Great Britain

The Northern Saints

Prices from £625 pp

Next available tour: Call for Details

Tour leader: Call for Details

show all dates & availability

Follow in the footsteps of England's early saints

We invite you to join us for a special short break for Summer 2019 - In The Footsteps Of The Northern Saints. Our pilgrimage in the north will visit some of the most important locations connected to the Christian history of our shores.

Our itinerary will include visits to Durham Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, Chester-Le-Street, Whitby, the Farne Islands and the highlight of the trip - Lindisfarne. We’ll take historic walks and ride the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway and we’ll worship together at some of these wonderful locations.

Our base for the four nights will be Durham’s Hatfield College, close to the Cathedral. We are looking forward to our journey together which will be a great time of fellowship as we reunite with old friends and make new ones.

Our short break are open to everyone but if you would like to bring a group you may wish to set up your own group departure.

To read recent feedback click here

Click to view slideshow

Itinerary

Travel to Durham

Independent travel to Durham. Four night stay at Hatfield College where we meet at 15:30 to be taken for a guided tour of Durham Cathedral and the opportunity to join in Evening Prayer. Welcome drinks, dinner and Introductory talk at Hatfield College.
Holy Island of Lindisfarne

We journey north through the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where St. Cuthbert lived for many years. The tide will be out when we arrive and you will have the choice to walk across the sands following the pilgrim route to the island (a distance of three miles through wet and muddy sands and shallow water). Those who prefer to cross by coach will have a guided walk of Lindisfarne.

A packed lunch will be provided and there will be free time for you to explore the island before we gather for our service of Holy Communion in the Parish Church.

We drive south to the fishing village of Seahouses where we will sail around the Farne Islands (where St Cuthbert died as a hermit). On return to Seahouses we will enjoy a fish and chip supper before retracing our journey south to Durham.
Chester-Le-Street and Hexham

We travel by coach to Chester-le-Street where we visit the Parish Church of St.Mary and St Cuthbert, which was for many years the shrine of St Cuthbert. Here the Bible was first translated into English by Brother Aldred. Highlights are a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Ankers House Museum.

We journey via The Angel of the North to Hexham where we have lunch at the Abbey. Afternoon tour of Hexham Abbey, the site of a Benedictine Monastery first established c674 by St Wilfred. Return to Durham for dinner at Hatfield College with entertainment from a special guest.
The Synod of Whitby

We drive towards the coastal town of Whitby and plan to arrive in nostalgic style by steam train across the North Yorkshire Moors. Free time by the sea for lunch. This afternoon we bring our pilgrimage to a dramatic close at Whitby Abbey where the Synod of Whitby took place in 664. This is the site of a Benedictine Abbey founded by Oswy, King of Northumbria and St Hilda became the first Abbess here. We return to Durham for dinner at the college.
Homeward bound

Independent travel home. The college kindly provides us with a left luggage facility, should you wish to spend some time in Durham and travel home on a later train or coach.

Essential Information

Included

The cost of this holiday is £625 with pretty much everything included, except your travel to Durham.

You make your own way to Durham by car, train or coach. Hatfield College is a very short taxi ride from the train or coach station. If you are driving, there is parking nearby. Four breakfasts, four dinners and two lunches are included, as are all entrance fees and gratuities, which the tour leader will disburse to those who help us on our journey. We will have our own coach for touring.

Travelling Alone

We have plenty of single rooms, with private facilities, which are available without any supplementary charge.

Hatfield College

You will stay for four nights in Durham at Hatfield College, which is within the walled city, close to the Cathedral. University accommodation is the ideal choice for our short break. Hatfield College is located in a peaceful setting close to the Cathedral and city centre. Amenities include dining room and bar and a large number of single rooms, all with private bathrooms and tea/coffee making facilities - and no single supplement! Rooms are located on three levels without lift access.

Travel Insurance

The main risk you may want to cover is cancellation charges. To minimise this risk, McCabe’s will refund in full anyone cancelling more than six weeks before departure. Anyone cancelling after this date will lose 50% of the holiday cost. We are not offering insurance cover, but you can obtain this easily online or for instance at post offices.

Any Special Requests for instance, special diets, should be printed on the booking form.

A deposit is payable now with the balance due eight weeks prior to departure. Final details will be confirmed in your travel wallet two weeks prior to departure.

Financial Security

All monies paid are fully protected through McCabe’s membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. McCabe are also members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators and abide by the Association’s code of conduct.

Practical information

Travel Information

The tour begins at 15:30 on Monday with a guided tour of Durham cathedral so we suggest that you plan your travel to arrive in Durham by 14:00 - when check in at the college opens. If you arrive earlier there is a facility to store your luggage.

Drive: Hatfield College has a car park, but with limited spaces. We will try and secure places here, but if not nearby secure parking is available. We will send you full details before departure.

Train: Durham station is on the main East coast line, and served by many train companies including East Coast; Trans Pennine and Cross Country.

Coach: National Express coaches serve Durham Bus Station. There is a direct service from London Victoria.

Taxis are readily available at Durham coach and train stations. Expect to pay less than £5 for the run to the college. The college is less than a 20 minute walk from the station and there is a map on the platform.

Read reviews

Dates

Upcoming Pilgrimages

We have no tours scheduled to this destination at present.

Send to a friend

Over the Sea to Iona

Prices from £695 pp

Travel club

A portfolio of tours with our regular travellers in mind