The North Pennines is one of England's most special places - a peaceful, unspoilt landscape with a rich history and vibrant natural beauty.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Depart from your home area in the morning travelling to Carlisle and arriving Hilltop Hotel late afternoon, making suitable stops along the way. This evening there will be a welcome drink to meet your fellow companions.

Day 2 Today we head east from Carlisle along the path of Hadrian’s Wall, which stretched some 76 miles from the Tyne to the Solway. We call at Once Brewed Visitor Centre and see the remains of Housesteads Fort before continuing to Hexham, dominated by the Abbey overlooking the market square. In the afternoon we enjoy some superb scenery as we head into Upper Weardale and the market town of Alston before returning to Carlisle.

Day 3 Leaving after breakfast we travel to the Lake District, along Bassenthwaite Lake to the town of Keswick, where we take a break and have chance to look around. Continuing past Thirlmere and over Dunmail Raise we stop in Wordsworth’s Grasmere for a while before we return via Ambleside, Windermere, the spectacular Kirkstone Pass and beautiful Ullswater to Penrith and to the hotel.

Day 4 We cross into Scotland and head into the undiscovered Southwest – Dumfries and Galloway. Our journey takes us via Dumfries to Castle Douglas and along scenic Loch Ken to Dalmellington and the Burns Heritage Park at Alloway. This afternoon we make our way back through the Scottish Lowlands to the town of Moffat, famed for its connections with the wool trade, to Gretna, Carlisle and the hotel.

Day 5 After breakfast we leave and begin our homeward journey.