Set in the Durham countryside, Raby Castle offers a fascinating glimpse into England’s medieval past. Built in the 14th century, the castle has been home to generations of the Vane family and retains much of its historic character, with impressive interiors and stories spanning centuries.

During your visit, you can explore the surrounding 200-acre deer park, where red and fallow deer roam freely, adding to the sense of timeless landscape. The experience is completed by the beautifully redesigned Walled Gardens, recently transformed by renowned designer Lucia Scott, offering a fresh and elegant contrast to the castle’s rich history.

For more information contact Anne St John: 07881700588

Experience a captivating 5-day tour to Cambridge with Executive Coach Travel. Stay 4 nights at the comfortable 3-star Holiday Inn Cambridge, including breakfast each morning and one delightful dinner, all from just £829 per person.

Discover iconic highlights such as the stunning Brodsworth House and Garden, a private tour of the Wren Library, the serene St John’s Chapel, and the contemporary art haven of Kettle’s Yard. Wander through the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Garden, marvel at Ely Cathedral, and explore the treasures of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Step into history at Oliver Cromwell’s House and uncover the secrets of WWII codebreakers at Bletchley Park.

For more details and booking information, contact Catherine Wanless at 07810 278082 or email hamnavoe05@yahoo.co.uk.

Discover the Splendours of Harewood House – Spring Outing, Wednesday 4th June 2025

Join us for a delightful day at the magnificent Harewood House, a treasure trove of art, history, and natural beauty set amidst a breathtaking Capability Brown landscape.

Step inside a world of elegance and creativity: Marvel at Robert Adam’s exquisite interiors, admire Chippendale’s finest furniture, and enjoy an outstanding collection of paintings, portraiture, and porcelain. Wander through the stunning terraces and gardens, with sweeping views across the estate.

A rare highlight this year: Experience the exclusive exhibition, “Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter”, included with your admission. This captivating showcase explores Jane Austen and J.M.W. Turner’s perspectives on British country house life and its landscapes.

• Discover Austen’s world: Although she never visited Harewood, rare items from her archive will be on display, offering a glimpse into the society and culture of her time.

• See Harewood through Turner’s eyes: View a remarkable collection of his paintings, many from the family’s private collection, with additional works on loan from the V&A and Tate Britain.

• Follow in Turner’s footsteps: Enjoy special trails around the grounds, guiding you to the very spots that inspired his masterpieces.

Comfort and convenience for all: A shuttle bus will be available for easy access across the site, with seating in the galleries and friendly staff on hand to assist with alternative routes. And when you’re ready for a break, choose from two inviting cafés to relax and refresh.

Don’t miss this wonderful blend of art, literature, and landscape—a perfect day out for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and nature admirers alike!

TRIP TO VIENNA 

INTERESTED? CONTACT CATHERINE ON 07810278082

DATES: 14TH TO 18TH SEPTEMBER

HOTEL: AUSTRIA TREND PARK HOTEL SCHONBRUNN

COST £1399 

KARLSKIRCHE AND ST STEPHENS CATHEDRAL

SCHONBRUNN PALACE

MELK ABBEY

KREMS - WE CRUISE UP THE DANUBE TO THIS VENUE

UPPER BELVEDERE PALACE WHICH HOUSES THE LARGEST KLIMT COLLECTION

HOFBURG PALACE - IMPERIAL APARTMENTS

A VISIT TO THE SISI MUSEUM AND SILVER COLLECTION

THERE IS ALSO AN OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO A STRAUSS AND MOZART CONCERT AT THE KURSALON IN VIENNA

DAY TRIP TO NEWBY HALL
12TH JUNE 2024
ENTRANCE & TOUR OF THE HOUSE AND GARDEN - £40.

We look forward to welcoming you on our visit to Newby Hall on the 12th June 2024.  The cost of the visit is £40. which includes transport to Newby Hall, the entrance fee and a tour of the house and gardens. There are a few places still available,    contact Catherine on 07810278082/hamnavoe05@yahoo.co.uk

The House

One of Britain’s finest Adam Houses Newby Hall, the family home of Mr & Mrs Richard Compton, is one of England’s renowned Adam houses and an exceptional example of 18th century interior decoration. 

Whilst your there....

Take a relaxing boat trip along the River Ure. The 2 boat fleet depart from the bottom of the borders on a 25 minute cruise up the river each day that Newby is open. 

Release your inner child! 
The Newby Hall Miniature Railway which runs along the River Ure, is a delightful ride with fantastic views of the gardens. Our locomotives run every day we are open – and always on time!
Chippendale

 Thomas Chippendale furnished the Tapestry Room at Newby Hall, featuring chairs covered in unique fabric from the Gobelins Factory in Paris. This suite remains intact with its original covers, making it the most complete Chippendale interior. The Newby Hall collection is renowned globally as one of the largest and most comprehensive in private ownership.

Built by George Calvert, Secretary of State to James 1, and founder of Maryland USA, in the early 1620's as a hunting lodge, Kiplin Hall in North Yorkshire is a unique Jacobean house filled with the furniture, portraits, paintings and personal belongings of the four families who have owned the hall for the past 400 years.

Leaving Cumbria early morning on the 5th September we head South stopping off at Burghley House one of the largest and grandest surviving houses of the sixteenth century. We leave the house late afternoon to head to Norwich staying in the Best Western Brook Hotel. The following morning we are joined by a blue badge guide who will give us an introductory tour of Norwich. In the afternoon we are visiting the Sainsbury Centre, an art gallery and museum located on the campus of The University of East Anglia. The following day we visit Sandringham, the much loved country retreat of Her Majesty the Queen. We will have free time to visit the house and the gardens before leaving to visit Houghton Hall one of Britain's finest Palladian Houses built for Great Britain's first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. On Thursday the 8th September we head off to the North Nofolk coast and visit Holkham Hall, built by The Earl of Leicester as his vision of an Italian Villa. The afternoon visit is to Hindringham Hall where we will receive a tour of of the outside to be shown the architectural features of the house. We will then receive a tour of the ground floor of the inside of the house which dates back to 1538. On our final day we head North visiting Belvoir Castle on our way. The castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Rutland, where the family have lived an unbroken line for almost a thousand years.

THE ARTS SOCIETY VISIT TO DUNDEE

13TH TO 16TH SEPTEMBER 2021

MONDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2021

We depart from Cumbria in the morning and travel north via Moffatt, where we stop for coffee before continuing to Falkirk and a visit to the Falkirk Wheel. The Forth & Clyde and Union Canals were linked by a staircase of 11 locks which took nearly a day to transit, these were dismantled in 1933. In 1998, work started on the ambitious £84.5m Millennium Link projects to re-join the two canals. The world’s first and only rotating boat lift was opened by Her Majesty, The Queen in 2003 and we will enjoy a 50 minute journey that lifts the boat up to join the Union Canal 35m above and sails smoothly from The Falkirk Wheel onto the Union Canal before returning to your starting point at the Visitor Centre. Time at leisure for Lunch before our afternoon visit to the Helix centre to see the Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures, we have a 30 minute guided walking tour that takes you through the vision of artist Andy Scott and how history and industry impacted on his designing of these breath-taking sculptures. We leave late afternoon for the remainder of the journey to Dundee and our hotel the Indigo. Evening at leisure

TUESDAY  14TH  SEPTEMBER 2021

Following breakfast in the hotel, we visit the rejuvenated Dundee Waterfront and the new £80m Victoria and Albert Museum, admission here is free, however some exhibits may have a small admission charge. The first ever dedicated design museum in Scotland and the only other V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London, V&A Dundee provides a place of inspiration, discovery and learning and presents the brilliance of Scottish creativity and the best of design from around the world. Spend as much time as you like at the museum or spare time to visit Discovery Point, a world class visitor attraction which centres round Captain Scott of the Antarctic’s Dundee built ship RRS Discovery. Climb aboard and follow in the footsteps of Scott and his crew, see how they lived, what they ate and witness their hardships and their triumphs. It’s a fascinating tale of one of the most heroic voyages of exploration ever undertaken. Remainder of the day at leisure.

WEDNESDAY 15TH  SEPTEMBER

Our first visit this morning is to Glamis Castle, here we have a guided tour where we witness over 1000 years of history in the heart of Angus. Glamis is the ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and childhood home of H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Following lunch we head towards Perth and a visit to Scone Palace which has an exciting and colourful history as one of Scotland's most important stately homes. Fifteen hundred years ago it was the capital of the Picts. In the intervening centuries, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce. We have a guided tour of the Palace which houses an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings and rare artefacts. We return to Dundee for our final night at the hotel

THURSDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

We leave our hosts at the hotel Indigo and travel south to visit the New Lanark 18th century cotton mill village which is one of Scotland’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites sitting in a beautiful location alongside the picturesque River Clyde. On our guided tour we can see how villagers lived, learned and worked with a visit to Robert Owen’s School for Children, the millworkers’ housing and Robert Owen’s own house. There’s an opportunity to see historic working textile machinery, and take the ‘Annie McLeod Experience’, a fascinating ‘dark ride’ that tells the eye-opening story of a child millworker. We depart late afternoon for the return to Cumbria.

Hotel Indigo Dundee

In Dundee city centre, the boutique Hotel Indigo is set in a former textile mill and the hotel reflects Dundee’s industrial heritage with bare-brick walls, hardwood timber floors and simple, pendant lighting. Bespoke fabrics and antique furnishings in the elegant en suite guest rooms reference the city’s historic linen trade. The hotel has an acclaimed restaurant and bar. Since opening the hotel has received many accolades, including being voted as the Number One Hotel in Scotland by The Sunday Times.

Price per person sharing a twin/double room £335 to include:

3 nights bed & breakfast at the Hotel Indigo Dundee

Boat Journey on the Falkirk Wheel

Guided tour of the Kelpies

Visit to the V & A Museum Dundee

Guided tour of Glamis Castle

Guided Tour of Scone Palace

Guided tour of the New Lanark Mills World Heritage site

Luxury air conditioned coach travel

Supplements

Single Room £30 per night

Travel Insurance £23

CANCELLATION NOTICE:

DUE TO RECENT GOVERNMENT ADVICE WITH REGARD TO CURBING THE CORONA VIRUS THIS TRIP HAS NOW  BEEN CANCELLED.

Dumfries House is set in 2,000 acres. This stunning Estate and 18th century house with its unrivalled collection of Chippendale furniture has something for everyone.

As well as the usual pick up stops there will be an extra one in Carlisle for our members who live there. There is also a coffee stop on the way. We hope to get to Dumfries House for lunch where a soup and sandwich lunch will be waiting for us. Following this we will receive a guided tour and also have some time to explore the gardens.

Please note if you are an "Art Fund" member this will reduce the cost of the day from £42. to £37 but remember to put your art fund membership number on your booking form.

Members are welcome to bring a friend along with them to this trip who doesn't need to be an Art Society member.

ARTS SOCIETY PROPOSED VISIT TO LONDON 2020

Sunday 3rd May to Wednesday 6th May 2020

THIS VISIT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Sunday 3rd May 2020

An early morning departure from Cumbria as we travel via Scotch Corner to Burghley House near Stamford. Burghley, one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age, was built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587. His life as the most powerful man in the court of Elizabeth I helped to shape the history of the British Isles. His lasting legacy reaches far beyond the building of Burghley House to the magnificent collection of works of art from across the globe gathered by his ancestors. 2020 is the celebration of 500 years since the birth of William Cecil, explore at your leisure the wonderful history of the House, family and its impressive collection, knowledgeable and approachable room stewards are on hand to answer any questions. We will leave Burghley late afternoon for the remainder of our journey to London and a 3 night stay at the Doubletree By Hilton London Ealing. Evening at leisure.

Monday 4th May 2020

Following breakfast in the hotel, we make our way to Hampton Court Palace and Gardens, here on a guided tour we discover the magnificence of Henry VIII's favourite royal residence, marvel at the breath-taking grandeur of Henry's State Rooms, the bygone era of the vast Tudor kitchens, explore the relationship between Henry and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon and Cardinal Wolsey with some of the most spectacular Tudor paintings from the Royal Collection. Following our guided tour, explore more of the Palace at leisure or perhaps take a stroll through some of the 60 acres of enchanting gardens, lose yourself in the famous maze and appreciate the beauty of one of the greatest palaces and gardens in Europe. We return to the hotel and the evening at leisure.

Tuesday 5th May 2020

Today our full day visit is to the magnificent UNESCO world heritage site of Kew Gardens. Initially we are joined by a costumed guide for a tour of Kew Palace, which will give us an insight to the life, joys and sorrows of George III and his family, from his children’s lives to his own hardships. Fascinating personal artefacts and art works adorn the authentically recreated Georgian rooms in which the stories unfold. Wander through the eerie upper floor, left untouched for centuries and discover the eating habits of the royal household in the Royal Kitchens. Then spend the afternoon exploring Kew Gardens, join one of the guided walking tours, hop on the Kew Explorer land train (additional charge) or simply wander through some of the 300 acres of gardens with over 50,000 species of plants, highlights include the Rock Garden, Great Broad Walk Borders, The Hive – experience drama of life inside a beehive, the Mediterranean Garden or escape to a rainforest climate inside the iconic Palm House where you can discover which plants coffee, rubber and chocolate come from and find out more about the Madagascan 'suicide palm'. Brave the heights of the Treetop Walkway and admire the view from 18 metres above the woodland floor. Delight your senses with the colourful displays inside the Davies Alpine House, plus you can now visit the reopened Temperate House Following a major five-year renovation process, the Temperate House showcases the splendour of the world’s temperate zones. As temperate plants, all the species contained within live in conditions above 10oC to survive. Despite being the foundation of much life on Earth, many of these plants are under threat.  Evening at leisure

Wednesday 6th May 2020

We leave our hosts at the Doubletree by Hilton and travel to Covent Garden, here we have a tour of the Royal Opera House, we visit the Backstage and the Front of House areas of one of the world's leading theatres as it prepares to open its doors for the evening performance. The  Backstage Tours include an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the re-development of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions. As the Royal Opera House is a fully working theatre, each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation. After time at leisure for lunch we depart London for the return journey to Cumbria.

Doubletree by Hilton London Ealing

This stylish 4 star hotel is located in the heart of West London, and Central London is easily accessible from Ealing Broadway station. All the air-conditioned guest rooms are equipped with WiFi, 40-inch TV, Nespresso machines, laptop safes and mini-refrigerators. Enjoy dishes from the sizzling grill menu featuring locally sourced produce at W5 Grill & Bar. The hotel provides an extensive breakfast buffet and 24-hour room service.

Price per person sharing a twin/double room £379

To include

3 nights bed & breakfast at the Doubletree by Hilton London Ealing

Admission to Burghley House

Admission to Hampton Court Palace and Gardens including a 90 minute guided tour

Admission and guided tour of Kew Palace

Admission to Kew Gardens

Backstage tour of the Royal Opera House

Luxury air conditioned coach travel

Supplements

Single room £90 – limited number

Travel Insurance £23

Five days from £919.00 - Departing 26th September, 2019

What we will see:

• Budapest - guided city tour
• Hungrian National Gallery - guided tour
• Guided tour of the Art Noveau buildings in Budapest
• House of Hungarian Art Noveau
• Franz Liszt Academy
• Museum of Fine Arts - guided tour
• Dohany Synagogue and Jewish Museum
• Parliament House - guided tour
• Cruise on River Danube
• Castle of Sissi

To find out more about this holiday please click here and then quote wmdd191 (you will find the 'view your holiday' icon on the top right hand page.

FIVE DAY TRIP TO THE CITY OF BATH

MARCH 31ST TO APRIL 4TH 2019

We will travel with Titterington Holidays. We will be staying at the 4 * Francis Hotel in the centre of the city of Bath. The cost of the trip will be £399.00 per person for a twin/double room and breakfast. Single supplement is £50. per night. This includes the cost of the coach. It does not include meals (other than breakfast) or entrances, guides etc. Visits will include:

Visit on the way to and from Bath.

A coach/walking tour of Bath.

Holbourne Museum

Assembly Rooms and Baths

Victoria Art Gallery

Jane Austen Centre

American Museum

All venues to be confirmed

For booking form, please go to documents page.

Join us for lunch at Appleby Golf Club! Just £20. p.p. including gratuity.

Menu

Vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free options are available.

Starters:

Soup/Pate

Main Course:

Two meat carvery (beef and turkey).

Seasonal vegetables, cauliflower cheese, roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings.

Puddings:

Cheescake

Apple Crumble

Followed by: Coffee and mints

The day will begin with coffee at Tennants Auctioneers followed by a talk and tour of the auction house. A two course lunch is included. There will be time to browse and have tea and scones before returning to Cumbria.

The cost of the day is £47.00 per person.

To download the booking form, go to "about us", then to "documents".

Tuesday 16th October

We depart from Cumbria early morning and head south towards Manchester and the Lyme Park Estate, Lyme sits in 1,400 acres of parkland, with glorious views across Manchester and the Cheshire Plain. The lavish interiors of the house reflect the life of a great estate, focussing on Lyme's fascinating history during the Regency period, under the stewardship of Thomas Leigh. An intrepid traveller and collector, Thomas was also the architect of the revival of the estate during the first part of the 18th century. In more recent times, Lyme has featured as 'Pemberley' in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth. Lyme's gardens with the Reflection Lake, Orangery and Rose Garden are wonderful places to relax and stroll. Please note this is a national trust property, please bring your card for complementary admission, non members will pay £13. Leaving late afternoon we continue our journey to Birmingham and the Park Regis Hotel, our base for the next four nights. The Park Regis is a new luxury 4 star hotel situated on Broad Street in the heart of Birmingham and offers 253 very well appointed mondern guest rooms. Evening at leisure.

Wednesday 17th October

After a leisurely breakfast in the hotel, we are joined by our local blue badge guide, Mary Moore for an introductory coach tour of the city of Birmingham, free time for lunch prior to an afternoon visit to Winterbourne House, here you can escape the modern world and explore period rooms filled with antiques and Edwardian era soft furnishings. As you stroll around the house learn about the families that lived here and how Winterbourne came to be part of the University of Birmingham. Evening at leisure. NB. Winterbourne House offers free entry to any member of the Historic Houses Association or the Royal Horticultural Society, others will pay an admission fee of £6. on the day.

Thursday 18th October

Today after breakfast we first visit Soho House, the elegant home of the industrialist and entrepeneur Matthew Bolton from 1766-1809. The house has been beautifully restored and reflects the fashions and tastes of the late Georgian period, we have a guided tour of the house before joining our coach and heading to Aston Hall, time at leisure for lunch before a guided tour  of this magnificient seventeenth century red-brick mansion situated in a picturesque public park on the North side of Birmingham. Built between 1618 and 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte and home to James Watt Junior from 1817-1848, Aston Hall is steeped in history. Walk through the stunning interiors and see the home that received royalty, was beseiged during the English Civil War and inspired an author. Evening at leisure.

Friday 19th October

This morning we head to the Barber Institute, on our tour conducted by specialist guides, you can see key works by Monet, Manet and Magritte; Renoir, Rubens, Rossetti, Rodin, Degas as well as Botticellie, Pousin, Turner, Gainsborough, Gaugin, Van Gogh, Bellows, Hodgkin and Auerbach plus many more great artists. There's also a stunning coin gallery and an exciting programme of exhibitions. The Barber was founded in 1932 by Dame Martha Constance Hattie Barber in memory of her husband, Sir William Henry Barber. Housed in a Grade 11 listed Art Deco building designed by Robert Atkinson, it was officially opened by Queen Mary in 1939. Housing one of the most outstanding and internationally significant collections assembled in Britain during the 20th Century, the Barber has been described as one of the finest small art galleries in Europe. As well as around 150 major paintings and some stunning pastels and watercolours, the Barber is also home to more than 800 drawings and prints, a fine collection of sculpture, decorative art and portrait miniatures. After lunch we will have some more time to explore the Barber Institute at leisure before returning to the hotel. Evening at leisure.

Saturday 20th October

We leave Birmingham and head North to the Shugborough Estate. Home to the Anson family since 1624, it was once described as 'a perfect paradise', explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments, then discover the Georgian mansion, unearth unusual treasures and experience life 'below stairs', before entering a world of glamour and royalty in the apartments of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl and fashion photographer. We leave mid afternoon for the return journey to Cumbria.

NB. Shugborough is now a National Trust Property and therefore members will receive free admission, non members will have a £13. admission per persobn fe.

Price per person sharing a twin/double room £399 to include:

4 nights bed and breakfast at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham

Guided tour of Birmingham

Guided tour of Soho House

Guided tour of Aston Hall

Guided tour of Barber Institute

Luxury air conditioned coach travel

Supplements per person

Single Room £60.

Travel Insurance £23.

Admission charges other than those stated.

We will travel independently to the Theatre By The Lake in time to meet Conrad Lynch, theatre Director at 5pm. He has arranged for us to have a tour behind the scenes followed by dinner and then a performance of 'Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense'.

The cost of the evening will be £40. per person. This is the cost of the theatre ticket (£25) and dinner (£15). Conrad is very kindly not charging for the tour.

Dinner is a set two course meal of soup and a hot pot. Dietary requirments can be met.

Please complete the form on our 'documents' page and return to Felicity Arrowsmith, Galebars, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4HE

We will arrive at Paradise Silk Mill and Museum in time for coffee which will be followed by a tour of the silk museum and a guided tour of Paradise Mill. This is an opportunity to discover the work and life of people in Cheshire, working in the Silk Mill during the early 20th century. It is the only remaining Silk Mill to be on it's original site. There is no wheelchair access but a lift is available to the three floors.

Following this, we will drive 30 minutes to Tabley House, where we will see how the other half lived. You can choose to have a light lunch or snack at Tabley House Cafe before we have a guided tour of the house.

We will travel with Titterington Coaches, leaving Penrith at 8 am, Appleby at 8.30 am and Kirkby Stephen at 8.45 am. We will leave Table House by 4.30 pm for the return journey. The cost of the day will be £40. This includes the cost of the coach, entrance to Paradise Mill and Tabley House and gratuity for the coach driver.

Booking forms will be found on the website, please go to the documents page to download.