After a very successful WOTY to North Wales last year, our 2020 Weekend of the Year will be to beautiful Northumberland. We’ll leave on Thursday 28th May, and return on Sunday 31st May.
With grateful assistance from Greg and Deb Harm, our R3 colleagues in the North East, we have a list of fantastic driving roads and some spectacular scenery to experience. Our itinerary will include the following:
Thursday - travel via M1/M6 beyond Kendal, before we head north-east for a special 35-mile drive across the fells from Brough to Consett and then on to our hotels (see below). You may of course choose to travel your own shorter independent route.
Friday - today we’ll experience the best driving roads in the area, much of it with little traffic, in a circuit of around 125 miles. We’ll spend most of our time in the hills, heath and forest of the Northumberland National Park, taking in Kielder Forest and Kielder Water, including crossing into Scotland and back again.
Saturday - the Northumberland Coast is famous for its castles of Tynemouth, Warkworth, Alnwick and Bamburgh, and of course Holy (Lindisfarne) Island. Today we’ll drive a coastal route with castle visits and stop-offs, perhaps for fish and chips and a walk on the beach.
Sunday - if we’re still up for more, we can drive a 40-mile stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, and get closer to the history by walking some, and visiting the popular Roman Army Museum, before heading off home. Some however might just want to set straight off home - it’s your choice.
None of these activities are compulsory of course - if you wish to drive to Alnwick and spend all day exploring the castle and gardens, just do it. Or you might just want a relaxing day off!
Hotels: And what about relaxing? - Well, there’s so much interest in this trip that we may not fit into a single hotel together. You therefore have a choice of 2 recommended hotels, one a little more expensive but with pool and spa facilities.
A number of rooms have been reserved - see hotel, room type and price on the attached link, and after reading the remainder of this post, make your choice on a first come, first served basis. You will not need to contact the hotel.
Battlesteads Hotel (www.battlesteads.com) in the picturesque village of Wark is a Pub, Hotel and Restaurant, with ample parking, offering beautifully appointed accommodation in individually styled rooms. Prices range from £105 - £175 per room per night, including breakfast. Certain rooms are ground floor, disabled friendly.
Just 24 minutes away is Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa (www.matfenhall.com), a stately home, with plenty of parking, and a more expensive option at £188 - £223 per room per night, including breakfast. Facilities include heated swimming pool, spa areas and fitness suite.
Or you may wish to identify and book your own accommodation, hopefully in the Wark/Matfen area.
What’s next ?
1. Please confirm your attendance with a reply to this forum post, even if you have already verbally stated you would like to join the event.
2. Please reconfirm by email to mark.grimwood1@btinternet.com so that I have your email address and please add your phone number.
3. In your email, indicate your choice of hotel and your selected room type/ price (see linked document). I will advise if your selection has already been taken.
[attachment=PCGB R10 UK WOTY H.. rooms May 2020.pdf]
4. On receipt of my confirmation of your selection, please send a non-refundable £50 deposit per room.
5. After that, I will confirm room occupants with the hotels, for you to pay your dues (net of deposit) when you are there.
Dining options will be considered in due course once final numbers are in, and arrangements will be advised to all those joining the event.
I can feel already that we’re in for a cracking WOTY!
Cheers.
Mark
With grateful assistance from Greg and Deb Harm, our R3 colleagues in the North East, we have a list of fantastic driving roads and some spectacular scenery to experience. Our itinerary will include the following:
Thursday - travel via M1/M6 beyond Kendal, before we head north-east for a special 35-mile drive across the fells from Brough to Consett and then on to our hotels (see below). You may of course choose to travel your own shorter independent route.
Friday - today we’ll experience the best driving roads in the area, much of it with little traffic, in a circuit of around 125 miles. We’ll spend most of our time in the hills, heath and forest of the Northumberland National Park, taking in Kielder Forest and Kielder Water, including crossing into Scotland and back again.
Saturday - the Northumberland Coast is famous for its castles of Tynemouth, Warkworth, Alnwick and Bamburgh, and of course Holy (Lindisfarne) Island. Today we’ll drive a coastal route with castle visits and stop-offs, perhaps for fish and chips and a walk on the beach.
Sunday - if we’re still up for more, we can drive a 40-mile stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, and get closer to the history by walking some, and visiting the popular Roman Army Museum, before heading off home. Some however might just want to set straight off home - it’s your choice.
None of these activities are compulsory of course - if you wish to drive to Alnwick and spend all day exploring the castle and gardens, just do it. Or you might just want a relaxing day off!
Hotels: And what about relaxing? - Well, there’s so much interest in this trip that we may not fit into a single hotel together. You therefore have a choice of 2 recommended hotels, one a little more expensive but with pool and spa facilities.
A number of rooms have been reserved - see hotel, room type and price on the attached link, and after reading the remainder of this post, make your choice on a first come, first served basis. You will not need to contact the hotel.
Battlesteads Hotel (www.battlesteads.com) in the picturesque village of Wark is a Pub, Hotel and Restaurant, with ample parking, offering beautifully appointed accommodation in individually styled rooms. Prices range from £105 - £175 per room per night, including breakfast. Certain rooms are ground floor, disabled friendly.
Just 24 minutes away is Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa (www.matfenhall.com), a stately home, with plenty of parking, and a more expensive option at £188 - £223 per room per night, including breakfast. Facilities include heated swimming pool, spa areas and fitness suite.
Or you may wish to identify and book your own accommodation, hopefully in the Wark/Matfen area.
What’s next ?
1. Please confirm your attendance with a reply to this forum post, even if you have already verbally stated you would like to join the event.
2. Please reconfirm by email to mark.grimwood1@btinternet.com so that I have your email address and please add your phone number.
3. In your email, indicate your choice of hotel and your selected room type/ price (see linked document). I will advise if your selection has already been taken.
[attachment=PCGB R10 UK WOTY H.. rooms May 2020.pdf]
4. On receipt of my confirmation of your selection, please send a non-refundable £50 deposit per room.
5. After that, I will confirm room occupants with the hotels, for you to pay your dues (net of deposit) when you are there.
Dining options will be considered in due course once final numbers are in, and arrangements will be advised to all those joining the event.
I can feel already that we’re in for a cracking WOTY!
Cheers.
Mark
