The Northern Belle - Castles, Stately Homes, Gardens and Museums 2023/24

The magnificence of Britain's heritage is ever present with a wealth of sights to stir the imagination. Fortified strongholds speak, with a power that endures over the centuries, of more turbulent times when they formed the settings of strategy and siege. Travel in aristocratic style to some of our most noble houses and marvel at breathtaking interiors filled with irreplaceable antiques, glorious artworks and ancestral treasures.

Blenheim Palace

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, Blenheim Palace provides an awe-inspiring experience for visitors. Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting a long and diverse history. Blenheim Palace was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704. The house and gardens are simply magnificent and you will tour independently to discover its rich history, fine interior and beautifully landscaped gardens.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Blenheim Palace).

Culzean Castle

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

Culzean Castle (pronounced Cull-ane)stands proudly, high upon a cliff on the Ayrshire coast overlooking the Firth of Clyde and is one of Scotland's most recognisable locations. It is surrounded by glorious woods, beaches and parklands which teem with wildlife. The entrance hall of the former home of the Earl of Cassillis, chief of Clan Kennedy, boasts possibly the world's largest collection of British military flintlock pistols. And the elegant 18th century interior is filled with treasures documenting the stories of those who have lived here over the years. When the family gifted their home to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945, they stipulated the top floor must be given to the then General Eisenhower for his service as Supreme Allied Commander during world war two. He spent several holidays there after being elected America's President, dubbing it his "Scottish White House".

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Culzean Castle).

Dunrobin Castle - Duke of Sutherland Estate

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

Dunrobin Castle has been described as "the Jewel in the Crown of the Scottish Highlands. With those towering conical spires, it may look like a fairytale French chateau, but it is actually one of Britain's oldest continuously-inhabited houses, dating back to the 13th century. It was home to the early Earls and then Dukes of Sutherland, one of whom had his own railway station built right next door when the Highlands line between Wick and Inverness. It has stunning views over the mountains, moors and beaches of Sutherland and, as well as a fascinating museum, there are daily falconry displays in the grounds.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Dunrobin Castle. Please note, though, that the Duke's station is a seven-minute walk to the castle so please bring appropriate clothing for the weather, and parts of the building are not wheelchair-accessible.)

Eden Project

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

The Eden Project, dubbed "The Eighth Wonder of the World" was constructed twenty years ago in a large crater. Two massive Biomes house the largest rainforest in captivity, with steaming jungles and waterfalls; a rainforest canopy that takes you over the treetops; 30 acres of outdoor garden displays; and a collection of world-class sculpture and art. All demonstrate man's relationship with and dependence upon plants.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Eden).

Glamis Castle

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

Situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland, Glamis Castle has been the ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372, inspiration for Shakespeare's Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Take a fascinating tour of the turreted, fairytale château, with its priceless works of art, tapestries and furnishings, which is brought to life with intriguing tales and ghostly legends. The childhood pranks of the young Lady Elizabeth (later to become the Queen Mother) may also be revealed, such as her penchant for pouring freezing water from the ramparts onto arriving guests. Outside there is much to explore, including magnificent Italian and Walled Gardens, a Nature Trail where you may spot red squirrels and herons, and a Pinetum.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Glamis Castle).

Castle Howard

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

Castle Howard is a magnificent 18th century historic house in the north of England set within 1,000 acres of breathtaking landscape just outside York. It has been home to the Howard family for over 400 years. This stately home hosts renowned works or art and beautiful architecture having been designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and built with the assistance of Nicholas Hawksmoor. The grounds include lakes, fountains, temples and woodland as well as formal walled garden and a range of cafés and shops including farm shop and garden centre.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Castle Howard).

Scone Palace

from £495 per person
£45 per person supplement for a table for 2
Insurance cover from £3.38 per person

Home to the Earls of Mansfield for the last 400 years, Scone Palace has an exciting and colourful history as one of Scotland's most important stately homes. The site was the capital of the Picts 1,500 years ago and later the crowning place of the Kings of Scots: a visit here is a walk in the footsteps of Scotland's ancient founding fathers. The Palace houses an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings, superb embroidered silks, sculpted oak fireplaces and breath-taking porcelain collections. Take time to enjoy the remarkable gardens, with their giant redwoods, Noble firs and striking star-shaped maze.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Scone Palace).

Please note: All timings shown are for guidance only. Confirmed timings will be supplied with your travel documents which will be sent to you 5 - 7 days before departure.