For further information, please contact our Day Visit's Secretary, Rose Tainsh, via  membershipnf@outlook.com

36 members set off for this tour. We stopped en route to visit the best-preserved workhouse in the UK and its beautiful parish church in Southwell. All our senses were treated to culture, architecture and social history, music from choir practice, fabrics, etc                              After an overnight in Leeds, we had 5/6 hours in York, including an excellent guided walking tour of central York, including the Cathedral with a statue of our late Queen, the market areas, and the Shambles.
Our base was a good hotel in Newcastle on the river with its many bridges—a vibrant city with an ancient cathedral and castle, plus excellent shopping malls. After an awesome visit to the Angel of the North, we visited part of Hadrian’s Wall, including a steep walk to Sycamore Gap. From there, we visited Vindolanda, with its ancient Roman remains, and Hexham, including Hexham Abbey (the oldest church in England), before dinner at our hotel.
Next day, we experienced the quirky Cragside in its beautiful setting. The first house in the world to have electric lights driven by hydroelectric power, courtesy of its enterprising owner, William Armstrong, followed by some free time in Newcastle to sightsee or shop.
The next day, we were bedazzled by the beauty of Alnwick Castle, the ancestral home of the Percys, with its stunning rooms, views, and quaint village, followed by the starkness of Bamburgh Castle on the North Sea, so different in style. We then made an impromptu visit to Lindisfarne (Holy Island), driving over the sea-covered road as the tide retreated. We welcomed our dinner after a very full day!
On our return journey, we visited the delightful Hardwick Hall before finally arriving home after comfort breaks. 
The overall consensus- a full-on tour with lots of very interesting and contrasting visits to the best of Northumberland.

1. ARUNDELLS  https://arundells.org/

Arundells is a beautiful Grade II Listed house, part of which was a medieval canonry, with two acres of garden, situated within Salisbury Close. It was the home of Sir Edward Heath KG MBE, Prime Minister and Statesman. The collection includes paintings by John Singer Sargent, John Nash, John Piper, Sir Winston Churchill and other well known artists, Chinese ceramics, Japanese wood cut prints, musical memorabilia and gifts from world leaders.

2. SALISBURY MUSEUM https://salisburymuseum.org.uk/collections/

The Museum is nearby. A major refurbishment has recently taken place. The collections are very fine and include art (J M W Turner, John Constable, Augustus John), ceramics and glass, archaeology and social history.

COST:  will include coffee on arrival, guided tour of Arundells and entry to the Salisbury Museum.  There is  a choice of places where members will be able to choose for lunch, including the Museum Café and Salisbury Cathedral Café, with tables in the cloisters.

Our recent 5 day, 4 night trip to Barcelona was a huge success. A city comprising numerous unique ‘villages’ which now make up a vibrant, historic and culture-rich city. We stayed in a hotel situated in a regenerated area, 10 minutes’ walk to the sea and Olympic marina and village, with local shops and restaurants - Roca excelled for our Last night dinner and birthday celebrations. Free time dinners gave an opportunity to explore the many tapas bars, restaurants and culinary -especially around the old town.

Known for its surrealism art, we were taken by knowledgeable guides to La Pedrera and Park Guell - designed by Gaudí, museums to highlight the talents of Miro, Dali (in the lovely town of Figueres, 2 hours from Barcelona) and Picasso, plus other superb museums/galleries. The main highlight for many of us was Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi showpiece still unfinished. What a joy to be there with the incredible energy, stained glass windows and the celebration of St George's Day (Patron Saint of Barca) and the Pope's funeral. Our journey on the small cog wheel train up to Montserrat monastery set on the fabled mountain completed our full-on, but fascinating trip en route to our evening flight home - luckily, the day before the power went down in Spain and Portugal!!!

Janet Handley 

Please see Photos for more pics! 

The cost for the visit is £64. The price includes : refreshments on arrival, guided tours of the house, access to the gardens, lunch and entry to the Dorchester Museum and Art Gallery. 

1. MAPPERTON HOUSE AND GARDENS,Beaminster, Dorset - https://mapperton.com

This glorious Jacobean manor house is home to the Earl and Countess of Sandwich. It overlooks a 15 acre Italianate garden with orangery, topiary borders, descending ponds and arboretum. Guided tours of the house will be followed by lunch served in the Coach House Cafe. 

2. DORCHESTER MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

The Museum has a superb collection of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures (including thirty by Elisabeth Frink), galleries dedicated to Thomas Hardy and a Victorian Hall with Roman mosaic floors. The Museum and Art Gallery reopened in 2021, after a major refurbishment. 

We enjoyed a superb visit to Chichester recently.

The Pallant House Gallery greeted us with most welcome coffee and biscuits, and a very informative introductory talk setting up our visit to the exhibition:  The Shape of Things:  Still Life in Britain.  It was well laid out with different categories and plenty of space to see the exhibits close up and we were able to take our own time looking around.  There was so much to see that I didn’t get round to the permanent collection - that’s now for another time.

After a leisurely lunch we all gathered again for a fascinating tour, Backstage at the Chichester Festival Theatre.  Our guide explained the history and design of the theatre, how the theatre runs throughout the year and took us back and below stage into the warren of rooms to see for ourselves.  The show at the moment is Redlands about the Rolling Stones: we saw their costumes, wigs, make-up, dressing rooms and a myriad of other associated items.  It is like a miniature city in one very small space - not to be missed.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, not least because we are most fortunate to be part of a very friendly society making these outings fun as well as interesting.

22nd  - 26th September 2024

DORNEY COURT

Dorney Court is regarded as “one of the finest Tudor Manor Houses in England” (Country Life). It has always been the village manor house, although it has changed dramatically since first mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). The Palmer family has lived at Dorney for over 400 years, in continuous succession from father to son over fourteen generations. The house is Grade 1 listed and is designated as being of outstanding architectural and historical interest. It is set amidst acres of mature parkland. https://dorneycourt.co.uk/house/

CROCUS CAFE

Coffee on arrival, as well as lunch, will be served at the Crocus Nursery Café next to Dorney Court. Lunch options will be confirmed later but are likely to be a choice of soup and a roll, vegetarian quiche or sandwiches, all served with tea or coffee. (The Herrington coach driver is always very accommodating about bringing back plants in the luggage area!) https://www.crocus.co.uk/dorney-court/

NOTE: Schedule and lunch order forms will be emailed nearer the date

COST £48: includes coffee, guided tour and lunch

PAYMENT BY BANK TRANSFER OR CHEQUE:

Bank transfer of £48 (please use Ref ‘DOR’): HSBC, Business a/c TASNF, a/c no. 91524895, Sort Code 40-34-25

14th - 21st April 2024