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In the Footsteps of The Northern Saints

No Single supplement for solo travellers!

Join us for a special short break In The Footsteps Of The Northern Saints visiting some of the most important locations connected to the Christian history of our shores. Our base for the four nights will be Durham’s St Chad's College, close to the Cathedral right in the heart of the city where we include a guided tour. Officially titled as the Cathedral of Blessed Mary the Virgin and St. Cuthbert of Durham, it is the home of the Shrine of St. Cuthbert and is the seat of the Bishop of Durham, the fourth-ranked bishop in the Church of England hierarchy.

We also visit Chester-Le-Street; where the bible was first translated into English by Brother Aldred, Hartlepool, where Hilda was Abbess for 10 years, before going on to found Whitby Abbey; built as a double monastery of Benedictine monks and nuns this is the site where St. Hilda was appointed as the Abbess,the Farne Islands and the highlight of the trip – Lindisfarne with the chance to walk the sands in the footsteps of the Northern Saints.

We’ll take historic walks together and enjoy worship at some of these wonderful locations. A great time of fellowship to reunite with old friends and make new ones and enjoy the company of like-minded souls.

Itinerary

  1. Durham Cathedral

    Travel to Durham (D)

    Morning: make your own way to Durham and check-in at St Chad’s College, located just over a half mile walk from the railway station, for a four-night stay.

    Afternoon: meet your fellow pilgrims at 15:15 and stroll just 100 metres for a guided tour of Durham’s magnificent cathedral. Officially titled as the Cathedral Blessed Mary the Virgin and St. Cuthbert of Durham, it is the home of the Shrine of St. Cuthbert and is the seat of the Bishop of Durham, the fourth-ranked bishop in the Church of England hierarchy.

    Evening: get to know your fellow pilgrims over a welcome dinner at St Chads College and an introductory talk.

    Key to symbols: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, DR = Drink

  2. DAY 2 – Holy Island of Lindisfarne (B, L, D)

    Morning: a scenic journey through the ancient kingdom of Northumbria to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where St. Cuthbert lived for many years. Take the opportunity to walk across the sands following the pilgrim route to the island (approx. three miles) or take the coach and have a guided walk of Lindisfarne.

    Late afternoon: an included packed lunch before taking Holy Communion in the parish church. After, drive to the fishing village of Seahouses, from where you will sail around the Farne Islands where St. Cuthbert dies as a hermit.

    Evening: en route back to Durham, stop off in Alnwick to enjoy a fish and chip supper before returning to Durham.

    Key to symbols: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, DR = Drink

  3. DAY 3 – Chester Le Street & Jarrow (B, L, D)

    Morning: we take a short coach journey to Chester Le Street where we visit the Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert, which for many years was the shrine of St. Cuthbert. Here the bible was first translated into English by Brother Aldred. Highlights include a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Ankers House Museum.

    Afternoon: journey via the Angel of the North sculpture to Jarrow where we visit Bede’s Museum to learn about the English monk regarded as the ‘father of English history’, as well as life in an Anglo-Saxon village. Lunch included at Jarrow Hall.

    Evening: evening cruise on the River Wear around Durham Cold buffet style dinner on board.

    Key to symbols: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, DR = Drink

  4. DAY 4 – The Abbess and Synod of Whitby (B, D)

    Morning: we take a scenic coach journey across the moors journey to St Hilda’s Church and then drive to Whitby. St Hilda of Whitby lived in a time of incredible religious and political change in Britain. Christianity was emerging across the country and Hilda was baptised into the Christian faith with King Edwin in 627.

    Late afternoon: after free time for lunch in this coastal town we visit the ruins of Whitby Abbey. Built as a double monastery of Benedictine monks and nuns this is the site where St. Hilda was appointed as the Abbess.

    Evening: dinner in St. Chads college

    Key to symbols: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, DR = Drink

  5. Homeward bound (B)

    Time to bid farewell to new-found friends and make your won way home. Should you wish to spend further time in Durham before departing the college provides McCabe guests with a left-luggage facility.

    Key to symbols: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, DR = Drink

Essential Information

Included excursions

  • Guided tour of Durham Cathedral
  • · Chester Le Street – Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert
  • · Guided tour of Bede’s museum, Jarrow – new for 2024!
  • · St Hilda’s Church Hartlepool
  • · Whitby and Whitby Abbey
  • · Lindisfarne
  • · Boat trip around the Farne Islands
  • · Evening cruise on River Wear around Durham – new for 2024

Optional excursions

None! – all excursions and extras as listed above and below are included!

Included extras

  • All coach driver gratuities
  • Local guide gratuities
  • Restaurant and other small gratuities
  • Visit of the Angel of the North
  • Cruise around the Farne Islands
  • Entertainment from a special guest

Included meals & drinks

Meals: a full breakfast each morning, lunch at Jarrow Hall and a packed lunch in Lindisfarne. All evening meals including a fish and chips supper and a buffet on the evening cruise around Durham/

Drinks: tea, coffee and fruit juice at breakfast. All other drinks are at your own expense.

Our team in Durham

Our dedicated McCabe Tour Leader is there solely for our guests. They will escort all excursions, lead worship and be available for any queries and offer local advice, hints and tips for you to get maximum enjoyment of your time with us. On three days there will be a local guide to bring the history of the saints and local region to life.

Getting to Durham

The tour of Durham Cathedral begins at 15:30 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.

By train

St Chad’s College is situated just over half a mile walking distance from Durham Station. For train times and information visit the trainline website.

www.thetrainline.com

By coach

National Express operate services to Durham direct from a number of UK destinations.

www.nationalexpress.com

By air

Newcastle International Airport is 25 miles from Durham with connections to Durham by bus, train or taxi.

By car

There is no parking available at St. Chad’s but the nearby Prince Bishops Place Shopping Centre is less than half a mile away. For information call: 0191 375 0416

Your accommodation

Four nights’ accommodation in the heart of Durham just 100 metres from the cathedral in St. Chad’s College – rooms will be allocated in their houses across the North Bailey. All rooms are en-suite and there are a number of single rooms at no extra charge.

 

 

 

 

Practical information

Travelling alone - no single supplement!

Many of our passengers travel alone and object to expensive single room supplements. Due to McCabe's relationship with St. Chad's College we are able to offer this pilgrimage at no additional cost to single travellers who wish to have their own room.

Clothing

The UK weather and English summer has its own mood as we are all aware. Please do cater for all eventualities remembering that the eastern coastal winds can make warmer days still seem cooler. Also comfortable walking shoes, trainers or boots would be advisable.

Mobility

There is a certain amount of walking (and stairs) involved on a daily basis on this pilgrimage so please make sure you pack comfy footwear for this so that you are prepared. Your Local Guide and Tour Leader will keep you updated on a daily basis with what to expect the following day. If you are finding it difficult to keep up then please make sure you tell them so they can help you to find places to rest and relax and then you can re-join the group at a later stage.

Whilst this is not a trekking or adventure holiday there will be some walking required where you may be on your feet for up to 90 minutes and the terrain may be a little uneven. The paving may not always be smooth and seating not always available.

Cancellation insurance

Whilst UK residents are fully covered under the UK National Health Service we do advise that you have insurance in the event of having to cancel your travel plans and need to claim loss of deposits or payments made.

Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That’s why we have specifically chosen Holiday Extras as our *preferred travel insurance provider to ensure that you are protected before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras offer McCabe Travel guests favourable rates for single trip, multi-trip and annual policies.

For more information or to obtain a quote click below for their website

https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance

Or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor.

Please quote AG628 upon calling to receive the best rates

The McCabe Educational Trust

The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity with the aim of helping inspiring people we meet on some of our pilgrimages. As ‘the haves’ encounter the ‘have nots’ the Trust has become a practical tool for one to help the other.

McCabe Pilgrimages invite all travellers to become partners in this work. A £20 voluntary donation to the Trust’s work is added to every pilgrim’s invoice and all money raised in this way is given in full to the projects the Trust supports. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

Full financial security

All money paid to McCabe is fully secure. Holidays including flights are covered by our ATOL license from the Civil Aviation Authority, and holidays without flights are protected by our membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. If a pilgrimage is cancelled, for instance through lack of numbers or for political considerations, McCabe will promptly refund all monies paid.

AITO Quality Statement

McCabe Pilgrimages is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. McCabe abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter.

You can read McCabe reviews on the AITO website here

 

 

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Dates

Our Programme Tour Leader Tour Dates Availability
A pilgrimage to Durham and Lindisfarne Northern Saints Prices from £955 pp The Revd Kevin Dunne 25/07/2024 for 5 days Download brochure Book now Make an enquiry
A pilgrimage to Durham and Lindisfarne Northern Saints Prices from £955 pp The Revd Kevin Dunne 09/09/2024 for 5 days Download brochure Book now Make an enquiry

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