With trains, gardens, castles and hot cross buns, this tour will be an Easter to remember. Both Rockingham and Belvoir Castle make the most of the Easter weekend with events throughout, and although these are not yet finalised, in 2009 included re-enactments, Easter Egg hunts and special exhibitions.

ITINERARY

Day 1 After your door to door transfer, we make our way north stopping en route for coffee and hot cross buns with lunch in Banbury, before reaching Northampton and our hotel. This evening there will be a welcome drink before dinner for a chance to meet your fellow guests.

Day 2 We travel north to Belvoir Castle where there will be free time to explore the castle and the grounds and to get some lunch. We then visit the beautiful Coton Manor Garden – 10 acres originally laid out in the 1920s, comprising a number of distinctive smaller gardens, providing variety and interest at any season.

Day 3 Today’s visit takes us via Market Harborough to Rutland Water where we stop at a waterside café for tea. We then make our way to Rockingham Castle, arriving in time for those who wish to have lunch in the Castle Tearooms. There will be plenty of time to visit the grounds and the castle, where guides are on hand in each room to answer all of our questions.

Day 4 This morning we join a round trip on the Nene Valley Railway from Wansford to Peterborough. This pleasant train journey takes 1½ hours and we return to Wansford where lunch is available in the station café. In the afternoon we have free time in Cambridge before returning to our hotel.

Day 5 Leaving our hotel after breakfast, we travel south via Bicester and Maidenhead toward the local area, making suitable refreshment stops en route. We arrive home late afternoon.