Destinations for 2024

Windermere-on-Bowness (9:00 am – 5.50 pm)

From Newton Aycliffe we drive straight to Bowness, when disembarking the coach each senior citizen will receive £15.00 in cash, to purchase their own lunch, the village centre has a wide variety of cafes, pubs and restaurants to choose from.

Bowness is a small village which sits on the shores of England’s largest natural lake, Windermere, from the shores of the lake you can hire a boat or take a cruise of the lake. Bowness has a great selection of shops, with a long high street that stretches down to the lakeshore. Here you will find a few well known high street brands interspersed with art galleries, antique shops, independent gift shops, and local artisan food producers. The village centre also has many cafes, pubs and restaurants to choose from, a perfect place to rest and refuel.

In the afternoon why not visit The Lakes Gallery, full of award-winning images of the beautiful and dramatic Lake District National Park. Alternatively, you can visit Beatrix Potter World which is an enchanting visitors’ attraction where the author’s magical stories are brought to life in 3D. Entry fee is £8.00 for a senior.

Whitby (9:00 am to 5:15pm)

After leaving Newton Aycliffe we drive straight to Whitby, this ancient fishing port boasts connections to Captain Cook and Dracula. It’s quirky narrow streets and bustling harbour, overlooked by the striking Gothic ruins of the Abbey.

You’ll have time to wonder round the harbour, take in the sights and sounds of a working fishing port, this is also where HMS Bark Endeavour is docked, entry £5.00, experience what life was like for Captain Cook and his crew in the 1760’s.

For your enjoyment £15 will be issued to you on the coach, so you can lunch at any of Whitby’s wonderful eateries at a time that best suits you.

After lunch you can explore the East side of the river Esk, where a wide range of independent shops are situated. The West Cliff is home to the whalebone arch which commemorates the town’s maritime heritage, take a stroll along the West Pier, you can sit and enjoy the amazing views of the Abbey. The RNLI Lifeboat Museum (free entry) celebrates Whitby’s lifeboat history with a treasure trove of memorabilia from famous wrecks and rescues. The coach departs at 3.45pm at the main coach park.

Skipton (9:00 am – 5:15 pm)

From Newton Aycliffe we drive straight to Skipton, when disembarking the coach each senior citizens will receive £15.00 in cash, to purchase their own lunch.

Skipton is endlessly rich both in history and outstanding natural beauty. With its famous 900 year old castle, ruined priory and historic cobbled High Street, which boasts many independent shops, popular high street favourites, pubs and cafes.

Many of the town’s attractions are linked by the Millennium Walk route, making it easy to navigate around. Take a short stroll along the Springs Branch canal which runs beneath the castle ramparts into Skipton Woods, watch the world go by as you relax on a Leeds-Liverpool canal cruiser. Tickets priced at £9.50 for adults, £8.50 for 65+.

High Corn Mill and Waterwheel House boasts an interesting mix of shops and businesses, the Historical Innovation Zone gives visitors an insight into the workings behind the medieval mill, view the water wheel and turbine, this attraction is free to all.

York (9:00 am to 5:15 pm)

From Newton Aycliffe we drive straight to York, at 11 am you will have an opportunity to take in beautiful York, explore the walled city, independent shops and cafes, perhaps call in for a cup of tea in the world-famous Betty’s Tea Rooms.

For lunch, it’s a visit to the Hilton Hotel for a two-course meal, afterwards you could follow York’s Chocolate Trail, take a mouth-watering wander through time, packed full of chocolate, pioneers and famous confectionery, or why not visit the Minster, this ancient building has exquisite, handcrafted stone and an unrivalled collection of medieval stained glass.

Or enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the ten-acre botanical Museum Gardens, around the Yorkshire Museum, they stretch from the River Ouse up to the back of York Art Gallery, and from Marygate on one side to Museum Street on the other. The gardens are a listed Botanical Garden and contain many varieties of trees, deciduous and evergreen, native.

Whitley Bay (9:30 am to 2:50 pm)

This excursion is ideal for anyone wishing to experience a shorter day. After leaving Newton Aycliffe we drive to Whitley Bay.

Whitley Bay provides a perfect destination for a day out, enjoy a walk on the golden sands and sample award-winning ice cream. Why not take a stroll along the links and visit the Links Art Gallery which displays a wide range of quality artworks with an emphasis on creations by North East artists.

You can visit the Town Centre which hosts a wide range of independent retailers. Park View Shopping Centre is a small indoor mall with high street names and home to many smaller independent traders selling quality local produce, gifts, and fashion.

At lunch time you will enjoy a two-course lunch of award-winning fish and chips in ‘Trenchers’ restaurant, which is located in the newly renovated Spanish City.