Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th August 2012

Saturday 25th August – travel by coach from Chorley to Vindolanda. Rest of morning and part afternoon to look around excavations and museum. Archaeologists are still working on the site and there are reconstructions or some of the features of a Roman fort and town. It was at Vindolanda that a series of unique writing tablets were discovered. A cafe is available for lunch if desired. Late afternoon travel on to Jurys Inn Hotel in Newcastle for overnight stay with breakfast. Free evening in Newcastle.

Sunday 26th August – after breakfast set off by coach to Cragside, a National Trust property near Rothbury, formerly the home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius. Cragside House was a wonder of its age. It was the first house to be lit by hydro- electricity and is crammed full of ingenious gadgets. The gardens are incredible. One of the largest rock gardens in Europe leads down to the Iron Bridge, which in turn leads across to the formal garden. You can visit the licensed tearooms offering a variety of refreshments from hot meals to cream teas, and there is a free minibus shuttle service between key features or you can stroll around at your own speed and take a more strenuous hike to stunning viewpoints.

Total cost to include all travel, hotel and admission to both sites is £110 ( £20 single supplement)
A non-refundable deposit of £35 per person is required asap. Please contact Christine and John Harrison on cejeharrison@btinternet.com