Spring and Summer Programme 2023
Please scroll down to view all the outings and visits for the 2023 spring and summer programme.
If you are interested in finding out more about the outings or visits, or have a question, please use the 'contact us' section of this website to get in touch and we will forward you onto the organsier of the outing/visit you are interested in. However, please note, that some of the outings may now be fully booked, but a reserve list can be set up, so if any places become available you may still be able to go along.
If you are interested in finding out more about the outings or visits, or have a question, please use the 'contact us' section of this website to get in touch and we will forward you onto the organsier of the outing/visit you are interested in. However, please note, that some of the outings may now be fully booked, but a reserve list can be set up, so if any places become available you may still be able to go along.
JUNE 2023
Thursday 8th June
Visit to Cragside during the spectacular Rhododendron season
This outing will be by car; if you are without a car, or don’t want to drive and would like to come along, please register your interest and we will and arrange a place in a car. We will meet in Cragside car park at 11am. First we will take the drive along the 6 mile carriage route to enjoy the spectacular rhododendrons. After the drive there is the option to walk around the house and grounds, buy lunch in the cafe or have a picnic, and visit the shop. There is a shuttle bus which picks up and drops off at various points if you would like to visit th7e lower estate grounds and formal gardens.
Cost: £5 per person (on the day) to cover donation to Centre Funds for NT projects. No deposit required.
Tuesday 13th June
A guided tour of the historic 'Lit and Phil' in Newcastle
This beautiful neoclassical building is a short walk from Newcastle Central Station. We will meet at the Lit and Phil at 10.30am for our tour and this will be followed by lunch at the County Hotel. Travel options include bus, train and car. Both the Lit and Phil and County Hotel are within very easy walking distance of Newcastle Central Station and approximately 15 minutes from the Times Square car park near the Centre for Life. Places will be limited.
Cost: £26 approx to include lunch, Lit and Phil donation and the donation to Centre Funds for NT projects.
Thursday15th June
Bishop Auckland and Weardale railway
The day will entail a visit to the Mining Art Gallery in Bishop Auckland and a return trip on the Weardale Railway to Stanhope. This is the first time the railway is offering a bespoke private hire package, after opening in May 2023. The planned itinerary for the day is set out below and there will be a raffle on the train where the prize will be a Norman Cornish print:
10.25: Meet and greet with outside Bishop Auckland Town Hall
10.30: Mining Art Gallery welcome and talk by founder Dr Robert McManners
12.00: Heritage bus picks up outside Mining Art Gallery and transports to Bishop Auckland Railway Station
12.15: Private hire heritage train departs Bishop Auckland to Stanhope. During the journey a guide will point out significant landmarks and on board binoculars will be available for wildlife spotting
13.15: Arrive at Stanhope for buffet lunch and tea and coffee served in the Station Café and an opportunity to hear about the history of the Weardale railway by General Manager Mr Wayne Dixon
14.20: Train departs for Bishop Auckland
15.30: Train arrives at Bishop Auckland and heritage bus will pick up for transport to Bondgate car park, Bishop Auckland
Cost: £50 per person
JULY 2023
Tuesday 18th July
Visit to The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool
This outing will be by car and will include a guided tour of HMS Trincomalee, light buffet lunch and a display/demonstration of rope making. (Our visit will not coincide with the Tall Ships event). There is plenty of parking at the museum and for those without transport we will try to arrange a seat in a car. Rendezvous time to be determined but will probably be between 11.00am and 11.30am.
Cost: £28 per person
SEPTEMBER 2023
Wednesday 13th September
Visit to Scampston Hall and Gardens and Mouseman Centre
The tour will be by coach with pick up/drop off points in Durham at Ramside Hotel (DH1 1TD) and in Darlington at the Holiday Inn (DL1 3NL). After a coffee stop en route we will first visit the Mouseman Centre at Kilburn for a short tour of the workshop and museum. From there we will travel to Scampston for a guided tour of the Regency Hall and self-guided wander into the extensive gardens. There is a large café at Scampston with options of a pre-booked sandwich lunch in the conservatory (additional cost £11) or to purchase your own lunch or to take your own picnic. Lunch arrangements will be made at a later date.
Cost: £50 per person
Thursday 28th September (morning or afternoon visit to be confirmed)
Visit and tour of Bowes Museum
Committee member Gillian Wilson will take you on the tour; she will start the visit with the fascinating story about the founding members of the building and museum, both of whom did not survive to see its opening in 1892. Gillian will then take you around the museum where she will share stories attached to a number of favorite items and share with you other snippets of information as you move through the galleries. The tour will finish in the room where the famous Swan resides, currently out of action, but surrounded with information about its maker, a video showing it working and the work that the conservators did last year in an attempt to get it repaired. Bowes has a very good café where there will be a chance for you to take refreshments. Your ticket for the visit will give you entry to the museum for a year. The visit will be by your own transport, but for those who need it we will try to find a seat in a car.
Cost: £12 per person if 12 or more people register interest
OCTOBER 2023
Wednesday 11th October
Tour of Ushaw College
Following our very successful tour of the outside of Ushaw College, we are organising a 45 minute guided tour of the library at 1pm and 2pm in groups of 10, where there will be opportunity to see some examples of the valuable books housed there. Tea, coffee and cake will be taken after the library tours.
Cost: to be confimed
Time and date to be determined
A visit and guided tour of Kepier Hospital
A visit is being planned, a date and time are yet to be finalised but more information will be provided at a later date.
Thursday 8th June
Visit to Cragside during the spectacular Rhododendron season
This outing will be by car; if you are without a car, or don’t want to drive and would like to come along, please register your interest and we will and arrange a place in a car. We will meet in Cragside car park at 11am. First we will take the drive along the 6 mile carriage route to enjoy the spectacular rhododendrons. After the drive there is the option to walk around the house and grounds, buy lunch in the cafe or have a picnic, and visit the shop. There is a shuttle bus which picks up and drops off at various points if you would like to visit th7e lower estate grounds and formal gardens.
Cost: £5 per person (on the day) to cover donation to Centre Funds for NT projects. No deposit required.
Tuesday 13th June
A guided tour of the historic 'Lit and Phil' in Newcastle
This beautiful neoclassical building is a short walk from Newcastle Central Station. We will meet at the Lit and Phil at 10.30am for our tour and this will be followed by lunch at the County Hotel. Travel options include bus, train and car. Both the Lit and Phil and County Hotel are within very easy walking distance of Newcastle Central Station and approximately 15 minutes from the Times Square car park near the Centre for Life. Places will be limited.
Cost: £26 approx to include lunch, Lit and Phil donation and the donation to Centre Funds for NT projects.
Thursday15th June
Bishop Auckland and Weardale railway
The day will entail a visit to the Mining Art Gallery in Bishop Auckland and a return trip on the Weardale Railway to Stanhope. This is the first time the railway is offering a bespoke private hire package, after opening in May 2023. The planned itinerary for the day is set out below and there will be a raffle on the train where the prize will be a Norman Cornish print:
10.25: Meet and greet with outside Bishop Auckland Town Hall
10.30: Mining Art Gallery welcome and talk by founder Dr Robert McManners
12.00: Heritage bus picks up outside Mining Art Gallery and transports to Bishop Auckland Railway Station
12.15: Private hire heritage train departs Bishop Auckland to Stanhope. During the journey a guide will point out significant landmarks and on board binoculars will be available for wildlife spotting
13.15: Arrive at Stanhope for buffet lunch and tea and coffee served in the Station Café and an opportunity to hear about the history of the Weardale railway by General Manager Mr Wayne Dixon
14.20: Train departs for Bishop Auckland
15.30: Train arrives at Bishop Auckland and heritage bus will pick up for transport to Bondgate car park, Bishop Auckland
Cost: £50 per person
JULY 2023
Tuesday 18th July
Visit to The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool
This outing will be by car and will include a guided tour of HMS Trincomalee, light buffet lunch and a display/demonstration of rope making. (Our visit will not coincide with the Tall Ships event). There is plenty of parking at the museum and for those without transport we will try to arrange a seat in a car. Rendezvous time to be determined but will probably be between 11.00am and 11.30am.
Cost: £28 per person
SEPTEMBER 2023
Wednesday 13th September
Visit to Scampston Hall and Gardens and Mouseman Centre
The tour will be by coach with pick up/drop off points in Durham at Ramside Hotel (DH1 1TD) and in Darlington at the Holiday Inn (DL1 3NL). After a coffee stop en route we will first visit the Mouseman Centre at Kilburn for a short tour of the workshop and museum. From there we will travel to Scampston for a guided tour of the Regency Hall and self-guided wander into the extensive gardens. There is a large café at Scampston with options of a pre-booked sandwich lunch in the conservatory (additional cost £11) or to purchase your own lunch or to take your own picnic. Lunch arrangements will be made at a later date.
Cost: £50 per person
Thursday 28th September (morning or afternoon visit to be confirmed)
Visit and tour of Bowes Museum
Committee member Gillian Wilson will take you on the tour; she will start the visit with the fascinating story about the founding members of the building and museum, both of whom did not survive to see its opening in 1892. Gillian will then take you around the museum where she will share stories attached to a number of favorite items and share with you other snippets of information as you move through the galleries. The tour will finish in the room where the famous Swan resides, currently out of action, but surrounded with information about its maker, a video showing it working and the work that the conservators did last year in an attempt to get it repaired. Bowes has a very good café where there will be a chance for you to take refreshments. Your ticket for the visit will give you entry to the museum for a year. The visit will be by your own transport, but for those who need it we will try to find a seat in a car.
Cost: £12 per person if 12 or more people register interest
OCTOBER 2023
Wednesday 11th October
Tour of Ushaw College
Following our very successful tour of the outside of Ushaw College, we are organising a 45 minute guided tour of the library at 1pm and 2pm in groups of 10, where there will be opportunity to see some examples of the valuable books housed there. Tea, coffee and cake will be taken after the library tours.
Cost: to be confimed
Time and date to be determined
A visit and guided tour of Kepier Hospital
A visit is being planned, a date and time are yet to be finalised but more information will be provided at a later date.