The beautiful city of Durham, with its Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site, is the jewel in the crown of an extraordinary county. We also explore the colourful and dramatic landscape of Durham’s Heritage Coast with its beaches, rugged cliffs and imposing headlands.
Day 1 SUNDAY We drive north, pausing for a suitable stop for lunch en-route, arriving at our hotel near Sedgefield for our five-night stay.
Day 2 MONDAY Our first visit today is Mount Grace Priory House & Gardens – an Arts and Crafts mansion, nestled among woodland, beautiful gardens and the remains of the best-preserved Carthusian priory in England. Discover its secrets on our guided tour this morning. We continue for some time at leisure in the historic market town of Richmond, situated in the heart of North Yorkshire on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales before visiting Richmond Castle, one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain.
Day 3 TUESDAY Our day begins with a visit to Ushaw Historic House – Here you can lose yourself in the lovely grounds and marvel at the centuries of art, history and heritage. Explore woodland trails and rolling fields, where you will discover eclectic artworks and majestic carved creatures. (Our visit includes light refreshments). We continue to the Durham Heritage Coast, pausing at Noses Point – once home to one of the biggest coal mines in Europe, where the beach was buried under 2 ½ million tonnes of colliery waste each year. The beach has now been cleaned and is a spectacular haven for wildflowers and wildlife. Next, we visit the lively harbour town of Seaham, situated on Durham’s Heritage Coast. Here we can admire the dramatic cliff-top views, seek out one of England’s oldest churches or simply relax for lunch by the bustling Harbour Marina. In the afternoon we drive to Souter Lighthouse, before returning to our hotel in time for dinner.
Day 4 WEDNESDAY Today we visit Durham with free time to explore this medieval city’s cobbled streets, packed with history, culture and stunning architecture, including the magnificent castle and cathedral.
Day 5 THURSDAY After breakfast, we visit nearby Hartlepool's Historic Quay - home to Europe's oldest floating warship, HMS Trincomalee. Time to explore this superb visitor attraction which offers the sights, smells and sounds of the naval yesteryear.
Day 6 FRIDAY After breakfast we commence our homeward journey. With refreshment stops en-route, we reach our home area in the early evening.
Hardwick Hall is a four-star, award-winning hotel in County Durham and Teesside. Surrounded by the stunning Hardwick Country Park, the hotel is steeped in charm and character providing the perfect setting for a luxurious breakaway. 50 luxury bedrooms with exceptional standards of comfort, quirkyclever decor and first-class traditional service. All rooms include large baths, walk-in showers, luxury furnishings, king size beds, TV, telephone, Wi-Fi, hairdryer and tea/coffee tray. Some ground floor rooms are available and the hotel has a lift.
