Tour highlights:
Special visit to Ushaw College to view rare books and textiles
Raby Castle State Rooms tour
Private guided tour of Rokeby Park
Three talks from Country Houses expert Nicholas Merchant
Visit some of County Durham’s most elegant and rarely seen residences. Explore the remarkable interiors of Ushaw College, enjoy a private tour of Rokeby Park and take in rare collections, manicured gardens and fine art – each space offering a quiet connection to lives once lived.
Available Departures |
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| 01 - June - 2026 | £ 1535.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at the hotel from 15:00. Welcome drink, dinner, and introductory talk from Nicholas Merchant.
Day 2: Ushaw College
Ushaw is extraordinary, a former Roman Catholic seminary, which behind its stern façade conceals a myriad of treasures. We shall spend a day here exploring. We take a guided tour of the building, which as its centrepiece has a spectacular chapel designed by AWN Pugin, better known for his work on the Houses of Parliament. After an included private lunch in the Francis Thompson Room, we take a tour of the Library to view a display of some of the rare tomes in the collection. Next we meet the Curator, who will show us rare items of the Catholic heritage including medieval textiles and embroidery, and finally we have some free time to wander round the gardens. On our return to the hotel, we have dinner, and Nicholas will give a talk on tomorrow's destinations.
Day 3: Raby Castle and the Beamish Museum
Begin the day with a visit to the majestic Raby Castle, the seat of Lord Barnard, whose family have been here since the 17th century. Like so many moated medieval castles it was “modernised” in the 18th century under the eye of the architects James Paine and John Carr. As a result magnificent silken-walled state rooms are filled with Meissen porcelain, the statue of the Greek Slave by Hiram Powers and paintings by Marco Ricci, Joshua Reynolds and David Teniers. Everything of the best. In the afternoon continue to Beamish Museum and learn about the story of life in the North East of England during the 1820s to 1950s.
Day 4: Bowes Museum and Rokeby Park
This morning we visit the Bowes Museum, a unique enterprise founded in 1869 by John and Josephine Bowes in a specially erected French-style chateau dominating the Tees valley. A collection particularly strong in 18th and 19th century French fine and decorative art and, of course, the renowned silver swan. In the afternoon, explore Rokeby Park, a Palladian villa designed by Sir Thomas Robinson. It is one of the finest in Britain, comparatively little-known. Sir Thomas was an enthusiastic amateur architect and designed the West wing of Castle Howard. Now the home of the Morritt family who have been here since 1769. Fine contents including a version of the Rokeby Venus. Arrive back at the hotel by 17:00.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.
Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to the amount of walking and standing for viewing at attractions. Please visit the mobility page on our website for further information, or call our team prior to booking with any questions.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Headlam Hall Hotel
Headlam Hall is a charming 17th-century country-house retreat in County Durham, exuding warmth, elegance, and home-from-home hospitality. The indulgent spa offers pool, sauna, steam room, and serene lounges. Set within beautiful walled gardens, a golf course, and farmland, it provides a restful, refined base for countryside exploration.
