Durham Land of the Prince Bishops

Arrive at the Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County where you will be greeted by your Adagio leader. Check in is from 3pm. 

When you arrive at the hotel, why not check out afternoon tea here or at Tealicious on Elvet Bridge?

Walks

Distance: Minimal miles

Time: Sightseeing hours

This morning you explore some of Durham's secrets with a local guide. Durham is a city full of the remains of mediaeval times, from bridges to fortifications, to narrow streets (called “vennels"), to mysterious bricked up doorways. No wonder that it provided many settings for the Harry Potter films.

In the afternoon you will have a guided tour of Durham’s magnificent Cathedral. The Norman cathedral is set on a rocky promontory next to the Castle with the medieval city huddled below and the river sweeping around. Durham's massive pillars, its stone-vaulted roof (the first in Christendom) and its beautiful rose window led Bill Bryson to describe it as "the best cathedral on Planet Earth". After that you can visit the Cathedral's treasures housed in the most intact monastic buildings in the country. miles

Walks

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 2 hours

Ascent: 125

Descent: 125

Today you will visit Bishop Auckland, The Bishops' Palace has been recently renovated through the generosity of the philanthropist, Jonathan Rutter. This has rejuvenated the local area and you will be shown round the Palace by a designated route with guides in each room. Among the highlights of the Palace are Zurbaran's paintings of Jacob and his 12 sons in their original setting, the largest private chapel in Europe and rooms illustrating the lives of the bishops who lived here. 

The Bishops' deer park has always been open to all and we can explore its delights on a walk. Or if you have not had your fill of art, you can visit the Mining Art gallery. miles

Walks

Distance: 3.7 miles

Time: 2 hours

Ascent: 105

Descent: 105

Today you head for Teesdale and the market town of Barnard Castle. There you have a guided tour of the Bowes Museum, a French chateau in the Durham countryside, built by John Bowes to house his French wife's incredible art collection which includes many automata like the famous Silver Swan. If you have not had your fill of the museum, you can spend the rest of the day there, otherwise you can head further up Teesdale so that you can enjoy the scenic delights of walking along an easy stretch of the Pennine Way from Low Force to High Force. 

You walk over the Wynch Bridge, a footbridge used by miners, past waterfalls used as the backdrop to the film 1917, and see lots of unusual wild flowers, which may include the Teesdale pansy. miles

Walks

Distance: 3 or 6 miles

Time: 3 hours

Ascent: 130

Descent: 130

Durham's riverbanks with their unusual "oxbow" formation are the setting for this morning's walk. You walk from the hotel to see Durham's medieval bridges, its weirs, its riverside sculptures, the Little Count's house and his noisy neighbours, the ducks. This is a figure of eight walk so you can choose the 3 mile or the 6 mile version. 

In the afternoon you visit Durham Castle, once the home of the Prince Bishops, but now a college of the University. You can visit the dining room where students are fed from kitchens which still feature medieval hearths. You can see the Black Staircase and, maybe ... its ghost. The Norman chapel is one of the most peaceful spots in Durham. miles

Walks

Distance: Minimal miles

Time: Sightseeing hours

Today you go to Beamish, a most unusual open-air museum. Its creator, Frank Atkinson, inspired by Scandinavian folk museums, had the vision, more than 50 years ago, to collect relics of the North East's industrial history before they were destroyed, to dismantle them and transport them brick by brick to Beamish, the site of a one-time colliery. Now you can visit a 1913 colliery village complete with drift mine, prize leeks and proggy mats or a town of the same era with buildings including a fearsome dentist's, a pub (still serving pints) and a sweet shop (still serving cherry lips and barley sugar twists). There is a farm, two railways, a manor house from 1825. The latest venture is a 1950s area. You can walk round the extensive grounds or take a trolley bus or tram. All this complete with locals playing the parts of the homeowners or workers of the time - a truly living museum!

On the way back to the hotel, your driver will aim to pass by the Angel of the North statue. Since it spread its wings in 1998, it has become one of the most talked about and recognisable pieces of public art ever produced. miles

Walks

Distance: 4.2 miles

Time: 2 hours

Ascent: 185

Descent: 225

Today you walk 1.5 miles from the hotel through the ancient bluebell woodlands of Maiden Castle to the Botanical Gardens where you can meet a gardener. The University Botanical Gardens specialises in conservation and biodiversity. It is also the home of many quirky sculptures, bird hides, a small flock of rare breed sheep which graze the arboretum and wild flower meadows and a prized victoria amazonica. You'll discover why anyone would want to find out the best conditions for growing Japanese knotweed. 

In the afternoon you can choose to visit the nearby Oriental Museum or you can complete the circular walk back to the hotel. miles

Your holiday comes to an end and your leader wishes you farewell after a leisurely breakfast. Check out of the hotel is by 12pm.