Visit Lindisfarne
Visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Bamburgh & Alnwick Castles
Explore two impressive historic castles
The White Swan hotel, Alnwick
Stay in a superb 300-year-old coaching inn
It is no wonder why Northumberland is described as a magical place of discovery. Join us on a fabulous Solos adventure and explore stunning castles, hidden gardens, quaint villages and market towns along with a backdrop of sweeping views, rolling hills and unspoilt beaches.
What’s Extra
Check-in at our hotel. When evening comes, we can enjoy a welcome drink with other Solos guests before dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Today after breakfast (9.00am) we take our coach to the wonderful Holy Island of Lindisfarne. On arrival we shall have an introductory tour of the village to include St. Mary’s Parish Church and hear about the history of the ruined Priory. This will be followed by time at leisure to explore the island in more detail (entrance to Priory at own cost) then stop for lunch at one of the cafes or pubs on the island. After lunch we take our coach and head to Bamburgh. We shall stop for a walk around Bamburgh to visit the Grade 1 listed St. Aidan’s church and to hear about the heroic sea rescue performed by Grace Darling in 1838. Our stop will include a visit to the imposing Bamburgh Castle which dates back to Anglo Saxon times. After our visit we then take a beautiful drive along the stunning coastal road through Bamburgh, Seahouses and Embleton back to our hotel.
After breakfast we take a fascinating walk through the historic market town of Alnwick. Alnwick, formerly the county town, dates back over 1500 years and is dominated by the Castle, seat of the Dukes of Northumberland, the powerful baronial family of the North. We shall spend the rest of the day exploring Alnwick Castle and Gardens. The imposing castle has been home for 700 years to the Percy family and as such has all the components of a fine medieval castle – walls, towers, turrets (where you may be able to watch Harry Potter inspired events), as well as fine apartments with a wealth of art and furniture to admire. The award-winning gardens are the brainchild of the 12th Duchess of Northumberland and cover 12 acres. of magnificent gardens to walk through. Highlights include the Grand Cascade with its 120 water jets, the Poison Garden and the world’s largest tree house restaurant.
After a leisurely breakfast, you may want to have some free time to look around the market town of Alnwick before saying your goodbyes!
This charming 300 year old coaching inn situated in the heart of the historic market town of Alnwick, offers a fantastic blend of unique heritage and superb accommodation. A perfect base for our Northumberland break
Facilities include restaurant, Bistro/bar, lounge, free Wi-Fi & free car parking
Rooms include en-suite bathroom, tea/coffee making facilities, flat screen TV, desk, easy chairs and table, hair-dryer and free Wi-Fi
From the North
Take the A1 south until you pick up signs for Alnwick, B1340. Branch left and then at the T-junction turn right onto the B1340 entering Alnwick. At the T-junction, turn right and proceed under the archway and the hotel is located directly on the right hand side.
From the South
Take the A1 north until you pick up signs for Alnwick, A1068. Bear left on to A1068 and continue to Oaks roundabout. Take second left off the roundabout and proceed to the marked town centre. On entering the town centre go under the archway and the hotel is located directly on the right hand side. (2 minutes from the A1)
Address The White Swan Bondgate Within, Alnwick NE66 1TD
By Rail
Take the train along the East Coastline mainline to Alnmouth station. This is approximately 5 miles from the hotel.
The dress code for during the day is casual. In the evenings the dress code is smart with gentlemen requested to wear a shirt and tie. Comfortable shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes for walking as you will be discovering and visiting places on foot . Wearing layers is recommended and waterproof jackets should be taken in case of damp conditions.
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides and hotel staff (including restaurant, kitchen and reception staff) of approximately £10. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of bar staff and housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (the rounding up of the drinks bill and a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, restaurants expect a 10% gratuity (do check that service has not already been added to your bill). For taxis 10% of the metered fare.
Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
---|---|---|
January - February | 6 °C | 1 °C |
March | 9 °C | 2 °C |
April | 11 °C | 3 °C |
May | 15 °C | 6 °C |
June | 18 °C | 9 °C |
July - August | 20 °C | 11 °C |
September | 17 °C | 9 °C |
October | 14 °C | 7 °C |
November | 9 °C | 3 °C |
December | 7 °C | 2 °C |
I was so nervous about embarking on my first Solos Holiday, but I shouldn’t have been – it was the best thing I have ever done!
Wow! Got to see the famous shipwreck beach in Zakynthos with Solos. Can’t wait to discover more of their destinations!
Our tour leader Monica was exceptional! Had such a good time and will be rebooking with Solos. Thanks for a great holiday!
Had the best time with Solos! Discovered beautiful destinations and met some lifelong friends.