Great Britain

The Northern Saints

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Immerse yourself in 1,400 years of monastic tradition

Our third series of Northern Saints pilgrimages will include a mixture of visits from previous tours and some new ideas for 2018. A highlight will be a steam train ride across the Yorkshire Moors from Whitby to Pickering, We will stay within the city walls of Durham at Hatfield College which we have the privilege of using in the absence of the holidaying students - and we have plenty of single rooms available.

Make your own way to Durham by train, coach or car. Visits will include Hexham Abbey, Chester-Le-Street and Whitby, but we always look forward to our day on Lindisfarne, which has been enhanced with a sail to the Farne islands. Our time together will be a great time of fellowship as we meet up with old, and make new friends.

We welcome individual travellers and sub-groups on all our short breaks, or you may even wish to set up your own group departure.

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Itinerary

Travel to Durham

Independent travel to Durham. Four night stay at Hatfield College. We meet at 15.30 for a guided tour of Durham Cathedral and the opportunity to join in Evensong. Welcome drinks, dinner and Introductory talk at Hatfield College.
Chester-Le-Street and Hexham

We travel by coach to Chester-le-Street where we visit the Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert, which was for many years the shrine of St. Cuthbert. Here the Bible was first translated into English by Brother Aldred. Highlights are a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Ankers House Museum. We journey via The Angel of the North to Hexham Abbey - the site of a Benedictine Monastery first established c674 by St. Wilfred. Lunch at the abbey, and afternoon visit to the delightful country church of St Oswald in Heavenfield. Dinner at Hatfield College with entertainment from a special guest.
Holy Islands

We journey north through the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where St. Cuthbert lived for many years. The tide will be out when we arrive and you will have the choice to walk across the sands following the pilgrim route to the island (a distance of four miles through wet and muddy sands and shallow water). Those who prefer to remain on the coach will meet up with the walking party later as we gather for worship in the Parish Church.

A packed lunch will be provided and there will be free time for you to explore the island. Weather and tides permitting, we will sail from Lindisfarne to the Farne islands (where St Cuthbert died as a hermit) and on to the fishing village of Seahouses. Here we will enjoy a fish and chip supper before retracing our journey south to Durham.
The Synod of Whitby

We drive to the coastal town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, where the Synod of Whitby took place in 664 deciding the date of Easter. We visit Whitby Abbey, the site of a Benedictine Abbey founded by Oswy, King of Northumbria, and where St. Hilda became the first Abbess. Free time by the sea. This afternoon we enjoy a steam train journey across the Yorkshire Moors to Pickering, returning to Durham for dinner at the college.
Homeward bound

Independent travel home. The college have kindly agreed to provide us with a left luggage facility, should you wish to spend some time in Durham and travel home on a later train or coach.

Essential Information

Included

The cost of this holiday is £595 with pretty much everything included, except your travel to Durham.

You make your own way to Durham by car, train or coach. Hatfield College is a very short taxi ride from the train or coach station. If you are driving, there is parking nearby. Four breakfasts, four dinners and two lunches are included, as are all entrance fees and gratuities, which the tour leader will disburse to those who help us on our journey. We will have our own coach for touring.

Travelling Alone

We have plenty of single rooms, with private facilities, which are available without any supplementary charge.

Hatfield College

You will stay for four nights in Durham at Hatfield College, which is within the walled city, close to the Cathedral. We have used this accommodation in previous years and found it ideal. The college is a short walk from the cathedral and provides excellent meals and good facilities for us to meet together in the evening. All rooms have private facilities.

Travel Insurance

The main risk you may want to cover is cancellation charges. To minimise this risk, McCabe’s will refund in full anyone cancelling more than six weeks before departure. Anyone cancelling after this date will lose 50% of the holiday cost. We are not offering insurance cover, but you can obtain this easily online or for instance at post offices.

Any Special Requests for instance, special diets, should be printed on the booking form.

A deposit is payable now with the balance due eight weeks prior to departure. Final details will be confirmed in your travel wallet two weeks prior to departure.

Financial Security

All monies paid are fully protected through McCabe’s membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. McCabe are also members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators and abide by the Association’s code of conduct.

Practical information

Travel Information

The tour begins at 15.30 on Monday with a guided tour of Durham cathedral

Drive: Hatfield College has a car park, but with limited spaces. We will try and secure places here, but if not nearby secure parking is available. We will send you full details before departure.

Train: Durham station is on the main East coast line, and served by many train companies including East Coast; Trans Pennine and Cross Country.

Coach: National Express coaches serve Durham Bus Station. There is a direct service from London Victoria.

Taxis are readily available at Durham coach and train stations. Expect to pay less than £5 for the run to the college. The college is less than a 20 minute walk from the station and there is a map on the platform.

About Chester-le-Track

Welcome to the real railway station at Chester-le-Street, the town where the Bible was first translated into English. Alex Nelson is a McCabe traveller who has set up an independent rail booking service, selling tickets for travel throughout the whole National Rail network. Visit his website to book your rail tickets on-line or for friendly travel advice, call his office.

A tip from Alex: the cheapest rail tickets for July travel don’t go on sale until April.

Chester-le-track

Tel: 0191 387 1387

www.chester-le-track.co.uk

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Dates

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We have no tours scheduled to this destination at present.

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