Whittles Coaches 2023 Holidays Brochure

For your comfort, relaxation and safety - our touring coaches are equipped to a high specification - with seat belts, air conditioning, curtains/blinds, reclining seats, DVD and on board toilet.

Once booked your seat number is reserved for the whole holiday. Please note you are required by law to wear your seat belt at all times when the vehicle is in motion.

You will see that all our tours state ‘Tour Departs’ and ‘Tour Returns’ times - these are planned times for the coach at our premises on Stourport Road and may be subject to alteration. Your confirmed pick up time will be sent to you in your final travel pack, which you shall receive in the post 7 days prior to your holiday.

Due to FCA regulations, we cannot offer travel insurance but recommend that you take out your own policy, especially for medical expenses on continental holidays. Please note that it is compulsory for all passengers travelling overseas to obtain travel insurance. Regrettably however, in the event that we have to cancel the holiday for any reason, we are unable to refund any privately purchased insurance.

Our hotels are carefully chosen. Please advise of any special requests such as a low floor room or particular room request at time of booking. If you have special dietary requirements, we also need to know at the time of booking so that we can pass the information to the hotel.

Joining

Paying for your holiday...

Spread the cost! The final balance is due 8 weeks prior to the date of departure - interim payments can be made until then if you prefer. Your Travel Pack! Once paid, you will receive your final travel pack 7 days prior to your holiday. This will contain luggage labels, pick up time, hotel contact information, itinerary, and any extra information.

Enjoying the warmth of the Gulf Stream, the magical gardens in Cornwall are home to a wealth of exciting, rare and beautiful plants and trees. Our base is Newquay, a lively town with excellent beaches, cafes and shops.

Included Excursions

Lanhydrock House and Gardens and Bodmin and Wenford Railway: We visit the impressive late Victorian home and gardens at Lanhydrock. We take a short drive to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, for a scenic train ride.

Newquay is the premier resort of Cornwall. Located on the Atlantic Coast, Newquay is particularly noted for its fine sandy beaches including Fistral Beach, famed the world over for surfing. The town has a laid back charm, with a plethora of cafes, restaurants and bars to relax in. Take a stroll along the main streets and browse the many unique, boutique style independent shops.

Included Excursions

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Pencarrow House and Garden: Explore the 50 room Georgian mansion, surrounded by Grade II formal gardens, a large Victorian Rock Gardens and ice house, and 50 acres of parkland. Trebah Gardens and Falmouth: Trebah Gardens is a spectacular 26-acre sub-tropical gardens that descends to its own beach on the beautiful Helford River. Falmouth is Britain’s most southerly resort and the third largest natural harbour in the world. Your Hotel

Overlooking

Mon 24th - Fri 28th April 2023

Tour departs by: 9.30am Tour returns by: 4.30pm

Isles of Scilly: A long day, enjoy the sub-tropical haven, just 28 miles off the Cornish coast. We travel by ferry and enjoy a tour by local coach. Please be aware that due to timings, the evening meal will be taken at The Lugger restaurant in Penzance.

St Ives: St Ives exudes a Mediterranean feel, with its maze of narrow streets, crescent shaped golden beaches, crystal blue waters, and lively harbour.

Falmouth: Basking on the world’s third largest natural harbour and warmed by the Gulf Stream, Falmouth boasts a mild climate and four fantastic beaches. The town centre bustles with craft shops, fresh seafood sellers and harbourside restaurants.

Fiery reds, burnt oranges and glowing gold abounds in this autumn tour to Cornwall. Basking on the world’s third largest natural harbour and warmed by the Gulf Stream, Falmouth boasts a mild climate and four fantastic beaches. The town centre bustles with craft shops, fresh seafood sellers and harbourside restaurants.

Included Excursions

Eden Project: Enjoy the autumn colour in the huge indoor biomes and outdoor garden. See acres of fiery chillies, Amaryllis, Salvias and spices.

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Healeys Cider Farm and Truro: Enjoy a guided tour around the farm, see where the apples are nurtured and harvested, and the production facility where the apples are made into cider. Ascend the cider vat, see the bottling line, visit the museum, distillery and cellars and enjoy a tasting. In Cornwall’s capital, Truro, discover the magnificent cathedral, eclectic shopping, the Royal Cornwall Museum and vibrant cafes.

St Ives: St Ives is a dazzling jewel in Cornwall’s crown. A picturesque fishing harbour and seaside town with a maze of narrow streets and independent shops. Your

Membly Hall Hotel

Occupying a sea front location with marvellous views of Falmouth Bay and the Cornish Coast, all rooms offer TV, hospitality tray and telephone. There is a restaurant, lounge, bar, lift, sauna, hot tub and a games room.

Thu 12th - Mon 16th October 2023

Tour departs by: 9.30am

by: 5.00pm

Dramatic coastline, captivating fishing harbours, spectacular beaches and the pounding surf makes Cornwall hard to resist. Enjoy this 9 day tour to explore some of the very best highlights. Newquay is our base and is a popular seaside resort with fabulous beaches and great attractions.

Included Excursions

Lands End and St Michael’s Mount: Lands End is one of Britain’s best loved landmarks, discover the iconic signpost or visit the West Country Shopping Village. St Michaels Mount is the rocky island crowned by a medieval church and castle. Cornish Seal Sanctuary and St Ives Bay Line to St Ives: Hear about dramatic rescues and meet sealion and seal characters and go behind the scenes at the working seal hospital. We travel to St Erth, for the short but spectacular 10 minute journey to St Ives, one of the most scenic in Britain, with some free time to explore St Ives.

Truro and Falmouth Boat Trip: Truro is the only city in Cornwall, great for independent shopping. We enjoy a cruise along the waters of the Helford River in the afternoon.

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to St Michael’s Mount, Cornish Seal Sanctuary, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The National Lobster Hatchery and Wheal Martyn Clay Works

• Boat Trip

• Ride on the St Ives Bay Line

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Padstow and The National Lobster Hatchery: Padstow is a charming working fishing port at the head of the Camel River. At the National Lobster Hatchery meet baby lobsters and see lobsters through the different stages of their life cycle. Lost Gardens of Heligan and Wheal Martyn Clay Works: The Lost Gardens of Heligan is Europe’s largest garden restoration and a world of romance, heritage and adventure awaits your discovery. Wheal Martyn Clay Works is the UK’s only china clay museum.

Enjoy a weekend of sunshine and Devon cream tea! Our base is Babbacombe, which enjoys a level location, perched high on the cliffs above Babbacombe and Oddicombe beaches, with beautiful well kept gardens and bustling town centre.

Included Excursions

House of Marbles and Buckfast Abbey with Cream Tea: Be amazed and amused at the House of Marbles, where you can discover the glassworks with traditional and modern glass making techniques at work. There is a museum of games, glass, pottery and marbles, and bespoke marble runs to explore. We continue to Buckfast Abbey, home to a Roman Catholic community of Benedict Monks. The village includes the abbey church and produce shop and we enjoy a delicious Devon cream tea.

Bygones and Torre Abbey, Torquay: Bygones brings Britain’s past and childhood memories to life. Discover a life size authentic Victorian Street, a 28 foot model railway, a mock up of World War I trenches, a 1950’s shopping arcade plus much more. Torre Abbey is Torbay’s most historic building set within 18 acres of gardens.

Dawlish is a fascinating little regency town huddled attractively between steep surrounding hills. There are several popular beaches here including Dawlish Warren - a popular destination in its own right. Meanwhile in the middle of the town there is a flat landscaped area called ‘The Lawn’, home to various wildfowl and the famous Dawlish black swans.

Included Excursions

Dartmoor: Today we enjoy a scenic drive through the beautiful Dartmoor National Park to Princetown. We continue to Tavistock, the historic market town, and finish in Okehampton, with Victorian shopping arcades and museum.

Teignmouth and Babbacombe Model Village: We travel via Dawlish to Teignmouth, the stunning coastal town, with historic Georgian buildings, sandy beach and Victorian Pier. At Babbacombe Model Village explore 4 acres of award winning gardens showcasing hundreds of uniquely handcrafted model scenes.

Torquay is a stylish resort with a real continental atmosphere. One of the UK’s top holiday destinations since Victorian times, today it is an exciting resort with a wide variety of attractions including a palm-lined promenade, international marina, shops and cafés, and 22 miles of coastline, cliffs, coves and beaches.

Included Excursions

The Sea Train Adventure: Enjoy an all day excursion, we join the steam train from Paignton to Kingswear, then catch the passenger ferry to Dartmouth. Enjoy free time in Dartmouth before enjoining a cruise along the Dart Estuary.

South Devon Railway and Totnes: The South Devon Railway runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart, between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, passing through glorious scenery, rich in wildlife.

Coastal Cruise to Teignmouth: We enjoy a cruise which hugs the coastline to Teignmouth, where you will see Babbacome and Oddicombe beaches, Ansteys Cove, Thatchers Rocks and Hopes Nose. We arrive in Teignmouth at lunchtime, where there is some free time to explore.

Your Hotel

The Babbacombe Hotel enjoys a level position directly on the seafront overlooking the Babbacombe Downs and one minute walk from the cliff railway. All rooms have TV and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a restaurant, sea view lounge and bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Fri 1st - Mon 4th September 2023£399

Single supplement £15

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 5.00pm

Your Hotel

The Langstone Cliff Hotel is situated in 19 acres of wooded grounds overlooking the sea and Exe Estuary.

The hotel has a restaurant, bar, lounge, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis court, snooker room, games room, dance floor and a lift. All rooms have TV and tea/coffee making facilities.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 22nd - Fri 26th May 2023 £649

Single supplement £64

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 4.30pm

Your Hotel

Headland Hotel, Torquay Majestically overlooking Meadfoot Beach and the sea, set on the headland, it was originally built for the Russian Royal Family. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a hydro spa, restaurant, lounge, bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 16th - Fri 20th October 2023 £579

Single supplement Nil

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 4.30pm

Babbacombe Hotel

Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish

Babbacombe Model Village

Kent is renowned for being the Garden of England, rich in culture and historical heritage. We cruise the River Medway and enjoy a train ride. Our resort is Folkestone, with its quaint regenerated streets in its unique Creative Quarter, mile long cliff top promenade and picturesque harbour.

Included Excursions

River Medway Cruise: We drive to Maidstone where we have free time to explore the town. At lunch we board the Kentish Lady for a delightful three hour cruise, through locks and under bridges. Lunch is served on board.

Margate and Mount Ephraim Gardens: We enjoy a morning visit to Margate, a timeless seaside town on the Kent coast. In the afternoon we drive west along the coastline to Mount Ephraim Gardens, a lovely Edwardian garden.

Folkestone and Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway: Enjoy morning free in Folkestone and an afternoon ride on one of the most famous light railways in Britain, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, which runs for 14 miles from Hythe to Dungeness. Sissinghurst Castle Garden: On our return journey we visit Sissinghurst Castle, one of the most famous and delightful gardens in the British Isles.

Included Excursions

Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Houses of Parliament: Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the King and serves both as a home and as an office. Visit the magnificent State Rooms, lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. Enjoy a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster, the Chamber of the House of Lords, the House of Commons and Westminster Hall.

Thames River Cruise and Kew Gardens: We head to Westminster Pier for a delightful 90 minutes sail heading west along the River Thames to Kew Gardens. Then enjoy an afternoon of relaxation at the Royal Botanic Gardens. St Pauls Cathedral and the Tower of London: A fascinating guided tour of historic St. Paul’s Cathedral, standing at the heart of the City of London - and of the British Nation. Created in the 17th Century by Sir Christopher Wren, the Cathedral is a landmark the world over, a place of celebration as well as remembrance. We also discover London’s castle - a secure fortress, royal palace and infamous prison.

London at Leisure: On our homeward journey we spend some free time to explore the capital at leisure, departing at 2pm.

Dates

Mon 11th - Fri 15th September 2023

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 5.00pm

Mon 21st - Fri 25th

Explore some of the best attractions our capital city has to offer on the sizzling summer break!

5 days / 4 nights

Glorious Gardens and Houses of Essex

We explore the glorious gardens and houses of Essex on this tour. Our base is Colchester, Britain’s first city and former capital of Roman Britain.

Included Excursions

Layer Marney Tower and Beth Chatto Gardens: Layer Marney Tower is the tallest Tudor Gatehouse in the UK, 80 feet tall standing on the shores of the River Blackwater. Beth Chatto Gardens begun in 1960 from an overgrown wasteland and is now an informal garden harmonising with the surroundings.

RHS Hyde Hall and Colchester: The RHS Garden at Hyde Hall is a 360-acre estate with a diverse mix of garden styles from traditional to modern. We spend a couple of hours in Colchester, the oldest town in England with the largest Norman Keep ever constructed.

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7 days / 6 nights

Sailing and Steaming in Norfolk and Great Yarmouth

A popular holiday destination, indulge yourself in all that Great Yarmouth has to offer, glorious parks and gardens, showtime extravaganzas, sandy beaches, a town steeped in heritage, lively pier and more.

Included Excursions

Bure Valley Railway, Wroxham and Norfolk Broads Cruise: We experience a nostalgic trip on the heritage Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge railway, from Aylsham to Wroxham. After free time in Wroxham we embark on a memorable cruise along the Norfolk Broads, passing thatched cottages, windmills, ancient churches and reed beds.

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• Half board basis

• Entertainment

• Excursions

• Norfolk Broads Cruise

• Bure Valley Railway, Mid Norfolk Railway, North Norfolk Railway rides

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Green Island Garden and Clacton on Sea: Green Island Garden is superbly designed in a 20-acre site with borders, water gardens, Seaside garden, Japanese garden and extensive woodland gardens. Clacton on Sea is the largest resort on Essex’ Sunshine Coast.

Audley End House and Garden: On our homeward journey we visit Audley End House and Garden, Essex’s hidden treasure house, and explore life above and below stairs at this decadent mansion. Your Hotel

Best Western Marks Tey Hotel, Nr Colchester

Situated close to Colchester, all rooms have TV, telephone, hairdryer and hospitality tray. The hotel has a cocktail bar, lounge and leisure facilities include swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a gym. There is no lift but rooms are on the ground and first floors.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 28th August - Fri 1st September 2023

Tour departs by: 10.00am

Tour returns by: 5.30pm

Sheringham and the North Norfolk Railway: Originally a small north Norfolk fishing village, Sheringham is now a popular seaside town with sandy beach, promenade and a diverse range of shops. The North Norfolk Railway is also known as ‘The Poppy Line’, and we enjoy the spectacular scenic journey from Sheringham to Holt, passing through a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

• Admission to Holkham Hall and Bressingham Steam and Gardens

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Mid Norfolk Railway and Holkham Hall: Sit back and relax on the longest standard narrow guage railway in Norfolk, Holkham Hall stands in a thriving 25000 acre coastal, agricultural estate. It is an elegant 18th century Palladian style mansion house with spectacular Marble Hall, Holkham Stories Experience and 18th century walled garden.

Bressingham Steam and Gardens: Bressingham offers two main attractions, 16 acres of gardens and the steam and diesel train rides. There is also a Dad’s Army Exhibition.

Your Hotel

Palm Court Hotel, Great Yarmouth

This family owned and run hotel stands in a quiet location on Great Yarmouth seafront overlooking the sea. Hotel facilities include restaurant, lounge, two bars, lift and indoor swimming pool. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Sun 4th June- Sat 10th June 2023

Single supplement

Tour departs by: 9.30am

Tour returns by: 4.00pm

Clacton

Holkham Hall

Scarborough and North Yorkshire

Being one of Britain’s first holiday resorts, Scarborough has been welcoming visitors for over 360 years. The Victorians left a town with immense style, with some of the finest parks and gardens in Britain. Its north and south bays are separated by the imposing medieval castle perched on the headland.

Included Excursions

Whitby: We follow the coast road to Whitby, famous fishing port and once home to Captain James Cook. High above the harbour stands Whitby Abbey, inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

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Bridlington and Sewerby Hall and Gardens: Sewerby Hall and Gardens is uniquely situated in a dramatic clifftop position with spectacular views over Bridlington and offers award winning gardens and historic house. Bridlington boasts sandy beach, award winning promenade and historic harbour.

York: We spend a few free hours in the city of York before our homeward journey.

The Peak District was the first of Britain’s 15 National Parks and has stunning landscapes covering 555 square miles. We include two guided walking tours and visit some great attractions.

Included Excursions

Ilam, Dovedale and Shugborough Estate: Our guide meets us at our hotel and we drive to Ilam Hall. Our walk takes us through the pretty village of Ilam, built in an Alpine style, to the southern end of Dovedale. From here we take the short walk up the riverside path through the dale to see and maybe cross the famous Dovedale stepping stones before rejoining the coach. We have a short break in Ashbourne before visiting the stunning Shugborough Estate in the afternoon. Matlock, Buxton and Bakewell: First to Matlock, then the Peak District ‘capital’ of Buxton where there is time to browse and obtain lunch, before we continue to Bakewell, home of the famous ‘tart’.

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• Half board basis

• Use of leisure facilities

• Excursions

• Two gentle guided walks

• Admission to Shugborough Estate, Chatsworth House and Cromford Mills

• Cromford Canal Cruise

• Afternoon Tea at Marsh Farm

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Derwent Valley and Chatsworth House: We travel to Beeley, and begin with a gentle walk through the pretty estate village then take a path over to the Chatsworth Garden Centre, where we will have a mid-morning break. The walk continues along the side of the River Derwent, through Chatsworth Park, with wonderful views across the river to Chatsworth House. We visit Chatsworth House in the afternoon.

Cromford Mills and Cruise with Afternoon Tea: On our return journey we visit Cromford Mill, northern gateway to the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site and birthplace of the modern factory system, and include a cruise on the Cromford Canal. We finally enjoy an afternoon tea at Marsh Farm.

Esplanade Hotel, Scarborough

The Esplanade Hotel overlooks the sweeping sands of Scarborough’s South Bay. The hotel has a restaurant, lounge, bar and a lift. All rooms have TV and

Whitby

Chatsworth House

Kingdom of Northumbria

This stunning corner of England boasts some of the finest scenery, over 100 miles of heritage coast, magnificent gardens and many superb castles and fortifications which are testimony to the regions turbulent past.

Included Excursions

Alnwick Castle and Gardens: To Alnwick Castle, described by the Victorians as ‘Windsor of the North’ and known more recently as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Then the spectacular Alnwick Garden, where you can experience the Grand Cascade with its many weirs and fountains, Ornamental Garden and many ‘secret’ gardens.

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Holy Island and Bamburgh: We drive along the scenic heritage coastline and cross the tidal causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, famous for its religious heritage and 16th century castle. We have time at leisure before visiting Bamburgh Castle. Please note today is subject to tidal conditions.

Cragside House: The estate at Cragside House and Gardens was created by Lord Armstrong, a Victorian inventor and landscape genius. It was the first house in the world to be lit with hydroelectricity and is still full of working ingenious gadgets. It is also home to one of the largest rock gardens in Europe.

Newcastle and Toon Tour: We enjoy a free day to explore the city of Newcastle, and include the ‘Toon Tour’, a scenic drive around the city with commentary on local history and points of interest.

5 days / 4 nights

South Shields

and the Durham Coast

Our base for this delightful summer tour is South Shields, in Tyneside, which is at the gateway of the River Tyne, and home of the late Catherine Cookson.

Included Excursions

South Shields and Durham: Enjoy free time to explore South Shields, home of the late Catherine Cookson. We continue along the coast road past Marsden Bay, Whitburn and Seaburn, before some free time in the ancient city of Durham. Barnard Castle and Bowes Museum: We visit the market town of Barnard Castle, and the Bowes Museum, a spectacular French style chateau with ornate gardens and collections, home to the exquisite Silver Swan.

Price includes

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• Half Board Basis

• Excursions

• Admission to Bowes Museum

• Ride on Tanfield Railway

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Tanfield Railway and Tynemouth: We enjoy a ride on the world’s oldest railway, for a 3 mile journey through the beautiful Causey Valley. We continue out to the coast, to Tynemouth, where the dramatic Priory and Castle dominate the headland.

Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle

The Millennium Copthorne stands in one of the finest locations in Newcastle, on the banks of the River Tyne, just a short stroll from the city centre. Bedrooms are all facing the river, with views across, and have TV and tea/coffee making facilities.

Your Hotel

The Little Haven Hotel, South Shields

The Little Haven Hotel is uniquely situated in South Shields and the gateway of the River Tyne, with extensive views of Little Haven Beach and the busy Tyne. All rooms have TV, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a conservatory style restaurant with superb views over the beach and river, bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 7th - Fri 11th August 2023 £559

Single supplement £80 Tour departs by: 9.30am Tour returns by: 4.00pm

Bernard Castle

Enjoy the signs of spring in Cumbria, with included train rides, Hadrian's Wall and lovely Yorkshire Dales scenery.

Included Excursions Included Excursions

Hadrian’s Wall, Hexham and Tyne Valley Railway: We follow the path of Hadrian’s Wall, and take a break at The Sill, Landscape Discovery Centre, before continuing to Hexham, where the town is dominated by the Abbey, overlooking the Market Square. We have time to explore before we return to Carlisle along the Tyne Valley.

Yorkshire Dales: We travel to Kirkby Lonsdale with time to explore, we then travel past the Ribblehead Viaduct, through charming Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Settle. In the afternoon we take the most spectacular train journey on a main line railway in the whole of England - the famous Settle to Carlisle line. Towering viaducts, bridges, long, deep tunnels, lovingly kept station gardens all help to make this one of the most loved lines in the country.

Holker Hall: On our return journey we travel through the Lake District National Park and visit Holker Hall, with its fine displays of antique furniture and art.

We visit the Yorkshire Dales, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the setting for the ever popular ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ TV series, following in the footsteps of the famous vet James Herriot.

World of James Herriot and Thirsk: At the World of James Herriot see where the world’s most famous vet lived, worked and wrote his incredible successful series of books. Thirsk is a traditional Yorkshire market town with 15th century church and museum.

Guided ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ Tour: Today we have the services of a Blue Badge Guide, for a tour of the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ film locations.

Grassington and Skipton: We spend some time in both Grassington and Skipton on our return journey.

The resort of Lytham St Annes, full of flowers, old world charm and small friendly shops surrounded by gentle rolling countryside and picturesque villages. It has a Victorian heritage and the feel of a gentle bygone age that provides a welcome contrast to the vibrant town of Blackpool.

Included Excursions

Fleetwood and Cleveleys: Fleetwood is a beautiful Victorian seaside resort boasting promenade, harbour, discount shopping village and traditional shops. Cleveleys has a range of shops to browse and an artwork trail along the seafront.

Morecambe and Lancaster: Morecambe enjoys one of the finest views from its promenade of any seaside town in Britain. Lancaster is one of England’s Heritage Cities, with castle and museum to explore. Meander St Georges Quay, along the River Lune, or browse the quirky boutiques and galleries.

Your Hotel

Crown and Mitre Hotel, Carlisle

The Crown and Mitre stands in the centre of Carlisle and offers both Edwardian grandeur and modern elegance. All rooms compromise TV, hairdryer and tea/ coffee tray. The hotel boasts a restaurant, bar, indoor pool, jacuzzi and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 20th - Fri 24th March 2023 £499

Single supplement £52

Tour departs by: 10.00am

Tour returns by: 5.00pm

Your Hotel

Your Hotel

Crown Hotel, Harrogate

The Crown Hotel has a history dating back 300 years and an enviable location just moments from Harrogate’s most popular sites. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a restaurant, lounge, bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 2nd - Thu 5th October 2023£499

Single supplement £79

Tour departs by: 10.00am

Tour returns by: 5.00pm

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 29th May - Fri 2nd June 2023

Mon 4 - Fri 8th September 2023 £539 £549

Single supplement Nil

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 4.30pm

Morecambe

Island of Jersey

Located about 100 miles south of mainland Britain and only 14 miles from the coast of France, when visiting this enchanting island the influences of both countries are obvious, which, combined with the moderate climate, rugged cliffs, clear blue skies and delightful towns provides for an interesting and relaxing break.

Itinerary

Day 1: After a local pick up we travel south to catch the Condor ferry to Jersey. Luggage arrangements are similar to airports with trolleys available for luggage to be checked in.

Days 2-7: At leisure in Jersey. Your local courier will offer you excursions (extra charge).

Day 8: We catch the Condor ferry back to the mainland, where our coach will be waiting to return you to the local area.

Excursions

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We do not include excursions on this tour as our coach cannot go with you, your local courier will offer you a range of trips to some of the Island’s best attractions (extra charge).

Magical Isle of Man

The Isle of Man adopts a wonderfully slow pace of life, enabling the visitor to appreciate its fabulous scenery, enchanting glens, miles of uncrowded beaches, medieval castles, Victorian railways and trams plus many beautiful parks and gardens, not forgetting the fascinating museums and heritage centres.

Included Excursions

Steam Train, Castle Rushen, Peel and House of Manannan: Travel on the longest narrow gauge steam line in the UK, sixteen miles from Douglas to Port Erin and continue to Castletown, to visit Rushen Castle - one of Europe’s most finely preserved medieval castles. Continue in the afternoon along the western shoreline to Peel, and the House of Manannan, named after the island’s mythological sea god.

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• Heysham to Douglas Ferry

• Excursions

• Admission to Rushen Castle, House of Manannan and Cregneash Folk Museum

• Ride on Steam train, Manx electric railway and Snaefell mountain railway

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Manx Electric Railway, Laxey and Snaefell Mountain Railway: Take the electric railway north along the coast to Laxey, home to the world’s largest working waterwheel ‘Isabella’. Then take your seat on the Snaefell Mountain Railway, to the summit of Snaefell, the highest point on the island.

Cregneash and The Sounds Visitor Centre: We visit the National Folk Museum, a living illustration of the Manx farming and crofting community, and the Sounds Visitor Centre, with its spectacular views of the Calf of Man.

Norfolk Hotel, St Helier

A lovely family owned hotel located a few minutes walk from the towns shopping district. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/ coffee making facilities. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, bar, games room and rose garden with koi pond.

St Helier, Jersey

Price includes

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Included Excursions

Aviemore Steam Railway, Spey Valley: Enjoy free time in Aviemore before boarding the steam train for the 45 minute journey through spectacular Speyside mountain scenery. Free time in Grantown on Spey.

Kyle Line and Skye: Board the train in Inverness for ‘One of the most beautiful rail journeys in Europe’ - Michael Palin. In Kyle your coach collects you for the journey to the Isle of Skye, with time for sightseeing.

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Jacobite Steam Train and Wildlife Cruise: Board your train in Fort William for the two hour journey to Mallaig, absorbing beautiful views of lochs, mountains, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Loch Morar and the small isles of Eigg, Muck and Rum. In Mallaig we have a one hour cruise out towards the isles, looking out for whales, dolphins and sea eagles. The coach returns us via Glenfinnan and the Caledonian Canal.

5 days / 4 nights

Scottish ‘All Inclusive’ Snowdrops Experience

The sighting of the snowdrop has long been deemed the last vestige of winter and a mass of the delicate white flowers is a sight to behold. Enjoy a wonderful four night stay, with meals, entertainment and excursions, culmination in a delightful visit to see the snowdrops.

Included Excursions

Trossachs, Loch Katrine, Killin and the Falls of Dochart: We pass through Aberfoyle and head over the spectacular Dukes Pass to Loch Katrine. The drive is often listed as one of the most beautiful in Britain. After Loch Katrine we continue to Killin and the beautiful Falls of Dochart.

Loch Lomond and Inverary: Today we explore the other side of Loch Lomond and take the breath taking route over the ‘Rest and be Thankful’ Pass to Inverary.

Kilbryde Castle Snowdrops, Perthshire: Kilbryde Castle has been home to the Campbell Family 1659. We are met by Sir James and Lady Campbell for a guided tour, with coffee and shortbread served in the drawing room. Then explore the grounds with their glorious snowdrops at leisure.

Price includes

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• Half Board

• Light lunches or packed lunches on 3 days

• Entertainment each evening including weaponry display, full Scottish show and 2 nights live entertainment

• Free Bar between 7.30pm - 10.30pm each evening (selected brands

• Excursions

• Admission to Kilbryde Castle with tour and tea/coffee and shortbread

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Highlander Hotel, Newtonmore

Based in the village of Newtonmore, within the Cairngorms National Park, all rooms have TV, telephone, hairdryer and hospitality tray. The hotel has a restaurant, lounge and a bar. There is no lift but rooms are on the ground or first floor. All rooms have walk in

Your Hotel

The Winnock Hotel, Drymen

Situated on the pretty green in the conservation village of Drymen, all rooms have TV and tea/coffee tray. The hotel boasts a lounge area with open fire, bar and a restaurant. There is no lift but limited ground floor rooms are available.

Wed 8th - Sun 12th February 2023 £399

Tour departs by: 7.30am

Tour returns by: 6.00pm

Jacobite Steam Train, Fort William

Loch Katrine

Ayrshire Coast

from

destination,

views, dramatic coastline, rolling hills and wild cliffs. Based in Troon, situated on the Ayrshire Coast, it is famous for its golf courses and vast marina.

Included Excursions

Isle of Arran and Brodick Castle: We cross to the Isle of Arran, known as ‘Scotland in Miniature’ and visit the Scottish Baronial Brodick Castle and Gardens, packed full of treasures and with impressive gardens overlooking the Firth of Clyde. Enjoy free time in Brodick, the island’s capital before a scenic tour around the island, with its breathtaking coastline.

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We travel through wonderful Highland scenery to reach Scotland’s North coast, beyond which lies the Orkneys, an ancient cluster of islands brimming with history and island scenery. With the services of a local guide, discover ancient civilisations, world famous archaeology and bountiful wildlife from our base in the Island capital, Kirkwall.

Itinerary

Day 1: We travel north to Scotland, and onto our overnight accommodation.

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• 3 nights mainland dinner Bed and Breakfast

• 2 Nights Orkneys Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

• Return ferry to the Orkneys

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Drumlanrig Castle and Robert Burns Museum: We head to Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate where we enjoy a one hour guided tour. There are 40 acres of gardens to explore. We continue to the Robert Burns Centre, a celebration of the enduring legacy of Scotland’s national poet, visit his humble cottage and explore the museum, travel over the Brig O Doon and visit the monument.

Bute and Mount Stuart: We take the ferry to magical Bute, and include a visit to Mount Stuart. In the whole of Britain you are unlikely to come across a stately home as breathtaking and romantic as this.

Day 2: We continue our journey with suitable stops, to the far north of Scotland, and to Thurso to check into our hotel for the evening.

• Full Day Island tour with guide

• Entry to the Castle of Mey, Italian Chapel and Skara Brae

Riverside Lodge Hotel, Irvine

Located on the outskirts of Irvine, all rooms have TV, telephone, hairdryer and beverage making facilities. The hotel has a restaurant, lounge and a bar. There is no lift but rooms are on the ground and first floors.

Day 3: Castle of Mey and the Orkneys - We enjoy morning entry to the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mothers homely castle with beautiful gardens. We board the afternoon ferry with our coach from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope on the Orkneys. The day concludes with a tour along the shoreline of Scapa Flow - famous as the naval refuge during both world wars. We enjoy 2 nights accommodation in the capital Kirkwall, with its magnificent cathedral, at the 3* Kirkwall Hotel, situated on the harbour front.

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Day 4: Guided tour of the Orkneys: A local guide joins us at the hotel for a memorable day out. The tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site includes a scenic circular tour of the island, visiting most of the main sites including the 5000 year old Scara Brae, Churchill Barriers, Ring of Brodgar, Stennes Standing Stones and Italian chapel.

Day 5: We catch the morning ferry back to the mainland, and enjoy a suitable extended break, before continuing to our overnight accommodation.

Day 6: We leave our hotel in Scotland for the journey home to the Midlands.

Your Hotel

The Kirkwall Hotel, Orkney

Located on the harbour front, close to the marina and shopping centre. All rooms have TV and hospitality tray. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and a lift.

Sat 15th - Thu 20th July

Single supplement

Tour departs by: 7.30am

Tour returns by: 6.30pm

Scara Brae

5 days / 4 nights

Rail and Sail

in the Trossachs

5 days / 4 nights

The Bulbfields of Holland

Price includes

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Included Excursions

Loch Katrine Cruise and the Falkirk Wheel: A full day exploring the Trossachs, with a cruise along Loch Katrine. We continue to Falkirk, to enjoy a trip on the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway with Afternoon Tea and

The Kelpies: Visit the world famous Kelpies, the largest equine sculpture in the world, at 30m they are a monument to Scotland’s horse-powered industrial heritage. We make our way to Bo’ness for our steam railway journey along the shores of the Forth Estuary, whist enjoying afternoon tea.

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Glasgow to Oban on the West Highland Line: We head for Glasgow for our train journey along the world famous West Highland Line to Oban. A side of Scotland you can only see from the train - a Great Scenic Rail Journey that carries you along the West Coast, through the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, to Oban, where there is free time. The coach will be waiting to return you to the hotel.

A truly wonderful holiday, based in Aberfoyle, a charming village on the banks of the River Forth in the magnificent Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Your

Rob Roy Hotel, Aberfoyle

The Rob Roy hotel is wonderfully situated in idyllic countryside. All rooms have TV, tea/coffee making facilities and free Wifi. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, ballroom and a lift.

Tour departs by: 7.30am

Tour returns by: 6.30pm

A riot of colour, no experience can match this spectacle and unforgettable display at Keukenhof, with some six million tulips, narcissi, daffodils, hyacinths, shrubs, ponds and fountains.

Itinerary

Sunday: We depart local area and make our way to Dover, for our ferry crossing to France and on through to out hotel in the Netherlands.

Monday: Today we travel to the award winning Keukenhof Gardens, showpiece of the Dutch bulb industry, with some 80 acres of colourful floral displays.

Tuesday: In the Historic Triangle between the ancient ‘Zuiderzee’ towns of Hoorn and Medemblick, steam trams meander from village to village passing windmills and rich farmhouses. A connecting historic steamer sails along the coast of Lake Ijsselmeer to the old town of Enkhuizen and its famous open air museum.

• Return coach travel

• Door to door service

• Half board basis

• Use of leisure facilities

• Return ferry from Dover to Calais

• Excursions

• Admission to Keukenhof Gardens

• Historic Ship Cruise and Steam Train ride

• Amsterdam Canal Cruise

• Afternoon tea box on outward journey

Wednesday: A full day to explore the city of Amsterdam, with its tree lined canals and preserved 17th century gabled houses. We include a one hour canal cruise. Thursday: We depart after breakfast for our homeward journey.

Van der Valk Hotel, Volendam

Located in the Waterland region, only 15 minutes from Amsterdam, all rooms have TV and hospitality tray. The hotel boasts a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool and a lift.

West Highland Line

Amsterdam

A nice festive break, embracing the Mardi Gras of the South West! The hotel offers plenty of festive entertainment and includes an additional lunch. We include an excursion to the city of Bath, and the coach will be available for you to sit in to watch the carnival.

Itinerary

Day 1: We travel to Weston, arriving early afternoon. In the evening the coach will transfer you to watch the carnival as our permit allows us to park on the parade route.

Day 2-3: At leisure with an included excursion to Bath.

Day 4: We depart after breakfast and enjoy a few hours at the historic Gloucester Quays, with its outlet shopping and Waterways Museum, before heading home.

We travel to the English Riviera in Devon, to enjoy this festive weekend break in Torquay, at one of our popular hotels, with entertainment, leisure facilities and excursions.

Included Excursions

Brixham and Trago Mills

Newton Abbot: Life is centred around the harbour in Brixham, where you can wander around the gift shops. Trago Mills has over 80,000 products over 38 departments to explore.

Gloucester Quays: On our return journey we enjoy a visit to Gloucester Quays, with its outlet shopping and Waterways Museum.

The ultimate Christmas musical experience is simply one of the most exciting Christmas spectacular shows ever. It is the most popular Christmas show of all time in England and is a blend of exciting Christmas entertainment, with Christmas songs, carols, dazzling dancers, beautiful costumes, outstanding music and singing from the cast of over 100.

Included Excursions

Thursford Christmas Spectacular: After enjoying an early meal at our hotel, we travel to Thursford, where each show is a pageant of spectacle and colour, a show which would not be out of place in any of London’s West End theatres.

Norwich: We spend a couple of hours in festive Norwich before we begin our journey home.

Your Hotel

Splendidly situated on Anchor Head overlooking the bay between Weston’s two piers and close to the boating slipway with a small beach and promenade walk directly in front of the hotel. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a restaurant, bar, lounge and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Fri 10th - Mon 13th November 2023£329

Single supplement £27

Tour departs by: 11.00am

Tour returns by: 3.00pm

Your Hotel

Majestically overlooking Meadfoot Beach and the sea, set on the headland, it was originally built for the Russian Royal Family. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a hydro spa, restaurant, lounge, bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Fri 3rd - Mon 6th November 2023£399

Single supplement Nil

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 4.30pm

Your Hotel

Dunston Hall is an Elizabethan mansion situated in 150 acres of wooded parkland, just a ten minute drive from the centre of Norwich. All rooms have TV, telephone and hospitality tray. The hotel has a golf course, indoor swimming pool and spa, two restaurants, bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Sun 12th - Mon 13th November 2023£269

Single supplement £27

Tour departs by: 9.00am

Tour returns by: 6.30pm

Anchor Head Hotel, Weston

Headland Hotel, Torquay

Dunston Hall

Gloucester Quays

Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier

Norwich at Christmas

Enjoy a short break to two of the best Christmas shopping destinations in the UK, Liverpool and Chester.

Itinerary

Sunday: We depart local area and enjoy a stop at Trentham Shopping Village before arriving in Liverpool mid-afternoon. The rest of the day and evening is free to explore.

Monday: Full day at leisure in Liverpool to browse the Christmas market, visit some of the attractions or shop in the city centre and Liverpool One.

Tuesday: We depart Liverpool after breakfast and make our way to Chester, where over 70 wooden chalets surround the sparkling Christmas tree in the heart of the city centre. The unique, medieval two tiered black and white shopping galleries are an interesting place to shop.

Visit the historic City of Durham and enjoy the Christmas Festival, with lots of seasonal entertainment and no less than 4 Christmas markets. We also experience Christmas of days gone by at Beamish, Living Museum of the North.

Itinerary

Day 1: We depart the local area and head north, arriving at our hotel, the Redworth Hall Hotel, mid-afternoon, our base for the next 3 nights. Day 2: We travel to Durham for the Christmas Festival. The great loop of the River Wear’s wooded gorge provides a natural backdrop to its massive cathedral and castle. The traditional Victorian market will be augmented by traditional stalls, street theatre, jugglers and Victorian clad peddlers selling their wares.

Day 3: We visit the winter wonderland at Beamish, Living Museum of the North, where you can stroll around Town street, Pit Village, Home Farm and Old Hall.

Day 4: We depart after breakfast and enjoy a visit to Castle Howard before completing our homeward journey.

Christmas Getaways

Your Hotel

Mercure Atlantic Tower Hotel, Liverpool

Overlooking the dock front, with views of the River Mersey, just 10 minutes walk from Albert

Dock and Liverpool One shopping centre. All rooms have TV and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Sun 26th - Tue 28th November 2023 £279

Single supplement £40

Tour departs by: 8.30am

Tour returns by: 6.00pm

Your Hotel

Redworth Hall Hotel, Durham

Surrounded by landscaped gardens and woodland, this hotel boasts restaurant, lounge, bar, indoor swimming pool, spa pool, steam room and a lift. All rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Fri 1st - Mon 4th December 2023 £449

Single supplement £90

Tour departs by: 10.00am

Tour returns by: 6.00pm

Bournemouth comes alive in the festive season, with Alpine Christmas markets, Alpine Bar and Christmas Tree Wonderland. The hotel provides nightly festive entertainment so a great pre Christmas break to enjoy.

Itinerary

Day 1: We depart local area and head south, to the Durley Dean Hotel in Bournemouth which is our base for the next 4 nights. Enjoy tea/coffee and biscuits on arrival. Entertainment is provided each evening.

Day 2: At leisure in Bournemouth to explore the Christmas market and Christmas Tree Wonderland, with over 100 glittering trees and illuminations. Back at the hotel enjoy tea/coffee and Christmas cake. Tonight traditional Christmas dinner is served.

Day 3: Today we visit Dorchester and Weymouth. Back at the hotel enjoy a Dorset cream tea, and following dinner enjoy music and dancing to ‘see in the New Year’.

Day 4: We enjoy an excursion to the New Forest before enjoying tea/coffee and biscuits back at the hotel. This evening we have Chef’s special dinner and the evening ends with Grand End of Year Quiz.

Day 5: We depart the hotel after breakfast for our homeward journey, with an extended break to visit Winchester Christmas market.

Your Hotel

Durley Dean Hotel, Bournemouth

This hotel stands on the West Cliff, just a short walk from the cliff top and town centre. All rooms have TV and tea/coffee making facilities and the hotel boasts restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool, sauna and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Mon 27th Nov - Fri 1st Dec 2023 £449

Single supplement Nil

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 6.30pm

Beamish Winter Wonderland

Trentham Shopping Village

Join us for this new Christmas tour, with festive entertainment and included excursions.

Itinerary

Day 1: We depart local area and head to Chineham, Basingstoke, and to the Hampshire Court Hotel, our base for the next four nights.

Tea/coffee and mince pies will be served on arrival.

Day 2: We head to Winchester, with its delightful festive atmosphere, where we can pick up some last minute Christmas shopping. The Cathedral is one of England’s oldest cathedrals and truly embodies the spirit of Christmas.

Day 3: Merry Christmas! Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and spend the morning relaxing before enjoying a traditional Christmas luncheon. In the afternoon watch the King’s speech with tea/coffee and Christmas cake. Tonight is a leisurely festive buffet.

Day 4: We take the drive to Royal Windsor, home to Windsor Castle. Enjoy a walk along the river or do some boxing day retail therapy.

Day 5: After breakfast we begin our homeward journey.

Your Hotel

The Hampshire Court Hotel

Based on the outskirts of Basingstoke, all rooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Sat 23rd - Weds 27th December 2023£669

Single supplement £120

Tour departs by: 10.30am

Tour returns by: 2.30pm

Christmas Getaways

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Join us for three nights of festive fun, music and dancing as we feature the best tribute acts from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The first night will be a tribute to the king himself, Elvis, with a Beatles tribute on the last night. On the big night itself, ‘New Years Eve’, we will pay tribute to the 70’s with Starlight Disco.

Itinerary

Day 1: We depart local area and head north, the Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, our base for the next 3 nights. Tonight’s entertainment will be an Elvis tribute act.

Day 2: New Years Eve - We enjoy an excursion to Leeds and the Royal Armouries Museum before returning to the hotel for an evening of 70’s themed entertainment with Starlight Disco.

Day 3: New Years Day - Enjoy a leisurely day before the evening entertainment, a Beatles tribute act.

Day 4: We depart after breakfast for our homeward journey.

Enjoy a traditional English Christmas at our popular hotel in the Lake District. We stay on full board basis and include plenty of festive entertainment.

Itinerary

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Day 1: We head north and check into the hotel before enjoying a Sherry Reception and entertainment in the Victorian Ballroom.

Day 2: Christmas Eve - A full breakfast is followed by fun and games in the lounge. A two course lunch will be served and we will have a couple of hours in Kendal for some last minute shopping. Enjoy dinner before an evening of entertainment.

Day 3: Christmas Day - With no let up to the Christmas Day festivities, enjoy hot punch and a visit by Father Christmas with presents. Dine on the traditional Christmas lunch followed by tea and Christmas cake. A buffet dinner will be served early evening after which you can dance the night away with an evening of entertainment.

Day 4: Boxing Day - Relax with a free morning. Head to the Jacobean Bar after lunch for some light entertainment. Delight in an evening candlelit dinner followed by an evening of entertainment in the ballroom.

Day 5: Depart after breakfast for the homeward journey.

Your Hotel

Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford

The Cedar Court Hotel is an excellent base close to Bradford and Leeds. All rooms have TV and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, gym and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Sat 30th Dec 2023 - Tue 2nd Jan 2024£479

Single supplement £60

Tour departs by: 10.30am Tour returns by: 2.30pm

Your Hotel

Cumbria Grand Hotel, Grange over Sands Set in private gardens, overlooking Morecambe Bay, all rooms have TV, telephone and hospitality tray. Facilities include putting green, lounge, restaurant and a lift.

Dates and Prices (Half Board)

Sat 23rd - Wed 27th December 2023£629

Single supplement £64

Tour departs by: 10.00am

Tour returns by: 3.00pm

Royal Armouries Museum

Kendal

Windsor Castle at Christmas

Financial Security

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 EU rights applying to packages; Johnsons Coach Travel will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the package as a whole.

Additionally, as required by law, Whittle Coach and Bus Limited 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. Whittle Coach and Bus Limited are members of the Bonded Coach Holiday Group of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK Ltd. 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 the clients’ monies are protected by a Bond which may be called upon in the unlikely event of the members Insolvency. Clients are recommended to inspect the current membership certificate at our registered office or alternatively go to www.bch-uk.org or telephone 0207 240 3131 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 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contents

OUR TRADING CHARTER WITH YOU

Whittle Coach and Bus Limited

Foley Business Park, Stourport Road Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 7QL

1 FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Your contract is with Whittle Coach and Bus Limited. When you book a holiday with us, which doesn’t include a flight, the money you pay us for the booking will be protected by the Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH), 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. 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. Whittle Coach and Bus Limited 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.

2 BOOKING AND PAYMENT

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 Payments:

£65 per person for all coach holidays in Britain and Europe. Cheques should be made payable to: Whittle Coach and Bus Limited. In some instances your accommodation and tour providers require a higher deposit than that stated above. In these instances we reserve the right to charge a higher deposit.

Your balance is due 8 weeks before departure date for all British and European coach holidays. 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 may 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.

3 BROCHURE ACCURACY

Although Whittle Coach and Bus Limited 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

Whittle Coach and Bus Limited 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 the cost of 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 10% 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 14 days of the date of the surcharge invoice. The currency exchange rate used in the holiday costings are based on rates as at 15th October 2018.

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. This must be accompanied by a payment of £20 to cover our administrative costs, plus costs we incur in making the amendment. Alterations may not be able to be made within 6 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

CAN YOU CHANGE THE PRICE OF MY PACKAGE AFTER YOU HAVE ISSUED THE BOOKING CONFIRMATION?

On all coach holidays, we operate a ‘No Surcharge Guarantee’. The price of your coach holiday is fully guaranteed and will not be subject to any surcharges

7 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 £20 plus reasonable costs to make the transfer. You will remain responsible for ensuring payment. This is in addition to (and does not affect) the separate responsibility of the transferee to us.

8 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 non-refundable, these products will be charged to you at the full retail rate. If this applies, the non-refundable items will be deducted from your holiday costs and the following scale of charges (See Point 9) will be applied to the remainder:

9 SCALE OF CANCELLATION CHARGES

Period before departure within which written cancellation of package price is received

COACH HOLIDAYS

Amount of cancellation Charge as a % of total package cost

More than 42 days Deposit only

28 - 42 days 30% or deposit, if greater

14 - 27 days 45%

7 - 13 days 60%

1 - 6 days 100%

Departure day or later including voluntary termination during the package. Total package cost

You may cancel your holiday without paying any termination fee before the start of the holiday in the event of special circumstances, for instance if there are serious security problems at the destination which are likely to affect the package.

10 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. 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. (See Point 11)

11 ALTERATIONS TO YOUR HOLIDAY BY US

Period before departure in which significant change is notified to you or your agent

Amount per person

More than 42 days Nil

29 - 42 days £10

15 - 28 days £15

8 - 14 days £20

0 - 7 days £25

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.fco.gov.uk/travel 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)

12 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 action 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 al 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 £5000 per party).

13 IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT

If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform 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 01562 820002 (Open in Office Hours). If you remain dissatisfied please follow this up within 14 days of your return home by writing to the Office Manager at Whittle Coach and Bus Limited, 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 your complaint not be resolved and you wish to pursue the complaint further the Bonded Coach Holiday Group have an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme and full details are available from BCH/CPT. Please contact them at, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, Fifth Floor South, Chancery House, 53-64 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1QS.

14 OUR COACHES-SEATING ARRANGEMENTS

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 given a choice of seats that are available at that time. 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.

If you feel that you require two seats, then these must be purchased in advance at the time of booking. If you fail to do this and it transpires that the seat allocated 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.

15 HOTELS & 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.

Single Room Occupancy: Single occupancy of rooms when available may be subject to a supplementary charge and this will be shown on the brochure page. Also these charges may vary once we have exceeded the available rooms within our initial allocation from the hotel. Any applicable supplementary charges will be advised to you at the time of booking by a member of our Reservations Team.

Entertainment: Some of our hotels arrange additional entertainment. Where this is part of the package details are given on the respective brochure page. Where it is not specified it may still be available but is at the discretion of the hotel and is not guaranteed. It may be withdrawn if there is a lack of demand or for operational reasons.

16 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.

SMOKING is not 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.

17 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 the period required for the country or countries you are visiting. If you do not hold a full British Passport or you have any doubts about your status as a resident British subject, you must check with the Embassy 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.direct.gov.uk)”

You are responsible for ensuring you are at the correct departure point, at the correct time and with the correct documents. Whittle Coach and Bus Limited 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.

18 SPECIAL REQUESTS

All special needs and requests, if agreed, should be conveyed at the time of booking 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, you or your booking agent should contact our Reservations Team. 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.

19 GROUND OR LOW FLOOR ROOMS

You should also tell us about any other requests, for example, low floor rooms, particular rooms or locations. We will pass your request to the relevant supplier but this does not necessarily mean that your request will be fulfilled. If a request can be fulfilled you may incur an extra charge payable either to us or direct to the hotel. Please note that requests cannot be guaranteed unless we confirm on your booking confirmation that this is a guaranteed requirement.

20 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.

Whilst we will make every reasonable adjustment to do so, if we are unable to accommodate the needs of a passenger or believe that the medical condition or disability of a passenger is likely to adversely affect other passengers, we reserve the right to decline the booking. We also reserve the right to cancel any holiday and impose cancellation charges if we are not fully advised of any relevant disability or medical condition at the time the booking is made and subsequently decide that we are unable to accommodate this passenger. This applies whether we advise that we are unable to accommodate a passenger either before departure or during the holiday and if this occurs during the holiday then we will seek the additional costs of returning the passenger home.

We want you to enjoy your package and will try to help you select an appropriate trip. If you need advice or further information either you or your booking agent should contact 01562 820002.

21 MOBILITY SCOOTER POLICY

Please note that we can accept one ‘compact’ electric mobility scooter per holiday. Our definition of ‘compact’ is that the scooter is class 1 specification; i.e. it must be designed to be dismantled, so that it can be loaded into the boot of a car. The actual maximum sizes of class 1 mobility scooters are:

Length - 1200mm Width - 700mm max Maximum Weight - 60Kgs (We cannot accept class 2 scooters as these are too large and heavy to lift). Furthermore would all users of scooters and wheelchairs kindly note that you must be able to negotiate the five steps to board the coach, in order to manage and enjoy our holidays.

22 PASSENGER BEHAVIOUR

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. If you are refused boarding on the outward ourney we will regard it as a cancellation by you and we will apply cancellation charges. If the refusal is 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 save for exceptional circumstances.

23 LUGGAGE

Please restrict your luggage to one medium sized suitcase (a medium sized suitcase is approximately 36” x 18” x 10”) per person, weighing no more than 44lbs (20Kgs). A small holdall can also be taken on board the coach. We cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to luggage unless it is established that it is caused by our negligence. On holidays which include overnight stops, you may take a small overnight bag with you. Please do not leave items of value in your main suitcase which is left on the coach. Should loss or damage occur you may be able to claim through your holiday travel insurance.

25 DATA PROTECTION ACT

We retain your full contact details and other information in

26 PUBLICATION DATE & DETAILS

Our

Whittles offer a fantastic range of around 200 excursions throughout the whole year. We offer 9 local boarding points and FREE secure parking at our depot on Foley Business Park in Kidderminster.

Our popular Express Excursions offer a choice of around 80 departures throughout the year. With just one speedy boarding point at our premises in Kidderminster, with FREE secure parking!

"Just a note to say how we both enjoyed our holiday last week. The hotel, food and train journeys were all excellent. A big thank you to Pete our driver for looking after us so well, he went out of his way to make sure we all had a good time, he really is a credit to Whittles. We shall certainly travel with you again!"

Romantic Highland Journeys

"As a first timer I thought everything was first class. Food was excellent and Ben was a safe driver and friendly with all of us. Thanks to you all."

Whitby Weekend

"Dean the driver was very pleasant and courteous and made you feel good. We enjoyed the excursions and the tea box was a lovely touch."

Llandudno and Snowdonia

"This was my first solo coach holiday. I had a lovely time and met some really lovely people. Thank you for a lovely time."

Kingdom of Northumbria

"The quality of a coach holiday depends particularly on the driver and Paul was excellent, helpful and approachable - his attitude could not of been better!

liked

hotel, beautiful location, good food and service."

"Can’t think of anything you could have done better. The whole tour was so memorable."

Easter Highland Journeys