Autumnal breaks with Cumbria’s ‘Tourism Experience of the Year’ tour company
The Lake District’s number one tour operator and Cumbria Tourism’s ‘Tourism Experience of the Year’, Mountain Goat, has two exquisite tour holidays on offer in October 2013 for those wishing to explore the autumnal glory on evidence in Northern England at this time of year.
Between October 7 and 12, the Autumnal Colours of the Lakes holiday is a five-day package that begins when the luxury Mountain Goat mini-bus picks its guests up at either Oxenholme or Windermere railway station, to take them to the four-star Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel. The hotel is celebrating the 100th birthday of Beatrix Potter character, Pigling Bland, this year, as author Beatrix Potter once owned the property and wrote and illustrated both the Tale of Pigling Bland and the Tale of Timmy Tiptoes from it.
The first day of the Mountain Goat holiday is spent visiting ten different lakes around the Lake District, resplendent with Autumn reflections and surrounded by trees with autumn leaves in a rich variety of red and brown hues. The route involves crossing the Honister Pass, while the day includes a lake cruise on stunning Ullswater, where it may even be possible to spot some red deer on the fell or at the water’s edge.
The second day is spent enjoying High Adventure on some more of Cumbria’s most famous passes. Guests will be taken to Wrynose and Hardknott, where they can photograph the Roman Fort. This day is full of spectacular views and the buzz of reaching points that seemed inaccessible.
Day three takes the group on an exploration of four different dales within the Yorkshire Dales, while the final day of touring involves exploring Arthur Ransome country, to see where the author of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ lived and some of the locations which we used in his novels. The morning of this last day on tour ends at Beatrix Potter’s former home of Hill Top. This is followed by lunch in Hawkshead, where William Wordsworth attended the Grammar School. Finally, there is a drive to Tarn Hows and then an idyllic lake cruise on Coniston.
This package tour costs £645, including a five-course dinner each evening and a hearty breakfast, while staying at Lindeth Howe. The hotel has six-acre gardens for guests to explore in any free time and also has an indoor swimming pool and leisure facilities. Foreign language groups can enquire about translation services, if required.
Those wishing to explore another part of the North can opt instead for The Kingdom of Northumbria tour, which costs £625 and which includes five nights dinner, bed and breakfast at The Victoria Hotel, Bamburgh.
The tour starts with Mountain Goat collecting its guests at Berwick railway station, to take them to the hotel for their first night’s stay. Day two is then spent in the lovely fishing village of Seahouses, before a drive to Beadnell to take in the views of Dunstanburgh Castle. Moving on to Cranster for lunch, which could include a taste of Cranster’s famous kippers, the group is then given time to enjoy a walk on the coastal path, building up a thirst for afternoon tea in Alnmouth.
Alnwick is the destination for day three, with the group being given time to explore both town and Castle – the latter being famous these days for its Harry Potter connections. The Castle’s gardens are truly splendid and even include an intriguing Poison Garden.
The next day is spent visiting the model estate villages of Ford and Etal, Heatherslaw Mill and Northam, with its famous castle. In the afternoon, the group visit the fascinating village of Branxton and then Flodden Field, famed as a 16th century battle ground.
The final day is spent visiting Lindisfarne (Holy Island), with time allocated to explore both Abbey and castle, as well as allowing for a seashore walk. At times when the tide is in, this day may swap places with another in the itinerary.
Both of these fabulous Autumn holidays can be booked at mountain-goat.com and run to the end of October. Touring with the Goat means no worries about petrol and is a greener option to pick. Best of all, you get to enjoy the view and visit places you might never be able to explore under your own steam!
