Stokesley University of the Third Age- Travel and Excursions

Following on from a short talk about the Pitman Painters in the Art History Group in early March a visit is planned to the Woodhorn Museum at Ashington, Northumberland on the above date.

The Museum includes the Pitman Painter’s Gallery where the surviving paintings of the Ashington Group, as they were known, are on display and will include an Introductory Talk on the Painters.

The visit will also include a Guided Tour around the surviving Pit Buildings (not suitable for persons of limited mobility).

The coach will leave Stokesley at 9-30 (returning about 5-30) and the fare will be £24.00 per person to include lunch.

A further stop during our return at the Milkhope Centre, Blagdon for coffee and a browse around the Farm Shops is possible. (We will decide on the day depending on timing.)

The revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, was a wonder of its age. Built on a rocky crag high above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first house in the world to be lit electrically. The house was built over the period 1870 - 1885 including the many extensions, improvements and upgrading occurring during that period. Surrounding the house is one of the largest rock gardens in Europe. Beyond this centrepiece is the vast woodland garden of Armstrong's transatlantic conifer collection. The house and estate became the property of The National Trust in 1977 and was opened to the public for the first time in 1979. A hop on, hop off courtesy minibus service operates between main facilities and selected attractions, including between the House and the Formal Gardens.

Our coach will leave Stokesley at 8-00 and will arrive at Cragside where we will have tea/coffee on arrival. A guided tour of the House is booked for 10-45 (prompt). A Restaurant providing refreshments and light lunches is available and there are picnic tables overlooking Tumbleton Lake at the Visitor Centre (Minibus) for those who wish to take their own lunch.Price will be £30-00pp (National Trust Members £20-00 but MUST produce Membership Card on Entry).

This trip is now fully booked – A reserve list has been opened; please complete a booking form to be added to it. If there is enough demand we may be able to put on a second coach subject to availability.

Chester and Liverpool (22nd/23rd June 2010) - this has now been cancelled because of inadequate numbers. Cheques will be returned.

At the top of Skipton's main street stand the massive twin towers of Skipton Castle...

Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is well worth a visit at any season of the year.

Visitors can explore every corner of this impressive history-rich castle, which withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War. View the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber and Privy. Climb from the depths of the Dungeon to the top storey of the Watch Tower. The castle tour takes you through the medieval kitchen, banqueting hall, bedchamber and privy - Skipton Castle offers a superb insight into what life was like in a medieval castle. Its history is intimately connected with the Clifford family - note the Yew tree in the central courtyard planted by Lady Anne Clifford (1590-1676) to mark the completion of repair work after civil war damage. A tea shop, picnic area and shop are all on-site.

NB The Castle Tour itself is not suitable for persons with limited mobility. There are many stairs to climb although handrails are available.

The canal itself is Britain's longest, at 127 miles, and was originally used for transporting coal, stone, cloth and other cargo after its completion in 1816.

Of course the canal's busy industrial heyday has now passed, but the Leeds-Liverpool is still enjoyed by thousands as a brilliant way of exploring the area, reliving the past and relaxing as the world passes by.

The Leeds-Liverpool canal is one of the UK’s quietest and most peaceful, particularly in the stretch around Skipton where the Dales scenery is particularly stunning.

Our Coach will leave Stokesley at 9-00 and return approx 6-45. The ticket will include tea/coffee on arrival at the Castle and a Guided Tour of the Castle. Free time in Skipton to absorb the market along the High Street before assembling at 2-45 to board our Narrow Boat for a two-hour Cream Tea Cruise along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal (included in ticket price) before returning to our coach at 5-00 for our return to Stokesley. Price will be £34-00.

Bronte Museum, Haworth and East Riddlesden Hall and travelling along the Keighley Restored Steam Railway ( 25th August 2010)

Haworth Parsonage was built in 1778-9. On the 20th April 1820 Patrick Bronte, his wife Maria and their six children, moved to the Parsonage at Haworth. The Brontë Parsonage Museum is maintained by the Brontë Society in honour of the famed Brontë sisters — Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë — and is located in Haworth, West Yorkshire, an area of England covered in much open, expansive moorland. It is popular with those seeking to find the source of the sisters' inspiration, and is of particular interest as the Brontës spent most of their lives here and wrote their famous novels in these surroundings. The visit includes an Introductory Talk and admission to the Museum.

There will be free time in Haworth for a light lunch (not included) before assembling at Haworth station for the 1-00 train on the:-

Step back in time and enjoy a train ride through the heart of Brontë country. The Railway is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1970 film version of Edith Nesbit's story The Railway Children. Many of the woollen mills that once stood close to the line have been demolished, but a few remain as reminders that the textile industry was the reason why the line was built. Like the railway, the mills relied on coal, and the trains were able to bring hundreds of tons up the valley each week to keep the looms working by steam power. The five mile journey is a powerful reminder of our industrial heritage, as well as being a unique way of enjoying the beautiful countryside immortalised by Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë.

This intimate manor house is set in mature grounds with a duck pond and picnic area. The house has a wonderful ambience and is furnished with textiles, Yorkshire oak furniture and pewter. Wildflowers, perennials, lavender and a fragrant herb border provide a changing carpet of colour throughout the year. A magnificent 17th-century oak-framed barn stands in the grounds. Includes Guided Tour and Tea/Coffee and cake.

Price will be £31-00. (NT Members £26) (Price includes admissions, tours and rail fare)

Please complete a Booking Form to reserve a place for this trip - Seating limited to 33 maximum, first come, first served!

A visit to Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum followed by free time at Hexham, whose medieval buildings form an imposing skyline. At the centre of these is Hexham Abbey. Could be in September.