Rutland Cruise, Barnsdale & Burghley House - Mon 18th July 2022

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**SPECIAL OFFER** 

DUE TO ANOTHER LATE CANCELLATION - 1 TWIN BEDDED ROOM AVAILABLE - NOW £299 OFF BROCHURE PRICE - JUST £150 PER PERSON!!!  

Come along on this NEW holiday for 2022! Great opportunity to visit this historic region of Central England with some excellent, memorable excursions included. 

We stay in Northamptonshire, the Rose of the Shires, a county with a rural lifestyle typified by numerous pretty villages with their thatched cottages, country lanes and parish churches. Home to some of the most beautiful countryside in England with canals, areas of ancient and with a rich heritage and English history. From Rockingham Castle with views stretching to Rutland Water and many stately homes and ancestral seats, including the Spencer family at Althorp, there is much to enjoy. But this holiday also strays in to adjacent Cambridgeshire and includes a visit to England's smallest county - the very pretty Rutland. 

DAY 1
Collected from your local pick up point by one of our modern touring coaches around 8.30/9.30am, we have comfort stops as required with an extended stop for lunch before arriving at the hotel mid/late the afternoon. Time to settle into the comfortable environment of the hotel before dinner.

DAY 2
Rutland maybe the smallest county in the UK, but it boasts a rich history!  The pretty historic market town of Oakham is home to an impressive Norman castle and the Rutland County Museum, a treasure trove of captivating exhibits. After time here to explore, we continue to nearby Barnsdale Gardens. The UK’s largest collection of individually designed gardens, which was created by the much-loved late BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Geoff Hamilton. Later in the day, one of the highlights of your holiday as we arrive at Rutland Water, one of the largest man-made lakes in Europe to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and wildlife around this amazing reservoir on board a pleasure boat.

DAY 3
Memorable day today as we head east into Cambridgeshire. First to to Stamford, a Georgian town of immense charm with over 600 listed buildings, which has been used many times as a filming location. Then on the Burghley House & Gardens. One of the finest country estates in the entire country, Burghley is one of the largest and grandest houses of the Elizabethan age. Inside there are eighteen magnificent State Rooms, a huge collection of art including fine 17th century Italian paintings and an amazing collection of Japanese ceramics. The house is surrounded by Capability Brown parkland, wonderful gardens and a deer park. Entrance included.

DAY 4
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before today's excursion. Steeped in history, Ely is renowned for its magnificent Cathedral with a striking and unusual octagonal tower and stunning collection of stained glass. Ely is the second smallest city in England and has a lovely, historic centre - easy to explore on foot. Head for the Ely Museum, housed in the city's old gaol, and discover more about Ely's most famous historical resident, Oliver Cromwell.  The Cromwell family lived in Ely for 10 years and today you can visit their former house which has been recreated to demonstrate what 17th Century domestic life would have been like along with an exhibition on the civil war. At lunchtime, head down to the beautiful waterside area. Plenty of cafes and restaurants and great to watch the river boats pass by.

DAY 5
After breakfast we leave the hotel and head home with an extended lunch stop in a town on route. Arriving back in the local area around 3.00pm.

Meal plan - Dinner Bed & Breakfast

Best Western 3* Rockingham Forest Hotel

Meals are served in the spacious restaurant with a full English breakfast offered and a 3 course dinner with 4 choices plus tea or coffee. No lift at the hotel but plenty of ground floor rooms available.

QUALITY HOTEL