2027 Gems Of The North East

Itinerary

Highlights

• Hotel for 4 nights in central Newcastle with breakfast
• Porterage
• First and last nights with dinner
• Tour the Dramatic Northumberland National Park 
• Visit & entry to Birds of Prey Centre with flying display
• Tea & scone at 'Tea on the Train'
• Visit & entry to Beamish - The Living Museum of the North 
• Full day at leisure in Newcastle (may & July only)
• 4-hour Guide Tour of Vera's crime scenes (September only)

Your Itinerary

Day 1 -  After joining your holiday coach, head norths with suitable stops for lunch and refreshments expect to arrive at the 4* Maldron Hotel in central Newcastle late afternoon for 4 nights. Arrival night and last night include breakfast & dinner. Second and third nights are breakfast only to give you the opportunity to sample the local cuisine from this central hotel.

Days 2 - 4 At leisure in Newcastle with two or three included excursions

Newcastle upon Tyne is a vibrant, culture-rich city known for its stunning Victorian architecture, friendly locals and iconic bridges. Highlights include the medieval Newcastle Castle, the scenic Quayside, and taking in the panoramic views at St James' Park. Perhaps take a stroll along the river to see the famous tilting Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the Tyne Bridge. Maybe visit Grainger Market and Grey Street, with its impressive neoclassical architecture making it one of the most beautiful streets in the UK.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
Beamish Museum (All tours)
Touch, taste, hear, see and smell history on an unforgettable journey into the past at England's largest open-air museum.  Set in 300 acres of beautiful Durham countryside, Beamish - The Living Museum of the North brings 200 years of English history to life. Hop on a tram and make your way around the vast museum: visit the 1900s town and watch traditional sweets being made in the sweet shop, then visit the dentist (if you dare!). Try a tasty treat from the Edwardian Bakery or a pint at the Sun Inn Pub, then step even further back in time to the 1800s and take a steam train ride through the Georgian landscape on replica locomotives (timetable varies). Immerse yourself in the 1900s at the Pit Village by going down a real mine and enjoying a traditional fish and chips at Davy's Fried Fish Shop. Staff are dressed in period costume, which makes the experience truly authentic.

Northumberland National Park & 'Tea on the Train' (All tours)
Head into the dramatic Northumberland National Park, enjoy the stunning scenery as you cross the moors heading to Kielder Water. Kielder is home to England’s largest forest and the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe. Continue to the Kielder Water Birds of Prey Centre (entry included) based at Leaplish Waterside Park, where the centre cares for a whole host of birds including owls, falcons and vultures as well as fallow deer and wallabies. The Centre contains one of the largest collections of Birds Of Prey in the North of England and a flying display is included with your entry.

This afternoon pop down the road to Bellingham to 'Tea on the Train', for a well-deserved cuppa with a freshly backed scone on the Bellingham Belle. The static Mark 3 HST railway carriage which used to run on the East Midlands mainline routes, makes for a very different kind of cafe. Just next door is the Bellingham Heritage Centre which gives an insight into the fascinating history of this special part of Northumberland (donations welcome)

Guided 'Vera' Tour (September only) 
Ann Cleeves' brilliant and no-nonsense DCI Vera Stanhope (Actress Brenda Blethyn) in her trademark mac and rain hat has attracted a following of fans all over the world in ITV's best-loved detective drama. Now fans will have the chance to follow in her footsteps on this four hour guided Vera tour by coach. The award winning crime drama is both set in and filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and throughout Northumberland. The Vera tour focuses on visiting some of the most memorable crime scenes and regular haunts of Vera. Free time in Newcastle afterwards

Day 5 - After breakfast, return homewards, arriving back at your local joining points early to mid-evening.

Accommodation

Maldron Hotel, Newcastle

Situated in Newcastle City Centre, the smart, modern 4* Maldron Hotel features free WiFi and a private court yard.

Situated in a prime central location with all of the beautiful city's attractions right on the doorstep, the Maldron Hotel has a restaurant and a bar.

Guestrooms feature a desk, flat-screen TV, tea/coffee making facilities, an en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries and some rooms feature city views. 

Directly opposite the hotel is Intu Eldon Square and The Gate leisure complex is close by. 

Lift to all floors