Northumbria's Most Splendid Castles, Churches & Homes

Check in to the Lumley Castle Hotel, Chester-le-Street in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.

Today we head to Ushaw College, founded over 200 years ago to educate students for the Catholic priesthood. The vast estate contains buildings designed by Augustus Pugin and his followers and boasts significant examples of Victorian Gothic architecture. We discover some of the main buildings and chapel during our guided tour, followed by refreshments.

Our next stop is Brancepeth Castle, once the stronghold of the Neville family in medieval times. The current castle is a combination of the Neville’s medieval towers and the grand country house created for the wealthy Russell family in the Regency period. The castle is once again a private home and we enjoy a guided tour with the current owner to find out more, followed by tea and cake in the castle gate house. We then make a short visit to St Brandon’s Church, with its 900 years of history, opposite the castle in Brancepeth village.

We make our way to Raby Castle, where our guided tour begins at the castle entrance. King Cnut owned the estate in the early 11^th century but it was the Nevilles, one of the major powers in the North, who built the 14^th-century castle we see today. The exterior of medieval towers, turrets and embattled walls contrasts with the lavish interiors which span medieval, Regency and Victorian periods and provide a magnificent backdrop for the stunning art collection.

Next, we travel to Rokeby Park for another fascinating guided tour. Completed in 1735 by its owner, Sir Thomas Robinson, this architectural treasure represents the heyday of the Palladian-style country house. A unique collection of 18^th-century needlework pictures by Anne Morritt are on display here as well as a very rare surviving print room.

After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker.

This morning we visit Carlisle Castle, a historic fortress with a rich and turbulent history spanning over 900 years. Originally built during the reign of William II, the castle has played a pivotal role in numerous historical events, including the Wars of the Roses and the Jacobite Risings. We can explore the castle's impressive keep, the medieval rooms and the dungeons where prisoners were once held. The castle also houses a museum with fascinating exhibits on its history and the lives of the soldiers stationed there. Afterwards, we enjoy lunch and a guided tour at Carlisle Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic structure with stunning stained glass windows and a richly decorated interior. The cathedral, founded in 1122, is one of the smallest in England, yet it boasts an impressive array of medieval art and architecture.

For our last visit we head to Hexham Abbey, one of the earliest seats of Christianity in the country. The intricate building has stood proudly during tumultuous periods and historic turmoil, from Viking marauders destroying part of Hexham Monastery to Scottish raiders setting fire to the priory. In 2014, the abbey regained ownership of its former monastic buildings and restoration was completed, reuniting the buildings of the religious site for the first time since the Reformation. We learn more on our captivating tour.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.