PHS-PTA Minibreaks Group†
Organiser: Elaine Roe
| Meeting |
SPRING MINI BREAK - Thursday 30th April - Monday 4th May 2026 Itinerary: We will leave Poynton at 7.45am on Thursday 30th April and travel to the historic Shropshire market town of Bridgnorth known for its unique split level layout with the High Town and the Low Town being connected by the Cliff Railway, the oldest and steepest inland funicular railway in England. The town has a history dating back to the 9th century, there are remnants of a castle, beautiful churches, a timber framed Town Hall and stunning views over the Severn Valley from the High Town. In the afternoon we will move on to Hereford, county town of Herefordshire, with its iconic Cathedral, home to two important treasures, the Mappa Mundi, the largest surviving medieval map of the world, and the world's largest surviving Chained Library. Other attractions include half timbered houses, the Black and White House museum, several other museums, interesting churches, High Street stores around the Marketplace and lovely independent shops along Church Street. Late afternoon we will continue our journey to the Swansea Mercure Hotel. After breakfast on Friday we will set off to the charming seaside village of Mumbles on the Gower Peninsula, the UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here you will find a castle, a pier, an iconic lighthouse, scenic views across Swansea Bay and independent shops and cafes. In the afternoon we will visit the Gower Heritage centre where we will be greeted with a vintage tea - tea/coffee, Welsh cake and bara brith. A guide will accompany us on the coach for a tour of the peninsula then we will return to the centre to finish our visit with a tour of the working 12th century water powered mill which grinds the flour for the cakes eaten earlier. On Saturday morning we will travel to Aberglasney Gardens, considered one of Wales' finest gardens, made famous by the BBC programme 'A Garden Lost in Time' which followed its restoration. At its heart, the fully restored Elizabethan Cloister Garden is the only surviving example of its kind in the UK today. There are 10 acres of over 20 different garden styles from formal to woodland, right through to exotic and modern along with the fully restored ground floor of Aberglasney's grade II* listed mansion where you will find an award winning sub-tropical indoor garden. In the afternoon we will return to Swansea. Unfortunately the city was heavily bombed in the Second World War so there is no historic centre. However there is an attractive waterfront area and marina and several interesting free museums including the National Waterfront Museum which tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales, Swansea Museum, a treasure trove of Swansea's past and the Dylan Thomas Centre which celebrates the world famous poet's life and work. Other attractions include the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Plantasia Tropical Zoo and the largest indoor market in Wales. On Sunday we will head to Pembroke to visit the impressive and formidable Castle, established in 1093 and the scene of pivotal historical events, from the birth of the first Tudor King, Henry VII, right through to the huge battle that changed the course of the English Civil War. There are free guided tours or you can wander around at your own pace. You may also have time to look around the town, which has a number of historic buildings, before we set off for an afternoon in the picturesque seaside resort of Tenby. Here you will find pretty cobbled streets in the old town, beautiful beaches, an attractive harbour area and fantastic views of Caldey Island. After breakfast on Monday we will check out of the hotel and journey to the attractive market town of Hay-on-Wye renowned as the "Book Capital of the World," due to its collection of over 20 bookshops. This small town on the border between Wales and England also has other independent shops, scenic views, a castle and a craft centre. We will then continue our journey home, making our last stop at the National Trust property Croft Castle, a picturesque country house with surrounding parkland. The estate was founded by Bernard de Croft in 1085, buildings on the site evolved over the centuries, the shell of the present castle was built in the 1660's. There are fine Georgian interiors in the house, a three acre walled garden, Georgian stable block, a church dating from the 14th century and extensive parkland to explore. There is a cafe and a shop and a second hand bookshop in the stables. We will leave Croft Castle late afternoon and set off for home aiming to be back in Poynton around 7.30pm. Price: £564 per person based on two people sharing a room (single room supplement £136) The price includes:
PLEASE NOTE: Once the monies have been paid over to the coach company and the hotel, they would be non-refundable, this is a condition of the booking. Obviously if someone is unable to go for any reason, we will do our best to find a replacement however this is not always possible, particularly at short notice, so you may wish to take out travel insurance to cover any unexpected cancellations. This is your responsibility. Many people have insurance which covers them for travel for the whole year. If you only want to take out insurance for this one trip there are many companies that you can use. Bullock's Coaches have said that whilst they don't offer insurance themselves or promote particular companies many of their passengers seem to use Age UK or the Post Office. SEPTEMBER MINI BREAK - Belgium (& a little bit of the Netherlands) - Saturday 5th - Thursday 10th September 2026 We will leave Poynton High School at 9am on Saturday and with a comfort stop on the way we will travel to Hull (officially Kingston upon Hull). Hull is famous for its maritime heritage, having been an important port since the Middle Ages, the iconic Humber Bridge, its status as the UK City of Culture in 2017, and its connection to important figures like abolitionist William Wilberforce. Although perhaps thought of mainly as an industrial town, Hull does have some attractive and interesting features. The Old Town is home to many historic buildings, including the Hull City Hall, Hull Minster, the Hull Maritime Museum, and the Hull New Theatre. There are cobbled streets around the Museum Quarter where there are a number of free Museums including the Streetlife Museum of Transport and the Wilberforce Museum. There is also an attractive Waterside and Marina area where you will find the award-winning aquarium, The Deep. Late afternoon we will make the short journey to the port and board our ferry. On the ferry a two-berth inside cabin is available for single occupancy and a four-berth inside cabin for two people (to avoid the use of bunk beds). All the cabins have their own ensuite facilities. The ships are large modern vessels with a shop, restaurant, cafe, bar and evening entertainment. Dinner and breakfast are included; the food is buffet style and there is plenty of choice. After the overnight crossing and breakfast on Sunday we will disembark in Rotterdam and make our way to Zundert, a small town near the Belgian border, birthplace of artist Vincent van Gogh. Each year on the first Sunday in September the Zundert Bloemencorso, the oldest and most elaborate flower parade in Europe, is held. Twenty hamlets each construct a huge, impressive lorry mounted sculpture covered in thousands of dahlia flowers and these floats are pushed through the streets by volunteers. You will have time to explore the town, see the market and street entertainment before taking your grandstand seat to watch the parade in the afternoon. Late afternoon we will leave Zundert and head to the Movenpick Hotel, a modern hotel at Zaventem, close to Brussels Airport, in time for dinner. On Monday we will spend the whole day in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, known for its significance as a centre of international governance and business and features such as the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Grand Place with its ornate architecture of the 17th-century guild houses and the Town Hall, the majestic cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, the elegant 19th-century glass-covered arcades of the Royal Gallery of St Hubert and of course the Mannekin Pis statue. There are also many museums, and attractive parks and gardens. You could take the opportunity to try local specialities such as Belgian Waffles, Frites, Chocolate or Beer. If time allows, we will stop on the way back to the hotel for a photo opportunity at the Atomium. On Tuesday we will visit the medieval cities of Bruges and Ghent. Bruges is famous for its well-preserved medieval architecture, scenic canals that have earned it the nickname "Venice of the North", and iconic landmarks like the Belfry of Bruges. The city is also renowned for its Belgian chocolate, lace-making traditions, local beers, and historic sites like the UNESCO-listed city centre. Ghent is less well known but considered a hidden gem, with its stunning historic city centre, complete with medieval monuments, towers, and a picturesque old town along the rivers. On Wednesday we will check out of the hotel and head to Antwerp, most famous for being the world's diamond capital, a title it has held for centuries. It is also known for its leading global fashion scene, its massive port which is a major European economic hub, and the artistic legacy of Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. The centuries-old Diamond District houses thousands of diamond traders, cutters and polishers so this is the place to add to your jewellery collection! Antwerp's Flemish Renaissance architecture is typified by the Grote Markt, a central square in the old town. The beautiful historical buildings include the impressive Antwerpen-Centraal railway station. At the 17th-century Rubens House, period rooms display works by the Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. The Fashion Museum Antwerp houses a vast collection of clothing, shoes, and accessories, chronicling Belgian fashion history. In the afternoon we will head towards Rotterdam, stopping en route at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO world heritage site of 19 windmills built around 1740 as part of a larger water management system to prevent flooding. There is a film about the windmills, we will have a boat ride alongside them and there are two windmills that you can go inside. Late afternoon we make our way to Rotterdam to board the ferry for dinner and our journey back to Hull. On Thursday we will disembark in Hull and head to Harewood House, a member of the Treasure Houses of England, one of ten of the foremost historic homes in the country. The historic Georgian house has magnificent Robert Adam interiors, superb Chippendale furniture and world class paintings by artists including Turner, Reynolds, Titian and El Greco. There are also 'below stairs' areas to see and a contemporary art gallery which hosts changing exhibitions. There are picturesque formal gardens, a Walled Garden, Lake and extensive parkland with panoramic views in a landscape designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown. We will spend some time exploring the beautiful house and gardens before setting off home mid-afternoon arriving back in Poynton in the early evening. Price: £845 per person based on two people sharing a room (single room supplement £175) PLEASE NOTE: There would have to be a minimum number of 40 people to make the trip viable. The price includes:
PLEASE NOTE: Once the monies have been paid over to the coach company and the hotel, they would be non-refundable, this is a condition of the booking. Obviously if someone is unable to go for any reason, we will do our best to find a replacement however this is not always possible, particularly at short notice, so you may wish to take out travel insurance to cover any unexpected cancellations. This is your responsibility. Many people have insurance which covers them for travel for the whole year. If you only want to take out insurance for this one trip there are many companies that you can use. Bullock's Coaches have said that whilst they don't offer insurance themselves or promote particular companies many of their passengers seem to use Age UK or the Post Office. AS THIS IS A TRIP TO THE EU PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN UP TO DATE GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARD. YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE. Elaine There are Minibreaks pictures in the Photo Gallery - Click here †Organised on behalf of Poynton High School PTA but open to Poynton u3a members. |
Contact |
|