Hadrian's Wall and the Edge of Empire

Included Meals: B = Breakfast, L = Packed lunch, D = Evening meal

Day 1. Meet in York at the group hotel at mid-day. A single timed transfer (1½ hours) is available from Manchester Airport in the morning. In the afternoon we take a walking tour of York city including all major sights and Jorvik Viking Centre.

Day 2. Drive (40 minutes) through Ripon to Fountains Abbey World Heritage site. Visit the abbey and walk through Studley Royal Gardens. Approximately 3 miles. Return to York and take a guided tour of York Minster. (B)

Day 3. Drive across the Yorkshire Moors to Robin Hood's Bay on the East Coast (1 hour). We walk for 6 miles along the coast to Whitby. After looking around this old whaling town, we transfer (1½ hours) to Corbridge close to Hadrian's Wall. (B,L,D)

Day 4. Visit to Chesters Roman cavalry fort. Walking the Wall from Brocolitia to 'Once Brewed'. 7 miles. Return to hotel in Corbridge. (B,L,D)

Day 5. Visit to Vindolanda Roman fort and museum. Walking the Wall from 'Once Brewed' to Carvoran. 6 miles. Visit to Roman Army Museum. Return to Corbridge. (B,L,D)

Day 6. Walking the Wall from Carvoran to Birdoswald Roman fort. 4 miles. Visit to Carlisle Castle. Transfer (1 hour) to Ambleside in the Lake District. (B,L,D)

Day 7. Traverse the summits of Loughrig above Ambleside. 7 miles. (B,L,D)

Day 8. Drive across Wrynose and Hardknott passes to Hardknott Roman fort. (30 minutes). We have a short transfer from here to Eskdale to start of walk across Muncaster Fell and via Muncaster Castle to Ravenglass fishing village on the West Coast. Return to Eskdale aboard a steam hauled train on the narrow gauge railway. Final evening in Ambleside. (B,L,D)

Day 9. Drive (20 minutes) to Tarn Hows and walk for 5 miles via Colwith Falls, Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater to the Britannia Inn. Transfer (1½ hors) to Chester City. (B,L)

Day 10. Walking tour of city and walls and visit to Roman Amphitheatre. Afternoon free. (B)

Day 11. Services end after breakfast. A morning transfer to Manchester Airport is available.(B)

The above is a brief outline of the trip itinerary. A more detailed itinerary is available for download. Download the dossier for this trip here by clicking in the image or from the download link on any of the individual trip pages