PHS-PTA Minibreaks Group†
Organiser: Elaine Roe
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CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA - Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th December 2023
We will leave Poynton High School at 7.45am on Wednesday 6th December and travel to Belton House in Lincolnshire. Belton is one of the National Trust's most popular properties and at this time of year will be beautifully decorated for Christmas. There will be time to visit the house and gardens and have lunch before rejoining the coach mid-afternoon to travel to the Dunstan Hall Hotel, Norwich. (Entry to Belton free to NT members, non members approx £12 payable in cash on the day) On Thursday we will visit Norwich and attend a performance of the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in the afternoon or evening (performance time tbc at a later date). On Friday after breakfast we will head to Lincoln where you will have plenty of time to visit the traditional Christmas Market. Here you can enjoy cultural entertainment and stroll around over 150 stalls nestled within the medieval square and surrounding area or maybe visit the Cathedral, one of Europe's finest Gothic buildings, once the tallest building in the world and the impressive Norman Castle dating back to 1068 and home to one of only four surviving copies of Magna Carta. Late afternoon we will set off home arriving back in Poynton in the early evening. Estimated Price: £362 (per person sharing a twin or double room. Single room supplement £60) The price includes travel by coach, 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast (or lunch on one day depending on the time of the show) at the Dunstan Hall Hotel, Norwich, tickets for the Thursford Spectacular, a visit to Belton Hall and a visit to Lincoln. SPRING MINI BREAK (Tulips & Amsterdam) – Friday 3rd May – Tuesday 7th May 2024 We will leave Poynton High School at 8am on Friday and travel to Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley. This National Trust property, South Yorkshire's only grade 1 registered landscape, has beautiful formal gardens, woodland and parkland, historically important monuments and a folly. (NB there would be a charge of £5.50 payable in cash on the day for non-National Trust members). In the afternoon we will travel to the delightful market town of Beverley where there will be time to explore this historic town with its impressive Minster before heading to Hull to board the ferry in time for dinner. 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. P&O describe the crossing as a mini cruise, I think this is a bit of a stretch but they are large modern ships, there is a shop, restaurant, cafe, bar and evening entertainment. The food is buffet style and there is plenty of it. After the overnight crossing and breakfast on Saturday we will disembark in Rotterdam and make the short journey to Delft for a guided tour of Royal Delft, the last remaining 17th century Delftware factory, home of the famous Delft Blue earthenware, where we discover its history and can see the artisan painters at work. We will then have some free time in the historic centre of Delft. In the afternoon we will visit Gouda, famous for its cheese, its tasty stroopwafels (syrup waffles which were invented in the late 18th century in Gouda), its historic centre with medieval streets, buildings such as the 15th century Stadhuis (City Hall) and Sint Janskerk (St. John's Church), canals, and attractive little shops. We will then make our way to our hotel the 4* Fletcher Hotel Restaurant at Loostrecht-Amsterdam in time for dinner. The hotel is situated on the shores of a lake which is used for water sports, it looks to be in an attractive setting. There are 15 single places available, a much larger number than usual. They have stated that all the rooms are TWIN rooms for either two people or single occupancy. I'm not sure if that means there are no double beds but I can make enquiries if that is something you would prefer. On Sunday we will spend the whole day in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, known for its distinctive tall narrow buildings, museums and lovely tree lined canals. You can wander around on foot or take a scenic canal boat tour. The Old Centre is crisscrossed with arched stone bridges and cobblestone streets. Here you will find Dam Square and its historic landmarks, including the neoclassical Royal Palace, the Gothic Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and the National Monument that honours victims of World War II. (The square is adjacent to the city's notorious Red-Light District!) Culture seekers should head to the Museumplein square where the main museums are located, including the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh in the world; the Rijksmuseum, which showcases 800 years of Dutch history and includes the 1642 Rembrandt masterpiece The Night Watch; and the Stedelijk Museum, dedicated to modern and contemporary art. You could visit the Anne Frank House for an insight into the life of the young wartime diarist, explore the historic harborside, enjoy the fantastic views from 22 floors up at the A'Dam Lookout tower, try the Heineken Experience to discover the origins of the famous brand or shop for a few diamonds! On Monday we will visit the Keukenhof Gardens, also known as the Garden of Europe, one of the world's largest flower gardens, Keukenhof Park covers an area of 32 hectares and approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the gardens annually. Keukenhof has a different look and theme each year. Admire not just tulips, but daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi and crocuses too! Late afternoon we make our way to Rotterdam to board the ferry for dinner and our journey back to Hull. On Tuesday we will head to York and spend our final day in this beautiful city with its many attractions. You could visit the magnificent Minster, the Castle, the Jorvic or one of the other many museums, take a trip on the river or browse around the lovely shops before setting off home late afternoon arriving back in Poynton in the early evening. Price: £654 per person based on two people sharing a room (single room supplement £128) PLEASE NOTE: There would have to be a minimum number of 40 people to make the trip viable. The price includes: Return coach travel Two nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast accommodation at the Fletcher Hotel Restaurant at Loostrecht-Amsterdam Two nights dinner bed and breakfast on the Hull/Rotterdam ferry A visit to Wentworth Castle Gardens (£5.50 extra payable in cash on the day for non-National Trust members) A visit to Beverley Entry to Royal Delft factory A visit to Delft A visit to Gouda A visit to Amsterdam Entry to the Keukenhof Gardens A visit to York A deposit of £100 per person would be required to secure a place on this trip and the balance would be payable by 1st February 2024. The maximum number of places available is 55. There are 15 single rooms and 20 twin rooms available at the hotel. Places on the trip will be allocated on a first come first served basis. SEPTEMBER MINI BREAK – Durham and Kynren- Friday 6th – Monday 9th September 2024 This Mini Break is going to the North East, calling at Ripon and Richmond and visiting Durham, Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, the Bowes Museum, Crook Hall Gardens and the spectacular Kynren Show. Kynren, an epic tale of England, is the UK's most spectacular open-air live action night show, listed by Rough Guides as one of the world's top 10 must-see tourist attractions. Taking place on a landscaped open air stage (equivalent to five football pitches with a full-size lake at its centre) against the backdrop of Auckland Castle, you will be immersed in 2,000 years of history, with a movie-like, fast-paced and action-packed journey from Roman times to the Second World War, through the Viking invasions, the splendour of the Tudors, the Industrial Revolution and the Roaring Twenties. As the story unfolds you'll be treated to ships and a steam train, mass choreography, hand-to-hand combat, dance, daring stunts, dazzling pyrotechnics and grandiose lighting and water effects. More than 1,000 volunteers are involved as cast and crew, with an accompanying cast of animals comprising performance horses, sheep, goats, cattle and even ducks. The volunteers have been professionally trained by top performance experts. The 90-minute show takes place once darkness has fallen, to create the best possible backdrop for the special effects that will bring the action-packed story to life. NB. This is an open air performance which will go ahead whatever the weather. We will be staying at the Blackwell Grange Hotel an historic 17th-century mansion set in 15 acres of woodland, a 20-minute walk from Darlington town centre. The hotel has a Leisure Club with a swimming pool, jacuzzi and a gym. The maximum number of places available on the trip is 49 and we have been allocated 9 single rooms, 6 doubles and 14 twin rooms. Rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please see below for the Itinerary and let me know if you would like places on this trip. The price includes 3 nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, travel by coach, entry to the Auckland Project, entry to the Bowes museum and a De-Luxe ticket for Kynren. A deposit of £90 per person would be required as we have to pay a deposit to the hotel and coach company and for the Kynren tickets. Itinerary: We will leave Poynton at 7.45am on Friday and travel to Ripon, the third smallest city in England, noted for its magnificent cathedral, attractive market square, many museums and historic buildings. We will have time to explore the city and have lunch before moving on to the nearby market town of Richmond, known for its Georgian architecture, ruined medieval castle and considered one of the most attractive towns in the UK. Late afternoon we will rejoin the coach and travel to the Blackwell Grange Hotel, a historic 17th-century mansion set in 15 acres of woodland, a 20-minute walk from Darlington town centre. After breakfast on Saturday we will set off to the historic city of Durham, one of the most scenic cities in the UK. The attractions include Durham Castle and the iconic Durham Cathedral, recently named the UK's number one landmark; together, with the buildings around them, they form Durham's incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are other historic buildings, quaint cobbled streets, an attractive market place, many shops and lovely riverside walks. Mid-afternoon we will head back to the hotel for an early dinner before making our way to the amazing Kynren show to experience an epic tale of England. On Sunday morning we will head to the National Trust's Crook Hall Gardens a series of interlinked gardens, each with its own character set against the backdrop of a medieval hall and with views of Durham city and the cathedral. Discover the maze, the secret walled garden, an orchard and the wildlife-rich moat pool (NT members: free; Non-members: £8.00 payable in cash on the day) Late morning we will make our way to the historic market town of Bishop Auckland. Here we will visit the Auckland Project, a unique collection of heritage attractions. Our ticket will include entry to the magnificent Auckland Castle, one of the best-preserved bishop's palaces in Europe, the Castle gardens, the Faith Museum, Auckland tower which gives a bird's eye view of the town and the Deer Park with its 1760 Gothic revival deer house. There are other attractions in the town including the Gothic revival town hall, now a cultural venue, local shops, the Mining Gallery and the Spanish Gallery. On Monday we will check out of the hotel and journey to Barnard Castle where we can all check our eyesight after our busy weekend! There will be time to explore this historic market town which takes its name from the castle around which it grew. The castle ruins, an English Heritage property, are set high on a rock above the river Tees. In the town you will find many antique shops and independent retailers selling everything from home décor and second-hand books, to designer clothes, jewellery and local crafts. Late morning, we will move on to the Bowes Museum, an impressive building which has the appearance of a French Chateau. It was never a home but was purpose built in the late 19th Century by Josephine and John Bowes to house their art collection. The museum, considered to be one of the most important outside London, has something for everyone with galleries dedicated to paintings, furniture, fashion & textiles, ceramics, silver & metals. Perhaps its most famous exhibit is the iconic Silver Swan automaton. The museum is surrounded by gardens and parkland. Late afternoon we will leave the museum and make our way home, arriving back in Poynton at around 7 -7.30pm. Price: £455 based on two people sharing a room (single room supplement £90) The price includes:
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. |
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