Lake District. Short Break - 4 Days / 3 Nights
Friday, 17 September 2010
The Lake District, also know as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a popular holiday destination famous for its lush-green hillsides, fells, dales, mountains and picturesque lakes. Its stunning scenery inspired the writings of William Wordsworth, John Ruskin & Beatrix Potter in the 19th century, and today is second only to London in the UK tourist popularity stakes.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 – Travel to the Lake District via the M6 toll road, Britain’s first privately funded tolled motorway which stretches for 27 miles, enjoying the scenery with lunch and comfort stops, arriving at the Shap Wells Hotel in time for dinner.
Day 2 – Tour of Lake Windermere by coach, enjoying England’s largest and arguably, prettiest lake, more than ten miles long, located at the southern end of the Lake District. Many of the area’s best loved mountains are visible from the lake and its shores. We take a leisurely cruise from Lakeside to Ambleside (subject to weather conditions) before enjoying free time in Ambleside to explore its specialist shops, galleries and museums and then onto Bowness, returning to the hotel in time for dinner.
Day 3 – Free time to explore the area at your own pace - the coach will take you into Kendal after breakfast and collect you mid-afternoon. Be sure to purchase some of the local Mint Cake. After the special “Fish and Chip” dinner in the hotel, we travel to Blackpool to enjoy the traditional Illuminations. At ten kilometres long and using over one million bulbs the Blackpool Illuminations are an awesome spectacle, consisting of almost every kind of light display you can imagine: lasers, neon, light bulbs, fibre optics, searchlights, floodlighting, three-dimensional illuminated scenes and set pieces where the characters and objects portrayed seem to “move” by way of the winking lights.
Day 4 – Reluctantly we depart after breakfast for the return journey home, with a comfort stop at the M6 Toll Road Services at Norton Canes in South Staffordshire, which claims to be the best service area on Britain’s motorway network.
Your Hotel
Located half way between Kendal & Penrith in the heart of the Lake District, the Shap Wells Hotel overlooks the River Birkbeck and neighbouring fells. The hotel has undergone a continuous programme of expansion and refurbishment over the last 40 years and is Cumbria’s largest family owned hotel. First time guests will not fail to notice the unique friendliness, informal atmosphere and exceptional hospitality. All rooms have private bath and/or shower, toilet, television, telephone, radio and tea & coffee making facilities. Their reputation for food is envied by other hotels in the Lake District, serving fresh, wholesome, well presented menus, specialising in serving large numbers with meals that are enjoyable and are served efficiently, with as little fuss as possible. www.shapwells.com
What’s included
Three nights Half Board Accommodation (Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal)
Coach tour of Lake Windermere & Lake Cruise
Coach transfer to/from Kendal for free time then evening at Blackpool Illuminations
Return executive coach travel
4 Days / 3 Nights
£199 per person sharing double or twin en-suite rooms
£249 per person in single en-suite room (limited availability)
Departure Code: D
Bournemouth Turkey & Tinsel. Short Break - 5 Days / 4 Nights
Monday, 06 December 2010
With seven miles of golden sands and sparkling sea, the cosmopolitan town of Bournemouth offers something for everyone, and at this time of year it is transformed into a winter wonderland, overflowing with Christmas atmosphere. You will stay at the Ullswater Hotel, a family-run hotel situated on the Westcliff which will be decorated throughout for Christmas. The programme includes excursions to Dorchester and Poole Quay, the Ullswater Hotel Quiz Night, traditional Christmas Dinner and New Year’s Gala Dinner with evening entertainments.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 - (Christmas Eve) – Journey to your hotel in Bournemouth via the historic city of Winchester for lunch. In the evening complimentary pre-dinner cocktails are served before a Christmas Eve candlelit dinner followed by music, dancing and entertainment.
Day 2 – (Christmas Day) – A free day to discover the varied attractions of Bournemouth – be sure to visit the Global Christmas Market, a multicultural mix of stalls selling arts, crafts, food and gifts from around the world not generally available in high street shops. In the evening we enjoy a traditional Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings followed by music, dancing and entertainment.
Day 3 – (Boxing Day) – Today we travel to the historic market town of Dorchester which boasts elegant 18th century houses and is still very much the ‘Casterbridge’ of Thomas Hardy’s novels. Visit the town’s shopping arcades or the shops along the high street. Wednesday is Market Day where you can find an abundance of locally-grown produce and hand-made gifts just in time for Christmas. This evening we enjoy a Boxing Day candlelit dinner followed by the Ullswater Hotel Quiz Night with a bottle of Asti for the winner!
Day 4 – (New Year’s Eve) – After breakfast, we join the coach for a half day at Poole Quay where you can explore the Dolphin Shopping Centre (over 100 shops under one roof). On Thursdays Poole Street Market is held on the High Street and a Farmers Market selling the best local produce takes place just outside the Dolphin Centre. Be sure to visit the Poole Pottery Working Studio to see artists at work, browse in the shop, or simply enjoy a light lunch in the cafe. We return to the Hotel for afternoon tea served with hot mince pies, before a New Year’s Gala Dinner with music, dancing and entertainments.
Day 5 – (New Year’s Day) – Reluctantly we depart after breakfast for the return journey home, via the Wilton Shopping Village, returning around 6.00pm.
Your Hotel
Located in one of the most popular seaside resorts in England, the Ullswater Hotel offers a warm and friendly welcome with a relaxed atmosphere and an emphasis on good food and personal service. The Hotel is located 150 yards from the beach - a peaceful location just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre.
www.ullswater-hotel.co.uk
What’s included
Four nights Half Board Accommodation (Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal)
Full use of hotel facilities
Excursion to Dorchester
Excursion to Poole
Return executive coach travel
5 Days / 4 Nights
£199 per person sharing double or twin en-suite rooms
£249 per person in single en-suite room (limited availability)
Departure Code: W
