Sunday
Arrival
Check in to the Derwent Manor Boutique Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.
Monday
Ushaw College, Brancepeth Castle & St Brandon’s Church
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 on 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. After our afternoon tea here we make a short visit to St Brandon’s Church opposite the castle in Brancepeth village.
Tuesday
Raby Castle & Rokeby Park
We make our way to Raby Castle, where our private guided tour begins at the castle entrance. King Cnut owned the estate in the early 11th century but it was the Nevilles, one of the major powers in the North, who built the 14th-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 18th-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.
Wednesday
Naworth Castle & Hexham Abbey
This morning we visit Naworth Castle, the ancestral home of the Howard family. We enjoy an exclusive private guided tour by the current owner, Philip Howard, followed by lunch in the castle’s striking Great Hall, which is no longer open to the general public. A border stronghold dating back to 1335, the castle was remodelled in the 16th and 17th centuries. Almost destroyed by a devastating fire in 1844, restoration began in 1850 but the interiors were the work of the 9th Earl of Carlisle who counted many of the eminent Pre Raphaelites, including William Morris, among his friends.
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.
Thursday
Departure
After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.
Please note: the itinerary order is subject to change and guided tours are subject to availability.