Jurassic Coast.
B | A great circular tour today which begins by taking the Sandbank’s Ferry to the scenic ‘isle’ of Purbeck. Before catching the ferry, we do a circular tour of Sandbank’s and view some of the most expensive houses in the country. After the ferry we pass through Studland Nature Reserve and make a lunchtime stop in Swanage, which has a promenade backed by attractions with great views. We then make a short stop at the perfectly rounded bay of Lulworth Cove set in picturesque scenery. Before returning to our hotel, we take a ride onto the Isle of Portland with great scenic views.
Friday We head for home, travelling through the New Forest with a stop in Lyndhurst.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Crown Hotel
A 3-star hotel with charm, character, and a great atmosphere close to the picturesque Brewer’s Quay.
LIFT | BAR kingshotels.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Luxuriate in the star-studded surroundings of Moonfleet, our gateway to the majestic Jurassic Coast. This hotel is a gem nestled on the shores of the Jurassic Coast, Britain’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can enjoy the gentle sea breeze as you indulge in the serene luxury of this coastal haven. We visit Mapperton House, acclaimed as the ‘Nation’s Finest Manor House’ and 2020 Historic Houses Garden of the Year, and have a captivating tour of the house and then the gardens led by the head gardener. We also cruise through one of the world’s largest natural harbours and the beginning of the Jurassic Heritage Coast, enjoying breathtaking views of Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula, and Studland Bay.
Sunday Heading for Moonfleet Manor, we call Christchurch where today is market day.
Tours at Resort
A | To Mapperton House where we uncover the Earl of Sandwich’s family home on a private tour. Then to the Grade II listed gardens to admire the award-winning Italianate terraces and natural landscapes on a tour with the head gardener. There is also a rewilding project enhancing biodiversity and encouraging bees, butterflies and birds. Later to West Bay, a charming fishing village that has enjoyed a surge in popularity since Broadchurch was filmed there. We conclude the day with scenic drive following Chesil Beach, one of the most iconic sights on the Jurassic Coast.
B | We make a short stop at the perfectly rounded bay of Lulworth Cove set in picturesque scenery, before spending time in the Victorian resort of Weymouth. Before returning to our hotel, we take a ride onto the Isle of Portland with great views.
C | To Poole and we enjoy a seventy-minute circular cruise viewing Brownsea Island, Sandbanks and Studland Bay, all brought to life with entertaining live commentary. Free time in Poole Quay before we return to our hotel.
Thursday We head for home, travelling through the New Forest with a stop in Lyndhurst.
Moonfleet Manor Hotel Recently renovated to 4-star luxury in an unrivalled position.
BAR | WIFI | LIFT(request)
POOL | SAUNA | FREEVIEW TV luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/ locations/moonfleet-manor Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Including Mapperton House and cruise)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Renowned for its golden beaches and beautiful parks and gardens, Bournemouth blends the contemporary with the traditional to ensure you are truly spoilt for choice. We stay at the 3-star Suncliff Hotel which is located on the seafront with great leisure facilities and live entertainment on two nights. Plus, we are Full Board (packed lunch on days out) and there is an open bar for three hours each night on selected drinks!
Monday A lovely drive south and we stop in Christchurch where today in market day.
Tours at Resort
A | We take packed lunches with us and travel into the New Forest and we visit Beaulieu which is a stately home, motor museum and a 13th century abbey surrounded by picturesque gardens and 800 years of history. We have a guided tour of the Palace. We view the fauna and flora of the New Forest all day long and on our return we travel via Milford-on-Sea with great views of the Needles from Paddy’s Gap where we make a short stop.
B | A circular of the Isle of Purbeck with stops in the resort of Swanage. The route includes the Sandbank’s ferry and whilst on Sandbanks we see some of the most exclusive houses in the country. We take packed lunches with us.
C | We make a morning trip to Poole Quay before returning to the hotel for a hot lunch. In the afternoon the coach is available to drop you into central Bournemouth, or you can make the short walk at your leisure.
Friday We return with a lunchtime stop in Lymington with it’s long high street, full of independent shops, and small harbour.
Soak up natural wonders, spectacular views and serene shorelines on some of England’s finest coast. From the clifftops of Christchurch, lounge in opulence in the State Dining Room hearing Highcliffe Castle’s impressive tales of fame, tragedy and rebirth. Hidden on the spectacular Dorset coast, swan down to the only place in the world you can walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans and learn from an experienced swanherd the secrets of the sanctuary. And the highlight as we sightsee around the Isle of Wight, including gems such as Carisbrooke Castle, Old Shanklin and Needles, all in a day with your Isle of Wight expert Blue Badge Guide. All whilst staying at the 4-star Cumberland Hotel with at least two nights entertainment.
Monday Enroute we enjoy a lunchtime stop in Lyndhurst in the New Forest, from here we enjoy a scenic drive to Bournemouth. Tours at Resort
A | To Highcliffe Castle which is an important example of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture; its significance recognised nationally by its Grade I listed status. Discover for yourself the fascinating story of how this once lavish home was destroyed by fires, left to ruin, and subsequently brought back to life. As well as time to explore the Castle, we have a private talk, tea and cake. We also make a short stop in Christchurch with great shopping and an impressive Priory overlooking the harbour.
B | Abbotsbury Swannery is the only place in the world where you can walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute swans. Located on the dramatic Dorset coast, this unique natural wildlife habitat is spread over a site of some 25 acres and is home to the only managed colony of free-flying mute swans in the world and we have a guided tour. We also visit Lulworth Cove and its worldfamous views.
C | We catch the ferry to the Isle of Wight and spend the whole day on the island with a Blue Badge guide showing us all of the highlights.
Friday Free time to explore Bournemouth and we depart early afternoon.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Cumberland Hotel
Iconic 4-star art deco hotel on the prestigious East Cliff overlooking the award-winning golden beaches, the isle of Wight and the Jurassic coast.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV
OUTDOOR POOL
cumberlandbournemouth.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Including Highcliffe Castle, Abbotsbury Swannery and Isle of Wight Blue Badge Guide)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
The Isle of Wight has stunning coastlines, gorgeous countryside, vibrant towns, and award-winning attractions all on one beautiful, picturesque island. Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight and is the best place on the island to indulge in retail therapy with Union St especially lined with boutique shops. It also has a vast sandy beach, is the start point of the Isle of Wight Railway and has the second longest pier in the country!
Monday To Portsmouth and we cross by ferry to the Isle of Wight and on to our hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | We view the magnificent coastal scenery along the south of the island as we travel to Alum Bay overlooking the Needles. Later we call in at Yarmouth with its continental atmosphere and picturesque harbour.
B | We visit the seaside resorts of Ventnor and Shanklin plus, we make a stop at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary (free entry but donations welcome). Shanklin, a traditional seaside town that regularly tops the charts for the number of sunshine hours and has a great beach, shops, and cafes. It also has an Old Town that is worth exploring. Ventnor has great beaches and a long promenade plus great shops.
Friday We return to the mainland on the ferry from Fishbourne.
5 Days (Inc. tours A, B & C) Mon 10th February 2025 £469
+£80 upgrade single room to side sea view
+£160 upgrade single room to full sea view
5 Days from
February departure: Three lunches are included (on days we are out we will get a packed lunch) plus, there is entertainment on three nights and on one night there will be a free bar from 8-11pm!
All twin and double rooms come with a sea view and single travelers have the option to upgrade for £20 per night to a side sea view room or £40 per night for a full sea view room.
6 Days (Inc. tours A, B & C) Sat 12th April 2025 £549
+£100 upgrade single room to side sea view
+£200 upgrade single room to full sea view
7 Days (Inc. all tours) Wed 11th June 2025 £699 Fri 15th August 2025
+£120 upgrade single room to side sea view
£739
+£240 upgrade single room to full sea view
The Isle of Wight has stunning coastlines, gorgeous countryside, vibrant towns and award-winning attractions all on one beautiful, picturesque island. Our tours to the island are based in Sandown which shelters in a beautiful bay and is famed for its golden sandy beach and the traditional British seafront and pier. Our hotel in Sandown is the fabulous Trouville which is centrally located on Sandown seafront with panoramic views, the feedback since we started staying here in 2021 has been outstanding!
First Day We cross by ferry to the Isle of Wight and on to our hotel. Tours at Resort
A | We view the magnificent coastal scenery along the south of the island as we travel to Alum Bay overlooking the Needles. Later we call in at Yarmouth with its continental atmosphere and picturesque harbour.
B | We visit the seaside resorts of Ryde and Shanklin. Ryde is the largest town on the Island and in addition to an expanse of sandy beaches, which stretch right along the town, it has a great selection of boutique shops, museums and galleries. If you would prefer (and if it is open) we can drop you at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum! Then to Shanklin, a traditional seaside town that regularly tops the charts for the number of sunshine hours and has a great beach, shops and cafes. It also has an Old Town that is worth exploring.
C | We make a stop at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary (free entry but donations welcome) where you can meet all the donkeys and ponies plus, grab a bite to eat if you wish. In the afternoon to Ventnor, great beaches and a long promenade plus great shops.
D | To West Cowes, beautifully set on the estuary with its busy harbour and narrow streets, and on to Newport, the island’s attractive capital at the head of the river.
Last Day A final drive across the island before catching our ferry back to the mainland.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
• Tours as indicated
Trouville Hotel, Sandown
A proud reputation for delivering high standards in food, service and hospitality.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | SPORT ROOM trouvillehotel.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
• February date: Includes 3 lunches plus open bar on 1 night
5 Days Sun 27th April 2025
+£140 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£619
INCLUDES HOVERCRAFT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT, HARBOUR CRUISE, AND SEASIDE RESORTS!
Hayling Island has a rich history and is perfectly situated to visit maritime Portsmouth, charming Chichester on Market Day plus, enjoy a cruise and a Hovercraft trip! Our 3-star hotel offers a stunning harbour side setting.
Sunday En route we enjoy a lunchtime stop in Portsmouth at Gunwharf Quay.
Monday To Southsea where we are whisked to the Isle of Wight, on the world’s only year-round Hovercraft, and the charming resort of Ryde where we have over three hours to explore the shops and beaches.
Tuesday A relaxing day today as we visit the seaside resorts of Littlehampton and Worthing.
Wednesday Chichester is cosmopolitan, fashionably elegant, and unashamedly quirky and today it hosts its famous market. Later, we have a one-hour, relaxing, and scenic Chichester Harbour Cruise on a new boat that is a solar powered catamaran.
Thursday Free time in Southsea, with great views to sea, before we make our journey home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Langstone Quays Resort
3-star hotel located in the Haying Island harbour area. BAR | WIFI
GROUND FLOOR ROOMS
FREEVIEW TV langstonequays.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (including Hovercraft and harbour tour)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Mon 29th September 2025 £649
+£95 Single Supplement
+£94 per room Sea View Upgrade
5 Days from
+£142 per room Double Sea View & Balcony Upgrade
INCLUDES ARUNDEL CASTLE, PARHAM HOUSE & GARDENS, CANAL CRUISE AND WEALD & DOWNLAND MUSEUM (HOME OF THE REPAIR SHOP)
Based in a luxurious 4-star hotel, this tour explores the South Downs National Park area with four great inclusions including a tranquil cruise on the Wey & Arun Canal. As well as the attraction visits, we also visit Chichester, Brighton, Portsmouth and Southsea. The hotel has live entertainment on two nights and a quiz or bingo on another!
Monday En route we enjoy a lunchtime stop in Portsmouth at Gunwharf Quay.
Tuesday To the unique Weald & Downland Living Museum, an open-air museum with a collection of over 50 original buildings spanning a period of 600 years. Site of the hugely popular ‘The Repair Shop’, in which the highly skilled craftspeople save broken treasures (Please note: they are not necessarily filming when we visit). In the afternoon we visit Chichester which has a cathedral, shops and a Roman history to explore.
Wednesday We spend the morning in Brighton where you explore its famous attractions or just the shops and cafes! In the afternoon to Arundel Castle, set high on a commanding hill with superb views across the South Downs and River Arun. We can visit the Castle, Keep and Gardens.
Thursday A delightful ninety-minute cruise to start the day on the Wey & Arun Canal, cruising along the idyllic Loxwood Link section with picturesque scenery all the way. In the afternoon to Parham House and Gardens, one of the country’s finest Elizabethan Houses set in 875 acres of the South Downs. The spectacular gardens feature pleasure grounds, a four-acre walled garden, stunning herbaceous borders and much more.
Friday Free time in Southsea, with great views to sea, before we make our journey home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Beachcroft Hotel
A 4-star hotel in the residential area just a stone throw from the beach. BAR | WIFI | POOL beachcroft-hotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Arundel Castle, Parham House, canal cruise and Weald & Downland Museum)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days (Inc. tour A) Fri 21st February 2025 (Langham) £329
5 Days (Inc. all tours)
5 Days
Mon 12th May 2025 £699
5 Days from EXTRA DATE!
+£100 Single Supplement
+£119 Single Supplement INCLUDES PENSHURST PLACE, DOVER CASTLE, HOLE PARK AND TRAIN RIDE!
5 Days from 4 Days from 5 Days from
Mon 3rd March 2025 (Langham) £449
Mon 30th June 2025 (Hydo) £669
Mon 1st September 2025 (Hydo) £669
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! (LIMITED)
Eastbourne is famous for its lush rolling landscapes, stunning beaches and iconic chalk sea cliffs and we have varied days out as well to show you the best of the surrounding countryside and towns. We have two high-quality hotels to choose from. The 4-star Hydro hotel was originally opened in 1895 and is perched 120 feet above sea level on a cliff top and boasts incredible views of the English Channel and Beachy Head, on one night at the Hydro there will be a pre-dinner reception with an included glass of wine.
First Day We make a lunch time stop in Arundel which combines thousands of years of history with independent shops and cafes.
Tours at Resort
A | We start our day with a spectacular drive across Beachy Head to vibrant and colourful Brighton, where you’ll find a treasure trove of things to do from seaside fun on the pier to the stunning heritage of the Royal Pavilion. Plus, great shops! We then make an afternoon stop in the small village of Alfriston in the Cuckmere Valley, an ancient village full of history.
B | A fascinating day as we travel to Rye, an unspoilt town rising above the surrounding countryside with good views across the Marshes. Later we visit the delightful market town of Battle, that grew up around the Abbey and has history dating back to 1066.
(March date also stops in Tenterden for a brief stop)
Last Day We return home with a stop in Windsor.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Hydro Hotel
Eastbourne’s finest 4 Star hotel with stunning views, set in its own private gardens.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV HEATED OUTDOOR POOL hydrohotel.com
Langham Hotel
On the iconic seafront with stunning views. LIFT | BAR langhamhotel.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Wed 30th July 2025 £669
Steam through storied grandeur, royal treasure and a railway adventure in The Weald of Kent. Not only do we visit two of the best houses in Kent, but we also have tours of them including food! We also experience a ride on the Kent & Sussex Railway, through the rolling hills of the High Weald Countryside. Plus, we visit Dover Castle with spectacular views across the channel at one of the oldest Norman Fortresses in England.
First Day We travel to Kent with a lunch break in Guildford. Tours at Resort
A | To Penshurst Place where we have a VIP House and Garden Tour with the head guide. It is a medieval masterpiece with walls adorned with treasure and the house is complemented by the historic formal gardens and grounds that were once hunted by Henry VIII. (On our July date, we are also treated to a hot drink and cake in restaurant.) We also visit to Royal Turnbridge Wells.
B | Unlock Dover Castle, the enduring ‘Key to England, standing guard across the turbulent English Channel. There is 2,000 years of history from a Roman Lighthouse, through to wartime tunnels used in WWII. We also visit Deal, a unique and special place that is classed as the prettiest seaside town in Kent.
C | Hole Park is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Weald and is one of England’s best kept secrets. There are formal gardens and all with views of the surrounding, rolling hills and woods. We have a garden tour and enjoy a light lunch. Later a fifty-minute each way return journey on the Kent & East Sussex Railway from Tenterden to Bodiam, it is one of the finest examples of rural light rail and has superb views.
Last Daty We return home with a stop in Windsor.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Bridgewood Manor 4-star hotel with full leisure facilities near Chatham. LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV POOL | SPA | SAUNA bridgewoodmanorhotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Dover Castle, Penshurst Place, Hole Park and Railway)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Sun 10th August 2025 £569
+£100 Single Supplement INCLUDING SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDENS & HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS
Steeped in history and heritage, discover the essence of this region with its perfect blend of city, coast and countryside. Plus, we visit two of the country’s most famous castles!
Sunday We travel to Kent with a lunch break in Windsor.
Monday In the morning we travel to Royal Tunbridge Wells and then in the afternoon we visit one of England’s most famous and romantic gardens, Sissinghurst, with its famous twentieth century garden. Entry to the Castle Buildings is also included. Throughout the day we travel through pretty Kent villages including Pluckley, the setting for the filming of The Darling Buds of May.
Tuesday Enjoy the best of the Kent Coast as we first travel to Deal, a unique and special place that is classed as the prettiest seaside town in Kent. Then on to the Royal Port of Ramsgate with its grand harbour and the longest wartime tunnels in the UK, where residents took refuge and lived underground, just steps away from a beautiful golden beach.
Wednesday In the morning we visit historic Hever Castle and gardens with its enchanting double-moated castle and 125 acres of spectacular gardens. In the afternoon we visit Rochester with its Charles Dickens connections and grand cathedral.
Thursday We return home with a stop in Guildford and a scenic drive back across the Hog’s Back.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Bridgewood Manor 4-star hotel with full leisure facilities near Chatham.
LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV
POOL | SPA | SAUNA bridgewoodmanorhotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Sissinghurst Gardens & Hever Castle)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
2 Days
Sun 14th September 2025 £899
+£125 Single Supplement
Expect luxury, glamour and exceptional service on an unforgettable trip from London to Canterbury. From the moment you step aboard British Pullman, your celebration of the Golden Age of rail travel begins. Here, in the only set of authentic 1920s Pullman carriages in the UK, hauled by a British Rail Class 67 diesel locomotive, prepare for first-class service, unparalleled comfort and exceptional fine dining. Settle into plush seats, surrounded by marquetry and art deco features, creating an ambience of opulence where liveried stewards attend to your every need.
Indulge in a sumptuous three-course brunch served with a sparkling seasonal Bellini as the train makes its way to Canterbury. After exploring the city, return to the train for a champagne reception, followed by a four-course set dinner, paired with half a bottle of wine, savouring the delectable gastronomic offerings while basking in the sophistication of bespoke China and crystal glassware.
Sunday To London and we are dropped at Covent Garden for free time before checking into our 5-star hotel, which welcomes guests into a world of Victorian sophistication merged with modern opulence. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore at your own leisure. NOTE: dinner is not included but we are close to many eating options in South Kensington plus, our hotel has a restaurant, or the tube station is only a short walk away.
Monday We make the short journey to London Victoria and board are train for a once in a lifetime experience - The Belmond British Pullman Train. Our coach meets us on our return to bring us home.
Please note a £100pp deposit is required for this tour.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
100 Queen’s Gate Hotel
5-star hotel situated in prestigious Kensington. This grand establishment, once a Victorian aristocrat’s residence, is a sanctuary of elegance.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | GYM thequeensgatehotel.com
• Tours as indicated (inc Belmond British Pullman)
• Central point pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation
5 Days
5 Days from
Mon 21st April 2025 £689
+£194 Single Supplement
INCLUDING ICKWORTH HOUSE, SUTTON HOO AND LAVENHAM
From timeless seaside towns to archaeological wonders, Suffolk hosts many treasures and pleasures! We blend highlights with hidden gems: from the pretty Suffolk coast, delightful gardens and the county’s jewel, the atmospheric Anglo-Saxon site of Sutton Hoo. Our 4-star hotel is set on Ipswich Waterfront in a great position.
5 Days
+£180 Single Supplement NEW TOUR!
Monday We travel towards Suffolk with a stop in St Albans, a jewel of a city with history, culture plus great food and shopping. Then onto our hotel with tea and coffee on arrival.
Tuesday We explore the picturesque Suffolk coast and first stop is Southwold, famous for its colourfully painted beach huts and pier. Then a short stop in Thorpeness, which boasts pretty mock-Tudor houses and a folly known as ‘House in the Clouds’.
5 Days from
Mon 19th May 2025 £629
+£140 Single Supplement
5 Days from
Mon 25th August 2025 £669
INCLUDING FULL DAY WITH LOCAL GUIDE, LAVENHAM GUILDHALL & A NINETY-MINUTE CRUISE
On this tour we explore the countryside that inspired two of the nation’s finest painters, John Constable, and Thomas Gainsborough. We have a local guide for the whole day whilst we explore the Suffolk Villages, and we have included entry to Lavenham Guildhall plus a ninety-minute cruise. Our hotel is set within 120 acres of stunning, historic parkland. This tour was a huge hit in 2024!
Wednesday We have a guided tour of the world-famous Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo, the beautiful 225 acre estate where one of Britain’s greatest archaeological finds was made in 1939. We discover the story of the amazing 7th century ship burial of an Anglo-Saxon king, view the awardwinning exhibition and explore the full size reconstruction of a burial chamber (Please note accessing the burial mounds requires a 10-15 minute walk). In the afternoon, we have free time to explore Ipswich Marina which neighbours are hotel, with yachts, shops and cafes.
Thursday To Lavenham, famous for its pretty half-timbered houses, shops and cafes. Then on to the impressive Italianate Palace of Ickworth. There is time to explore the house and we have an outdoor tour with a guide of the gardens, which combine immaculate formal gardens with woodlands and rolling countryside.
Friday We stop at Saffron Walden, an unspoilt town full of superb buildings. Following free time for lunch, we return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Salthouse Harbour Hotel
A contemporary, 4-star boutique hotel overlooking Ipswich Waterfront.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW WIFI salthouseharbour.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Ickworth and Sutton Hoo)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Monday We travel towards Suffolk with a stop in St Albans, a jewel of a city with history, culture plus great food and shopping. Then onto our hotel with tea and coffee on arrival.
Tuesday We enjoy a guided tour of Suffolk’s pastel-coloured villages, whose timber-framed houses and thatched roofs make this area so unique, typified by the Guildhall at Lavenham. We include entrance to this historic building, now containing exhibitions of local history, farming and the woollen trade. The tour also takes in Sudbury, home to Gainsborough’s attractive townhouse, which is now the birthplace museum and gallery of Gainsborough.
Wednesday We venture into the heart of Constable Country and visit Flatford Mill. Here we will find a 16th Century thatched cottage that the artist regularly painted and an exhibition on his life and work. We also spend time in Woodbridge, one of the gems of Suffolk. It lies on the banks of the River Deben and has excellent shops and food options.
Thursday To Oulton Broad for a ninety-minute River Waveney Marshland Cruise along the Norfolk/ Suffolk border. The cruise takes in the grazing marshland and the pretty waterside village of Burgh St Peter. In the afternoon to the pretty coastal town of Aldeburgh, with its unspoilt beach dotted with fishermen’s huts and charming, historic high street.
Friday We stop at Saffron Walden, an unspoilt town full of superb buildings. Following free time for lunch, we return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Ufford Park Hotel
A 3-star luxurious hotel in the heart of Suffolk.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI GYM | POOL FREEVIEW TV uffordpark.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Lavenham Guildhall, Flatford Mill, boat cruise and a full-day guided tour)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
EXTRA DAY ADDED WITH EXTRA ATTRACTION!
5 Days
Fri 25th July 2025
+£227 Single Supplement Folklore,
5 Days from
£669
INCLUDING AUDLEY END HOUSE, GREEN ISLAND GARDENS, ‘ESSEX SMUGGLER’S TRAIL’ WITH LOCAL GUIDE ON BOARD AND SUFFOLK PUNCH HORSE TRUST
The county of Essex is full of surprises, from rustic riches to inspiring, enchanted heritage. This tour explores it all and provides the opportunity to discover the unexpected along the way. This year we have added a visit to Suffolk Punch Horse Trust for a guided tour and a tractor trailer ride.
Friday We travel towards Suffolk with a stop in St Albans, a jewel of a city with history, culture plus great food and shopping.
Saturday We begin in Saffron Waldren where we can marvel at the rich heritage of buildings, reflecting the wealth of this medieval town, today is market day which has been held here since 1141. Then on to Audley End House & Gardens, one of the most opulent Jacobean Houses. We learn about life both above and below stairs, see impressive works of art and the glorious gardens re-modelled by Capability Brown.
Sunday A local guide is on board for a half day tour of the Essex Coast and Blackwater Estuary. We hear tales of smugglers navigating the many inlets and shifting sands under the cover of mist and darkness. Our lunch time stop is Maldon where Market Hill is lined with timber framed buildings. In the afternoon we visit Green Island Gardens, 20 acres that display a huge range of unusual trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs.
Monday To the Suffolk Punch Trust, founded to protect the endangered oldest English breed of working horse. On a guided tour and tractor ride, meet the horses and learn about the history of this gentle giant. In the afternoon we visit the charming seaside village of Aldeburgh.
Tuesday We return home with a lunch time stop in Windsor with time to explore the town.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Holiday Inn Colchester 4-star hotel located in the village of Eight Ash Green. FREEVIEW TV BAR | LEISURE CLUB GROUND FLOOR ROOMS hicolchesterhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (including Audley End, Suffolk Punch Trust, Green Island and a local guide)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! (AT PALM COURT)
Mon 24th March 2025 (Prom) £429
+£67 Single Supplement
Mon 9th June 2025 (Palm) £529
+£48pp Sea View Upgrade
5 Days from 5 Days from 5 Days from 5 Days from
Mon 1st September 2025 (Palm) £529
+£48pp Sea View Upgrade
MARCH DATE INCLUDES: 30% BAR DISCOUNT AT HOTEL!
JUNE & SEPTEMBER DATE INCLUDES: MISSISSIPPI PADDLE BOAT RIDE ON THE BROADS!
The Broads have dramatic landscapes with raw natural beauty and a rare quality of light. Where big, bright skies meet endless horizons and dreamlike landscapes. Great Yarmouth is a famous holiday destination, bursting with fun things to do, activities for all, shows and attractions stretching along the fabled Golden Mile and the huge expanse of pristine beach.
Monday We head towards East Anglia and make a stop in Saffron Waldren, a picturesque, medieval town. Tours at Resort
A | A scenic coastal drive with a lunchtime stop in Sheringham, a lovely resort with diverse shops and places to eat. We also visit Cromer with its great, sandy beaches.
B | We enjoy a ninety-minute scenic boat ride on a Mississippi Paddle Boat before spending free time in the beautiful village of Wroxham for lunch. We return to the hotel with a scenic tour of the Broads. MARCH DATE: On Tour B We visit Norwich. No boat ride included, we return to hotel mid-afternoon.)
C | We spend time in Norwich which is a wonderful fusion of the modern and historic. Its centre is easy to walk around, has a river at its heart and is the most complete medieval city in the UK with stunning Norman cathedral and castle. It also has superb independent shops as well as High Street shopping and a quaint covered market.
MARCH DATE: On Tour C we visit Wroxham & Great Yarmouth.
Friday We return home with a stop in St Albans, a cathedral city with history dating back to Roman times for lunch, we return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Prom Hotel
4-star hotel with an AA Rosette restaurant. Many rooms have views of the beach. LIFT | BAR WIFI | FREEVIEW TV | GYM promhotel.co.uk
Palm Court Hotel
3-star hotel located on the seafront with extensive facilities, sumptuous dining & a sun deck. LIFT (not to all rooms) | BAR STEAM ROOM | POOL palmcourt.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. boat ride on June & September tour)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Mon 5th May 2025 £689
Mon 4th August 2025 £739
+£100 Single Supplement Upgrades: +£40pp Premier Plus | +£40pp Deluxe
Set in Essex, Potters is the perfect location for rest and relaxation with a variety of activities, top notch entertainment and delicious food and drink. In the evening the Garden Bar is a great place to unwind and be entertained and the Glade Theatre has spectacular performances and comedy. Breakfast, three course lunch, three course dinner and a late-night snack and drinks are included throughout at no extra cost! We spend plenty of time in resort but also have a short trip out on two days for those who want to. Last year was a sell out and a huge success, so this year we have added a second date!
Monday Towards Essex with a lunchtime stop in St Albans. Tours at Resort
A | Choose between Leigh-on-Sea and Southend. Leigh-on-Sea is full of unique character and charm making it a picturesque place to unwind and take in the sea air. Southend is a traditional resort with a world-famous pier
B | We visit the Market Town of Sudbury (where Thursday is Market Day), it is an ancient town, set on the River Stour surrounded by Water Meadows.
Friday We return with a lunch time stop in Windsor.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Potters: Five Lakes
Village Premier: Set in the grounds just a short walk from the hotel with free Wi-Fi.
Village Premier Plus: As above, but with either a patio or a enhanced view.
Hotel Premier: Located amongst the indoor facilities with free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Premier Plus: As above, but with an enhanced view.
Hotel Deluxe: As above, but with a cozy seating area. pottersholidays.com
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, meals, and select drinks.
Codebreakers & Cambridge Plus, the best towns of Suffolk & Norfolk!
4 Days
4 Days from
Sun 15th June 2025 £449
+£108 Single Supplement
INCLUDING BLETCHLEY PARK, GUIDED TOUR OF CAMBRIDGE PLUS ELY, BURY ST EDMUNDS & ST ALBANS!
On this tour we visit the home of the famous World War II Codebreakers and discover a land of lazy waterways and majestic cathedrals. This tour was a huge success when it operated for the first time in 2021 and our 4-star hotel has full leisure facilities.
Sunday Our first stop was once Britain’s best kept secret, Bletchley Park is today a unique heritage site and tourist attraction set within an atmospheric Victorian estate nestled in parkland. Learn about the top-secret world of codebreaking which saved countless lives. Then on to our hotel.
Monday We visit Suffolk and Norfolk today! First to Bury St Edmunds which is the jewel in Suffolk’s crown, and offers a good choice of shops, is a foodie kind of place and has its own brewery. There are also Abbey Gardens and the ruins of a Benedictine Monastery. Then to Norfolk and we make a stop in Ely, the second smallest city in England and compact enough to explore on foot with its cathedral known as the ‘Ship of the Fens’.
Tuesday To Cambridge for a ninety-minute guided tour by coach taking in this famous city. You are then free to explore for yourself the wonderful architecture, majestic college buildings and quaint passageways.
Wednesday We return with a stop in St Albans where there is history in every footstep, a pub at every turn, and beautiful places to simply stop and soak up the magical atmosphere.
Cambridge Belfry Hotel & Spa 4-star hotel in a lovely environment with full leisure facilities.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | SPA | POOL GYM | SAUNA | FREEVIEW TV thecambridgebelfry.co.uk Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Bletchley Park and guided tour)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Sun 18th May 2025 £559
+£112 Single Supplement
5 Days from
5 Days from
Sun 31st August 2025 £559
+£112 Single Supplement
INCLUDES THE NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY, BURE VALLEY RAILWAY & NORFOLK BROADS CRUISE!
Based in the historical city of Norwich, this tour shows you all the best that Norfolk has to offer including the North Norfolk Railway, known as the Poppy Line, the Bure Valley Railway, and a cruise on the Broads. Sandringham House is a friendly place to visit with guides in every room of the house and acres of beautiful gardens to explore.
Sunday We head towards East Anglia with a lunchtime stop in Ely, a city full of charm and beauty with one of the most magnificent cathedrals in England.
Monday We travel to Aylsham where we board the Bure Valley Railway for a journey through unspoilt countryside to Wroxham. After disembarking the train, we have free time in Wroxham for a lunch. Later, we catch a boat from Horning and enjoy a ninetyminute picturesque cruise along the Broads. We return to Norwich via a different scenic route also through the Broads.
Tuesday To the famous Sandringham Estate: The Norfolk retreat of The King. There is time to explore the 24-hectares of stunning gardens, the house (with knowledgeable guides in every room) and the museum. Free time in Norwich on our return.
Wednesday We make a short stop in Wells-next-the-Sea before continuing to Holt for a ride on the North Norfolk Railway to Sheringham. We then have free time in Sheringham, a traditional fishing village.
Thursday We return with a lunchtime stop in Saffron Walden, a delightful medieval market town.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Holiday Inn Norwich
A 3-star hotel with great leisure facilities. BAR | SATELLITE TV SWIMMING POOL | JACUZZI STEAM ROOM | SAUNA hinorwichhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two train rides, a boat ride and Sandringham House)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Sun 3rd August 2025
+£80 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£699
INCLUDES BURE VALLEY RAILWAY, MISSISSIPPI PADDLE BOAT, BLICKLING ESTATE & SAFARI TOUR, WITH FOOD AND A GIN & TONIC!
This tour still has four great experiences, but they are new for this year, all whilst staying in a superb 4-star hotel in the centre of King’s Lynn and surrounded by the big skies of North Norfolk. We have a train ride, a paddle boat trip, a stately home and even a Safari!
Sunday Into East Anglia and we make a lunchtime stop in Ely, a city full of charm and beauty with one of the most magnificent cathedrals in England. On arrival at the hotel, we are treated to tea and biscuits.
A | Today we sail and steam across ‘Britain’s Magical Waterland’ the Norfolk Broads and navigate a landscape of serene natural beauty. First we delight in a nostalgic, forty-five-minute steam train journey through the picturesque Bure Valley from Aylsham to Wroxham, on Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway, rumbling through unspoilt countryside and idyllic villages. Following free time for lunch we head to Horning and board a Mississippi Paddle Steamer, winding our way under seventeen bridges, alongside charming, thatched cottages, timeless windmills, and forgotten churches, with reed beds rich in local wildlife enhancing our ninety-minute return journey.
B | We spend all day at the breathtaking Jacobean masterpiece of Blickling Estate, which emerges amongst 4,600 acres of magnificent Norfolk countryside, renowned for its award-winning conservation efforts. We can uncover the life of Philip Kerr, the estate’s last private owner, who was pivotal in shaping the National Trust, and the estate’s storied past as a WWII RAF base and Anne Boleyn’s birthplace. We can also stroll through Blickling’s 300-yearold formal gardens and unearth impressive forestry efforts, which enrich the landscape with new woodlands as part of the Trust’s twenty million tree initiative.
C
| Experience an expert-led safari tour of some of the world’s most endangered species of deer, antelope, and birds in an electric buggy ride through Watatunga’s breath-taking 170-acres. We get up close and personal with the animals thriving in their naturallike habitats—grazing on rich grasslands, sipping lakeside, or camouflaged among the woodland floor. A talk will uncover their inspiring conservation efforts to protect the incredible wildlife from extinction, earning them Visit Britain’s prestigious award for ‘Best New EcoTourism Spot’. Later we cap off our adventure with an exquisite local WhataHoot gin and light lunch, served with a side of spectacular scenery.
Thursday We return with a lunch time stop in Saffron Walden, a delightful medieval market town.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Duke’s Head Hotel
4-star Georgian hotel restored so period charm meets contemporary chic. BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV dukesheadhotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. train ride, boat ride, Blickling Estate and Safari)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Mon 19th May 2025
+£39 Single Supplement | £39pp Sea View
£439
Mon 29th September 2025 £449
+£11 Single Supplement | £11pp Sea View
INCLUDING LANCASTER BOMBER AT LINCOLNSHIRE AVIATION MUSEUM!
This seaside resort comes with the classic English seaside holiday activities: the donkey rides on the beach, the pier, the crazy golf, but there’s more to this Lincolnshire town. ‘Skeggy’, as it’s affectionately known, has rollercoaster rides and a seal sanctuary plus a Blue Flag beach. We enjoy a day out in Lincoln, view the Wolds, a nationally important and cherished landscape, and get to see a Lancaster Bomber! The Quorn Hotel receives excellent feedback.
Monday We head east and call at Stamford, a bustling prosperous market town with quaint streets and delicious food options.
Tours at Resort
A | All-day in Lincoln, a lovely city, overlooked by its cathedral and where cobbled streets are lined by mediaeval houses. On our way we travel via Horncastle and skirt the edge of the Wolds.
B | We visit the nearby Lincolnshire Aviation Centre where you can experience the largest Bomber Command Museum in the country and there is also a Lancaster Bomber on site. Later we follow the A153 across the Wolds, which are designated as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, to Louth. Louth is a historic town which retains a natural charm with its narrow, winding streets and marketplace.
C | FREE DAY to explore Skegness.
Friday We head home, stopping at Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies and Stilton cheese, with gardens alongside the river.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
The Quorn Hotel
Family owned and managed 4-star guest accommodation situated on the promenade just seconds from the beach.
LIFT | BAR quornhotel.net
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Lincolnshire Aviation Centre)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Mon 17th February 2025 £489
+£92 Single Supplement INCLUDES LINCOLN, EASTONS GARDENS AND INTERNATIONAL BOMBER COMMAND CENTRE!
Rustic England at its very best: Our winter deal in the idyllic Lincolnshire countryside offers an exploration of the cathedral city of Lincoln, bustling market towns, charming villages, and an incredible viewing of the snowdrops at Easton’s Gardens. With entertainment on two nights plus an entertaining Lincolnshire Talk, this tour has been a huge success over previous years.
Monday We call at Stamford, an ancient town of mellow stone and full of old world charm. (Middlemarch was filmed here!) Then on to our hotel and on arrival we have tea and coffee plus the local specialty of plum bread and poacher cheese.
Tours at Resort
A | We spend the day in the stunning city of Lincoln, crowned by the Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest examples of Gothic architecture.
B | To nearby Eastons Gardens where we have a meet and greet followed by time to explore the estate and walled gardens that have been 450 years in the making. The snowdrops spread across both banks of the river and release wafts of perfume on sunny days. Later we make a short stop at Springfields near Spalding. There are shops, places to eat and the Festival Gardens which is a beautifully landscaped area featuring Chelsea-style celebrity showcase gardens.
C | Our first stop is International Bomber Command which is a world class facility acknowledging the efforts, sacrifices and commitment of the men and women, from 62 different nations, who came together in Bomber Command in WWII. There are also two peace gardens, set out over 10 acres of landscaped grounds with native trees from all 27 Bomber Command Stations worldwide. Later, we head over to the picturesque town of Newark-on-Trent, an authentic British market town, full of historical streets, castles, cakes, and boutiques! You can unveil the unique character shaped by the ruins of Newark Castle, present as early as the year 1068, where Oliver Cromwell fought battles against the Royalists and King John was poisoned.
Friday We return for home, stopping at Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies and Stilton cheese with gardens alongside the river.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Olde Barn Hotel
A 3-star charming, rustic hotel set in beautiful countryside. LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV POOL | SAUNA | STEAM ROOM JACUZZI
theoldebarnhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Eastons Gardens & Bomber Command)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Thu 14th August 2025 £649
+£140 Single Supplement
5 Days from
5 Days Sun 27th July 2025 £599
+£60 Single Supplement
5 Days from
INCLUDING LANCASTER AT LINCOLNSHIRE AVIATION CENTRE & TRAINING LAKE!
On this exciting tour we see a Lancaster plane that was used by the Dambusters plus view the lake where they trained. But there is so much more to see here, and we have a great mix of scenery, history, and seaside as we visit the Peak District, Lincoln, and Skegness. But the highlight of the holiday may be the hotel where we stay, the 3-star Petwood Hotel enjoys a timelessly elegant setting and unique history as the home of 617 Squadron (The Dambusters). The hotel is set in acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland, and it is just a short walk to explore the charming village of Woodhall Spa or stroll the spectacular grounds.
Sunday We call at Stamford, an ancient town of mellow stone and full of old world charm. Middlemarch was filmed here. Then onto our hotel in the village of Woodhall Spa.
Monday We spend the day in the stunning city of Lincoln, crowned by the Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest examples of Gothic architecture.
Tuesday Step back in time as we head to Lincolnshire Aviation Centre and experience some of the greatest planes in history. The Centre is a living and breathing history experience with the sights and sounds of a wartime airfield including a running Lancaster and Mosquito. Later into the Wolds, which are designated as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and visit Louth. Louth is a historic town which retains a natural charm with its narrow, winding streets and marketplace. We return on the scenic A153.
Wednesday To Skegness, one of Britain’s first seaside resorts, where large Victorian houses in leafy avenues lead to an amazing array of floral gardens, its grand promenade and wonderful beach.
Thursday The holiday is far from over as we head into the Peak District and visit where Squadron 617 practised their skills in the Derwent Valley on Ladybower Reservoir. We continue across the Peak District and make a stop in Buxton before continuing home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Petwood Hotel
A 3-star hotel set in beautifully landscaped gardens & woodland.
LIFT | BAR petwood.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Lincolnshire Aviation Centre)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
INCLUDES RENISHAW HALL, CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY AND CROMFORD MILL PLUS AN AFTERNOON TEA AND LIGHT LUNCH!
Peak your delights on a nostalgic journey through Derbyshire’s past and Staffordshire moorlands. We have a VIP experience at Renishaw Hall & Gardens, one of Derbyshire’s most ornate country homes, followed by afternoon tea. Board a carefully restored, heritage train for a nostalgic journey through Staffordshire’s scenic countryside. We also step back in time with a village tour of Cromford Mills, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home to the first successful water powered cotton spinning mill. All from a 4-star hotel that is a firm favourite! Explore the scenic surroundings of Matlock town, once famed for its hydro and spa treatments, and now an attractive market town, home to independent pubs, shops and restaurants.
Thursday We stop for lunch in Warwick in the shadow of its famous castle. Then on to our 4-star hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | We have an exclusive and intimate tour of Renishaw, the home of the Sitwell family for almost 400 years. This grand country house plays host to a glorious collection of art, furniture and family heirlooms, collected over generations. Indulge in a lavish afternoon tea before discovering the quaint woodland, tranquil lake and magnificent Italianate gardens, first laid out over a hundred years ago, with the Middle Lawn replanted to a design by RHS Chelsea Award Winner, Arne Maynard. Please note that this is a lived-in property, therefore the house tour is on the ground floor only and explores eight rooms.
B | Return to the classic days of railway travel as we hop aboard the Churnet Valley Railway’s heritage carriage behind a beautifully restored locomotive on a delightful 10½ mile return journey through Staffordshire Moorlands, on the outskirts of the Peak District. We also wander Ashbourne’s cobbled streets, full of quaint Georgian heritage.
C | To Cromford Mills and we journey along streets designed by Sir Richard Arkwright, the ‘Father of the Factory System’, and selfmade man who created the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill here in 1771. Part of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site, we follow in the footsteps of hundreds of mill workers with a village tour, as immerse ourselves in the history of this industrial heartland, juxtaposed with its picturesque present. After a light lunch we also visit Matlock Bath, known as ‘Little Switzerland,’ on account of its magnificent views and with a long high street lined with cafes and quirky shops. Monday We return with a lunch time stop in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Mickleover Hotel Signature Collection
A 4-star hotel with full leisure facilities. LIFT | BAR | WIFI
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
FREEVIEW TV | POOL | JACUZZI SAUNA | STEAM ROOM | GYM derbymickleoverhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Renishaw Hall, Churnet Railway and Cromford Mill)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Mon 30th June 2025
+£136 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£569
INCLUDES BURTON CONSTABLE TOUR, LOCAL GUIDED TOUR AND SCARBOROUGH FAIR COLLECTION!
This is an undiscovered area with so much to offer, including Kingston upon Hull which boasts more than 800 years of seafaring history. We also explore a country house, Scarborough Fair as well as the untamed coastline, historic market towns and pretty heritage seaside resorts. All whilst staying at a hotel, that was a huge success as one of our mystery tour destinations in 2024.
Monday We travel North with an extended lunchtime stop in Lincoln. It is a beautiful, historic city full of heritage and culture plus home to a magnificent cathedral. Then over the famous Humber Bridge to our hotel.
Tuesday Our voyage of discovery starts when we explore Kingston upon Hull and its maritime history. There is a local guide on board who will bring to life the city’s best-loved and most beautiful sights as well as its hidden treasures. Then free time to explore at leisure to meander through Hull’s old town. Pop in the Street-life Museum of Transport and climb aboard a tram or take a carriage ride into the past. Visit Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology where you’ll find a life-size woolly mammoth! The Hepworth Arcade is where Mr Marks and Mr Spencer had one of their first penny bazaars! (no entries included).
Wednesday A leisurely drive takes us along the Yorkshire coast this morning. We visit Flamborough Head, a chalk headland that forms part of the Heritage Coast of East Yorkshire, with some breath-taking scenery. The headland is home to two lighthouses, which have been guiding ships to safety for over a century. Then on to Filey, a former fishing village now a popular seaside destination with an historic promenade, beautiful Edwardian architecture and an impressive five mile sandy bay. Then we visit the Scarborough Fair Collection, a nostalgic visit reminding us of bygone years with vintage cars, steam engines, fairground rides and penny arcades.
Thursday Today we visit Burton Constable Hall, one of Yorkshire’s most spectacular historic country houses and best kept secrets. With over 30 rooms crammed with art, furniture, and many surprises with over 500 years of family history plus over 300 acres of historic grounds to explore. We return via the pretty market town of Beverley, possessing its very own Minster and historic town centre.
Friday Once more over the Humber Bridge and we head home with a stop in Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies and Stilton cheese, with gardens alongside the river.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Mercure Hull Grange Park
Fabulous 4-star hotel is a 19th century manor house surrounded by 12 acres of landscaped gardens.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV POOL | JACUZZI | STEAM ROOM mercurehull.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. a local guide, Burton Constable Hall and Scarborough Fair)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days from
5 Days Mon 14th July 2025 £639 +£72 Single Supplement
Go wild for the Hex Hotel which is located within Yorkshire Wildlife Park. We spend one day at the park, which is home to England’s only Polar Bears! We also enjoy a visit to Lincoln Cathedral with a tour, a canal cruise, and a journey on one of Britain’s oldest miniature railways complete with a fish and chip lunch. This new tour really does offer something new!
INCLUDES WILDLIFE PARK, LINCOLN CATHEDRAL TOUR, RIVER CRUISE AND A TRAIN RIDE, FOLLOWED BY FISH & CHIPS!
Monday We travel to our hotel via the Peak District and a stop in Bakewell.
Tuesday We visit the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest gothic buildings dating back to the 11th century, and an expert guide takes us on a journey to reveal hundreds of years of history. Following free time for lunch, we later enjoy a one-hour river cruise on the river, seeing the sights from a new angle.
Wednesday All day at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park that adjoins our hotel. It is the UKs number one walkthrough experience with 475 animals to meet. Highlights include polar bears, sea lions, tigers and magnificent African lions in seven-acre Lion country.
Thursday To the seaside and a 45-minute ride along the picturesque coast on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. The visit includes a fish and chip lunch and a visit to the smallest pub on the planet! There is also free time to enjoy the Victorian seaside resort itself.
Friday We head home with a stop in Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies and Stilton cheese, with gardens alongside the river.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Hex Hotel
Uniquely located in the Yorkshire Hive, a shopping and entertainment complex that also includes the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
NOTE: Bar and reception are a short walk from bedrooms.
LIFT | BAR | REEVIEW TV hex-hotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Wildlife Park, Cathedral, boat and train)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Mon 5th May 2025
+£100 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£669
INCLUDES SLEDMERE HOUSE, RHS HARLOW CARR, YORK MANSION HOUSE TOUR & COOKING DEMONSTRATION AND KEIGHLY & WORTH RAILWAY!
Harrogate is a great base as a gateway as we have three varied days in resort taking in four great experiences where we can delight in the Dales, with a blend of timeless architecture, grandeur, and stories. Sledmere House is a majestic English estate with Capability Brown’s famed gardens, celebrated on BBC Gardeners’ World. Unearth the enchanting world of Harlow Carr, an RHS sanctuary, where the legacy of royal hunting grounds transforms into a spectacle of alpine elegance and sustainable gardening wonders. At York Mansion we get hands-on in a lively cooking demo, crafting an 18th-century digital dish, steeped in York’s rich traditions. Finally, we hop aboard the 150-year-old ‘The Railway Children’s’ train for a whimsical ride from Keighley to Oxenhope, traversing the stunning Brontë country. Plus, much more and on one evening our hotel provides a Yorkshire evening with themed pre dinner drink, meal, and quiz.
Monday Up the east side of the county and we make a stop in Bakewell, idyllically situated on the banks of the river Wye and famous for its puddings. There is a hot drink and biscuits on arrival.
Tours at Resort
A | To Sledmere House for a house and garden private tour. The 18th century house is a world of elegance and charm and later we meander through the stunning gardens and meet animals at the esteemed Rare Breed Conservation Farm Park. We can then retire to the Courtyard Room, overlooking the historic Stable Block, for a warm cup of brew and a biscuit. Later, we visit Malton, Yorkshire’s Food Capital, a town of makers and markets set in beautiful countryside.
B | To nearby Harlow Carr, former hunting grounds for royalty and is a lush masterpiece curated by the RHS. On our guided tour we uncover the diverse plant collection, from alpine splendour to tranquil woodland retreats, and delight in the kitchen garden. There are other themed areas such as the Scented Garden and Streamside Garden all offering a distinct botanical experience. Later, a return journey on the Keighly & Worth Valley Railway through breathtaking, world-famous, landscapes that were used filming Sherlock, Peaky Blinders, and The Great Train Robbery, amongst others.
C | York Mansion House is home to fascinating facades, scandalous stories, and cherished collections that we can learn about on our guided tour. We also have a cooking demonstration and prepare our own digital 18th century meal. The rest of the day is free to explore York.
Friday Free time to explore Harrogate before we depart for home at 1400.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate 4-star hotel in the heart of historic Harrogate set in 200 acres of pristine parkland.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV GYM cedarcourthotels.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Sledmere, Harlow Carr, Railway & York Mansion House)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
The legendary Joe Loss Orchestra perform at our hotel on the Saturday night following a pre-dinner drink and a gala dinner to complete a perfect evening. Since 1930 the band has had the best musicians and singers performing totally live and has been in constant operation, never disbanded or reformed. They will perform hits from the 50s to the 80s.
Harrogate is a great base for Yorkshire which has many moods; it can be wild and windswept or quietly tranquil, with outstanding scenery, and gardens. It is always inspiring and famous for its magnificent country houses, traditional towns, and authors such as James Herriot. A huge success in 2024 when this tour operated for the first time.
Monday Up the east side of the county and we make a stop in Bakewell, idyllically situated on the banks of the river Wye and famous for its puddings. We are met at the hotel with a hot drink.
Tuesday The morning is free to explore Harrogate, famous for many things including Betty’s Tea Rooms! In the afternoon we visit nearby RHS Harlow Carr Garden, specially designed to reflect the Yorkshire landscape, dominated by stone, water and woodland.
Wednesday To the market town of Thirsk and we step inside the ‘World of James Herriot’ and we can see where the famous vet lived, worked and wrote books including All Creatures Great and Small. We also have time to explore the cobbled streets of the town. We also visit Ripon with its magnificent cathedral.
Thursday All day at Harewood House set in over 100 acres of gardens with plants from all over the world in a landscape created by Capability Brown. We can also spend time inside the house and learn about life above and below stairs.
Friday We head home on a different route and cross the Southern Pennines for an early lunch time stop in Hebden Bridge. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this market town has been voted ‘greatest town in Europe’ and was used for scenes in the TV show Happy Valley.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Crown Hotel, Harrogate 3-star hotel in the antique quarter of Harrogate within walking distance of the centre.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV crownhotelharrogate.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Harewood House, RHS Harlow & World of James Herriot)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
MUSIC & DANCING TO THE HITS OF ABBA!
Established in 2009, ABBA tribute band Chique have become one of the most sought-after tribute bands in the country, regularly performing sell out shows all over the UK and abroad. They bring all the glamour and glitz of a real ABBA concert, with stunning costumes, made with attention to detail of ABBA’s original designs, and a powerful stage presence full of energy and fun. You’ll feel as if you were back in the 70s!
Friday We make our way to Harrogate with a lunchtime stop in the Peak District town of Bakewell
Saturday We enjoy a scenic circular tour of the Yorshire Moors with a lunch time stop in the famous market town of Skipton.
ABBA DATE: Back to the hotel mid-afternoon to prepare for our highlight of the holiday. A pre-dinner drink, followed by a gala dinner, and then ABBA Chique take the stage!
JOE LOSS DATE: Back to the hotel mid-afternoon to prepare for our highlight of the holiday. A pre-dinner drink, followed by a gala dinner, and then the Joe Loss Orchestra take the stage!
Sunday We depart Harrogate at 1400, so plenty of time to explore this great city.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• ABBA Chique for March date
• Joe Loss for Feb date
• Central pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Hotel (for both tours)
The Old Swan, Harrogate Combines Victorian splendour with elegancy contemporary style and just a short walk from town.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV
the-old-swan
5 Days from
5 Days Mon 8th September 2025 £669
INCLUDING CASTLE HOWARD, NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY, SCAMPSTON HALL & GARDENS AND SCARBOROUGH FAIR COLLECTION
This is now a firm favourite of ours based in a British city that offers magical charm and beauty. Outstanding architecture and 2,000 years of history combine with bustling shopping streets and award-winning attractions. This holiday also has four great added attractions including two famous stately homes, one with a private guided tour, Plus a steam railway and a fascinating collection. Our 4-star hotel is also superb with full leisure facilities including two indoor pools.
Monday We travel North with a lunch time break in Bakewell, with fine views across the Peak District.
Tuesday We spend the day at nearby Castle Howard, one of Britain’s finest stately homes. It is a magical place so take your time to explore the glorious gardens and the unique and theatrical architecture of the house.
Wednesday To Pickering where we spend time before enjoying a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Grosmont. With magnificent steam engines, beautiful rural stations and smartly uniformed staff it is like taking a step back in time. The remainder of the day is spent in Whitby, a maritime city steeped in history with a maze of narrow streets full of shops. We return via Scarborough to complete a scenic circular tour.
Thursday First to the Scarborough Fair Collection which hosts a magnificent working collection of vintage cars, steam engines, vintage fairground rides and mechanical organs, topped off with a ‘mighty’ wurlitzer organ in a spacious ballroom. Then to Scampston Hall, one of the finest examples of a regency country house in North Yorkshire. The first house was built around 1700 and was remodelled to a design by Thomas Leverton in 1795-1800. This is the house as you see it today, with its magnificent Regency interiors and art collection, and we have a private guided tour of it. The gardens, designed under ‘Capability’ Brown, include 10 acres of lakes and a Palladian bridge.
Friday We spend four hours in York itself before returning home.
+£114 Single Supplement © Charlotte Graham Photography
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Mercure York Fairfield Manor
Fabulous 4-star hotel three miles from the centre of York in its own grounds. LIFT | BAR WIFI | FREEVIEW TV mercureyork.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. a train ride, Castle Howard, Scarborough Fair and Scampston Hall)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days from
5 Days Mon 16th June 2025 £579
+£94 Single Supplement INCLUDING CASTLE HOWARD, NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY & A RIVER CRUISE!
Few British cities offer the magical charm and beauty of York. Outstanding architecture and 2,000 years of history combine with bustling shopping streets and award-winning attractions. This holiday also has 3 great added attractions, a famous stately home, a steam railway, and a river cruise. Our hotel is central to all that York has to offer.
Monday We travel North with a lunchtime break in Bakewell, with fine views across the Peak District.
Tuesday All day is free to explore York including a 45-minute river cruise at 1030.
Wednesday To Pickering where we spend time before we enjoy a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway all the way to Whitby. With magnificent steam engines, beautiful rural stations, and smartly uniformed staff it is like taking a step back in time. The remainder of the day is spent in Whitby, a maritime city steeped in history with a maze of narrow streets full of shops. We return via Scarborough to complete a scenic circular tour and a great day!
Thursday We spend the day at nearby Castle Howard, one of Britain’s finest stately homes. It is a magical place so take your time to explore the glorious gardens and the unique and theatrical architecture of the house. We return to our hotel via a stop in the Yorkshire Moors market town of Thirsk, allowing us to enjoy a round trip.
Friday We return with a lunchtime stop in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire and today is market day.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Queens Hotel Situated on the banks of the River Ouse in the heart of the city. LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV | WIFI queenshotel-york.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. train ride, Castle Howard & river cruise)
• Central pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days Fri 25th July 2025 £449
+£75 Single Supplement
INCLUDING CASTLE HOWARD AND YORK’S CHOCOLATE STORY (INC. KIT KAT CHOCOLATERY)
Few British cities offer the magical charm and beauty of York. Outstanding architecture and 2,000 years of history combine with bustling shopping streets and award-winning attractions. Our hotel is central so we can enjoy the city whenever we like from our hotel. We have a great day out of York as well as we enjoy a visit to one of Britain’s finest homes.
Friday We head to York with a lunch time break in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire and market.
Tours at Resort
A | We walk the short journey to visit York’s Chocolate Story where we learn all about chocolate and how to taste it like an expert! Plus, learn the secrets behind York’s greatest products such as the chocolate orange and Kit Kat. The rest of the day is free to enjoy York.
B | We travel to nearby Castle Howard, one of Britain’s finest stately homes. It is a magical place so take your time to explore the glorious gardens and the unique and theatrical architecture of the house. Then a seaside treat as we visit the Victorin resort of Scarborough.
Monday We head home with a lunch time stop in Bakewell, with fine views across the Peak District.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Queens Hotel Situated on the banks of the River Ouse in the heart of the city. LIFT | BAR | WIFI SATELLITE TV queenshotel-york.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Castle Howard and Chocolate Story)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Thu 26th June 2025 £699
+£200 Single Supplement Mon 22nd September 2025 £569
+£140 Single Supplement
Visit Scarborough, the famous resort on the stunning Yorkshire Coast! We are also close to some stunning inland scenery and this tour ensures we see the best of both, including a drive through the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.The fabulous 4-star Crown Spa Hotel is located just metres from cliff overlooking the sandy South Beach and has many of the original architectural features still in their prime. Plus, full use of their Health Club and Pool is included.
First Day We travel north and make a lunchtime stop in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire and markets.
Tours at Resort
A | We view the impressive Flamborough Head before making a stop in the resort of Bridlington, a seaside favourite that is traditional, renowned, and welcoming. Then on to Beverley, a town standing as tall as its majestic Minster with pretty market squares and beautiful Georgian townhouses.
B | To Pickering where we spend a short time before we enjoy a scenic drive across the Yorkshire Moors to Whitby. Whitby is a maritime city steeped in history with a maze of narrow streets full of shops. There is then a scenic drive back to Scarborough to complete a great day.
C | A FREE DAY to explore Scarborough and enjoy the hotel. Last Day We return home with a lunch break in the Peak District town of Bakewell. Crown Spa Hotel
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
•
4 Days - Fri 29th August 2025
5 Days Sun 17th August 2025
+£140 Single Supplement
Days from
Adults (12 years+) £479
+£75 Single Supplement
Days from
Children (0-11 years) £349
CHILDREN MUST BE SHARING WITH 2 ADULTS TO GET REDUCED RATE.
THE UK’S MOST SPECTACULAR OPEN-AIR LIVE SHOW PLUS DURHAM, WHITBY & SCARBOROUGH!
Now a firm favourite with the highlight undoubtedly the largerthan-life Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, the UK’s ‘must see’ spectacular outdoor live action show covering 2,000 years of history and worth every single one of the hundreds of thousands of five-star TripAdvisor reviews. We also spend time in the fascinating city of Durham and on the North Yorkshire Moor’s coast with stops in Whitby and Scarborough. We also see Bakewell on the way to our hotel and York on the way home.
Friday We travel north with a lunch break in the Peak District town of Bakewell, home of the famous pudding.
Saturday During the day we spend our day in Durham, dominated by the cathedral with over 900 years of history. After dinner we head to Auckland Castle for the show. Following an early dinner, we head to Kynren, and as dusk turns to darkness it takes you on a spellbinding voyage through history, myth and legend.
Sunday We start the day with a scenic drive over the Yorkshire Moors via Pickering to the resort of Scarborough. From here we have a scenic coastal drive to Whitby, a maritime city steeped in history with a maze of narrow streets full of shops.
Monday We travel home with a lunchtime stop in the famous city of York.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Kynren)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days from
£579
INCLUDES BAMBURGH CASTLE, ALNWICK GARDENS, DURHAM BOAT CRUISE AND ANGEL OF THE NORTH!
Three differing days out as we visit a castle, some famous gardens and enjoy a historic city by river. We stay in the 4-star Holiday Inn in the leafy Jesmond area of the city which is walking distance to the famous Town Moor.
Sunday We head north to Newcastle with a lunchtime stop in Ripon, founded over 1,300 years ago with a 7th century cathedral.
Monday We take a scenic drive along the Northumberland coast to Bamburgh where we visit the impressive castle which has stunning views of the Farne Islands. After there is time to explore this beautiful village by the sea. On our return we also make a short stop in the seaside town of Seahouses.
Tuesday To Durham and we enjoy a one-hour long cruise on The Prince Bishop River Cruiser which offers spectacular views of the historic city, cathedral, castle and bridges. There is then free to explore Durham and we return to our hotel with a photo stop at the Angel of the North.
Wednesday To Alnwick where we have an included visit to the gardens where we can explore acres of fascinating plants, water sculptures, the infamous Poison Garden and one of the world’s largest treehouses! Later we continue a scenic drive via Rothbury and Otterburn to the attractive market town of Hexham, where we make a stop.
Thursday We return with a lunch time stop in Wetherby, an attractive market town dating back to 1240 on the river Wharfe.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Holiday Inn Newcastle Jesmond
4-star contemporary hotel in the stylish suburb of Jesmond for shopping and Jesmond Dene for peace and tranquility. LIFT | BAR FREEVIEW TV | WIFI | GYM ihg.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Gardens and a boat ride)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Mon 7th July 2025
+£160 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£729
INCLUDES BEAMISH, BOLTON CASTLE, AND LOCAL GUIDE FOR A DAY INCLUDING SEATON DELAVAL HALL, AT THE LUXURIOUS AND BOUTIQUE, DERWENT MANOR HOTEL!
A great tour where we can step into the best-preserved medieval castle in the UK, as your costumed guide recounts tales of Bolton Castle’s famous prisoners, including Mary Queen of Scots. Zoom through fascinating periods of change at the living, breathing Beamish Museum where you can also savor a taste for the north as you pop by the Sun Inn Pub and see traditional sweet production at the Jubilee Sweet Shop. Finally, a local guide shows us plenty from the soaring Angel of the North to the fabulous Seaton Delaval Hall on a journey through Newcastle’s rich history, stunning coastlines, and architectural wonders. Monday We travel north and make a lunchtime stop in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire and markets.
Tours at Resort
A | Bolton Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval structures in the UK and on arrival many are astounded by its colossal size. We are met by a costumed guide who lets us enter via the portcullis gate before showing and telling us the colorful history which includes holding Mary Queen of Scots prisoner for six months. The rest of the day is spent on a circular, scenic tour of the Dales travelling via Hawes, for a lunchtime stop at the home of Wensleydale Cheese, and Kirkby Stephens.
B | To the world-famous and award-winning open-air museum of Beamish, with history from 1820 to the 1950s. You can visit a sweet shop, pub, travel by tram and bus plus visit a pit. Everywhere you go there will be knowledgeable and costumed staff who you can ask any questions you may have. On our return we make a stop in the famous city of Durham.
C | Discover the Geordie jewels with a panoramic tour of the city and its surroundings with a local guide on all day. We begin at the iconic Angel of the North (with a wingspan larger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa!). Then to Gateshead Quays; explore the Baltic Art Gallery with its stunning Tyneside views and marvel at the Millennium Bridge. Then to the coast and breathe in the fresh sea air in Tynemouth, famed for its spectacular views over the North Sea, then Whitley Bay’s golden sandy beach. Finally, uncover the fabulous history of Seaton Delaval Hall and picture their extravagant 18th-century lifestyle, all set amidst the hall’s dramatic English Baroque design and enchanting gardens.
Friday We return home with a lunch break in Bakewell, a great small town to explore and home to the famous pudding.
• Return coach travel
Derwent Manor Hotel
Set in 20 acres of countryside, this luxury, boutique hotel overlooks the Derwent Valley with great facilities.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV
POOL | GYM | SAUNA | JACUZZI derwentmanorhotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Bolton Castle, Beamish & Seaton Delaval with local guide)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Mon 21st July 2025
+£140 Single Supplement
5 Days from
£639
INCLUDES BAMBURGH CASTLE, FARNE ISLAND
EXPERIENCE CRUISE, DURHAM CATHEDRAL & HADRIAN’S WALL WITH A LOCAL GUIDE ON COACH!
All rooms at our hotel overlook the River Tyne and It is on the Quayside for exploring in the light evenings and if you wish, you might like to cross one of the many famous bridges. During this tour we tower 150 feet above sea level at Bamburgh, England’s finest coastal castle, and gaze at the iconic coastline on a cruise to the Farne Islands which are home to England’s most abundant sea-bird and seal habitats. We also have a local guide on board for a day to explore the mighty Hadrian’s Wall, the Romans’ most remarkable monument in the UK. Finally, a guided tour of Durham Cathedral, an impressive building on a clifftop overlooking the city below. This tour is a firm favourite year after year!
Monday We head north to Newcastle with a lunch time stop in Wetherby, an award-winning floral market town dating back to 1240. We are met on arrival with tea and biscuits. Tours at Resort
A | Durham’s Cathedral is one of the great buildings of Europe and we have a guided tour of the cathedral and museum including entry to the Open Treasure Exhibit. Later there is time to explore the adjacent city centre that lies below the castle on the sweeping bends of the river.
B | We take a scenic drive through Northumberland to the coast and visit imposing Bamburgh Castle for a private guided tour that includes a hot drink and cake. From the castle there are stunning views of the Farne Islands, and later we go on a Farne Island Experience cruise to Inner Farne. Feel like David Attenborough on this 90 minute wildlife cruise, where hopefully we will see Seals and Puffins as well as the abundant bird life which includes Guillemots, Razorbills and much more.
C | Our local guide takes us on a viewing tour by coach of Hadrian’s Wall, including a stop in a famous Roman Cavalry Fort. There will also be stops in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Corbridge, Hexham and the famous viewing point of Steel Rigg.
Friday We return home with a lunchtime stop in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire and 800 year old market.
Mon 8th September 2025
Copthorne Hotel Newcastle 3-star hotel on the vibrant Quayside.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI
FREEVIEW TV | GYM millenniumhotels.com Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Bamburgh Castle, boat ride, local guide and Durham Cathedral)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days from
£629
+£120 Single Supplement | POA - Lake View Upgrades
4-STAR LAKESIDE HOTEL WITH 2AA ROSETTE CHEF
RESTAURANT PLUS, DALEMAIN MANSION!
The Inn on the Lake enjoys one of the most spectacular settings in the Lake District with its 15 acres of lawns sweeping to the shores of Ullswater. Evening meals are served in the AA Rosette Lake View Restaurant which has creative, exciting menus using fresh, local ingredients to ensure you remember the food as much as the hotel. This year we have changed the itinerary and added a visit to Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens in its picturesque setting on the banks of the River Eamont.
Monday North with a late lunchtime stop in Kendal, a market town on the edge of the Lake District. We travel to Pooley Bridge and along the shores of Ullswater to our hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | To Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens, a Grade I listed country house and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It dates back to the Saxon era and showcases exquisite furniture by Robert Gillow and Thomas Chippendale. The formal gardens, adorned with over 200 roses, apple trees, and the UK’s widest silver fir tree, have previously won the ‘Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award’. We enjoy a personal welcome before our guided tour including their award-winning marmalades! Then through the heart of the wonderfully scenic Lake District, taking in Rydal Water, Grasmere and Thirlmere to our second stop of the day in Ambleside. We complete the circular tour with a drive over the dramatic Kirkstone Pass, with views of Windermere. Great scenery all day and we view seven of the lakes!
B | Into the Pennines and views all day as we climb all the way up to the Hartside Top, where we take a short break to enjoy the views back as far as the Lake District. Then on to the market town of Hexham. Hexham has an excellent range of specialist and independent shops to explore and is often described as one of the best places to live in the UK. We return via the B6318 from Chollerford to Gilsland which follows the course of Hadrian’s Wall. Thursday The holiday is not over as we make another drive over the Kirkstone Pass in the opposite direction and make a stop in Bowness-on-Windermere.
We continue along the eastern edge of Windermere with some great views, before heading south.
• Return coach travel
Inn on the Lake, Ullswater Superb 4-star hotel with a spectacular setting.
LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV | WIFI lakedistricthotels.net/innonthelake
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Dalemain Mansion)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Lake District Steam and Cruise Kendal OR Grange-over-Sands
5 Days Mon 2nd June 2025 (Kendal) £619 +£100 Single Supplement
INCLUDES TWO BOAT TRIPS AND TWO TRAIN RIDES!
5 Days from 5 Days from
5 Days
Sun 14th September 2025 (Grange) £679
+£64 Single Supplement
Be inspired by the Lake District’s famous breath-taking scenery, relaxing lake cruises and nostalgic steam train journeys. There is a choice of towns to stay in. Kendal is a town steeped in charm and history, nestled amongst beautiful landscapes with cobbled streets and historic landmarks. Grange-over-Sands, often called the ‘Riviera of the North’ due to its warm temperatures, is delightfully positioned and the town’s long promenade affords excellent views.
Day 1 North to our hotel close to the Lake District.
Day 2 We travel through the heart of the wonderfully scenic Lake District, taking in Coniston Water, Rydal Water and Grasmere, to the ever-popular North Lakes tourist town of Keswick. Following a lunchtime stop here we continue to England’s most beautiful lake, Ullswater, for a cruise on a ‘steamer’ from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding. We return to the hotel via the Kirkstone Pass.
Day 3 We enjoy a single journey on a steam train through the beautiful Leven Valley on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, before enjoying a delightful cruise along Lake Windermere from Lakeside to Bowness-on-Windermere.
Bowness is popular all year round and people come here to sail on the lake or just to relax and savour the atmosphere and the town’s delightful setting. We also spend time in the bustling village of Ambleside. The town is surrounded by beautiful fells, woodland and parks and has great shopping plus the quirky Bridge House.
Day 4 Full steam ahead to the Western Lakes for a nostalgic trip back in time on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, affectionately known by the locals as ‘La’al Ratty’. Enjoy a return trip on Lakeland’s oldest and longest railway from the delightful coastal village of Ravenglass through two glorious valleys to the foot of England’s highest mountains. On our return we have free time in either Kendal or Grange-over-Sands.
Day 5 We return home with a stop at the Trentham Estate Shopping Centre.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Riverside Hotel, Kendal 3-star hotel in a converted 18th century tannery situated beneath the ruins of the 12th century castle. A short walk to the town centre. LIFT | WIFI | GROUND FLOOR ROOMS | GYM FREEVIEW TV | POOL | SAUNA STEAM ROOM JACUZZI riversidekendal.co.uk
The Cumbria Grand Hotel, Grange over Sands
A 3-star hotel set in 20 acres of private gardens and woodland with views overlooking the bay. LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV strathmorehotels.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two train rides and two boat rides)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Mon 25th August 2025
+£120 Single Supplement Rippling Ribble Valley
5 Days from
£649
INCLUDES 650FT HOGHTON TOWER, EAST LANCS RAILWAY, BURY TRANSPORT MUSEUM, AWARD-WINNING LOCAL GUIDE ON BOARD FOR THE DAY AND DEWLAY CHEESEMAKERS!
Explore the Ribble Valley and discover what makes the region one of the happiest in the UK! We visit the summit of Hoghton Tower, standing at 650 ft with panoramic views across Lancashire and see great scenery from lower down on the East Lancashire Railway, one of the best kept 19th century heritage railways. One day we have the award-winning Simon Entwistle onboard for a captivating coach tour through the enchanting Ribble Valley. Finally, Dewlay Cheesemakers have a reputation for producing the very best of Lancashire cheese and we have a tour and of course tasting! This year we stay at the luxurious Foxfields Hotel in the heart of the Ribble Valley.
Monday We travel north with a lunch time stop at Trentham Shopping Centre.
Tours at Resort
A | To Hoghton Tower and from the top we can see from the Lake District to North Wales! We have a private tour that brings the tower to life with mentions of previous visitors such as Queen Mary and Shakespeare! Then to Dewlay Cheesemakers, run by its third-generation owners, continue to produce award-winning cheese using the same traditional methods their grandfather used in the 1950s. Witness the curdling, cutting, and packing in action during a guided tour, before indulging in a tutored tasting.
B | We see the best of the Ribble Valley with a local guide onboard, meandering through quaint villages and rolling hills.
C | Steam back into nostalgic times as we ride on one of the UK’s best-kept 19th-century heritage railways. With lovingly restored vintage carriages, we sit back and relax on an unforgettable journey through the beautiful Irwell Valley with its rolling green hills and picturesque villages. We also visit Bury Transport Museum and speed back through the North West’s industrial history, brought to life by hands-on exhibits and full-size vehicles. Displayed for public access for the first time, get up close to the iconic Union of South Africa, one of only six in the world. Friday We return home with a stop on the Waterfront in Liverpool, overlooked by the Liver Birds.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Foxfields County Hotel Breathtaking views and full leisure facilities.
BAR | FREEVIEW TV | GYM GROUND FLOOR ROOMS STEAM ROOM | SAUNA | POOL foxfieldshotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Houghton Tower, East Lancs Railway, Bury Transport Museum, local guide & Dewlay Cheesemakers)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
6 Days Sun 8th June 2025
6 Days from
£669 Sun 28th September 2025 £719
INCLUDES LAKE CRUISE, HOLKER HALL, WENSLEYDALE
CHEESE DEMONSTRATION & TASTING!
SEPTEMBER DATE: INC. BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS!
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! (LIMITED)
A superb tour viewing some of Britain’s finest scenery in both the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District. Our centre is Morecambe with its level, five-mile promenade and superb views across the bay to the Lakeland hills, especially at sunset. We also enjoy an evening trip to view the famous Blackpool lights which adds to all the extras on this great holiday.
Sunday We travel north with a stop at Trentham Shopping Centre.
Monday The Yorkshire Dales beckon today as we travel via the beautiful Lune Valley into the Pennine Mountains through lovely but remote countryside, to call at Hawes in Wensleydale. Whilst in Hawes we enjoy a demonstration and tasting at the Wensleydale Cheese Shop. On our return we call at Kirkby Lonsdale, a compact town with independent shops. SEPTEMBER DATE: In the evening we have an early dinner before we view the Blackpool Illuminations.
Tuesday A free day to explore Morecambe, or maybe catch a local bus to nearby Lancaster.
Wednesday Into the southern Lake District and we enjoy a boat ride from Lakeside, on the southern tip of Windermere, to Bowness. We have time to explore Bowness before continuing to our afternoon visit to Holker Hall & Gardens. The estate is set in exceptionally beautiful countryside with gardens that merge into parkland, framed by the Lakeland Hills.
Thursday Into the northern lakes today and we view seven lakes in total! We pass Rydal, Grasmere and Thirlmere enroute to our lunchtime stop in Keswick, set near Derwent Water. On our return we view Ullswater and Brothers Water before a dramatic ride over the Kirkstone Pass.
Friday We return home with a stop at the famous Bury Market, previously vote the best market in the UK.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Auckland Hotel
Fabulous sea views, great food, evening entertainment and lovely rooms. LIFT | BAR aucklandhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. boat ride, Holker Hall and cheese demonstration)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
NEW ITINERARY & HOTEL!
5 Days from
Mon 8th September 2025 £569
+£70 Single Supplement
INCLUDES ILLUMINATIONS, LAKE DISTRICT, GUIDED TOUR, LIGHT COAST RAILWAY WITH FISH & CHIPS AND TOUR OF A TRAWLER!
If you cannot decide between the East and West coast, then choose this tour which shows you the best of both whilst staying in two fabulous 4-star hotels. Blackpool is Britain’s largest holiday resort with a flat 6-mile promenade and three piers. The trams on the seafront are the only survivors of their kind in England and the famous illuminations are up whilst we are staying there. The hotel also has nightly entertainment and all-inclusive drinks 8pm to midnight. Humberside is an undiscovered area with so much to offer and we have three inclusions whilst staying here.
Monday Direct to Blackpool, with a quick toilet stop, so that we have time to enjoy the town before being greeted at our hotel with a hot drink.
Tuesday We travel in to the Lake District where we pass Windermere making a short stop in Bowness. Then we pass the lakes of Grasmere and Rydal before our afternoon stop in Keswick. Great scenery all day and after dinner we enjoy a tour of the Illuminations.
Wednesday We cross the country and on arrival into Hull we are met by a local guide for a one-hour walking tour. Then we have free time to explore at leisure to meander through Hull’s Old Town. Thursday To the seaside and we visit Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre which includes a guided tour of a 1950s Trawler which is thought to be the oldest surviving diesel trawler in the UK. Later we enjoy a 45-minute ride along the picturesque coast on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. The visit includes a Fish and Chip lunch and a visit to the smallest pub on the planet! There is also free time to enjoy the Victorian seaside resort itself.
Friday We head home with a stop in Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies and Stilton cheese, with gardens along the river.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Imperial Hotel Blackpool 4-star hotel in an iconic Victorian building on the seafront.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI imperialhotelblackpool.co.uk
Mercure Hull Grange Park Fabulous 4-star hotel is a 19th century manor house surrounded by 12 acres of landscaped gardens.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV | WIFI POOL | JACUZZI | STEAM ROOM mercurehull.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. guided tour, Trawler tour and Railway)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
3 Days
Fri 12th September 2025
5 Days
3 Days from
£279
Fri 26th September 2025 £279
Fri 10th October 2025 £269
+£36 Single Supplements
Blackpool is Britain’s largest holiday destination with a flat 6-mile promenade and three piers. The trams on the seafront are the only survivors of their kind in England. Our hotel is a superb 3-star hotel with a prime location on the south promenade and it provides entertainment every night!
Friday Direct to Blackpool, with a quick comfort stop, so that you can enjoy the town before dinner. After dinner we have a tour of the illuminations.
Saturday A choice today, all day to explore and enjoy Blackpool or join the coach as we travel along the Ribble Valley to Skipton. Skipton is the Gateway to the Dales and has a 900 year old castle and a historic cobbled high street full of shops. From here we climb into the Dales and make a stop in Hawes, 850ft above sea level and home to Wensleydale Cheese. We return on a different route through the Dales to create a wonderful circular tour.
Sunday We depart Blackpool at 2pm and should arrive home approximately 7pm.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Carousel Hotel
Modern 3-star hotel with stunning sea views and within walking distance of all of the attractions. LIFT | BAR | WIFI carouselhotel.co.uk
• Central pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days from
Mon 28th April 2025 £559
Mon 18th August 2025 £569
+£80 Single Supplements INCLUDING TWO TRAIN RIDES PLUS, ONE CANAL RIDE!
Staying in a fine hotel on the edge of the Pennines, this holiday features three journeys through the hills and moors of North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Sit back, relax and watch the dramatic landscape unfold from the comfort of a steam train, canal boat, modern train and of course from your coach!
Monday We travel north on a scenic route via Bridgnorth and enjoy a lunch time stop in Shrewsbury enroute to our hotel.
Tuesday We make a short morning stop at Bolton Abbey, the amazing ruins of a priory surrounded by the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Yorkshire’s many landscapes. Then we enjoy a return ride on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, an evocative steam ride in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages with fine views. Then to the idyllic market town of Pateley Bridge with its award-winning high street that looks as if it was designed for postcards.
Wednesday Steeped in history and natural scenic beauty, the Leeds Liverpool canal is a truly fascinating waterway. Departing from Skipton our skipper unravels the 200-year-old tale of the canal while passing through spectacular scenery, mill buildings and swing bridges. The trip includes tea/ coffee and biscuits. Following free time for lunch we board a train to Carlisle which includes the famous 72 mile stretch from Settle to Carlisle. This journey is steeped in history, and it takes us through magnificent Yorkshire Dale scenery, over the 24 arches of the Ribblehead Viaduct and through the gentle, lush, rolling hills of the Eden Valley.
Thursday Into the Yorkshire Dales for a scenic, circular tour by coach. First stop is the Ribblehead Viaduct, this time for a photo opportunity, and then on to Hawes, one of the UK’s highest market towns and famous as being the home of Wensleydale Cheese. Our final stop is Grassington which has a bustling cobbled market square, fringed by shops offering everything from practical essentials to totally tempting luxuries.
Friday We return home with a stop at Trentham Garden Shopping Centre.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa
4-star hotel set in 17 acres inside a beautiful 700-year-old country manor house. BAR |WIFI | GYM LIFT (NOT TO ALL FLOORS) POOL | FREEVIEW TV all.accor.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two railway journeys, one boat trip and Bolton Abbey)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Mon 18th August 2025 £599
+£119 Single Supplement
INCLUDES CONCORDE CLASSIC TOUR, DURHAM MASSEY, EAST LANCS RAILWAY, WEST LANCS RAILWAY & A CANAL CRUISE!
Diverse, energetic, and bursting with character, this region is one of the most exciting places to visit in the UK and known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution. We enjoy a packed itinerary with five differing experiences taking in two railways lines, a canal cruise, Concorde and an Elizabethan Mansion. All whilst staying at a former Georgian Mansion! A huge success in 2024 and for this year, we have included an afternoon tea on the cruise!
Monday We travel north with a lunch time stop in Shrewsbury. Tuesday We make our way to Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park where we enjoy the Concorde Classic Tour. Whilst on board Concorde we learn about some of the unique features that made Concorde so special. In the afternoon to Durham Massey, a courtly Elizabethan mansion with French style formal gardens. An exploration of the house brings its rich history to life.
Wednesday This time we ride a narrow-gauge train at the West Lancashire Light Railway Museum, and also have time to explore the museum. Then to Wigan Pier where we join the Kittywake for a two-hour cruise that gives us a unique perspective of the industrial revolution and we also get to go through a working lock. During the cruise we are served afternoon tea.
Thursday To Bury and we step back in time as we board the East Lancs Railway for a nostalgic steam trip to Rawenstall. The on to Hebden Bridge, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this market town has been voted ‘greatest town in Europe’ and ‘best small market town in the UK’.
Friday We return home with a stop with a lunch time stop at Trentham Shopping Centre.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two trains, canal, Concorde and Durham Massey)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Thu 18th September 2025 £619
+£80 Single Supplement
INCLUDES CORONATION STREET THE TOUR, LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE WITH A LOCAL GUIDE AND EMMERDALE LOCATIONS WITH A GUIDE AND THEN MEET A CAST MEMBER IN THE WOOLPACK.
Yorkshire has rolling dales and stunning vistas, colourful towns and quaint villages so it is no wonder that many of the most famous settings have been used in major TV and film dramas. We take in three of the most famous TV shows plus pass plenty of other sites of interest from other shows including Happy Valley.
Thursday We head north and take a lunchtime stop in the Peak District town of Bakewell.
A | Emmerdale Our guide takes us on a four-hour tour through scenic countryside where we will discover some of the locations used in the filming of Emmerdale. The tour includes a visit to the market town of Otley, known as Hotten in the soap. We continue to Esholt where much of the filming of Emmerdale took place before a replica village was built. The tour ends with a cold buffet in the Woolpack Inn with a star from the show.
B | Coronation Street Our chance to explore the sensational external sets at MediaCityUK. Our 80-minute experience will take in Coronation Street, Rosamund Street and Victoria Street. Wander through Weatherfield on a fully guided tour of the working set. Recall stories from yesteryear, hear filming secrets, take selfies on the street, and follow in the footsteps of your favourite characters. We will also spend time in Uppermill, surrounded by the stunning Saddleworth Moor.
C | Last of Summer Wine We have a local guide on board to enjoy a 3.5 hour tour of Last of the Summer Wine Country. Our tour takes in Holmfirth, where much of the filming took place and home to Sid’s Café and Nora Batty’s house. We also make a visit to Haworth in the heart of Bronte country.
Monday We head a different way home and cross the Pennines to a lunch time stop in Hebden Bridge. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this market town has been voted ‘greatest town in Europe’. A lot of locations here were also used in Happy Valley.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Best Western Bradford Guide Post Hotel
Comfortable accommodation on the outskirts of Bradford.
GROUND FLOOR ROOMS (REQUEST)
BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV bestwestern.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Coronation Street tour, Emmerdale tour and Last of the Summer Wine tour)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days Sun 10th August 2025 £529
+£105 Single Supplement
With its world class attractions and unrivalled musical heritage, Liverpool is the ideal destination to visit and explore. We have a three-hour Fab 4 Taxi ride with an expert driver who will show you all of the important Beatles sites and we also visit Knowsley Hall, Merseyside’s only stately home! All whilst staying at the also fabulous 4-star Municipal Hotel which is a boutique hotel that offers a remarkable experience! PLEASE NOTE: evening meals not included, but the hotel has a restaurant and there are numerous options nearby.
Sunday To Liverpool and time to explore the Albert Dock area before we check into our great hotel which is centrally located. Tours at Resort
A | Hop into your own private cab for a three-hour Fab 4 Taxi ride taking in their childhood homes, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields and much more! Later free time to explore the city.
B | Knowsley Hall has a grand main gate and has been residence of the Earls of Derby for over 600 years. Wander grand halls, elegant dining rooms, and view art works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Gainsborough, as we enjoy a Curator guided tour. Wednesday We check out of the hotel but we don’t depart Liverpool until 2pm so plenty more time to explore and maybe visit The Beatles Story! (entry not included).
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Municipal Hotel, Liverpool Experience they city in luxury at this 4-star hotel. Use of the Swimming Pool and Spa is an additional £20 for 2 hours paid at the hotel. LIFT | BAR | WIFI FREEVIEW TV | POOL | GYM municipalhotelliverpool.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. taxi ride and Knowsley Hall)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed & breakfast
5 Days Mon 21st April 2025
£619 +£125 Single Supplement
INCLUDES STOKESAY CASTLE, BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN VILLAGE, IRONBRIDGE GORGE MUSEUMS, RIVER SEVERN CRUISE, AND AN INCLUDED LUNCH!
Shropshire has so much to offer, with its remarkable heritage and beautiful towns. We have included a number of visits to help you get the best out of the five days of this ever-popular tour and in 2024 this new itinerary and hotel were a great success.
Monday We pass the Malvern Hills and make a lunch time stop in the city of Hereford. From here we continue through the Shropshire Hills to our hotel, where we are met with a hot drink.
Tuesday To the famous city of Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire with higgledy-piggledy streets set in a loop in the River Severn. First, we have a cruise which is followed by some soup, a filled roll and a hot drink at the Orchard Café which is based in a church. In the afternoon there is free time to explore Shrewsbury.
Wednesday Our first stop of the day is at Blists Hill Victorian Town where costumed staff give a fascinating insight into how life was lived in Victorian times, there is a state-of-the-art visitors centre and narrow-gauge railway. Later, we visit Ironbridge Gorge, recently voted the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK, where there are more museums that our entry ticket is also valid for.
Thursday We enjoy a scenic drive via the woods of Wenlock Edge to Stokesay Castle, one of the finest and best-preserved fortified manor houses in England. It also has stunning views of the beautiful Shropshire countryside. Then to Ludlow, a thriving medieval market town that is an architectural gem. Friday To Bridgnorth for free time before we continue to Worcester, for a stop in this ancient city, before returning home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Mercure Telford
4-star hotel with spacious public areas and leisure facilities.
BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV POOL | GYM | JACUZZI GROUND FLOOR ROOMS all.accor.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. river cruise with lunch, Ironbridge Museums, Blists Hill and Stokesay Castle)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
PLEASE NOTE:
We know that a break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is important to you, and Warners are here to help you make the most of it! The hotels have stunning locations, quality entertainment and sports, swimming and activities designed to help you have fun and indulge. You can choose to do as little or as much as you like and there is entertainment every night!
• Upgrade options are available on a request basis, please call us for options and prices.
• We recommend you to book any on-site activities at Warners on arrival when you check-in. These activities are on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can view the full range of leisure activities available at each hotel by visiting our website.
5 Days Wed 22nd January 2025 £319
+£20pp Premier Chalet
Higher upgrade options
Norton Grange is a
village with stunning views of the Solent.
First Day Ferry to the island and travel to our hotel.
Day Trip 1 Ryde & Ventnor.
+ A FREE DAY to enjoy the hotel facilities.
Day Trip 2 Newport, scenic drive and Alum Bay.
Last Day We return home by ferry.
5 Days Mon 31st March 2025 £529
+£30pp Signature Upgrade
A regency mansion set in over 160 acres of colourful gardens, lakes and scenic woodland area to indulge & enjoy.
First Day: We head for our hotel with a stop in Glastonbury or Street.
Day Trip 1: Exmouth & Sidmouth
+ A FREE DAY to enjoy the hotel facilities.
Day Trip 2: Weymouth & Bridport.
Last Day: We return home, stopping in Salisbury.
Thoresby Hall
4 Days
Fri 2nd May 2025 £639
+£30pp Signature Upgrade
Higher upgrade options available on request
Relax and Indulge in the truly magnificent stately home which is ideally set on the edge of Sherwood Forest. This tour includes Weekend Live Package: – Featuring The South, a 9 piece band featuring former members of the Beautiful South including Alison Wheeler bringing you hits such as A Little Time & Rotterdam.
First Day We head for our hotel with a stop in Stamford.
Day Trip 1 Peak District inc. Bakewell.
Day Trip 2 Lincoln
Last Day We return home, stopping in Melton Mowbray.
5 Days
Mon 11th August 2025 £559
+£60pp Premier Upgrade
Higher upgrade options available on request
Enjoy the traditional Suffolk coast whilst staying in luxury Warner chalets, offering a premium customer service and a great holiday home atmosphere! PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation is in chalets that can be upstairs or downstairs.
First Day Bury St Edmunds.
Day Trip 1 Norfolk Broads and Sheringham.
Day Trip 2 Southwold and Aldeburgh.
Last Day Cambridge.
4 Days
Fri 4th July 2025 £499
+£30pp Signature Upgrade
Higher upgrade options available on request
One of Isle of Wight’s grandest hotels! Ideally set on the seafront which is a great location for exploring the Isle of Wight.
First Day Ferry to the island and a stop on either the mainland or island based on ferry time.
Day Trip 1 Needles and East Cowes.
Day Trip 2 Shanklin and Sandown.
Last Day Ferry home and a stop on either the mainland or island based on ferry time.
5 Days Mon 6th October 2025 £599
Available as: Standard doubles or Twin Deluxe +£25pp
Higher upgrade options available on request
Close by but too good to not include! It is a Grade II listed hotel stylishly refurbished to provide the perfect country escape. It is set in 440 acres of glorious parkland and has Italian design inspiration. Beautiful Cotswold scenery throughout!
First Day Burford.
Day Trip 1 Stow-on-the-Wold & Moreton-in-Marsh (Market Day)
Day Trip 2 Broadway and Chipping Campden.
Last Day Bourton-on-the-Water.
5 Days
Mon 18th August 2025 £599
+£113 Single Supplement
5 Days from 4 Days from
4 Days Fri 23rd May 2025 £399
+£23pp Double Room (All have Sea Views)
INCLUDES PONTCYSYLLTE AQUEDUCT, ANDERTON BOAT
LIFT, RIVER DEE CRUISE AND GUIDED TOUR OF NESS BOTANIC GARDENS!
This holiday is always a favourite and we experience three very different waterways whilst staying in this area which has so much to offer and see. We also have time to explore Chester and have a guided tour of Ness Botanic Gardens.
Monday North with a lunchtime stop in Bridgnorth, with its high and low town separated by a Victorian funicular railway. The clear River Severn also flows through.
Tuesday To central Chester for a 30-minute cruise taking in the city’s rich Roman, Medieval and industrial heritage. Later, we visit Ness Botanic Gardens for a guided tour of 64 acres of gardens located on the Wirral peninsula with stunning views of the River Dee and North Wales.
Wednesday To Wales and a ride on a canal boat over the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, or ‘Stream in the Sky’, on a brightly covered narrowboat with on-board commentary. There will also be free time in Llangollen and we complete a circular route back to our hotel with a drive over the spectacular Horseshoe Pass.
Thursday We take a ride on the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift. Originally built in 1875, the structure lifts you from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal high above. There is also time to explore the Visitor’s Centre and then free time to explore Chester itself, a real gem of a city.
Friday We return with a lunch time stop at Trentham Shopping Village and Garden Centre.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Mercure Chester Abbots Well 4-star hotel with stunning views of the rolling Cheshire countryside and full leisure facilities.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | POOL | GYM
FREEVIEW TV | POOL | SAUNA JACUZZI | STEAM ROOM mercurechester.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. three boat rides and gardens)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
+£90pp Twin Sea View
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS!
NEW HOTEL!
Llandudno’s has an immaculate seafront is gracefully framed by two headlands and is a classic seaside resort with a great retro pier. It is also at the start point of stunning Snowdonia scenery. Our hotel has entertainment every night.
Friday Travelling via Bridgnorth we take a lunchbreak in Llangollen, before continuing via the scenic Horseshoe Pass to Llandudno.
Tours at Resort
A | We make a morning stop in Betws-y-Coed, in its magical setting with a distinctly Alpine feel. We continue, viewing Snowdon from the spectacular Llanberis Pass to our lunchtime stop in Caernarfon. Caernarfon is home to Wales’ most famous castle, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has narrow town centre streets and a stylishly redeveloped waterfront.
B | Scenic tour of the Isle of Anglesey with its stunning landscapes, unspoilt coastlines and picturesque towns and villages. Following a quick stop at Llanfair PG, the longest placename in Britain, we take a circular tour of the island including a photo stop overlooking Bull Bay. We pass through Llanfachraeth, Cemaes Bay & Amlwch on the way to our stop in Beaumaris, a beautifully positioned resort of Victorian character.
Monday We return with a stop in Shrewsbury, which has nearly 800 listed buildings all built on a huge loop in the River Severn.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Four Oaks Hotel
Situated in the heart of Llandudno on its picturesque panoramic promenade. Classically designed with modern features.
GROUND FLOOR ROOMS
BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV fouroaksllandudno.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Mon 2nd June 2025 £659
+£120 Single Supplement North Wales Rocks, Llanberis
Four great experiences that start as we jump on board the UK’s longest heritage railway past the foot of Snowdonia on the Welsh Highland Railway then, steam through 200 years of history from the harbour in Porthmadog aboard the Ffestiniog Railway, the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway. Meander through acres of reclaimed woodlands and vibrant formal gardens on a private tour of Bodrhyddan Hall. Plus, we burrow into the stories of Dinorwig Quarry, home of the National Slate Museum for fifty years and understand how industry chiseled itself into a very Welsh way of life.
Monday We head north and make a lunch time stop in the city of Chester. From here we follow the North Wales coast all the way before cutting inland to our hotel where we are met with a hot drink and biscuits.
Tours at Resort
A | Two great train rides today, first we snake around impossible bends and climb steep gradients on the Welsh Highland Railway for a 25 mile trip from Caenarfon to Portmadog. Following free time here for lunch we board the Ffestiniog Railway established in 1832. We chug past 13 miles of outstanding scenery including glorious coastlines, mountains, rivers and castles.
B | We spend the day in Llanberis and have included a visit to the National Slate Museum, in the shadow of Elidir Mountain, that has featured on BBC’s Inside Museums. We travel into the past of an industry and Welsh way of life with a talk and demonstration including slate splitting. The remainder of the day is free. Maybe climb Snowdon, or take the train (not included).
C | To Bodryddan Hall nestled in 100s of acres of North Wales Countryside. It is a Grade I listed building lived in by Lord Langford’s family for over 500 years. We have a private tour where we learn of the history including stories of Egypt and Japan! This is followed by a hot drink and biscuits. The remainder of the day is spent in the Victorian Seaside town of Llandudno.
Friday We return with a drive through central Wales and a lunch time stop in Shrewsbury.
• Return coach travel
Royal Victoria Hotel Uniquely located at the foot of Snowdon in its own 30 acres of gardens and woodland.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV | WIFI theroyalvictoria.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two train rides, National Slate Museum, Bodrhyddan Hall)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal INCLUDES TWO FAMOUS TRAINS, PRIVATE TOUR OF BODRHYDDAN HALL & NATIONAL SLATE MUSEUM
Welsh Wonder, Snowdonia
5 Days Sun 11th May 2025
£739 +£150 Single Supplement
5 Days from SIX INCLUDED EXTRAS!
Tours really don’t get more action-packed than this with two included extras every day whilst in resort. And with visits ranging from a Vineyard right through to a train to the highest mountain in Wales and England, there is something for every taste. The whole week is spent travelling through superb and scenic Snowdonia. This tour has now been a firm favourite for the last eight years!
Sunday Travelling via Bridgnorth we take a lunchbreak in Llangollen, before travelling via the scenic Horseshoe Pass to our hotel.
Monday We climb up towards Snowdonia and stop in Llanberis where we have our first train ride which takes us up to the summit of Snowdon. On its route it crosses two viaducts and then has wonderful views of the surrounding area. Free time near the summit before we return. Following all that exertion (!) we visit Pant du Vineyard and Orchard located on the slopes of the Nantlle Valley, Snowdonia. With breathtaking views of Snowdon and the surrounding mountains, as well as spectacular views of the sea across Caernarfon Bay, Pant Du is an idyllic location and we enjoy a guided tour and tasting.
Tuesday We start the day with a ride on the Ffestiniog Railway from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog with outstanding scenery, comfortable carriages and historic steam engines. Later to Portmerion, a village created in 1976 with iconic architecture and surrounded by fine scenery and vast wooded gardens.
Wednesday To one of North Wales’ best kept secrets, the hidden gardens of Plas Cadnat situated on the Isle of Anglesey. We make a short lunch time stop in the resort of Beaumaris, also on Anglesey, before taking a ride on the Llanberis Lake Railway to round off a fabulous holiday.
Thursday We return home through central Wales with a lunch time stop in Shrewsbury.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. three train rides, vineyard, gardens and Portmerion)
Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon
Traditional 3-star hotel with award-winning customer service. LIFT | BAR | GYM | POOL SAUNA | JACUZZI celtic-royal.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
We see the great coastal scenery in this area of West Wales, and we have included two fascinating guided tours. We love the Cliff Hotel & Spa, and they offer all guests an hour’s use of the Spa each day for no additional cost (please book on arrival).
Monday Following a lunchtime stop in Abergavenny we enjoy a scenic journey via the Brecon Beacons to West Wales, where we are met at our hotel with a welcome drink.
Tuesday Into Pembrokeshire National Park and we follow the scenic coast road through to St David’s for an early lunch time stop, it is a beautiful and unique city surrounded by some of the finest coastline in Europe. We then continue on the coastal road to visit Picton Castle and Gardens where we have a guided tour. The Castle is half manor house and half medieval castle, set in 40 acres of stunning gardens.
Wednesday Following the coast road northwards today, with its picturesque villages that cling to the sides of the hills rising above the blue waters of Cardigan Bay, we make our way to Aberystwyth, nestling between three hills and two beaches. Here we have the opportunity of taking the Vale of Rheidol Railway on a return journey to Devil’s Bridge and back (entry not included) Or spend your time in Aberystwyth itself which has much to offer including shopping, promenade, a cliff railway and an observatory.
Thursday Up the Teifi Valley to Cenarth, a conservation village huddled around spectacular waterfalls. We then continue up the valley to the National Wool Museum where we enjoy an informative guided tour and let the story of wool weave its magic in this unique working museum!
Friday Home with a stop at The Mumbles, undoubtedly one of the finest seaside villages in the UK.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
The Cliff Hotel
A renowned 3-star hotel with great facilities and stunning views of the Pembrokeshire coast. LIFT | BAR | POOL | GYM SAUNA | SPA | STEAM ROOM
HYDRO SPA cliffhotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Picton Castle & National Wool Museum)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal INCLUDING PICTON
We spend the week in an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’ with two included attractions and a day in beautiful Tenby. All whilst based in a 3-star hotel with great leisure facilities. This tour and hotel, which offers two nights entertainment, receive fantastic feedback.
Sunday A lunchtime stop in Abergavenny and a lovely drive through the Brecon Beacons to Llanelli.
Monday We experience the sheer beauty of the Gower. Our first stop is the Gower Heritage Centre which offers crafts, a watermill, and a museum. Later we have a tour of the Mill and then a local guide joins us on our coach for a two-hour tour of the best that the Gower has to offer.
Tuesday All day in Tenby, a historic seaside resort with natural charm, narrow streets, harbour, and beautiful beaches.
Wednesday To Gwili Steam Railway where we are welcomed aboard a most popular steam train trip for a scenic, memorable ride! We journey through pretty fields, over sparkling rivers on this steam-powered locomotive trip. Then to Carmarthen for a lunch stop, where there is good shopping and today is market day.
Thursday We head towards home with a stop in Cardiff, with unique attractions and quality shopping all in walking distance.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (inc. Heritage centre, local guide & train ride)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
4 Days (Inc. tour A) Fri 24th October 2025
5 Days (Inc. all tours) Mon 7th April 2025 £469 Mon 26th May 2025 £529 Mon 4th August 2025 £569
Pembrokeshire is known throughout the world for its awesome coastal scenery and its golden sands are backed by towering cliffs. Tenby is one of the UK’s favourite seaside towns, it is steeped in ancient history and surrounded by an imposing medieval stone wall.
First Day Into the Brecon Beacons and we make a lunchtime stop in the town of Brecon, a picturesque market town famed for its Georgian architecture. More scenery as we continue to Tenby.
Tours at Resort
A | A grand circular tour of Pembrokeshire today starts as we travel along the coast road known for its ‘Seventeen Hills in Sixteen Miles’ through Newgale Pebble Beach and the quaint little village of Solva to St. Davids, where ample time is allowed for lunch and to view the cathedral, the largest in Wales. On our return we make a stop in Narbeth, it has a thriving high street with independent shops and cafes.
B | Another circular tour of Pembrokeshire as we take a beautiful morning drive along the coast through Lydstep to St Govan’s Head where we make a stop with great views of a tiny chapel built into the cliff. We continue through Merrion, then pass the impressive, mediaeval fortress of Pembroke Castle on our way to Haverfordwest for a lunchtime stop. Haverfordwest is the attractive county town of Pembrokeshire with a great variety of shops. The Wester Cleddau River runs through the centre and has a castle towering above it. In the afternoon we visit Saundersfoot, a fishing village at the foot of a picturesque, wooded valley. Last Day We head towards home with a lunchtime stop in Abergavenny
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Clarence House Hotel
Superbly situated with stunning sea views. LIFT | BAR clarencehotel-tenby.co.uk
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days Sat 12th April 2025 £879 +£65 Single Supplement
Balmoral is the Scottish Home of the Royal Family and where Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away. Our visits also include the 18th century House of Dun, a family -run working farm and in Aberdeen we explore the Gordon Highlander Museum and spend time exploring the famous ‘Granite City’. We have one final attraction which is the Famous Blacksmith Gretna Green Experience. Our Montrose hotel provides an Afternoon Tea one day and there will also be two nights of entertainment.
Saturday North and we just cross the border to reach our overnight hotel, the Gretna Hall Hotel, where we are met with a hot drink. We also have entry to the Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience.
Sunday Into Scotland and we make a lunchtime stop in Stirling, a small city with a big history. Then on to Montrose which boasts an attractive town centre and has a wide sandy beach.
Monday We spend today at stunning Balmoral where we discover the castle’s fascinating history, famous residents and visit the largest room in the castle, the Ballroom. We can also visit the exhibitions and the beautiful formal gardens that feature a large garden kitchen and a range of Victorian glasshouses full of flowering pot plants and a water garden.
Tuesday To the 18th century House of Dun, an elegant Georgia country house designed with baroque extravagance. We have a guided tour as costumed guides reveal the history of the house and its people. Outside there are beautiful formal gardens we can explore. Later we discover what daily life is like on a Scottish Farm at Newton Farm. There is time to pet and feed the animals and we round off the visit with a hot drink and some home baked treats.
Wednesday Along the coastal road to Aberdeen and we visit the Gordon Highlander Museum which celebrates the story of the regiment if the same name and its 200 years of history. Then the remainder of the day is yours to explore the city, spend time in the merchant quarter or relax in one of the many parks and awardwinning gardens.
Thursday We depart Montrose and our route south allows us to cross two famous bridges on the way back to our overnight hotel, the Holiday Inn, Preston.
Friday We return south, heading for home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Park Hotel Montrose
3-star characterful hotel close to the centre of the town.
GROUNDS FLOOR ROOMS
FREEVIEW TV | WIFI parkmontrose.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. five experiences)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
4 Days
Fri 8th August 2025
Fri 22nd August 2025
+£75 Single Supplements
5 Days
Sun 29th June 2025
+£100 Single Supplement
4 Days from 5 Days from
£579
£579
The Edinburgh Tattoo is the most spectacular show in the world, enjoyed by an international audience of 100 million on TV. But there’s no substitute for being there as you become part of it. On the day of the Tattoo, we have plenty of time to enjoy Edinburgh and on the other day in Scotland we enjoy a cruise on famous Loch Lomond!
Friday Into Scotland and our hotel in South Lanarkshire. Saturday All day to explore Edinburgh, a great and historic city with much to see. There is also the option of visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia (entry not included). In the evening, we have the highlight of the tour as we visit the Tattoo for a 1815 performance. PLEASE NOTE: THE APPROACH TO THE TATTOO IS A WALK OF 80 METRES ON A STEEP INCLINE. THERE ARE THEN A DOZEN STEPS TO REACH THE FIRST ROW OF THE VENUE.
Sunday To Loch Lomond and a lunchtime stop at Loch Lomond Shores, Scotland’s premier attraction with breathtaking views and great shopping. We then make a one-hour journey across Lake Lomond on a Sweeney’s Cruise with great views all of the way. Monday Following breakfast we return south to England and onwards home.
Hotel 3-star traditional Scottish country house hotel. BAR | WIFI GROUND FLOOR ROOMS tintohotel.scot Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Tattoo ticket and cruise),
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal (except night of the Tattoo).
£719
INCLUDES SEA & TRAIN ADVENTURE, TRAQUAIR HOUSE WITH OWNER & ALES AND FLOORS CASTLE & GARDENS
A fabulous hotel and this year we have refreshed the itinerary, although we still visit Floors Castle, an established Scottish icon and majestic architectural gem. The other house we visit is Traquiar, which has an amazing and long history. Not only do we get shown around by the owner, but they also have a brewery on site, and we have a tasting! Finally, a completely different day as we enjoy a 90-minute cruise on The Forth, followed by a 10-mile return journey on a train alongside it!
Sunday North and over the border to our hotel in Peebles where we are met with shortbread and a hot drink.
Tours at Resort
A | To Traquair House where Lady Catherine Maxwell Stuart will personally guide us through Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, which has welcomed a staggering 27 Kings and Queens of Scotland in its 900 years. Hear first-hand the stories of Mary Queen of Scots’ two visits and the diplomatic intrigue sparked. Then sample some of the ales brewed on-site in the 300-year-old brewery. Then to the world-famous town of Hawick which is home to five premium products and where cashmere and tweed were invented!
B | We start a scenic cruise of the Forth and view a UNESCO World Heritage site, The Forth Bridge. Take in spectacular views of the Edinburgh skyline and the islands of Inchcolm, Inchgarvie, Inchkeith and Inchmickery. Keep an eye out for the marvellous marine life, including seabirds, seals, and the elusive porpoise. Then on land enjoy rumbling in romantic nostalgia with the sights, sounds and smells of yesteryear as we travel 10 miles aboard golden age Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway, along the scenic Forth Estuary, through woodlands, past waterfalls and over the dramatic Avon Viaduct. We then have a short stop in Edinburgh.
C | To an iconic country house rather than a fortress, Floors Castle is the largest inhabited house in Scotland, home to 11 generations of Duke of Roxburghe. A true fairytale – we can discover collections of fine art, porcelain, tapestries in grand rooms set among 52,000 acres of Borders landscapes, and stunning Victorian walled gardens show piecing inspired collections. After visiting the castle, we have a tour of the gardens. Free time in the town of Peebles before we return to our hotel.
Thursday We return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated
Barony Castle Hotel, Peebles 3-star hotel that was 16th century castle and has transformed into a luxury hotel with full leisure facilities.
LIFT (please request) | BAR FREEVIEW TV | POOL | SAUNA JACUZZI | GYM baronycastle.com
• (Inc. Traquair House, Floors Castle, boat and train ride)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
Mon 14th July 2025
+£175 Single Supplement
£819
INCLUDES BROOMHALL HOUSE WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, DRUMMOND CASTLE GARDENS, LINDORES ABBEY DISTILLERY & A WARSHIP!
Stirling is a fabulous city and we stay in a fabulous 4-star hotel with full leisure facilities! Whilst here we enjoy a spirited journey through Scotland’s captivating heartland. Broomhall House is one of Scotland’s Grandest homes, we visit the Spiritual Home of Scotch Whisky, and enjoy a guided tour of one of Europe’s most impressive gardens! Finally, we visit one of the oldest British-built warships still afloat in the UNESCO city of Dundee.
Monday We head north and over the border to our 4-star hotel in Stirling where we are met with a hot drink with biscuits.
Tours at Resort
A | To Broomhall House which opens its doors by invitation only and we have a sumptuously engrossing tour of this private family home! We go behind closed doors on this exclusively eccentric tour led by a family member, uncovering the internationally important collection of fine arts and artefacts to be found in the regal high-ceilinged rooms. We also cross the Forth on one of its famous bridges to visit Edinburgh.
B | Our guided tour of Drummond Castle Gardens transports us to a world of natural beauty, serene tranquility and captivating vistas. Its meticulously manicured lawns, vibrant flower beds, and timeless elegance are a testament to centuries of landscape design. Queen Victoria remarked that the gardens were ‘really very fine’ during a visit in 1842! Our day includes a circular route that takes in a drive through the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, including views of two lochs, and a stop in the attractive town of Crieff.
C | Located in the UNESCO city of Dundee, a magnificent ship stands as a testament to naval craftsmanship and maritime heritage. HMS Unicorn holds a significant and captivating place in naval history and a visit uncovers the ship’s 200-year story from Georgian Navy to her use in the Second World War. Following free time in Dundee we visit the site of the first recorded whisky distillery in Scotland, revived after 523 years as Lindores Abbey in 2017, with their first ‘drams’ released in 2021. We have a tour and tasting. Friday We return home.
• Return coach travel
The Stirling Highland Hotel 4-star hotel in a charming Victorian building providing a perfect base for exploring the city. LIFT (PLEASE REQUEST)
BAR | WIFI | POOL | SAUNA GYM STEAM ROOM | FREEVIEW TV stirlinghighlandhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Broomhall, Lindores, Drummond and HMS Unicorn)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
6 Days
Thu 8th May 2025
+£150 Single Supplement
6 Days from
£769
INCLUDING DUNVEGAN CASTLE AND GARDENS PLUS, MUSEUM OF ISLAND LIFE!
The Island of Skye is 50 miles long and is the largest of the Inner Hebrides. It has a rich history taking in Dinosaur Fossils, Clan Warfare, the infamous ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ and the Jacobite Rebellion. Otters, seals, whales, dolphins, and red deer are just some of the impressive creatures that can be seen on and around the Isle of Skye. Our journey to and from the Isle is a circular route which allows us to see the Highlands and the Cairngorms on our way north, and then Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, and Loch Lomond on our return south.
A magical tour throughout!
Thursday We head north to the border, and on to our overnight hotel, the 4-star Dryfesdale Country House Hotel. The hotel sits amid five-acres of magnificent grounds with stunning views of the Scottish countryside.
Friday We cross the Forth on the Queensferry Bridge and on to a lunch stop in Pitlochry with its clear, sparkling air, beautiful scenery, and rich clan history. We are now in the Highlands and pass the Cairngorm National Park plus numerous lochs before crossing the famous Skye Bridge and onto our hotel for three nights in Broadford.
Saturday A circular tour of the far north of Skye with plenty of photo opportunities of other islands and towards the Outer Hebrides. We visit Skye Museum of Island Life at the very north of the island where we step back over 100 years. The museum offers a unique experience and a true insight into island life and is an award-winning attraction that is a must. We then make a late lunchtime stop in the Islands capital of Portree. Portree lies in is a picturesque natural harbour that is sheltered with great views to the sea.
Sunday Another circular tour as we travel via Skeabost to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. This was the seat of the Clan Macleod and is the oldest continually occupied castle in Scotland. The castle has won visitor awards and it is a Highland estate steeped in history and clan legend which also has beautiful formal gardens. We return via the west coast of Skye and in the afternoon there is a choice; free time at Broadford, where our hotel is, or join the coach for a short trip to the town of Kyleakin which has great views of the Skye Bridge across the water.
Monday We leave the Isle and head south with great scenery throughout including views of Ben Nevis and Glencoe. After a late lunch time stop at Loch Lomond Shores, we continue to the same overnight hotel.
Tuesday The holiday is not over as we visit the Lake District and drive over the Kirkstone Pass to make a lunchtime stop in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Holiday Inclusions • Return coach travel
Dunollie Hotel, Broadford
3-star hotel set by the serene waterside at the foot of Skye’s mountains.WIFI | BAR bespokehotels.com/dunolliehotel
• Tours as indicated (Inc.castle and museum) • Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Three Great Scottish Railways, plus a Cruise!
8 Days from
8 Days Sat 5th July 2025 £1,069 +£142 Single Supplement
INCLUDES MALLAIG TO FORT WILLIAM, STRATHSPEY RAILWAY AND BO’NESS & KINNEIL RAILWAY PLUS, A LOCH CRUISE!
On this tour we take three train rides, two in the highlands and one near Edinburgh. But that’s not all, we also have a 90-minute loch cruise and view some of Scotland’s beautiful scenic spots and traditional towns. Our fabulous main hotel is in Kingussie, a lovely town beside the river Spey amid the beautiful Cairngorms. We travel to and from Kingussie on a circular route, so you get to see as much Scottish scenery as possible.
Saturday Into Scotland and on to our overnight hotel, the King Robert Hotel which is situated on the site of the Battle of Bannockburn on the outskirts of historic Stirling.
Sunday We have our first train ride which is on the Bo’Ness & Kinneil Steam Railway. From here we take the Queensferry Crossing of the Firth of Forth and continue north through the Cairngorm mountains with fabulous scenery. Our late lunchtime stop is in the Highland town of Pitlochry. Then to Kingussie and our hotel for four nights.
Monday A FREE DAY in our resort of Kingussie. If you wish to explore further afield, there is a trainline that travels to either Inverness or Newtonmore.
Tuesday A dramatic day in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie, Harry Potter, and the Jacobite Rebellion! To Loch Sheil, (Hogwart’s Lake in the Harry Potter films) for a 90-minute cruise with refreshment on board. As part of this cruise, we get to witness the famous scene in the film where the Hogwart’s Express crosses the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. The Hogwart’s Express is in fact The Jacobite. Later we travel on that famous route, from Mallaig to Fort William, experiencing the great scenery on a diesel train.
Wednesday Along the Spey Valley to Aviemore, a year-round destination with beautiful scenery. Here we catch the Strathspey Steam Railway to Broomhill, a ride that enables you to travel back in time to an era when steam whistles blew, carriage doors slammed and there was a familiar click-clack rhythm on the rails. Later we travel further into the Highlands and visiting Grantown-on-Spey.
Thursday A different route as we return south taking in Ben Nevis, Glen Coe and Loch Lomond. Our hotel for two nights is the 4-star Doubletree by Hilton Westerwood, set in 120 acres of gardens against the backdrop of the Campsie Fells.
Friday All day in Edinburgh to experience the city’s skyline, cobbled streets and colorful characters.
Saturday We return home with a stop at Gretna Green.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Duke of Gordon Hotel, Kingussie
Great hospitality and food in this hotel that dates back to the 18th century and the days of the stagecoach. LIFT | BAR dukeofgordonhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. three train rides and one cruise)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Grantown-on-Spey
7 Days Sun 10th August 2025
Days from
£1,049 +£200 Single Supplement
INCLUDES PRIVATE HIGHLAND GAMES DEMONSTRATION, LOCH CRUISE, SHEEPDOG DEMONSTRATION, CASTLE AND HIGHLAND FOLK MUSEUM!
A fabulous Highland’s Hotel that we have been visiting for years and this year’s itinerary is the best yet! A highlight is taking in colourful tartans and watching players ‘toss the caber’ as we celebrate the famous Highland Games with a private tour and demonstration at His Majesty the King’s Braemar Highland Games Centre. We have a private tour at Cawdor Castle and Gardens, complete with moat, drawbridge, and turrets. There is a two-hour voyage on the legendary waters of Loch Lomond plus, we see a Sheepdog demonstration. Finally, we visit the award-winning Highland Folk Museum and learn more about the area as it is brought to life by costumed guides amongst restored buildings. We travel to and from the Highlands on different routes to maximize the scenery that we can enjoy.
Sunday We head north into Scotland the 4 star Holiday Inn Dumfries.
Monday We make a lunchtime stop in Stirling, a small city with a big history. Then into the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorm National Park and on to our hotel for four nights.
Tours at Resort
A | We start by following in the footsteps of Queen Victoria and sail from Dochgarrock on a two-hour Loch Lomond Cruise, with panoramic views of Aldourie Castle, Bona Lighthouse and much more! Then a traditional Scottish castle fortress - Cawdor Castle, dating from 1370 and inhabited by the Cawdor family for over 600 years. It was built around a legendary holly tree and made famous in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. We have a meet and greet with an expert and then are free to explore. The house also has Scotland’s oldest walled garden, with symbolic mazes and flower gardens flanked by moats, drawbridges, and turrets.
B | A beautiful drive through the Cairngorms to Braemar and the Highland Games Centre where we have a private tour and demonstration. We also pass the Royal residence of Balmoral.
C | We stay local today but still have two great experiences. First, we delve into the past and discover Highland living at the Highland Folk Museum which is set over 80 acres with live actors plus restored buildings bring Highland history to life. Then a completely unique experience as we see up to eight sheepdogs working as a team maneuvering sheep through various obstacles over a 45-minute demonstration, all amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland.
Friday A different route home as we pass Fort William with wonderful Highland Scenery and views of Ben Nevis. Then we pass through Glencoe and pass by Loch Lomond on the way to our overnight hotel, The 4-star Gretna Hall in Gretna Green.
Saturday We return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Grant Arms Hotel
A warm Highland welcome awaits at the recently refurbished, handsome and magnificent 4-star Grant Arms Hotel. Famous past visitors include Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. BAR | WIFI LIFT (NOT TO ALL FLOORS, PLEASE REQUEST) grantarmshotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. five visits)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days
Wed 11th June 2025
+£170 Single Supplement
7 Days from
£919
INCLUDES DOLPHIN SPIRIT CRUISE, THE GREAT HIGHLAND RAILWAY JOURNEY & DUNROBIN CASTLE!
A wonderful Scottish Highlands tour with delightful scenery, a memorable rail journey, a famous castle and the chance to discover dolphins in the Moray Firth. We take a different route north and south through Scotland, so different scenery is seen throughout. The Priory Hotel in Beauly is always a favourite, and we stay at the 4-star Dryfesdale Country House Hotel near Lockerbie overnight on both ways.
Wednesday We head north to the border and make a stop at Gretna Green before continuing to our hotel, the 4 star Dryfesdale Country House Hotel.
Thursday Past Glasgow and we make a stop at the Loch Lomond Shores, with shops, eating options and walks on the banks of the loch. Lovely landscape all the way from here as we travel through wonderful Highland scenery, including views of Ben Nevis, then along the shores of Loch Ness towards our base for the next four nights in Beauly.
Friday We enjoy a memorable two-hour train ride on one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh. After weaving through the Highlands, we have super views of the Isle of Skye as we near Kyle of Lochalsh. Throughout, crystal clear lochs mirror the forests and mountains on this wonderful journey. Our coach meets us at the end of the journey and returns us via another scenic journey back passing Lochs Duich and Cluanie.
Saturday We experience an unforgettable two-hour boat cruise on the Moray Firth to hopefully see the world’s most northerly population of Bottlenose Dolphins. There will also be great views and hopefully more wildlife including otters and seals. We then head north along the coast to visit Dunrobin Castle, with its fairytale spires and turrets plus great gardens.
Sunday A FREE DAY to relax and enjoy Beauly, or perhaps catch the local train for the 15-minute ride into Inverness (not included). Inverness is the Capital of the Highlands and has a thriving old town with a river setting.
Monday More Highland scenery as we head south via the Cairngorms National Park. We make a lunchtime stop in Pitlochry with its clear sparkling air, beautiful scenery, and rich clan history. Our overnight hotel is in Lockerbie again.
Tuesday The holiday isn’t over as we drop into Bowness-on -Windermere for free time before enjoying a drive along its banks, and then depart for home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
PLEASE NOTE: DOLPHINS SIGHTINGS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED on the cruise, but with their new catamaran we get to travel all the way to Chanory Point which increases the chances!
The Priory Hotel, Beauly 3-star hotel situated in the village square with true Highland hospitality. LIFT | BAR priory-hotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. train ride, boat cruise and castle)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Fort William
7 Days
Sun 3rd August 2025
+£123 Single Supplement Jacobite
from
£1,169
THE
JACOBITE IS THE
‘HOGWARTS EXPRESS‘ IN THE HARRY POTTER FILMS!
Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, the eighty-four-mile round trip on the Jacobite takes us past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis! There is spectacular Highland scenery on our other days out and we also enjoy a cruise on the infamous Loch Ness. On our way to Fort William we pass through the Cairngorms National Park, and on our return, through The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Parks, so even our travelling days are full of scenery and interest.
Sunday We head north to the border and make a stop at Gretna Green before continuing to our hotel, the 4-star Dryfesdale Country House Hotel.
Monday We travel over the Forth Estuary and into the Highlands. We make a short lunchtime stop in Pitlochry with its clear sparkling air, beautiful scenery, and rich clan history. From here we have great Highland scenery as we travel through the Cairngorms National Park to our hotel for four nights in Fort William.
Tuesday We board the Jacobite Steam Train for a two-hour each way journey on what is regarded as one of the World’s greatest rail journeys to Mallaig and back. (This was the route used by the Hogwarts Express in the iconic Harry Potter films!) There will be views of the mighty Ben Nevis, Loch Morar and we travel over the famous 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct. A truly magical experience and we have free time in Mallaig before our return.
Wednesday To Fort Augustus, a lovely town where the Caledonian Canal meets Loch Ness. Following free time we board our boat for a wonderfully relaxing one-hour cruise on Loch Ness with stunning views of Urquhart Castle and possibly Nessie!
Thursday Into the northern
and
We return in time for you free time in Fort
Friday We return south on a different route with more superb Highland scenery including Ben Nevis. We make a short stop in Glencoe and then at Loch Lomond Shores with shops, eating options and walks on the banks of the loch. Then on to our overnight hotel, the 3-star Shap Wells Hotel, surrounded by mountain streams.
Saturday The holiday isn’t over as we drop into Bowness-on-Windermere for free time before enjoying a drive along its banks, and then depart for home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Alexandra Hotel
Providing traditional Scottish Hospitality this 3-star hotel has a great location with everything nearby and full use of the leisure facilities at the nearby Ben Nevis Hotel. WIFI | BAR | POOL and at Ben Nevis Hotel: SAUNA GYM | STEAM ROOM | JACUZZI strathmorehotels-thealexandra.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. train ride and boat cruise)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days
7 Days from
Wed 27th August 2025 £899
+£218 Single Supplement
INCLUDING FIVE EXPERIENCES AND 4-STAR HOTEL IN ABERDEEN!
Queen Victoria visited this region in Scotland and fell in love with the place and it has been known as Royal Deeside ever since. One can only say that she had good taste as the Deeside is a stunningly beautiful area and Queen Elizabeth’s favourite place Balmoral is also situated here. We are based in Aberdeen and travelling to / from our overnight hotels we take a different route making a circular tour of the spectacular scenery that includes the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorms. Add in the five included experiences and this is a tremendous tour!
Wednesday We make our way north and stop overnight at the Gretna Hall Hotel just across the border. There will be time to explore this famous village.
Thursday We pass Stirling and Perth and travel into the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorm National Park. We make a stop in Braemar, a lovely village surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, beautiful glens, and ancient pine forests. Then we pass Balmoral before dropping down into Aberdeen and our hotel for four nights.
Friday Travelling via Inverurie, we visit Dean’s Shortbread Factory where we can see the famous product being made. Then we visit Fyvie Castle, an imposing 800-year-old fortress with Raeburn portraits on the walls and wildfowl in the loch. The estate has its own ghosts, legends, and folklore! We complete a circular route for the day by following the coast road back to Aberdeen with views over the North Sea.
Saturday With a backdrop of lush rolling hills, Crathes Castle and gardens is this morning’s destination. Discover the history of the turrets, towers, oak panels, and painted ceilings of this magnificent Disney-esque 16th century house. We also have time to spend in the lovely gardens. Later we have a return journey on the Royal Deeside Railway. Although the track is only a mile long it has a beautiful setting running alongside the river Dee.
Sunday We have a two-hour guided tour of Aberdeen by coach including some walking parts. Then the remainder of the day is yours to explore the city, spend time in the merchant quarter or relax in one of the many parks and award-winning gardens.
Monday As we return south we cross two famous bridges over the River Tay and the Firth of Forth with great views. Our overnight hotel is the 4-star Mercure Kings Hotel in Darlington.
Tuesday We return home with a lunch time stop in Bakewell in the Peak District.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Aberdeen Altens Hotel 4-star contemporary hotel with leisure facilities.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI | POOL SAUNA | STEAM ROOM | GYM aberdeenaltenshotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. five experiences)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
8 Days
Sat 26th April 2025
+£216 Single Supplement
£1,049
A journey of discovery visiting no less than six of Scotland’s Western Isles! Some are linked by causeway and there are ferry rides between others amidst stunning and ever-changing scenery. There are also great views to be had on the mainland as we pass through the Highlands on our way North and Glencoe, viewing Ben Nevis, on our return south. For the first time on this tour, we also spend two nights in Stirling and there will be time to explore this small city with a big history from our central 4-star hotel.
Saturday We travel to Scotland and our hotel for two nights, is the 4-star Highland Hotel in Stirling.
Sunday A FREE DAY to explore Stirling which is known for historic attractions and spectacular scenery, not to mention shopping and great places to eat. A short walk from the hotel is the famous, grand castle with beautiful gardens (entry not included).
Monday Great scenery all day as we travel through the Highlands, Cairngorms and Speyside and on to Inverness where we make a lunchtime stop. Inverness is the ‘Highland Capital’ on the banks of the River Ness and it boasts a host of historic buildings and independent shopping. More loch views as we continue to Ullapool to catch our late afternoon crossing from Ullapool to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, our base for the next two nights at the Caladh Inn.
Tuesday A wonderful, guided tour around the Isle of Lewis, with a local guide. We view amazing scenery as well as visit a traditional Blackhouse, amazingly still lived in until recently, ‘Scotland’s Stonehenge’ at Callanish and an historic ‘Broch’ at Carloway.
Wednesday A day of island-hopping when we travel south through Lewis and Harris, with magnificent beaches and scenery throughout. We continue by ferry to the Isle of Benbecula and our base for the next two nights staying at the Dark Island Hotel in Liniclate. On a summer evening you can walk near the hotel and hear lapwings, oystercatchers and corncrakes.
Thursday We have a local guide on board for our tour of Benbecula and South Uist with its Bonnie Prince Charlie connections.
Friday A long but rewarding day today as we catch the ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig on the northern tip of the Isle of Skye. We then take a wonderful, scenic journey across Skye, cross Skye Bridge, view Ben Nevis and pass through Glencoe, and on to our overnight stop at the Rob Roy Hotel in Aberfoyle.
Saturday This Scottish odyssey ends with the journey south.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
The Stirling Highland Hotel 4-star hotel in a charming Victorian building providing a perfect base for exploring the city. LIFT (PLEASE REQUEST) BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV | GYM POOL | SAUNA | STEAM ROOM stirlinghighlandhotel.co.uk
Caladh Inn, Stornoway
Conveniently located a short walk from the town centre.
LIFT | BAR | WIFI caladhinn.co.uk
Dark Island Hotel, Benbecula
Surrounded by great scenery and wildlife and a short stroll from the beach.
FREEVIEW TV | WIFI | BAR isleshotelgroup.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two guided tours and Blackhouse)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
6 Days
Wed 14th May 2025 £819
6 Days from INCLUDES FULL DAY ON ORKNEY, WITH A LOCAL GUIDE AND SIX VISITS!
+£103 Single Supplement
A fantastic journey right up to the Northern tip of the Highlands and including a day on Orkney. Orkney is a group of 70 islands, the closest of which is just six miles off the mainland, and we spend 6.5 hours on the island with a local guide and visit the world heritage sites of Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. Plus, Scapa Flow, the Churchill Barriers, the Italian Chapel, and the Island’s Capital Kirkwall with its magnificent Cathedral. Whilst in the Far North we also spend another day enjoying the Castle & Gardens of Mey plus John O’Groats. We travel through Scotland on different Highland routes, one way taking in the Cairngorms and on the other Loch Ness and Glencoe.
Wednesday To Scotland and to our overnight hotel, the 3-star Salutation Hotel in Perth.
Thursday Glorious Highland scenery as we travel north through the Cairgorms with stops in Pitlochry and Inverness. Then on to Castletown on the North coast, our base for the next three nights.
Friday We catch the 90-minute ferry from Acabster to Stromess on Orkney where we are met by our guide for the day. We have a full tour of Orkney taking in amongst other things Skara Brae, an amazing neolithic village that lay buried by sand for 4,000 years; the stone Ring of Brodgar, the delightful chapel built by Italian POWs and the sunken remains of battleships scuppered at Scapa Flow. Our return ferry has us back on the mainland by 1815.
Saturday A relaxing day as we visit the Castle and Gardens of Mey, once the much-adored home of the Queen Mother, who saved it from ruin in 1952. We also visit the famous John O’Groats and then views north back to the Orkney Islands as we visit Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain.
Sunday We return on a different route along the banks of Loch Ness and then views of Ben Nevis as we pass through Glencoe. We make a stop in Fort Augustus, on the banks of Loch Ness, and on to our overnight hotel, the 4-star Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld.
Monday We travel south and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Castletown Hotel, Castletown
Family run hotel nestled in the heart of this picturesque village with first class food.
BAR | FREEVIEW TV castletownhotel.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. ferry, local guide on Orkney, entry to Skara Brae, Stones of Stenness, Castle of Mey)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
8 Days Fri 25th July 2025
+£235 Single Supplement Orkney
8 Days from
£1,149
WITH LOCAL GUIDES ON BOTH ISLANDS AND LOTS OF INCLUDED ENTRIES!
A fantastic journey right up to the Northern tip of the Highlands before boarding a minicruise to take a look at both the Orkneys and Shetland. Orkney is a group of 70 islands, the closest of which is just six miles off the mainland. Lerwick in Shetland is closer to Bergen in Norway than Edinburgh and there is a Scandinavian feel to the island. We also use a circular route so that differing Highland scenery is witnessed throughout. Two nights are spent on board Northlink ships and accommodation is in twins, so no bunk beds!
Friday To Scotland and our overnight hotel, the 4-star Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld.
Saturday Glorious Highland scenery and Lochs as we travel north, with stops in Pitlochry and Inverness to Thurso on the North coast. Thurso will be our base for the next three nights in either the St Claire or Station Hotel.
Sunday Fine scenery as we travel via Wick to visit John O’Groats. Then views north to the Orkney Islands as we visit Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain.
Monday A FREE DAY to explore Thurso, Scotland’s most northerly town with views dominated by Dunnet Head.
Tuesday We catch the 08:45 ferry from Scrabster for the 90-minute crossing to Stromness on Orkney, passing The Old Man of Hoy. Here we have a full day tour of Orkney with a local guide. We visit Skara Brae, an amazing neolithic village that lay buried by sand for 4000 years; the stone Ring of Brodgar, the delightful chapel built by Italian POWs and the sunken remains of battleships scuppered at Scapa Flow. In the evening we visit the fascinating Fossil Centre before moving on for an included 3-course dinner in Kirkwall. Later we board our ship for the overnight crossing to Lerwick, the Shetlands’ capital.
Wednesday Following breakfast onboard we depart on a tour of Shetlands’ scenic mainland with a local guide. We visit Jarlshof Viking Village and Scalloway Castle. There is free time in Lerwick before re-boarding the ship for the overnight crossing to Aberdeen (dinner onboard).
Thursday Following breakfast onboard, we dock at Aberdeen. From here we travel through beautiful Royal Deeside, passing the Balmoral Estate before stopping in Braemar. We continue through the breathtaking scenery of Glenshee to our overnight stop at the same hotel in Cumbernauld.
Friday We travel south and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
Northlink Ferries
Cruise-like ships with wellappointed lounges and bars, shops, cinemas and comfortable cabin accommodation. northlinkferries.co.uk
• Tours as indicated (Inc. local guide on Orkney and Shetland, entry to Skara Brae, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Orkney Fossil Centre, Jarlshof and Scalloway Castle)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Seven nights hotel / ship accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
6 Days
Thu 17th April 2025 (Easter)
+£150 Single Supplement
Sun 14th September 2025 £889
+£225 Single Supplement
Wed 8th October 2025
+£200 Single Supplement
Jersey is an island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast and feed the land. It is an island that’s small on size, but big on personality, where country lanes open to cliff top views and the sea is never more than ten minutes away. The Monterey Hotel gets amazing feedback, and all holidays include a full day island coastal tour. We fly with Blue Island Airlines from Southampton Airport. PLEASE NOTE: An £80pp deposit is required for these holidays.
First Day We transfer you to Southampton Airport to catch your flight to Jersey. On the island you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Whilst at Resort A full day Island coastal trip is included plus, a good selection of others are available through your representative.
Last Day There will be a transfer to the Airport from the hotel and we will meet you on the mainland for the journey home.
Barnes Coaches Ltd act as agents for Destination Specialists ATOL 9503 and Destination Specialists T & C apply. These can be found on their website: dsljersey.com
Monterey Hotel
3-star hotel a short walk-through Millennium Town Park to the town centre. LIFT | WIFI | GYM INDOOR & OUTDOOR POOL
SPA | SAUNA | STEAM ROOM
FREEVIEW TV
morvanhotels.com/our-hotels/ monterey-hotel Holiday Inclusions
• Flights
• Return coach travel to / from Southampton Airport
• Day trip on island
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
8 Days Wed 17th September 2025 £1,249
+£315 Single Supplement
+£60 per room Sea View Upgrade (Guernsey only)
CHANNEL ISLANDS IN ONE HOLIDAY!
If you cannot decide between Jersey and Guernsey why not enjoy a holiday that visits both, and includes a day trip to of Herm! Both of our hotels are 3-star and we have also included a half day tour of Guernsey and a full day island coastal tour of Jersey. We travel with Condor on one of their high-speed vessels, everyone is guaranteed a seat on board and there is a restaurant, bar, duty free shop and Wi-Fi.
Wednesday We transfer you to Condor port, for your journey to Guernsey. On the island you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Whilst on Guernsey:
On one day you will be transferred to the port for a 20-minute boat ride to Herm. Herm Island is a peaceful oasis with long stretches of unspoilt beach, sandy cliff paths, local pods of dolphins and Europe’s most southerly puffin colony, this small island is an escape like no other. On the other days, there is a half-day tour of the island.
Saturday An Inter-island transfer to Jersey where we our transferred to our hotel.
Whilst on Jersey:
A full day Island Coastal trip is included. The other two days are free for you to relax or explore as you wish.
Wednesday We catch the Condor ferry back to the mainland and and we will meet you on the mainland for the journey home.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to access on and off the ferry, which is 100m walk up an incline, this holiday may not be suitable for all customers.
Hotel Peninsula Hotel, Guernsey
3-star hotel that sits beautifully on a picturesque headland with wonderful views.
BAR | WIFI | POOL peninsula.gg
Merton Hotel, Jersey
3-star resort hotel with fabulous facilities including indoor and outdoor pools.
seymourhotels.com/merton-hotel INCLUDING
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel to/from Condor ports
• Ferry crossings
• Three trips
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
6 Days Sun 18th May 2025
+£200 Single Supplement Sun 17th August 2025 £769
+£250 Single Supplement 7 Days Sat 21st June 2025 £859
+£300 Single Supplement Sat 12th July 2025 £859 +£300 Single Supplement
Jersey is an island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast and feed the land. It is an island that’s small on size, but big on personality, where country lanes open to cliff top views and the sea is never more than ten minutes away. The Monterey Hotel gets amazing feedback, and all holidays include a full day island coastal tour. We travel with Condor on one of their high-speed vessels so the journey time to Jersey is just four hours and ten minutes. Everyone is guaranteed a seat on board and there is a restaurant, bar, dutyfree shop and Wi-Fi.
First Day We transfer you to Poole to catch the Condor ferry to Jersey. On the island you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Whilst at Resort A full day island coastal trip is included plus a good selection of others are available through your representative. Last Day There will be a transfer to the Condor from the hotel and we will meet you on the mainland for the journey home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Ferry crossings
• Day trip on island
PLEASE NOTE: Due to access on and off the ferry, which is 100m walk up an incline, this holiday may not be suitable for all customers.
Monterey Hotel
3-star hotel a short walk-through Millennium Town Park to the town centre. LIFT | WIFI | GYM
INDOOR & OUTDOOR POOL
SPA | SAUNA | STEAM ROOM
FREEVIEW TV
morvanhotels.com/our-hotels/ monterey-hotel
• Return coach travel to / from Condor Port
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
6 Days from
Guernsey is a place where you can escape the ordinary and discover an island bursting with local charm and inspiring nature. There are daily connections to Herm, Sark, and Alderney if you wish to explore further. The Saints Bay Hotel is named after the picturesque bay and small harbour at the foot of the cliff it sits on. It is exceptionally comfortable and renowned for its hospitality. All tours include a half day familiarisation tour of the island! We travel with Condor on one of their high-speed vessels so the journey time to Guernsey is just three hours and ten minutes. Everyone is guaranteed a seat on board and there is a restaurant, bar, duty free shop and Wi-Fi. PLEASE NOTE: Due to access on and off the ferry, which is 100m walk up an incline, this holiday may not be suitable for all customers.
First Day We transfer you to Poole to catch the Condor ferry to Guernsey. On the island you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Whilst at Resort A half day familiarisation tour is included plus a good selection of others are available through your representative. Last Day There will be a transfer to the Condor from the hotel and we will meet you on the mainland for the journey home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Ferry crossings
• Day trip on island
The Saints Bay Hotel 3-star hotel uniquely situated on an unspoilt headland at the southern tip of the island with a sun lounging area.
BAR | WIFI | OUTDOOR POOL saintsbayhotel.com
• Return coach travel to / from Condor Port
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Wed 15th October 2025 £569
+£64 Single Supplement
The Isle of Man is shrouded by mystery, a sea-bound kingdom with its own captivating story to tell and rich history that echoes through the ages. On this tour we explore a large part of this secret in the Irish Sea, with an amazing range of scenery including an abundance of rivers and streams, reservoirs, and hidden glens. Our base is the island’s most popular resort, Douglas and the superb 3-star Chesterhouse Hotel. With our other dates sold out this is the last chance to get to the Isle of Man in 2025!
Wednesday We make our way north to Heysham and the three and a half hour ferry crossing to the Isle of Man.
Tours at Resort
A | To Laxey, home of the largest water wheel in the country and where there is the opportunity to take the Snaefell Mountain Railway (not included) with magnificent views of the island.
B | To Ramsey, a bustling town with a busy shopping street, harbour, and a beach. Then to Peel, an olde worlde fishing port noted for its kippers. Lovely scenery all day!
C | South Island tour visiting Castletown, the island’s former capital with its narrow streets, quaint houses, and mediaeval castle. Onward to view the Calf of Man (look out for the seals!) and a visit to Port Erin with its crystal-clear waters and beautiful setting.
Sunday We return to the mainland and the journey home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
• Tours as indicated
Chesterhouse Hotel
3-star hotel located on the seafront of Douglas with modern facilities. LIFT | BAR FREE WIFI | SATLELLITE TV sleepwellhotels.com/chesterhouse
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Sat 20th September 2025 £649
+£64 Single Supplement
The Isle of Man is shrouded by mystery, a sea-bound kingdom with its own captivating story to tell. It has a rich history that echoes through the ages, and we explore it from top to bottom on its heritage trains and trams. This popular tour is a wonderful way to discover the island’s countryside, coast and attractions whilst travelling on its fabulous heritage railways. We stay in the island’s most popular resort, Douglas. This is our third date for 2025, with the previous two dates now sold out!
Saturday We make our way north to Heysham and the three-anda-half-hour ferry crossing to the Isle of Man.
Sunday To Ramsey, a bustling town with a busy shopping street, harbour and beach. Then to Peel, an olde worlde fishing port noted for its kippers. Lovely scenery all day!
Monday We catch the unique Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Laxey. The line still operates with most of its original Victorian and Edwardian rolling stock. In Laxey we transfer to the Snaefell Mountain Railway for a ride to the summit. The ride takes about 30 minutes and offers amazing views of Laxey Glens and the surrounding countryside. We return via the Mountain Railway and the Electric Railway and have the rest of the day free to explore Douglas.
Tuesday We enjoy an hour-long, single journey you will never forget on the Isle of Man Victorian Steam Railway, described as ‘perfectly frozen in time’, from Douglas to Port Erin with its crystal-clear waters and beautiful setting and we spend some time there. We then view the Calf of Man (look out for the seals!) before visiting Castletown which was the island’s former capital with its narrow streets, quaint houses, and a mediaeval castle.
Wednesday We return to the mainland and the journey home.
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
Rutland Hotel
3-star hotel located on the sea front of Douglas with modern facilities. LIFT | BAR FREE WIFI | SATLELLITE TV sleepwellhotels.com/rutland
• Tours as indicated (Inc. three train rides)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
5 Days Sun 25th May 2025 £729
+£146 Single Supplement
5 Days from INCLUDES TRAIN RIDE & DUBLIN RIVER CRUISE! OR
This short break to the East Coast of Ireland is filled with treats including a guided rail tour and a scenic river cruise! There is also a visit to Kilkenny, where the modern and the medieval fuse. The Summerhill House Hotel in Enniskerry is where glamour and the countryside blend in one of Ireland’s prettiest villages.
Sunday We take the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and on to our hotel in Enniskerry where we are met with a welcome cocktail.
Monday We make our way to Kilkenny. As Ireland’s medieval capital, it has a mixture of rich cultural heritage, beautiful streetscapes, and great shopping to offer. On our return we travel through the scenic Wicklow Mountains via Glendalough.
Tuesday We begin today with a 90-minute journey on Ireland’s oldest railway, following the coast from Bray, through Dublin to Malahide. We are accompanied by a local tour guide and enjoy a panorama of city, coast and countryside. Upon arrival at the seaside resort of Malahide we are served tea and scones. Following free time in Malahide we return to Bray on a scenic journey via Howth.
Wednesday To Dublin for a 1-hour river cruise that glides under Dublin’s historic bridges whilst we gaze at iconic buildings from a unique vantage point and our expert guide describes the highlights of Irish history. In the afternoon we are free to enjoy Dublin. Perhaps visit the home of a monumental Irish success story, The Guinness Storehouse which is a seven-storey visitor experience dedicated to Ireland’s world-famous stout and has itself become Ireland’s most popular visitor attraction with over a million visitors every year! (entry not included). Our evening meal is followed by an Irish coffee.
Thursday We catch the morning ferry from Dublin back to Holyhead. Breakfast will be served on board and then we take our journey home.
Summerhill House Hotel
4-star set in glorious countryside near to Enniskerry.
BAR | WIFI | SATLELLITE TV summerhillhousehotel.com Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Tours as indicated (Inc. guided train ride and boat trip)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast (except on last morning when included on boat) & evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Sun 18th May 2025 £619
+£98 Single Supplement
INCLUDING HUNTINGDON CASTLE & GARDENS, WATERFORD CRYSTAL, DUNBRODY FAMINE SHIP & GUIDED TOUR OF HOOK LIGHTHOUSE! OR
From our 4-star base in Enniscorthy we discover Ireland’s Ancient East which is a region of legends and stories from ancient times to now. We wander down the cobbled streets of medieval towns; visit the world’s oldest working lighthouse, explore a castle with gorgeous gardens and hopefully see dolphins! This tour has been a great hit the last two years!
Sunday We take the ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare and the short drive to our hotel in Enniscorthy.
Monday Onto the Hook Headland and we have a 45-minute guided tour of the World’s oldest operational lighthouse. Looking across the bay we can see the village of Crooke and may be able to see some dolphins! The lighthouse also has a café (not included). Then back to the 1840s with a guided tour of the Dunbrody Famine Ship with its insights and interpretations of the Irish emigrant experience.
Tuesday To Waterford which is said to be the oldest town in Ireland, and we have a tour of Waterford Crystal where glowing balls of molten crystal are blown in front of your eyes. The afternoon is free to explore the town where you can see 1,000 years of history in 100 steps!
Wednesday Huntington Castle was built in 1625 and is still in the same family! We have a guided tour by a family member of the castle and gardens with plenty of tales as we go. We then follow the Mount Leinster Heritage Trail through Fenagh and Bagenalstown to Kilkenny. Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval Capital. It has a mixture of rich cultural heritage, beautiful streetscapes, and great shopping to offer.
Thursday We have a take away breakfast from the hotel and catch the morning ferry back to Wales and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
Riverside Park Hotel and Leisure Club
4-star hotel nestled on the banks of the River Slaney in the picturesque town of Enniscorthy. LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV | GYM POOL | SAUNA | JACUZZI riversideparkhotels.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Huntingdon Castle & Gardens, Hook Lighthouse, Waterford Crystal & Dunbrody Famine Ship)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days
Sun 20th July 2025 £869
+£189 Single Supplement
This tour boasts great scenery with an exciting boat cruise with dolphin-watching experience on Dingle Bay! Our base is the busy market town of Castleisland, famed for the width of its High Street. We take a different ferry route to and from Ireland which allows us to travel on different routes across Ireland to see more of its scenery. To make the return more relaxing the final evening of the tour is spent in North Wales, which allows a scenic drive through Wales on the last day. Whilst in Castleisland we have included a drink with dinner each evening and there is entertainment every night including an Irish night on one evening.
Sunday To Pembrokeshire for our ferry crossing to Rosslare and on to Waterford. Our overnight hotel is the superb 3-star Dooley’s.
Monday We cross Ireland and make an extended lunchtime stop in the town of Killarney, a vibrant little town surrounded by incredibly beautiful countryside. We then move on to Castleisland, our base for four nights.
Tuesday A full day on the Dingle Peninsula. We enjoy a scenic tour of this precious Irish landscape with ancient beehive huts surrounded by an intricate coastline - a region that has captivated poets, writers and filmmakers for generations. In the afternoon we have a boat cruise with a dolphin-watching experience.
Wednesday A FREE DAY to explore Castleisland.
Thursday A fabulous circular tour of the Ring of Kerry. Formed during the last ice age, this picturesque peninsula offers traditional villages, lush countryside, and ocean views.
Friday A relaxing journey to Dublin for our afternoon crossing to Holyhead and on to our overnight hotel, the 3-Star Celtic Royal in North Wales.
Saturday We drive through Wales enjoying the scenery and making suitable stops before our return home.
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
River Island Hotel, Castleisland
3-star hotel centrally located in this vibrant market town.
LIFT | BAR | SATELITTE TV riverislandhotel.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. boat ride)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days Sun 29th June 2025 £1,059
+£200 Single Supplement
7 Days from INCLUDES PRIVATE TOUR OF KYLEMORE ABBEY, FJORD CRUISE AND LOCAL GUIDE FOR ACHILL ISLAND’S COASTAL WONDERS TOUR! OR
Venture into County Mayo, where the Wild Atlantic Way’s most magnificent natural wonders await breathtaking landscapes, interesting history and a bustling culture. We discover the jaw-dropping Kylemore Abbey, emerging amidst the rugged Connemara Mountains. Embark on a mystical catamaran voyage, gliding past Ireland’s largest glacial fjord and savoring unparalleled views of the pristine coastline. Also, we explore Achill Island on a cinematic coach tour through golden beaches and ancient terrains, from megalithic tombs to awe-inspiring peaks, and uncover the haunting beauty of Keel and the mystique of Slievemore. Our resort in Ireland is Westport which is a charming town once crowned ‘The Best Place to Live in Ireland’, it has a rich blend of scenic beauty and vibrant street life. Our 4-star hotel is a beacon of Irish hospitality and has a classic setting with full leisure facilities.
Sunday We make our way to North Wales and to our overnight hotel, the Celtic Royal Hotel in Caenarfon. We arrive in time for you to explore the town or the UNESCO Heritage site of Caernarfon which lies close by (not included).
Monday Onto the Isle of Anglesey and to Holyhead where we board our ferry to Dublin, it is the morning ferry so we will enjoy breakfast on board rather than at the hotel. We then cross Ireland making a short stop in Athlone on the banks of the River Shannon. Our hotel for the next four nights is the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport.
A | Along the Wild Atlantic Way to Connemara National Park, which has long been regarded as the real Emerald of Ireland with its stunning vistas of scenic mountains, valleys, lakes and spectacular coastline. We have a private tour at the iconic Kylemore Abbey, home to Benedictine nuns and set in a postcard-perfect landscape. We make a the day a scenic, circular route to enjoy the landscape with plenty of Loughs. We make a stop in the capital of Connemara, Clifden. A vibrant and cosmopolitan town on the very edge of Europe.
B | To Killary Fjord and we spend 90-minutes coasting along rugged North Connemara landscape onboard a luxury catamaran. Take in breathtaking, uninterrupted views of Ireland’s largest glacial fjord whilst the skipper gives a spellbinding narrative of the fjord’s legends of smugglers and heroes. We keep our eyes peeled for playful otters, basking seals, and a variety of birds, with the chance of dolphins. We again make it a circular day out and return by passing through the Sheffery Hills on the banks of Doo Lough.
C | A local guide is on board for a journey through Achill Island, Ireland’s largest and the jewel of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Marvel at its spectacular scenery, with golden beaches and unspoiled beauty beneath ever-changing island skies. Glide through ancient landscapes, adorned with megalithic tombs and promontory forts dating back 5,000 years. Witness the rugged peaks and valleys along the 23-mile Atlantic drive, featuring stops at hauntingly beautiful sites including the deserted village of Keel and the eerie Slievemore, capturing the essence of Ireland’s wild, untamed majesty.
Friday We take a different route back across Ireland and catch the afternoon ferry from Dublin back to Holyhead. Back in Wales we stay at the Celtic Royal Hotel again.
Saturday The holiday isn’t over as we enjoy a drive through Snowdonia, right by Snowden, before making a lunch time stop in Llangollen.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
Castlecourt Hotel, Westport
4-star hotel in the heart of Westport. BAR | FREEVIEW TV
GYM | POOL castlecourthotel.ie
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Kylemore Abbey, Fjord cruise and guided tour)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
8 Days Sat 21st June 2025
+£182 Single Supplement Grand Tour of Ireland
£1,039
8 Days from OR
INCLUDING WATERFORD CRYSTAL, MOUNT CONGREVE GARDENS, GALWAY, CLIFFS OF MOHER, FOYNES FLYING BOAT MUSEUM & THE BURREN VISITORS CENTRE, PLUS A SMOKEHOUSE FOR A MASTERCLASS INCLUDING LUNCH!
Unwind and enjoy the endless, beautiful scenery and excellent hospitality of our neighbours across the sea in the Republic of Ireland, a land full of charm, contrasting beauty and natural scenic wonder. We stay in two different areas and use two different ferry routes and there are lots of included entries to make this an unforgettable round trip. We spend our final evening of the tour in North Wales, which allows a relaxing final day of the holiday as we make a scenic drive through Wales.
Saturday To Pembrokeshire for our ferry crossing to Rosslare and on to Waterford. Our hotel is the superb 3-star Dooley’s Hotel for the next three nights and we are met with a welcome drink. Sunday FREE DAY to explore wonderful Waterford, with its exciting medieval flavour, and we have included a tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory (walking distance from the hotel). You could also catch one of the regular local buses to the nearby resort of Tramore.
Monday We visit Cahir, a scenic town overlooking the banks of the river Suir in south Tipperary. It is also home to one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved castles that sits proudly on a rocky island in the river (entry not included). Later we visit Mount Congreve Gardens which have 70 acres of intensively planted woodland gardens and a four acre walled garden. The entire collection consists of over 3,000 different trees and shrubs, 2,000 rhododendrons, 600 camelias, 300 acers and much more!
Tuesday We cross to the West Coast of Ireland and visit the fantastic Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls the nostalgic era when Foynes became the centre of the aviation world between 1937 and 1945. The museum also has its own restaurant (not included). Then on to our hotel for the next three nights, the 4-star Falls Hotel in Ennistymon where each night, we have an included drink with dinner.
Wednesday We call at the Burren Visitor’s Centre for an introduction to the Burren, a large limestone cap with lunar landscapes, stretching for miles, which is an anomaly in the Irish landscape and home to all manner of flora and fauna. We then embark on a tour of the Burren which includes a lunchtime stop at Burren Smokehouse where we are given a masterclass in how salmon is smoked and how it tastes! We also have included a soup and sandwich lunch. Later we visit the renowned Cliffs of Moher and stand n awe at the sheer might of the Atlantic Ocean, which over hundreds of years has carved the 230-metre-high cliffs which are some of the highest in Europe.
Thursday To Galway City. It has a splendid mediaeval past and today is a thriving city with beautiful beaches, a long winding promenade and a cosmopolitan city centre.
Friday A relaxing journey to Dublin for our afternoon crossing to Holyhead and on to our overnight hotel in North Wales, the 4-star Hilton Garden Inn, Snowdonia.
Saturday We drive through Wales enjoying the scenery and make a lunchtime stop in Welshpool which has main streets lined with fine Georgian buildings.
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
Dooleys Hotel, Waterford
3-star hotel overlooking the waterfront. BAR | SATELITTE TV dooleys-hotel.ie
Falls Hotel, Ennistymon
4-star hotel nestled in a wooded vale beside tumbling waters of the River Inagh.
BAR | SATELLITE TV | POOL JACUZZI | STEAM ROOM | GYM fallshotel.ie
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Waterford Crystal, Mount Congreve Gardens, Burren Visitor Centre plus Smokehouse and lunch, Foynes Flying Boat Museum and Cliffs of Moher)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days Sun 21st September 2025 £929
+£228 Single Supplement
7 Days from INCLUDING GIANTS CAUSEWAY, GUIDED TOUR OF MALIN HEAD, WALKING TOUR OF DERRY/ LONDONDERRY, COASTAL TRAIN RIDE, GUIDED TOUR OF BELFAST AND TITANIC BELFAST! OR
A fine tour exploring the north of the Island of Ireland combining the beautiful scenery of the Inishowen Peninsula, the Walled City of Derry, and a classic coastal rail journey to the Giants Causeway. Plus, we get the best out of Belfast with a 2.5-hour city tour by coach and entry to the Titanic Museum. Our main stay is in Buncrana, a town on the shores of Lough Swilly with a rich culture and history.
Sunday To Holyhead for the crossing to Dublin and an overnight at the 4-Trim Castle Hotel, where history meets modern elegance.
Monday Into beautiful local countryside as we travel through The Boyne Valley and on to Northern Ireland and Buncrana for a 3-night stay at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel.
Tuesday We enjoy a tour of the Inishowen Peninsula with a local guide onboard. The region is a protected national park, with wonderful ocean views and rare species of flora and fauna. First, we go to Ireland’s northernmost point, Malin Head and then to Derry/Londonderry on the banks of the River Foyle, the only completely walled city in Ireland and enjoying a resurgence following its 2013 crowning as UK City of Culture. We have a walking tour that takes in the walls and the peace bridge. Wednesday A FREE DAY to explore Buncrana.
Thursday Michael Palin described the train trip from Derry to Coleraine as “…one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world” and we take this delightful train that winds its way past pretty beaches, taking in historic landmarks along the way. Then to the UNESCO World-Heritage listed Giants Causeway, a series of volcanic stone columns created by the force of nature and surrounded by more stunning coastal scenery. (PLEASE NOTE: If you require the bus from the coach park to the Giant’s Causeway, then it is payable on site at approx. £1.50 each way.) Then to our 4-star hotel for one night, the Stormont Hotel in Belfast, just opposite Stormont Castle.
Friday We enjoy a 2.5 hour guided tour of this fascinating city by coach. Following free time for lunch we visit Titanic Belfast. This is one of the world’s leading attractions and we can explore the shipyard, walk the decks and travel to the depths of the ocean to uncover the true legend of Titanic. Afterwards, we continue on to 4-star Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan.
Saturday Our ferry is at 0800 from Dublin to Holyhead, so breakfast is included on the ferry. From Holyhead we pass through North Wales and home.
PLEASE NOTE: only 1 night is spent in Northern Ireland so euros are needed for the remainder of the holiday.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
A 3-star hotel located in an area of outstanding natural beauty with stunning views. BAR | POOL | SAUNA | STEAM ROOM JACUZZI inishowengateway.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. local guide in Derry and Belfast, train ride, Giant’s Causeway & Titanic Belfast)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
We see many different aspects of Ireland from our base at the excellent 4-star Riverside Park Hotel. We arrive on St Patrick’s Week and we have a themed Irish dinner, two nights of entertainment at the hotel, one of which is an Irish coffee making demonstration! This year we have added a day in Dubin to the holiday.
Monday We take the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare and the short drive to our hotel in Enniscorthy. We are met with a hot drink and the evening we have a St Paddy’s themed dinner!
Tours at Resort
A | To Waterford which is said to be the oldest town in Ireland where we see 1000 years of history in 1000 steps! Enjoy the historic streets and local atmosphere of this harbour town and then in the afternoon we have guided tours of both the Medieval Museum and Bishop’s Palace by costumed actors. The Medieval Museum is in a stunning modern building and the Bishop’s Palace is an authentic 18th century Georgian Grand residence.
B | We visit Dublin, the capital city that’s as intimate as a village and as friendly as an Irish Pub! The streets and alleys are filled with vibrant art, historic buildings and traditional pubs.
C | All day in Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval Capital. It has a mixture of rich cultural heritage, beautiful streetscapes, and great shopping to offer.
Friday We have a take away breakfast from the hotel and catch the morning ferry back to Wales. The holiday isn’t over as we make a lunchtime stop in Carmarthen.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Ferry crossings
Riverside Park Hotel and Leisure Club
4-star hotel nestled on the banks of the River Slaney in the picturesque town of Enniscorthy.
LIFT | BAR | FREEVIEW TV POOL | SAUNA | JACUZZI | GYM riversideparkhotels.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two entries)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Days - Mon 28th July 2025
Room Description Price (per person)
X4 People per room £619
X3 People per room £659
X2 People per room £749
X1 Person per room £999
People per room is based on all customers aged 3 years & over.
Children (3-11 years old) £20 OFF the prices above.
Infants (2 years & under) £199 if sleeping in a cot (Must be pre-booked)
INCLUDES 2-DAY DISNEY PARK PASS!
Disneyland Park is a world that inspires the imagination, where wonder and enchantment fill the air! With Sleeping Beauty Castle at the heart of this fairy-tale setting, the attractions, shows, parades and restaurants will immerse you in the Disney magic we know and love! At Walt Disney we can dive into the breath-taking worlds of Disney and Pixar, where fantastic shows and attractions will make you feel you’re not watching the movies but living them!
Our hotel is off site, but our own coach will take us to and from the park each day which is a 10-minute drive. Or use the hotels shuttle buses if you wish to travel at a different time. Holidays include the cost of passes that allow unlimited entrance to Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios for two days. PLEASE NOTE: Breakfast is included but Evening meals are not, choose to eat at the parks or the hotel does have a cafe (please check open) and rooms have a kitchenette.
Monday We travel via Calais and then on to our hotel.
Tuesday At 09:15 we depart the hotel and take the 10-minute journey to the parks. We stay until after the fireworks (approx. 23:00) and then return immediately to the hotel.
Wednesday We depart the hotel at 09:15 and make our way to the park and leave at 19:30.
Thursday We return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
• 2-Day Disney Park Pass
Staycity Aparthotels
Marne la Valee
Surrounded by a beautiful lake with a garden area, sun terrace and an outdoor heated swimming pool.
WIFI | POOL | FREEVIEW TV
GYM | GAMES ROOM staycity.com/paris/near-disneyland-paris
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed & breakfast
2 COACHES SOLD OUT FOR MARCH, NEW DATE JUST ADDED!
4 Days
4 Days from
Sun 23rd November 2025 £659
+£193 Single Supplement
+£89 per person Upper Deck Upgrade
4-STAR FULL BOARD RIVER CRUISE ON THE SEINE IN CENTRAL PARIS WITH NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT!
PLUS, TWO GUIDED TOURS OF PARIS WITH A LOCAL GUIDE PLUS PARIS BY NIGHT BY BOAT!
Enjoy wonderful cuisine and spectacular cabaret entertainment whilst also experiencing the sights and attractions this great city has to offer! Your accommodation is on the 4-star MS Botticelli which is a spacious and light vessel with a welcoming and refined ambience and we are on a Full Board basis with 3-course lunches and 3-course dinners. This tour we have also included a meal voucher for the ferry both ways.
Sunday To France by ferry and we have a meal voucher to use onboard. From Calais it is on to Paris, where we board our floating hotel and enjoy a Captain’s welcome cocktail reception before dinner and nightly entertainment. Days on Board
The exact timings are dependent on tides, but we will enjoy cruising on both days (subject to water levels). We will also enjoy a panoramic guided tour of Paris by coach on one day and Montmartre, a famous area of Paris, on another day, both with a local guide. There is also free time on both days to enjoy Paris at your own pace, or just enjoy being on this fabulous boat. There is entertainment every night and on one evening a Gala evening with 4-course meal.
Wednesday We return home by a different route and make a short photo stop in Chantilly and a late lunchtime stop in Boulogne, a seaside resort with an old town. Again, on the ferry we have a meal voucher.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
MS Botticelli
110 meters long and in keeping with being named after an Italian painter, it has an elegant and cozy atmosphere with precious fabrics of Venice. Large windows allow great views from the Lounge Bar with Dancefloor and there is also a Sun Deck. All cabins have windows, satellite TV, WIFI and ensuite bathroom. croisieurope.co.uk/boat/ms-botticelli
• Tours as indicated (inc. all tours by coach and floating hotel)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast, lunch and evening meal
5 Days
5 Days from
Thu 29th May 2025 £799
+£172 Single Supplement
INCLUDES VERSAILLES, MONET’S GARDEN, SEINE CRUISE & VAUX LE VICOMTE BY CANDLELIGHT FOLLOWED BY FIREWORKS!
Parisian perfection as we enjoy a packed itinerary including chic chateaux, glorious gardens, and a relaxing cruise through the centre of this great city. We have a guide to show us the best of Versailles and we are treated to a fantastic evening as we visit Vaux le Vicomte. The magical estate is lit by over 2,000 candles and the night ends with a gold and silver firework display. We also have a guided tour of Monet’s Garden.
Thursday To Calais and we head south to our hotel in Saclay. We are met with a welcome drink on arrival.
Friday We have a guided tour of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles, considered to be one of the most magnificent achievements of the 18th century. Highlights are the awe-inspiring Hall of Mirrors and the astonishingly beautiful palatial grounds. Then into central Paris for a 70 minute ‘Cruise across the Capital’ on the River Seine.
Saturday Relax in the hotel this morning or take a short walk into the village before we enjoy lunch at our hotel. At 15:00 we depart to visit the quaint, medieval market town of Dourdan where we can witness firsthand its architectural heritage and rich past as a royal town. Then we arrive at Vaux le Vicomte at approx. 20:00 and we spend the evening exploring this magical estate by the flickering of more than 2,000 candles. There is a restaurant on site (not included) and the night concludes at 23:00 with a gold and silver firework display.
Sunday A mid-morning departure to Monet’s country retreat in Giverny and we visit the impressionist’s charming pink house and iconic gardens where we can admire the Japanese bridge and famous waterlily pond. We then spend time in nearby Vernon, with over 200 half-timbered houses, cobbled paths, mill and castle. Monday We return to Calais and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Novotel Paris Saclay 4-star hotel on the outskirts of Paris in a quiet location.
LIFT | BAR | SATELLITE TV | WIFI OUTDOOR POOL | GYM all.accor.com
• Tours as indicated (inc. Versailles, cruise, Vaux le Vicomte and Monet’s Garden)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast, three evening meals and one lunch.
4 Days Fri 25th April 2025
+£137 Single Supplement
4 Days from
£689
There is no better bulbfield than Keukenhof and The Hague is one of the most extraordinary cities in Holland and home of the Dutch Royal Family. Our hotel is on the beach in The Hague and we also get to visit Brugge, the UNESCO World Heritage City that is authentically medieval.
Friday We make our way via to The Netherlands via France and Belgium and on to our hotel.
Saturday We spend the day in Keukenhof, the best day out among flowers! Over seven million bulbs will bloom this spring with a total of 800 varieties of tulip. A unique, unforgettable experience!
Sunday Explore The Hague from our seaside hotel, or join our coach to visit central The Hague. The Hague has countless historic buildings and the most historic sites per square metre in the Netherlands so oozes culture and history.
Monday We return home with a lunchtime stop in Bruges.
THIRD DATE ADDED! AS FIRST TWO DATES SOLD OUT!
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Carlton Beach Hotel, The Hague 4-star hotel just 20 steps from the beach. Restaurants have a beach view and there are great facilities. LIFT | BAR FREEVIEW TV | POOL | GYM SAUNA | STEAM ROOM carlton.nl
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Keukenhof)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
7 Days Wed 30th July 2025
£1,069 +£102 Single Supplement Black Forest Rail and Sail, Bad Dürrheim
7 Days from INCLUDES TWO TRAIN RIDES, LAKE CRUISE AND THE BLACK FOREST MUSEUM!
The 4-star Waldeck Spa and Wellness Hotel is located on the edge of the small town of Bad Dürrheim, in the heart of the Black Forest. It is set amongst woods and has a salt water indoor pool, sauna, herbal steam bath and a Finnish Sauna in the glass house. Whilst here we see lush meadows, pine clad hills, rushing rivers and traditional chocolate box villages. We enjoy two scenic train rides, one of which is steam, a boat trip on Lake Titisee and a guided visit to the Open Air Black Forest Museum. On our travelling days the holiday continues as we visit the great Black Forest towns of Freiburg and Baden-Baden.
Wednesday To France and our overnight hotel in St Avold.
Thursday We follow the River Rhine south from Strasbourg and make a lunchtime stop in Freiburg, our first taste of the Black Forest. Freiburg is a city of miniature streams and cobble stone streets and an historic jewel. From here we continue to our hotel.
Tours at Resort
A | A FREE DAY to relax and enjoy this famous spa resort. The town also has many parks and gardens.
B | To the old walled town of Villingen, where we have a short time to explore before we join the Black Forest Railway for a 45-minute journey to Hausach that includes loops, tunnels and a high viaduct. Then on to the Black Forest Museum where we have an English-speaking guide as we learn of the history and culture of the area.
C | We head to beautiful Lake Titisee for a sightseeing cruise on the lake. Later, we take the Pigtail Steam Railway from Blumberg to Weizen on a 90-minute journey. There are many twists and turns on the route and great photo opportunities.
Monday One more stop in the Black Forest as we visit BadenBaden, where the city’s rich history blends seamlessly with a highly contemporary lifestyle. Then the final treat of the holiday as we drive through the Alsace via Bitche to our overnight stop at the same hotel.
Tuesday We return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Waldeck SPA & Wellness Hotel
A 4-star hotel with great facilities. BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV | GYM POOL | SAUNA | STEAM BATH hotel-waldeck.com
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two train rides, boat trip and museum)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Cabin Type Price (per person) Single Supplements
Emerald Deck
£1,599 +£550 (In a 2-person occupancy room)
Ruby Deck £1,699 +£600 (In a 2-person occupancy room)
Diamond Deck £1,799 +£650 (In a 2-person occupancy room)
Diamond Suite POA POA (In a 2-person occupancy room)
PLEASE NOTE: We will require a £200pp deposit to book this holiday for you, a further £400pp by 4th May 2025 and final balances will be due by 4th June 2025.
Vineyards, coziness, and historic architecture - that’s what a trip on the Moselle combines. We join the cruise in Koblenz, a city at the spectacular confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Other stops are Traben-Trarbach, which is romantic, quaint with a medieval marketplace and an ancient bridge across the river. Bernkastel has numerous half-timbered houses overlooked by a castle. Cochem has picturesque views of the vineyards from its cobblestone-paved old town and is home to Reichsburg Castle. Finally, Treis-Karden with its many monasteries and famous fountain. We are full-board whilst on board the cruise plus all-inclusive drinks. There is musical entertainment every night and a high tea on one afternoon.
Wednesday To Calais and onto our overnight hotel which will be at least 3-star with dinner and breakfast included.
ThursdayOn to Koblenz and we have time to explore before boarding our ship at 16:00. The ship departs at 18:00.
Friday We arrive into Traben-Trabach at breakfast and have a walking tour of the town. We stay the night here so also time to explore at leisure.
Saturday We depart at 08:30 and enjoy the scenery before we arrive into Bernkastel at 11:30 and enjoy a walking tour of a vineyard. Free time to explore before our boat departs in the evening.
Sunday We wake in Cochem and have a walking tour before we depart at 13:00 to cruise for one-hour to Treis-Karden. Time to explore before we depart late in the evening.
Monday We arrive back in Koblenz and disembark after breakfast, making our way back to our overnight hotel via a stop at a town of interest.
Tuesday To Calais and the ferry home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Itinerary & sightseeing as stated
• Cruise amenities
• Transport for excursions where necessary
• Full-board (Inc. dinner) on the boat with all inclusive-drinks
• Bed, breakfast & dinner at the overnight hotel
Boat: Viva Moments The VIVA MOMENTS lets you be enchanted by the luxurious atmosphere. Here you can fully relax, with every wish fulfilled. Indulge in a gourmet meal in the main restaurant or in the bistro and enjoy a drink in the panoramic lounge after dinner. Marvel at the passing scenery while golfing on the deck or while relaxing in the whirlpool. For the more active guests, rental bicycles are available for you to explore the landscape individually. It has 88 cabins with up to 176 passengers. On the Diamond Deck, as well as on the Ruby Deck, there are 19 m² Junior Suites, which have a French balcony. The main part of the cabins is made up by 2-bed cabins with 16 m² size. These have French balconies on the Diamond and Ruby decks and non-opening windows on the Emerald deck. All cabins are perfectly equipped with flat screen TV, included mini-bar, Nespresso® machine, Beauty products from RITUALS®, hairdryer, safe, air conditioning, shower, and toilet. A lift connects the lobby with the restaurant, the Ruby Deck and the Diamond Deck. There are six steps leading down to the Emerald Deck.
5 Days
Mon 23rd June 2025
+£84 Single Supplement
5 Days from INCLUDES CRUISE, WINE TASTING, TRIER, COCHEM & LUXEMBOURG CITY!
£899
From our base in the picturesque Moselle Valley, we keep the mighty river in our sites as we explore, spending time marveling at the Roman monuments in ancient Trier, exploring Cochem’s charming old town and relaxing on a river cruise. We also visit nearby Luxembourg including a tasting at a winery. This was a new tour in 2024 and was a huge success!
Monday To France and on to Germany and our base on the banks of the Moselle River.
Tuesday We head to Trier so we can explore this fascinating city with a treasure trove of well-preserved Roman structures, including the spectacular Roman City Gates, the grand St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Aula Palatina, a Roman basilica. All together there are eight UNESCO world heritage sites in total in this small city plus a large market square.
Wednesday To the pretty riverside town of Cochem, from where we enjoy a one-hour circular cruise on the Moselle. Enjoying views of Reichsburg Castle and the surrounding vineyards. We are free to explore Cochem after the cruise, it has an old town with quaint streets, winding alleys, and half-timbered buildings.
Thursday Luxembourg City is a vibrant place, and we have free time to explore the small, laid-back green centre. The Palace where the Grand Duke lives is right in the centre as well as the 17th century Notre-Dame cathedral. On our return we stop at BernardMassard Winery, who have been producing wines for over 100 years and are Luxembourg’s biggest winery, for a talk and taste of two wines.
Friday We return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Hotel Deutschherrenhof, Zelitingen-Rachtig
A 3-star superior hotel in a charming historic building within walking distance & overlooking, the Moselle.
BAR | WIFI | FREEVIEW TV | GYM deutschherrenhof.de
• Tours as indicated (Inc. river cruise and winery)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
10 Days Fri 11th July 2025
+£250 Single Supplement
10 Days from
£1,499
INCLUDES WROCLAW, ZAKOPANE, AUSHWITZ & WIELICZKA SALT MINE
This tour offers the best of Poland’s cultural and historic highlights, from the undiscovered gem of Wroclaw to Krakow, Zakopane, salt mine, and the dark history of World War II. We are based in Krakow which is a beautiful and historic City to visit and is situated on the Vistula River. The city dates to the 7th century and is home to a cultural and artistic lifestyle. It was the first UNESCO approved city for its World Heritage List, and the protected area includes the entire old town. A huge success when operated for the first time in 2024!
Friday An early start and on to our overnight hotel, the Mercure Plaza in Magdeburg, Germany.
Saturday Direct to Wroclaw with time to explore the town. It has an idyllic location on the Odra River and is comprised of 12 islands, 130 bridges and verdant riverside parks. The beautifully preserved cathedral island is a treat for lovers of Gothic architecture. Later we check in to our hotel, the HP Park Plaza.
Sunday More time to explore Wroclaw in the morning, before we depart early afternoon for Krakow, our base for the next six nights at the Hotel Wyspianski.
Monday A FREE DAY to explore Krakow.
Tuesday We visit Aushwitz for a guided tour of this infamous site that was a former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp.
Wednesday We have a guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, an extraordinary place that is hidden from the world, full of secrets and legends. PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE STEPS DOWN AT THE SALT MINE, YOU LEAVE BY LIFT.
Thursday We drive through beautiful scenery to Zakopane, at the base of the Tatra Mountains and surrounded by beautiful green hills and mountains. Visitors first arrived here in the 18th century for its beauty and health benefits.
Friday Free day to explore Krakow.
Saturday We leave Poland for the H4 Hotel in Kassel, Germany. Sunday To Calais and we return home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Hotel Wyspianski, Krakow
3-star modern and comfortable hotel only 500m from the Main Market Square. LIFT | BAR SATELLITE TV | WIFI hotel-wyspianski.pl/en
• Tours as indicated (Inc. guided tours of Aushwitz and Wielczka) )
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
8 Days Sat 23rd August 2025
+£65 Single Supplement
8 Days from INCLUDES THE AUSTRIAN AND GERMAN ALPS, INNSBRUCK & LINDERHOF CASTLE!
St Anton is found in the Western Tyrol, close to the Arlberg Pass and close to Switzerland, which we view from across Lake Constance. We also visit Southern Bavaria where we visit one of King Ludwig’s Castles as well as Oberammergau. St Anton not only allows for great days out, but it is also a pretty village with cafes and shops and on our rest day we have included a cable car ride to allow you to get higher into the Alps! Our 4-star hotel offers friendly hospitality and fine food, on one afternoon they lay on an afternoon tea with strudel.
Saturday To France on to our overnight stop at the 4-star Mercure Hotel Saarbrucken South.
Sunday We continue through Germany and then south into Austria and our base for five nights, St Anton, where we are met with a welcome drink.
Tours at Resort
A | A FREE DAY to explore St Anton. There is plenty to do in the village and you can use your included St Anton card to ride the local cable car high into the Alps with stunning views of the surrounding Alps.
B | A scenic drive along the Inn Valley, with many hilltop castles to be seen, and then all day in Innsbruck. Innsbruck is over 800 years old and we have all day to explore this charming alpine city, including the most famous landmark of all, the ‘Golden Roof’. The city also hosted the winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976.
C | We travel over the Fern Pass (3000ft high point) and into Bavaria where we visit Linderhof Castle. The castle was King Ludwig’s (known as the Bavarina Fairytale King) favourite castle and was built to his demands of a Versailles-inspired palace. Later we visit Oberammergau, it is a picturesque town famous for its fairytale frescoes painted onto many of its houses. It also hosts a huge passion play every ten years where people visit from all around the world.
D | A short trip out today to Feldkirch, a compact city with a well-preserved old town filled with medieval architecture, cafes and shopping. Schattenburg Castle majestically resides above the town centre and dating back to the 13th century. It is now a museum and can be visited if you wish (not included).
Friday We return to the Mercure Hotel in Saarbrucken.
Saturday To Calais and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Sporthotel, St Anton A 4-star hotel located in the heart of St Anton.
LIFT | BAR | POOL | SAUNA sporthotel-st-anton.at
• Tours as indicated (Inc. cable car and Linderhof Castle)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Austrian Lake Cruises, Train and a Castle! Lake Achensee
8 Days
Thu 5th June 2025
+£44 Single Supplement
8 Days from
£1,099
We return to the fabulous Fischerwirt Hotel and experience a warm Tyrolean welcome which includes Schnapps after dinner on the first night, a Tyrolean buffet one evening and an afternoon tea with cake! We are just a short walk from the famous Lane Achensee and our base gives us the chance to see the best that Austria has to offer including two lake cruises, a train ride and a visit to a castle.
A huge success in 2024 when operated for the first time!
Thursday To France on to our overnight stop at the 4-star Mercure Hotel Saarbruken South where we are met with a glass of fresh fruit juice.
Friday We continue through Germany, into Bavaria, and then head south to Austria and our hotel on the banks of Lake Achensee, our base for five nights.
Tours at Resort
A | There’s no need for our coach today, as we make the most of our proximity to the boat pier, located just 450m from our hotel, and using our full day hop on/hop off ticket, enjoy a full day exploring Lake Achensee, the largest and deepest lake in the Tyrol. Possible stops include the upmarket resort of Pertisau where you may wish to embark on a scenic Karwendel cable car journey (not included) with amazing views over the lake.
B | We make the short journey to Jenbach and catch the 1044 Zillertalbahn Train to Mayrhofen. As we travel in style, we marvel at the peaks and the jagged rocks of the scenery. Upon arrival in Mayrhofen we enjoy free time for lunch in our stunning surroundings, framed by the majestic Zillertal Alps. We return to our hotel by coach later.
C | We begin our day with a visit the Tyrolean capital city of Innsbruck, surrounded by the jagged rock spires of the Nordkette mountain range. Visit the streets of the old town to discover some of the most important sights, including the Hofgarten, the ornate 15th century Golden Roof designed as a royal box for the Emperor, the Column of Saint Anne and the Triumphal Arch. We then travel to the magnificent Tratzberg Castle for a guided tour with audio guides where we learn more about the history of the castle, which is first mentioned in documents dating from the 13th century. After falling into ruin, it was rebuilt by the Fugger family and became a classic example of 16th century Tyrolean castles. Our visit here includes a road train journey to and from the car park up to the castle.
D | Today we make the short journey across the border into southern Germany and head to the beautiful Lake Tegernsee in the Bavarian Alps. We embark on a circular grand tour from Tegernsee, which takes us around the lake and we get off at Rottach-Egern. Here we enjoy free time for lunch here then re-join our boat for our return journey to Tegernsee where our coach awaits. Back on dry land, we spend a short time at leisure in Tegernsee, enjoying the lovely promenade, before departing back to the hotel.
Wednesday We return to the Mercure Hotel in Saarbruken and are again met with fresh fruit juice.
Thursday To Calais and home.
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Hotel Fischerwirt am Achensee
A 3-star hotel with a great family to treat you to Tyrolean hospitality.
BAR | FREEVIEW TV | SAUNA fischerwirt.tirol.at
• Tours as indicated (Inc. two lake cruises, train ride and castle)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Swiss Alps, Bernina Express & Schatzalp Funicular Railway, Davos
8 Days
Sat 9th August 2025
+£159 Single Supplement
8 Days from
£1,149
This excellent tour includes a journey on the awesome Bernina Express railway from Filisur, high into the Alps and past lakes and glacier to Tirano in Italy. We are based in Davos, a high-altitude health resort of long tradition and great shopping. We have included a Davos Pass which gives you reduced access to the local transport network including mountain railway and cable cars! The route to resort takes us through mountains with views of lakes. On one night in resort, we are treated to a Swiss farmer’s buffet dinner.
Saturday To France and our overnight hotel, the 4-star Mercure Saarbruken Sud.
Sunday Through France to Switzerland and we pass Basel and Zurich, with views of its famous lake, on our way to our hotel for five nights where we are met with a welcome drink.
Days at Resort
A | A FREE DAY to explore Davos and use your Davos Pass. The hotel will organize a ride on the Schatzalp Funicular Railway for great views from 1861m above sea level.
B | We catch a local train to Filisur and there we board the Bernina Express Railway for a fantastic journey through the mountains to Italy. Enjoy the lakes, gorges, glaciers, loops and tunnels that make this one of Europe’s greatest train journeys. Our coach meets us in Tirano and returns us to our hotel over the Bernina Pass.
C | A superb circular tour today with stops in Klosters and Chur.
Klosters is the winter holiday destination of the royal family and Chur is a charming, historic town with cobbled streets, secret courtyards, and a large cathedral. Great scenery all day but especially on our return from Chur as we travel via Thusis and over the Alpine pass to Frauenkirch.
D | We visit St Moritz, an elegant and chic resort lying in the middle of a lake-dotted landscape. We return for more free time in Davos in the late afternoon.
Friday We return to the same overnight hotel.
Saturday To Calais and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Central Sporthotel, Davos 4-star hotel within walking distance of the town’s lovely shopping arcade. BAR | POOL SATELLITE TV | SPA | GYM central-davos.ch
• Tours as indicated (Inc. Bernina Express Railway, Schatzalp Mountain Railway & Davos Card)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
8 Days Sun 8th June 2025
8 Days from
£1,019 +£103 Single Supplement
PLUS LAKE GARDA, LAKE MOLVENO, GUIDED TOUR OF WINERY AND LOTS OF EXTRAS AT HOTEL!
The Dolomites is an Italian region bursting with natural beauty and diversity. Our wonderful, packed itinerary not only includes a free wine with dinner at the main hotel, and a free bar each evening, but you will also experience the best of the area with wine tastings, a typical Trentino dinner and a grolla evening, plus, of course, fantastic views and scenic drives! With stunning scenery, incredible inclusions and hospitality that is second to none, this will make for an unforgettable holiday which you will be talking about for years to come! A huge success over the last three years, we have visited five times!
Sunday To France and on to our overnight hotel in Germany, the Achat Plaza Karlsruhe where we have a dinner box on arrival.
Monday We continue through Austria and cross the Alps into Italy and our hotel for five nights, where we are met with a glass of prosecco.
Tours at Resort
A | A day to enjoy our resort and to help us the owner of our hotel will play host and take us out for a gentle walk around this friendly village. We enjoy a picnic with great company, food, and wine... and start to get into the relaxed ‘Paganella way of life’ in the mountains!
B | A scenic drive by Lake Caldaro and we visit Kaltern. Later we visit Kettmeir SPA Winery for a guided tour followed by a tasting of three wines with grissini (breadsticks). The winery was founded in 1919 and is testimony to the deep rooted culture of wine making in the region.
C | Into the Lagorai chain of mountains and we make a short stop at Cavalese which lies in a sunny location and is dominated by the church and its famous bell tower. From here it’s just a short drive to get to the ‘Sella Pass’ with its incredible viewing platform, where we can enjoy a lunch time stop and appreciate the amazing 360-degree views across the Dolomites’ spectacular, jagged peaks. We continue down into the alluring Val Gardena, an historic valley known for its wood-making traditions and unique and ancient language Ladin, which is only spoken here. We take a final break in the picturesque village of Ortisei famous for selling a local speciality – handmade cuckoo clocks!
D | To the lesser known but incredibly scenic Lake Molveno where we make ashort stop on the banks of the river. From here we enjoy the relaxing route to Lake Garda. Riva del Garda offers a lakeside historic centre and is the most northerly point in Europe where olive trees grow! We have free time to explore Riva before returning to our hotel.
Saturday We return to the hotel in Germany, this time to a threecourse meal.
Sunday To Calais and we return home.
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Hotel Paganella, Fai della Paganella
This intimate, friendly 3-star hotel is run by Fausto and his family who ensure a warm welcome in this typically Austrian chalet-style hotel. There is a cosy bar, a traditional restaurant serving excellent homemade fayre, a comfortable lounge and seating areas.
LIFT | BAR | SAUNA | JACUZZI STEAM ROOM paganella.it
• Tours as indicated (Inc. wine tasting)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal. Plus, lunch with wine on 1 day.
10 Days
Wed 17th September 2025 £1,299
+£270 Single (inside cabin on ferry)
+£600 Single (outside cabin on ferry)
+£50 2x lower bunks in inside cabin
+£80 2x lower bunks in outside cabin
10 Days from INCLUDES SANTILLANA DEL MAR, COMILLAS, CASTRO URDIALES, BILBAO PLUS A BOAT TRIP AROUND SANTONA BAY.
PLEASE NOTE: The price includes an inside cabin without a window and if there are two of you in the room then one will be on a top bunk. if you would like 2x lower bunks or an outside cabin with a window, then this is available for a supplementary charge as shown.
We take the ferry to Northern Spain and enjoy Cantabria’s stunning coastline, range of historic villages & ports and the beautiful Picos de Europa Mountains. The Hotel Olimpo in the coastal village of Isla, in a stunning area of breathtaking beauty. The village has two beaches, and all rooms boast wonderful views of the sea, mountains, or surrounding area. Whilst at the hotel there is free water and house wine with evening meals and on the final evening we have a farewell dinner with seafood, wine and portes liquor! PLEASE NOTE: Breakfast and evening meals are included in resort, but not on the ferry. Onboard there is a choice of three restaurants, a café, a self-service restaurant and an a la carte option.
Wednesday We journey to Plymouth and board the Brittany Ferry for the 21-hour crossing to Santander. We have included an inside cabin onboard and there are restaurants, bars, a spa, Wi-Fi and even an outdoor pool, weather permitting.
Thursday We arrive into Santander and make the short journey to our hotel in Isla where we are met with a welcome drink and canapes.
Tours whilst at Resort +TWO FREE DAYS to enjoy the resort
A | We travel to the world heritage mediaeval village of Santillana del Mar where most houses were built between the 14th and 18th centuries, and all can be explored by foot. Later, we stop in Comillas, one of the most beautiful towns in Cantabria with cobbled streets, open squares and two beaches.
B | A full day in the Picos De Europa Mountain Range. First, we make a stop in San Vincente de la Barquera, a picturesque town on the coast with the astonishing backdrop of the Picos de Europa. Then we follow the River Deva Valley up into the mountains and visit the town of Potes, a mediaeval town with traditional buildings, wooden balconies and surrounded by mountains.
C | To the traditional fishing village of Castro Urdiales with its pretty harbour and attractive centre, before we visit Santona. We take a boat trip around the pretty bays with beautiful views of the region.
D | We spend the day in Bilbao which has the internationally renowned Guggenheim Museum. There is also a historic quarter with seven pedestrianised streets running perpendicular to the river.
Thursday We make our way to Santander and board our ferry for the return journey. Again, an inside cabin is provided.
Friday We arrive into Plymouth and make the journey home with a lunchtime stop in Exeter.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Hotel Olimpo 4-star hotel with great facilities.
AC | MINI BAR | GYM hotelolimpio.es
• Tours as indicated (Inc. boat trip)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal and a cabin on the ferry
10 Days
Sun 11th May 2025
£1,259 +£217 Single Supplement
10 Days from INCLUDES FOUR TRAIN RIDES, TWO BOAT RIDES PLUS, LOCAL GUIDE ON FOUR DAYS! NEW HOTEL & ITINERARY!
Our base is Roses, on Spain’s rugged coast, overlooking Roses Bay and this location allows us to enjoy the very best of coast, country, and mountains. We have a local guide on four days and we also have a glass of wine included with dinner each night in resort. We have upgraded the itinerary this year with a visit to the town of Empuriabrava which has a delightful canal way waterway system like Amsterdam, we enjoy a cruise of these canals.
Sunday To Calais and we continue through France to our overnight hotel, the Kyriad Dijon Mirande.
Monday We continue south into Spain and on to our hotel in the resort of Roses for seven nights where we are met with a welcome drink.
Tours at Resort
A | A free morning to enjoy Roses before we join the Roses Little Town Train for a trip to the Cap de Creus National Park with wonderful views of wild coastline and vertiginous cliffs.
B | We have a guide on board today as we make an excursion to the historic town of Besalu where we have a ride around the town on a little train. Later we visit Empuriabrava for a visit that includes a canal cruise.
C | A FREE DAY to explore Roses.
D | Into the Spanish Pyrenees and a wonderful trip through the Vall de Nuria with commentary by our onboard guide. Part of the return journey is made by train on the Val de Nuria Rack Railway where you will experience a world of sensations! The breath-taking beauty of the landscape is unmissable and can only be accessed by this train. We drop over 1000m in just 12.5km!
E | A guide is again on board as we travel to Rivesaltes in France for a scenic journey on the Red Train to Axat in the mountains. Opened in 1908 to service the quarries, this train is now run solely for tourists as the views are so spectacular. On our return we make a stop in La Jonquera.
F | We have a boat trip from Roses along the scenic coastline passing the Cap de Creus National Park coastline to Cadaques. Cadaques is a picturesque coastal town with a bohemian ambience and we are met on our arrival for a walking tour. We return later to Roses by boat.
Monday We return to our overnight hotel.
Tuesday To Calais and home.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel
• Channel crossings
Prestige Hotel Sant Marc, Roses 4-star hotel with recently renovated rooms, surrounded by beautiful canals and 400m from the beach. All rooms have a balcony and there is live entertainment every night.
OUTDOOR POOL | AC FREEVIEW TV | MINI BAR | WIFI prestigehotels.com/es/prestigehotel-sant-mar
• Tours as indicated (Inc. four train rides and two boat rides)
• Home pickup & drop off service (see back cover)
• Hotel accommodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal
Douro Discovery 5-star Cruise - By Air to Porto Five excursions, full-board on boat with all-inclusive drinks!
Cabin Type Price (per person) Single Supplements
Emerald Deck From £2,629 +£1,125 (In a 2-person occupancy room)
Ruby Deck From £2,879 +£1,250 (In a 2-person occupancy room)
Diamond Deck From £3,079 +£1,350 (In a 2-person occupancy room)
INCLUDING PORTO, FREIXO DE ESPADA A CINTRA, MATEUS PALACE & VINEYARD!
PLEASE NOTE: We require a £250pp deposit to book this holiday for you, a further £500pp by 15th March 2025 and final balances will be due by 1st April 2025.
ATOL licence number: 3853 Brightsun Travel.
A region rich in port wine heritage awaits you on the Douro. Breathtaking vineyards line the banks as you cruise along one of northern Portugal’s most significant rivers and we explore the valley’s rich history. Towns like Regua and Pinhao captivate with museums showcasing the Douro Valley’s evolution and stunning natural scenery. The journey concludes in Porto, a city where there’s always something new to discover. On your diverse journey through Portugal’s rich cultural heritage, you will uncover a quaint fishing village with colorful houses, a baroque palace with beautiful gardens, the traditional art of hand-crafted silk and local wine culture with a curated lunch atop surrounding vineyard. There is musical entertainment every night and a high tea on one afternoon. (We are travelling to Porto by air, a Barnes representative will be with you throughout the holiday.)
Wednesday We travel to Gatwick and board our British Airway’s flight to Porto when we are transferred to our 4 star hotel for 1 night. NOTE: Dinner is not included on this night.
Thursday Free time before we board our cruise. Porto enchants with its winding and picturesque streets, Clerigos Tower, bridges, and famous wooden port wine boats.
Friday We have a city tour of Porto before departing at 1200 and cruising up the Douro to Regua, where we spend the night, with great scenery all the way.
Saturday We depart before breakfast and make a stop in Pocinho, a small village on the banks of the Douro with famous views. We continue to Vega Terro where we dock for 24 hours on the Spanish border.
Sunday An excursion to the famous town of Freixo de Espada a Cintra with history that predates Portugal. On our return the boat sails on to Pocinho where we spend the night.
Monday The boat leaves early and we arrive at Pinhao by midday. Pinhao is in the heart of the wine region, and we visit Casa Dos Viscondes da Várzea to explore the wine culture. We also spend the night in Pinhao so you can explore the famous village including the train station covered with artistic tile paintings.
Tuesday We sail to Regau, an idyllic town surrounded by majestic vineyards and known for its delicious port wine and rich history. We have an excursion to Mateus Palace, one of the most lavish manor houses in Europe and you will recognise the house from Mateu’s wine bottles! It was built in the 18th century and is a fine example of Baroque architecture.
Holiday Inclusions
• Return coach travel to / from airport
• Flights & transfers
• Home pickup & drop off service
• Cruise Amenities
• Itinerary & sightseeing as stated
• Transport for excursions where necessary
• Full board on the boat with all-inclusive drinks & dinner and bed an breakfast at the overnight hotel.
Wednesday We sail from Regau and make a brief stop in Entreos-Rios before continuing to Porto. In the evening, we have an evening walk around the magic fisherman village of Afurda, close to Porto, and enjoy Sardines, before returning for our last night on the boat.
Thursday Following a leisurely breakfast we leave our cruise. Free time in Porto before our evening flight back to Gatwick where we are met and transferred back to our local area.
Boat: Porto Mirante Specially adapted to the special features of the Douro and its locks and made its maiden voyage in 2024. It offers space for up to 120 guests in 60 cabins. On board, guests have access to two restaurants and a fitness room with state-ofthe-art equipment. In addition, the newest Douro ship in the fleet has a panoramic lounge with bar and a skylounge that extends over two decks. Other features of the ship include an on-board store, a spacious sun deck with a pool and sun loungers. An elevator connects all decks (except the sun deck). The ship is fully air-conditioned. There are 24 spacious cabins on both the Diamond Deck and the Ruby Deck, each with a French balcony inviting you to enjoy the beautiful view. On the Emerald Deck, the 2-bed cabins have windows that cannot be opened. All cabins face outwards and are perfectly equipped with a flat-screen TV, included minibar, Nespresso® machine, beauty products from RITUALS®, hairdryer, safe, air-conditioning, shower and WC and leave nothing to be desired.
Please keep this for your records. PAGE 1 of 2
1. Financial Protection
Your contract is with Barnes Coaches Ltd. Of Woodside Rd, Swindon, SN3 4AQ. When you book a holiday with us, which does not include a flight, the money you pay us for the booking will be protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), this is a Government approved consumer protection scheme. The scheme will also ensure your repatriation in the event the company becomes insolvent. Our Trading Charter and Booking Conditions set out clearly and simply the responsibility we have to you and in turn, you have with us, when a contract is made. Please see the Consumer Guarantee at https://www.abtot.com/bch-abtot-members-directory/ There is no financial protection if you purchase just transport or accommodation-only from us. We fully comply with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. The combination of travel services offered to you is a package holiday within the meaning of the Regulations. Therefore, you will benefit from all rights applying to package holidays. Barnes Coaches Ltd. will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the holiday and providing assistance if you are in difficulty. Your key rights will be in the details of the tour which will be provided prior to booking.
When a booking is made, the ‘lead name’ on the booking guarantees that he or she is 18 or over and has the authority and accepts on behalf of the party the terms of these booking conditions and pays the deposit indicated in the brochure and as confirmed in the pre-contract information. After we receive your booking and all appropriate payments, if the arrangements you wish to book are available, we will send you or your booking agent a confirmation invoice within 14 days. This confirmation will include any special requests we have agreed. All monies paid to your booking agent are held by them on your behalf until we issue our confirmation invoice, thereafter your booking agent holds the money on our behalf. A binding agreement will come into existence between us when we dispatch this invoice to the ‘lead name’ or your booking agent. Please check the confirmation carefully to ensure all the information is correct. This contract is governed by English Law, and the jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Single occupancy of rooms, when available, may be subject to a supplementary charge and these will be shown in the brochure. You can book by paying a deposit for each person named on the booking, but our commitment is always conditional upon the balance being paid as below.
• Deposit £40 per person (unless stated otherwise for a specific holiday)
The balance of the price of your holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure. If you book within our balance due period, you will need to pay the total holiday cost at the time of booking. If the balance is not paid in time, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday, retain your deposit, and apply the cancellation charges set out in the paragraph below. The date of cancellation will normally be the date we receive your written confirmation that you intend to cancel or 15 days after the balance due date, whichever comes first.
Where optional items are purchased as part of the holiday, these are payable on the balance due date except where items, such as theatre tickets, have been specifically purchased for you. In this case the cost will be payable at a separate date notified to you and will not normally be refunded unless we obtain a refund from the supplier we use.
Although Barnes Coaches Ltd. make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the brochure information and pricing, regrettably errors do sometimes occur. You must therefore ensure you check the price and all other details of your holiday with us at the time of booking and when you receive our confirmation invoice.
4. Our Pricing Policy
Barnes Coaches Ltd. endeavour to ensure that the most up to date and correct prices are shown in our brochure. Occasionally, an incorrect price may be shown, due to an error. When we become aware of any such error, we will endeavour to notify you at the time of booking (if we are then aware of the mistake) or as soon as reasonably possible. We reserve the right to cancel the booking if you do not wish to accept the price which is applicable to the holiday. Local Authorities in many towns and cities throughout Europe have introduced new tourist taxes which must be paid directly to the hotel by all guests in person. These taxes are not included in our prices, but we will notify you when applicable.
Holiday prices include all travel, hotel accommodation and meals as specified in the holiday description and VAT payable in the UK where applicable. The price of the holiday will not be subjected to any surcharges except those arising from exchange rate changes, transportation including the price of fuel, air & ferry operator fares and tolls, embarkation or disembarkation fees at terminals, duties and taxes (including the rate of VAT). Even in these cases we will absorb the cost equivalent to cost of the first 2% of the holiday price. Amounts more than this plus £1 administration fee and Travel Agents commission will be surcharged to you. If this means the total cost of the holiday increases by more than 8% then you are entitled to cancel your holiday and receive a full refund of all monies paid except any insurance premium and amendment charges. We will communicate the options with you either through email or letter, with a reminder if necessary. If you exercise the right to cancel, we must receive written notice within 20 days of the date of the surcharge invoice. The currency exchange rate used in the holiday costings are based on rates as of 10/10/2024. £1 = 1.12 Euro, £1 = 1.12 Swiss Franc, £1 = 5.14 Polish Zlotych
5. If you change your booking
If, after our confirmation has been issued, you wish to change to another of our holidays or change departure date, we will do our utmost to make the changes, but we cannot guarantee to do so. However, notification must be received in writing at our offices from the person who signed the booking form, at least 7 weeks before departures. This must be accompanied by a payment of £25 to cover our administrative costs, plus costs we incur in making the amendment. Alterations cannot be made within 7 weeks of departure and any such request for an alteration will be treated as a cancellation of the original booking and will be subject to the cancellation charges set out in paragraph below. Some arrangements cannot be changed without paying a cancellation charge of up to 100% of the ticket cost.
6. Transferring your booking
You can transfer your booking to somebody else, but the person must satisfy all the conditions of the holiday and you must inform us either by letter or email no less than 7 days before departure. This transfer will cost £25 plus reasonable costs to make the transfer. You will remain responsible for ensuring payment before the balance due date. This is in addition to (and does not affect) the separate liability of the transferee to us.
7. If you need to cancel your holiday
You or any member of your party, may cancel your holiday at any time provided the cancellation is made by the person signing the booking form and is communicated to us in writing via the office who made your original booking. You must pay cancellation charges to cover our administration costs and to compensate for the risk of us not reselling the holiday. If the holiday is resold a refund will be made. Your cancellation will take effect from the date on which we or our agent receive your written confirmation of your cancellation. You must also return any tickets or vouchers you have received. A reduction in room occupancy may increase the charges for the remaining passengers by the application of supplements for low occupancy of rooms. Where bought in supplies, such as ferries, hotel accommodation etc have been bought in on your behalf, and where the terms and conditions of the supplier are nonrefundable, these products will be charged to you at the full retail rate. If this applies, the nonrefundable items will be deducted from your holiday costs and the following scale of charges will be applied to the remainder:
Period before departure cancellation Cancellation charge letter is received cost as %
than 42 days (91 days for air and cruises)
You may cancel your holiday without paying any termination fee before the start of the holiday, in the event of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occurring at the place of destination or its immediate vicinity, for instance, if there are serious security problems at the destination which are likely to affect the package.
8. Alterations to your holiday by us
We hope that we will not have to make any change to your holiday but, because our holidays are planned many months in advance, we sometimes do need to make minor changes. We reserve the right to do this at any time. We will let you or your booking agent know about any important changes as soon as possible, including the minimum number of passengers required on the trip. If after booking, and before departure, we make a major change to your holiday, you will have the option of withdrawing from the holiday without penalty or transferring to another holiday without any charge. In either case, we will pay you compensation, according to the scale set below. A major change includes the time of your departure or return time by more than 12 hours, a change in departure point, location of resort or type of hotel, a change in cross channel travel, or specification of the coach. If we tell you about any of these changes after we have confirmed your holiday booking (other than force majeure), you may either:
• accept the new arrangements offered by us; or
• accept a replacement holiday from us of equivalent or similar standard and price (at the date of the change), if we can offer you one; or
• cancel your holiday with us and receive a full refund of all monies.
Either way, we will pay you compensation, using the Compensation table shown:
PERIOD BEFORE DEPARTURE IN WHICH A AMOUNT
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS NOTIFIED TO YOU PER PERSON
More than 42 days
29-42 days
15-28
Nil
£10
IMPORTANT NOTE Compensation will not be payable if the holiday is cancelled because the number of persons booked is less than the number required, or for events beyond our control, which include: war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity and its consequences, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, health risks and pandemics, unavoidable and unforeseeable technical problems with transport for reasons beyond our control or that of our suppliers; hurricanes and other actual or potential severe weather conditions and any other similar events. You are also advised to check with The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice Unit regularly at > www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad prior to travel.
All holidays operate if the minimum number of participants is met. However, in no case will we cancel your holiday less than 4 weeks before the scheduled departure date, except where you have failed to pay the final balance or because of force majeure (force majeure means an event which we or the suppliers of the services in question could not foresee or avoid and is therefore beyond our control).
9. Our responsibility to you
We accept responsibility for ensuring the holiday which you book with us is supplied as described in our publicity material and the services offered reach a reasonable standard and if you are in difficulty, we will assist you. If any part of our holiday contract is not provided as promised, you may terminate the contract without paying a termination fee and we will pay you appropriate compensation if this has affected your enjoyment of your holiday. We will, however, not be liable if there are any unforeseeable or unavoidable actions of a third party not connected with our travel services, or there were unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances, or the lack of conformity is due to a traveller in the party. We accept responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of our employees, agents and suppliers except where they lead to death, injury or illness. Our liability in all cases shall be limited to a maximum of twice the value of the original holiday cost (not including insurance premiums and amendment charges). We accept responsibility for death, injury, or illness caused by the negligent acts and/or omissions of our employees or agents together with our suppliers and sub-contractors, servants and/or agents of the same whilst acting within the scope of, or during their employment in the provision of your holiday. We will accordingly pay to our clients such damages as might have been awarded in such circumstances under English Law. In respect of carriage by air, sea, tunnel and rail and the provision of accommodation our liability in all cases will be limited in the manner provided by the relevant international convention.
If we make any payment to you or any member of your party for death or personal injury or illness, you will be asked to assign to us or our insurers the rights you may have to act against the person or organisation responsible for causing the death, personal injury or illness. This clause does not apply to any separate contracts that you may enter for excursions or activities during or outside of your holiday. If you or any member of your party suffer death, illness or injury whilst overseas arising out of an activity which does NOT form part of your holiday, we may offer guidance and where legal action is contemplated and you want our assistance, you must obtain our written consent prior to any proceedings (We limit the cost of our assistance to you or your party to £5,000 per party)
Please keep this for your records. PAGE 2 of 2
10. If you have a complaint
If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform your Tour Manager, your driver or the relevant supplier/resort representative immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint cannot be completely resolved locally, you must complete a Holiday Report Form which can be obtained by your driver or local representative, which you should keep. Our contact number, for unresolved complaints will be our office number on 01793 821303 (open in office hours) If you remain dissatisfied please follow this up within 14 days of your return home by writing to Barnes Coaches Ltd. giving your original booking reference number and all other relevant information, including the reference of the Holiday Report Form. It is therefore a condition of this contract that you communicate any problem to the supplier of the services in question AND to our representative whilst in resort and obtain a written report form. If you fail to follow this simple procedure, we cannot accept responsibility as we have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify the problem. Should you wish to pursue the complaint further, BCH ABTOT have an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme and full details are available from them. Please contact them at ABTOT 69 Leadenhall Street London EC3A 2BG.
11. Our Coaches
We will always use our reasonable endeavours to provide a coach to the specification in our brochure or advert but reserve the right to substitute an alternative vehicle should there be unforeseen circumstances. There is a seating plan but, in some cases, operational reasons may require a coach with a different configuration. We reserve the right to alter a coach seating plan and allocate seats other than those booked. Single passengers may be required to share a double seat with other single passengers. When your booking is confirmed, you will be offered the best seats that are available at that time. If you feel that you require two seats, then these must be booked and paid for in advance, at the time of booking. If you fail to do this and it transpires that the seat allocated to you is insufficient for your needs and there is no alternative seating available, then you will be refused access to the coach and any payments made will be liable to forfeiture.
Specific seats will not be allocated on coaches operating a feeder service between joining points and main holiday departure points or on coaches that carry out transfers between airports, seaports etc.
12. Hotel Facilities
Some hotel facilities and entertainment may be withdrawn for routine maintenance or be subject to seasonal availability and provision of the facilities cannot be guaranteed. Single occupancy of rooms may be subject to a supplementary charge.
13. Health and Safety
In some foreign countries, standards of infrastructure, safety and hygiene may be lower than those to which we are accustomed in the UK. You should therefore exercise greater care for your own protection. There may be countries that we visit that have special medical requirements for tourists. These regulations are subject to change and our clients are responsible for complying with entry and current health requirements. If you are not sure of the health requirements for the country you are visiting, you are advised to check with your own GP before travelling. You are also advised to refer to the Department of Health leaflet “Health Advice for Travellers”.
Some people may be at risk from discomfort or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) if they remain immobile on a journey for a long period. If you are planning to undertake a journey of more than three hours, you should consult your doctor, if you have ever had DVT, pulmonary embolism, a family history of clotting conditions, cancer or treatment for cancer, stroke, and heart or lung disease or If you have had major surgery in the past three months.
We reserve the right to refuse any booking in the absence of a doctor’s certificate confirming that you are fit to travel. Where we provide comfort stops you are encouraged to walk around. Exercise reduces any discomfort, which may be caused by periods of immobility.
NO SMOKING is allowed on our coaches (including E-Cigarettes) and we do not allow pets or any other animals, although we accommodate registered assistance dogs, but not on overseas holidays.
14. Travel documents, itineraries, pick-up points and passports
For all Continental holidays, you will require a full 10-year British Passport (machine readable) valid for a further 6 months after your holiday. If you do not hold a full British Passport or have any doubts about your status as a resident British subject, you must check with the Embassies or Consulates of the Countries to be visited to confirm the Passport or visa requirements when you book. We cannot accept responsibility if passengers are not in possession of the correct travel documents. For full details on passport requirements, please contact ‘the identity and passport service’ on 0300 222 0000 > www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports
In relation to holidays in the European Union or a requirement to travel through an EU Member State, you are responsible to ensure that you have any necessary entry documents as required by the EU including any required compliance with the EU’s ‘ETIAS’ system, for more information on which see www.etiasvisa.com. We cannot accept any liability for the consequences of your failure to do so.
You are responsible for ensuring you are at the correct departure point, at the correct time and with the correct documents. Barnes Coaches Ltd. reserve the right to modify itineraries to conform with requests from competent authorities both within the UK and abroad.
Excursions which are included in the cost of your booking are detailed on the brochure page and refunds will not be made for excursions not taken. Optional excursions booked and paid for in resort do not form part of your booking. Admission fees to buildings may not be included in the price of the holiday, please check.
For travel in the European Union or Schengen area a valid GHIC is required. (General Health Insurance card ) Available free of charge from the NHS, valid for 5 years.
15. Special Requests
All special needs and requests, if agreed, should be entered on the booking form and be included in the confirmation of the holiday. These cannot be guaranteed except where confirmed as part of our holiday commitment to you and are detailed on your holiday booking confirmation. We are keen to ensure that we plan the arrangements for your holiday so that special needs and requests can be accommodated as far as possible. If you will need assistance or may be unable to fully enjoy all aspects of your holiday you must tell us in advance so that we can maximise your enjoyment of the holiday. We will need to know if you will need special facilities in the hotel, taking part in the excursions or have difficulty boarding and travelling on the coach or other means of transport. Before booking your holiday, you should be sure that you and your party are both physically and mentally capable of completing the itinerary. If you need advice or further information either you or your booking agent should contact Barnes Coaches Ltd. If you will require a special diet please tell us at the time of booking, or as soon as you are medically advised, together with a copy of the diet.
16. Passengers with disabilities
We want everyone to enjoy our travel arrangements. We are happy to advise and assist you in choosing a suitable holiday. But, as some of the accommodation and resorts featured may not cater for even minor disabilities, it is important that, when booking, you advise us of any disability, specific need or complex need you may have and any special requirements that will make sure the holiday is suitable. If a passenger requires personal assistance (for example, assistance with feeding, dressing, toileting, mobilising) then this passenger must travel with an able-bodied companion or carer and written confirmation that such assistance will be provided for the entirety of the holiday is required at the time of booking. Coach drivers/Tour Managers are unable to provide such assistance.
Important You must tell us if you have an existing medical condition, disability or complex need that may affect your holiday or other group members’ enjoyment of it before you book your holiday. We reserve the right to request a doctor’s certificate confirming the passenger is fit to travel. If, in our reasonable opinion, your chosen holiday is not suitable for your medical condition or disability, we reserve the right to refuse your booking. You are responsible for bringing with you the proper clothing and equipment, which we advise you about in our printed trip information. We want you to enjoy your holiday and will help you select an appropriate trip.
We want all our customers to have a happy and carefree holiday. You are responsible for your behaviour and hygiene and the effect it may have on others. If you or any other member of your party is abusive, disruptive or behaves in a way that could cause damage or injury to others or affect their enjoyment of their holiday or which could damage property, we have the right to terminate your contract with us and we will have no further liability or obligation to you. The coach driver/representative, ship’s captain, or authorised official is entitled to refuse you boarding if in their reasonable opinion you are unacceptably under the influence of drink or drugs or you are being violent or disruptive. If you are refused boarding on the outward journey, we will regard it as a cancellation by you and we will apply cancellation charges. If on your return journey, we have the right to terminate the contract with you. We also request that mobile telephones are not used on the coach.
18. Travel Insurance
We strongly advise that you take out personal travel insurance for the trip. We have arranged travel insurance with Wrightsure which is outlined below. You may use an alternative insurer, but you must advise us. The insurance should cover medical and repatriation costs, personal injury, loss of baggage and cancellation charges. If you do not have adequate insurance and require our assistance during your holiday, we reserve the right to reclaim from you any medical repatriation or other expenses which we may incur on your behalf which would otherwise have been met by insurers. You must advise us if you use an alternative insurer, the policy number and 24-hour contact number.
19. Luggage
Please restrict your luggage to a suitcase weighing no more than 20 kgs per person. We cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to luggage unless through our negligence. Please do not leave valuable items in your suitcase when left on the coach. Please contact us for our policy on mobility scooters.
20. General Data Protection Regulations
We comply with the GDPR 2018 Regulations, our data controller is Matt Barnes and our data protection policy can be requested rom Barnes Coaches Ltd. Of Woodside Road, Swindon, SN3 4AQ
21. Emergency Contact
Our emergency contact details are Tel: 01793821303 Email: travel@barnescoaches.co.uk
PUBLICATION DATE : This brochure was printed in the UK by Barnes Coaches in October 2024.
Luggage - We ask you to keep luggage down to one medium sized suitcase per person, but a small holdall can also be taken on board the coach.
Itineraries, free days and included excursions - The itinerary, free days and included excursions for your chosen tour are summarised on the appropriate brochure page. In many cases these actually indicate the days on which certain excursions or free days will occur. If there are any known variations between the brochure and the final itinerary up to two weeks prior to the date of departure these will be notified to you before departure. In some instances, where drivers’ hours rules, local conditions, adverse weather or events beyond our control occur, the driver/courier may change the order or sequence of the itinerary or replace any excursion with an alternative excursion of equal value. Variations between the brochure itinerary and the final itinerary will not entitle you to compensation where such variations are a consequence of nonsignificant changes to your holiday.
Twin bedded rooms - In some European countries twin bedded rooms may comprise what appears to be one bed but having a double base and headboard with separate mattresses and a duvet or bedding. A three bedded room is often a twin bedded room with an extra bed added.
Ground floor accommodation - There is usually a limited number of ground floor or lower floor rooms available and requests for this accommodation must be made in the “Special Requirements” section of the booking form, but this type of accommodation cannot be guaranteed. If lifts are available at a hotel the facility will be shown on the brochure page.
Hotel accommodation - The hotels we use have been carefully chosen and we have been visiting many of them for several years. Standards vary across the country and across the countries of Europe. Full details are given in the individual hotel descriptions, including the official rating where one exists. The absence of a rating does not mean the hotel is of lower standard, but simply that an official rating is not available in that country or has not been sought by the owners.
Special requests - If you have any special requests these must be notified at the time of booking and entered on the booking form and we will endeavour to forward these but regret that such special requests cannot be guaranteed nor shall we accept any liability for failure to provide a special request.
Our Client Holiday Travel Insurance is available for all eligible passengers travelling on our holidays which is arranged by Wrightsure Services (Hampshire) Limited and underwritten by AWP P&C SA and administered in the UK by Allianz Partners, a trading name of AWP Assistance UK Ltd. AWP Assistance UK Limited is registered in England (registration number 1710361). Registered office: PO Box 74005, 60 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3P 3DS. AWP Assistance UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (Firm reference number 311909).
AWP P&C SA is authorised and regulated by L’Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution in France. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm reference number 534384) and limited regulation by the Prudentail Regulation Authority.
Wrightsure Services (Hampshire) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 311394) and is permitted to advise on and arrange general insurance contracts. You can check these details online using the Financial Services Register (accessible from https://register.fca.org.uk) or by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority Consumer Helpline on 0800 1116768.
Should you wish to take out this travel insurance, please include the appropriate premium when booking your holiday.
SUMMARY OF COVER PLEASE SEE THE POLICY WORDING FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE
TRAVEL INSURANCE PREMIUMS INCLUDING INSURANCE PREMIUM TAKE AT THE CURRENT RATE ARE SHOWN BELOW. THESE PREMIUMS ARE FROM 1ST NOVEMBER 2024
DURATION UK EUROPE, CHANNEL ISLANDS
This is not a private medical insurance policy and only gives cover for emergency medical treatment and/or transport in the event of an accident or unexpected illness occurring during your trip.
This also means that any other person insured by us will not be covered for any directly or indirectly related claims arising from the pre-existing medical condition (or conditions). This applies even if the person with the medical condition (or conditions) decides to buy cover from another provider.
You must have your primary residence in and be registered with a doctor in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and have not spent more than six months abroad during the 12 months before this policy was issued or your trip was booked (whichever is later).
This insurance policy will suit the demands and needs of an individual or group (where applicable) who have no excluded medical condition(s), are travelling in countries included within the policy terms and who wish to insure themselves against unforeseen circumstances/events detailed in the cover section below. Subject to the terms, conditions and maximum specified sums insured.
We will not provide you with advice about the suitability of this product for your individual needs but will be happy to provide you with factual information.
We summarise below the details of the insurance cover provided which also includes 24-hour emergency service from Allianz Assistance.
The following is a brief summary of the cover available. Full details of cover and exclusions will be forwarded with your confirmation of booking. In any event you may ask for a specimen copy of the policy wording before booking should you wish to examine this in advance.
HEALTH DECLARATION AND HEALTH EXCLUSIONS
It is very important that you read the following and, where necessary, declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
For UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man trips only (except Air & Cruise Holidays) You will not be covered under this policy for any claims arising as a direct or indirect of any pre-existing medical condition, unless you can comply with the following:
1. You are fit to travel and undertake your planned trip when you take out this policy, book your trip or at the time you travel (whichever is later).
2. Following any claim investigation, your doctor confirms they would have agreed with or recommended your travel plans when you took out this policy, booked your trip or at the time you travelled (whichever is later).
3. You are not travelling for the purpose of having medical treatment or a consultation during your trip.
4. You are not awaiting any medical tests, investigations or surgery, or the outcome of any tests or investigations when you take out this policy or book your trip (whichever is later).
For trips outside of the UK plus all Air & Cruise Holidays:
You will not be covered for any claims arising as a direct or indirect result of any pre-existing medical condition if, in the 12 months before taking out this policy or booking your trip (whichever is later), you:
1. Were prescribed medication;
2. Received treatment or consulted a doctor or other medical practitioner for any medical condition;
3. Attended a hospital or a clinic as an outpatient or inpatient;
4. Were referred for tests, investigations, treatment or surgery, or are waiting for either results or a diagnosis;
5. Had any symptoms of an undiagnosed medical condition or have had a terminal illness; unless you have told us about the pre-existing medical condition and we have agreed in writing to cover it.
TO DECLARE a pre-existing medical condition(s), you should contact insurers confidential medical screening service on 02392 419063 as soon as possible after taking out this insurance policy and/or booking your trip.
Based on the medical information you provide, it will be confirmed to you if cover can be offered for your declared pre-existing medical condition (or conditions), and if an extra premium needs to be paid. Occasionally, insurers may need you to get extra medical information (at your cost) from your doctor to enable us to make a decision.
If an extra premium is required, cover will not start until this has been paid in full and we have issued written confirmation.
If we are unable to cover the pre-existing medical condition (or conditions), this will mean that you and any other person insured by us will not be covered for any directly or indirectly related claims arising from the pre-existing medical condition (or conditions). This applies even if the person with the pre-existing medical condition (or conditions) decides to buy cover from another provider. Each person insured by us would still be covered for any unrelated (or conditions), subject to the terms and conditions of this policy.
FOR ALL TRIPS - YOU WILL NOT BE COVERED IF:
• Following any claim investigation, your doctor confirms they would not have agreed with or recommended you travel as planned either when you took out this policy, booked your trip or at the time you travelled (whichever is later).
• You know you will need medical treatment or a consultation at a medical facility during your trip.
* Excess only applies for cancellation of a journey over three days in duration (Nil for Loss of Deposit).
We will only use your personal details in line with our Privacy Notice. This can be found on our website or is available in hard copy format upon request and you should read this carefully and contact us immediately if you have any queries. Your personal information includes all of the details you have given us to process your insurance policy (we will not ask for more information than is necessary).
We may share your data with Third Parties for the provision and ongoing performance of your insurance policy. Your data may be transferred outside the UK. All of the personal information you supply to us will be handled strictly in accordance with the applicable Data Protection regulations and legislation.
SIGNIFICANT EXCLUSIONS
• Any existing medical conditions unless they have been declared to (where appropriate) and accepted by the insurer.
• Your intentional self-harm or if you attempt or commit suicide. An epidemic or pandemic, except when an epidemic or pandemic is expressly referenced in and covered under Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay or Emergency Medical/Dental Cover Abroad. Terrorist events.
• Any travel supplier’s complete cessation of operations due to financial reasons, with or without involving insolvency or bankruptcy. For full terms and conditions and your policy contact details please refer to your policy wording.
Barnes Coaches Limited is an appointed Representative of Wrightsure Services (Hampshire) Limited who are authorised and regulated by the FCA (their registration number is 311394) and which is permitted to advise on and arrange general insurance contracts.
• You are travelling specifically for the purpose of having surgery, medical procedures or hospital treatment, whether medically necessary or not.
• You had been diagnosed with a terminal illness prior to the date you took out this policy or booked your trip (whichever is later).
Exclusions relating to the health of someone not insured on this policy, but whose health may affect your decision whether to take or continue with your trip:
You will not be covered for any directly or indirectly related claims (see note at the end of this section) arising from the health of a travelling companion, someone you were going to stay with, a family member or a business associate if at the time your policy was issued:
• You were aware they had undiagnosed medical condition(s) for which they were awaiting tests, investigations or the results of these;
• You were aware that their medical condition(s) were unstable, were likely to get worse in the next 12 months or they had been diagnosed as having a terminal condition.
Note: Only claims relating to a medical condition where any of the above apply will be affected. This includes indirectly related claims. For example, if someone breaks a bone and a doctor confirms it is related to an existing diagnosis of osteoporosis (brittle bone disease), this would not be covered if we have not agreed in writing to cover the osteoporosis.
All claims should be made direct to Allianz Assistance. Please visit the website: www.allianz-protection.com. This will lead you to insurers online claims notification service where claim forms can be completed directly from the site. Alternatively, please phone: 0208 666 9233 and ask for a claim form alternatively write to: Wrightsure Travel Claims c/o Allianz Partners, PO Box 528, Manchester, M28 8FQ, or email: travel.claims@allianz-assistance.co.uk
You can check these details online using the Financial Services Register (accessible from www.fca.org.uk) or by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
Should you have personal circumstances, for which you may need additional support or accommodations, please let us know and we will do our best to support you. These could include issues with sight, hearing impairments, capability restrictions, welfare/health issues or anything else you feel is important for us to know about.
If our chosen insurance provider, Wrightsure Services (Hampshire) Limited are unable to offer you the
We will pick you up from a central point (selected by us) in any town or village covered by the free pickup area below.
Our FREE PICKUP AREA is shown on the map below, if you live in the OUTER PICKUP AREA of our map, we will be able to pick you up for a small surcharge of £20 per person.
Cannot see your postcode area? Please visit our website to complete our precise postcode checker: barnescoaches.co.uk/holiday-pickups Or call our team on 01793 821303
Map Key:
Our free pickup area
Our outer pickup area, pickup fee of £20pp.
LIVE OUTSIDE OF OUR PICKUP AREA?
Why not opt to stay at a local hotel within our pickup area map the night before & after your holiday with us, we can then arrange a pickup & drop off from this point. See page 04 of our brochure for our *Local Hotel Pickup Package* with the Blunsdon House Hotel.
SAVE £20 PER PERSON BY JOINING US AT A CENTRAL PICKUP POINT LISTED BELOW!
If you would prefer to be picked up from one of the central points listed below on a holiday tour 4 days & over, we can apply a £20 PER PERSON DISCOUNT to your booking as a thank you! (These are also the points we are able to pick you up from if you are travelling with a mobility scooter.)
• Swindon, Bus Station
• Swindon, Greenbridge
• Aldbourne, The Square
• Blunsdon House Hotel
• Chieveley, Service Station
• Chisledon, Esso Station
• Cirencester, Co-op Petrol Station, A417
• Cricklade, Town Hall
• Highworth, Brewery Street Car Park
• Leigh Delamere, Service Station
• Marlborough, Polly Tea Rooms
• Newbury, The Wharf (Coach Bays)
• Royal Wootton Bassett, The Crown
• Shrivenham, Barrington Arms
• Wroughton, Ellendune Centre Barnes Coaches Ltd, Unit E, Woodside Road, South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 4AQ 01793 821303 | barnescoaches.co.uk | travel@barnescoaches.co.uk