Quality Coach Holidays for
Transcription
Quality Coach Holidays for
s r a e y 5 2 Quality Coach Holidays for 1989-2014 WELCOME to Roadmark’s selection of holidays and short breaks for 2014. In the following pages you will find tours ranging from one to seven nights throughout the UK and Europe. At Roadmark Travel we are proud of the fact that, for a small company, we are able to provide such variety, including classic destinations like Sidmouth and the Edinburgh Tattoo as well as more specialist tours that you will not find on offer elsewhere. 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 I find it hard to believe that it is almost 25 years since we started Roadmark Travel and began offering quality coach tours for people living in Sussex. Since that time the number of destinations has grown but our aim has remained the same, namely to provide holidays that are well organised, include varied and interesting excursions, take you to beautiful places to stay in comfortable hotels and which, of course, are great value for money. Many of you have been regular travellers with Roadmark throughout this time and we are incredibly grateful for the support and loyalty of our clients. Whilst we cannot promise to always get everything exactly right we regularly receive thank you letters from clients following a holiday – there are extracts from just a few on the back cover of this brochure, together with some of the photos you have sent us. The majority of Roadmark holidays include door-to-door service and even if you live outside our ‘inclusive taxi area’ we can normally arrange this for a modest extra charge. This saves time and worry and means that you will never miss the coach! Once on board you will be in the safe hands of one of our experienced and caring drivers, most of who have been with the Company for many years. Remember that, unlike some larger operators, we do not use ‘feeder’ coaches, making the journey to and from your destination a pleasurable experience and very much part of the holiday. Please do spend time reading the details listed by each individual holiday, for only by doing this will you see just how much is included. We like to feel that going away with Roadmark is like going on holiday with your own family and that you will find a friendly and welcoming atmosphere on all our tours. Although I spend most of my time in the office I am fortunate in being able to drive the coach on a number of our tours and look forward to meeting you, either as an old friend or a new customer. Mark Anderson Tours Manager September 2013 2 2013 HOLIDAY AVAILABILITY We still have space available on a number of our holidays in 2013 and early 2014… AUTUMN MYSTERY HOLIDAY 17th November for 5 days WAKE UP AT THE WALDORF 24th November for 2 days GRASSINGTON DICKENSIAN FESTIVAL 6th December for 4 days ADVENT IN AUSTRIA 9th December for 8 days CHRISTMAS IN CONSTABLE COUNTRY 23rd December for 5 days LAKES & PEAKS OF THE SALZKAMMERGUT 25th January for 9 days Please enquire for details. FULLY BOOKED? We have two holidays that are already full next year…. p.s. If you have never been on one of our holidays before why not experience Roadmark hospitality on the special three-day break for Newcomers? Full details are on page 7. DRIFTING THROUGH THE DORDOGNE p.p.s. I nearly forgot to mention the small hard-working team in our office here in Storrington. Kate, Carol, Nigel and David are here to answer any questions and take your bookings so please contact us if we can be of help. Please ask if you would like to be added to the waiting list for either of these tours. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 THE SCILLY ISLES 30th July for 7 days 13th September for 8 days Mercedes Tourismo Coach Seating Plan DRIVER A A A A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B B B B B B B B B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R C C C C C D D D D D Servery C C C C C C D D D D D D NEW Itinerary In 2014 we invite you to join Roadmark for a great holiday to… TOUR February THORESBY HALL (W) 5 days 3 WEST COUNTRY WINTER WARMER 5 days 4 LUDLOW & THE SHROPSHIRE HILLS 5 days 4 April May June July August DURATION PAGE Same price as 2013! SPRING IN SOMERSET Cricket St. Thomas (W) 5 days 5 HISTORIC CHESTER 5 days 6 WARNERS THORESBY HALL NEWCOMERS’ HOLIDAY 3 days 7 Monday 10th February for 5 days THE BULBFIELDS OF HOLLAND (P) 5 days 7 SIDMOUTH 6 days 8 PROUD TO BE BRITISH part 3 5 days 8 LINCOLNSHIRE & THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS 5 days 9 CANTABRIA & THE PICOS DE EUROPA (P) 8 days 10 ANCHORS AWAY Norton Grange (W) 5 days 11 SIMPLY BRUGES (P) 3 days 11 SUNNY WEYMOUTH 5 days 12 MURDER MYSTERY IN CARDIFF 3 days 12 THE ENGLISH LAKES 7 days 13 PERFECT PEMBROKESHIRE 5 days 14 NATIONAL TRUST HOUSES & GARDENS OF EAST ANGLIA 5 days 15 THE EDINBURGH TATTOO 4 days 16 JERSEY – BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS 5 days 17 STEAMING THROUGH DORSET 4 days 18 September ORKNEY & SHETLAND MINICRUISE 8 days 19 MERSEY MAGIC 5 days 20 MENEN & THE WESTERN FRONT (P) 5 days 20 KRAKOW & THE TATRA MOUNTAINS (P) 6 days 21 COASTS & CASTLES OF IRELAND 8 days 22 AUTUMN IN THE EIFEL (P) 5 days 23 Warner’s Thoresby Hall Hotel in Nottinghamshire really has the wow factor. Only a decade ago this beautiful grade I listed country house close to Sherwood Forest had fallen into disrepair. It has been lovingly restored and transformed into a four-star hotel with a welcoming feel and modern accommodation. Thoresby has a fabulous indoor swimming pool and bubble pool with sauna, steam room and aromatherapy cave. At the World Spa you can pamper yourself with a range of treatments from around the globe (additional cost for spa treatments). There is a programme of daytime activities to keep you occupied. Breakfast is an all-you-can-eat buffet and an extensive dinner menu is served in the newly refurbished Sherwood Restaurant. There is great entertainment each night with shows, comedy and dancing. HOLIDAY ITINERARY – Passport Required DAY 1 We travel through Buckinghamshire and the Chilterns. Continuing through rural Northamptonshire and Leicestershire we reach Thoresby Hall late afternoon. Hotel porters will take your luggage to your room before a delicious three-course dinner. DAY 2 A drive of about 30 miles takes us to the historic CITY OF LINCOLN. The magnificent cathedral is one of the tallest man-made structures in the world. The medieval quarter has attractive half-timbered buildings and other attractions include the Castle and Bishops Palace. DAY 3 A free day to enjoy the wide range of activities available at Thoresby Hall, or to simply relax by the pool. DAY 4 A half-day excursion to SOUTHWELL, one of Nottinghamshire’s most picturesque towns. Southwell has many elegant Regency houses, but its jewel in the crown is the MINSTER CHURCH, boasting some of the best medieval stone carving in England. There will time to visit the Minster, often referred to as “The Cathedral of Nottinghamshire”, and the Town Centre, where Thursday is Market Day. DAY 5 We leave Thoresby and drive to CHESTERFIELD. Here you will find Derbyshire’s largest church with its famous ‘Crooked Spire’ soaring 228 feet from the ground and leaning over 9 feet from its centre. Chesterfield also has one of the biggest open-air markets in the country, where you will be able to browse before we head home for Sussex during the afternoon. On our return a taxi £379 per person will take you to your door. Deposit £75 per person – By Air from Gatwick www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk October TORTWORTH COURT (CH) 5 days 24 3 days 25 BEMBRIDGE COAST (W) 4 days 25 DERBYSHIRE & THE FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET 4 days 26 November STUDLEY CASTLE December THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR 3 days 27 A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS 5 days 27 GERMANY’S FAIRYTALE CHRISTMAS MARKETS (P) 5 days A LOOK AHEAD TO NORWAY 2015 BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS W – A Warner Holidays Leisure Hotel/Coastal Village CH – Roadmark ‘Country House Collection’ P 25 14 Month March Y of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 28 29 30/31 Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 3 © www.geograph.org.uk – Wayland Smith 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 LUDLOW & THE SHROPSHIRE HILLS Sunday 9th March for 5 days WEST COUNTRY WINTER WARMER Toorak Hotel – Only £299 for 5 days! Monday 24th February for 5 days The charming town of LUDLOW with its spectacular castle lies in The Marches, the region flanking the England/Wales border. This early spring tour is full of interest and has been designed to blow away those winter blues. You will enjoy pleasant local excursions combined with evening activities in the historic Feathers Hotel, right in the town centre. We last ran this tour in 2011 and found it was very well received. HOLIDAY ITINERARY It has been a few years since we last visited one of our favourite hotels, the Toorak Hotel in Torquay on the “English Riviera”, famous for its mild climate and subtropical plants. Just a short stroll from the seafront, the 3-star Toorak is part of the Torquay Leisure Hotels complex and provides a wide range of entertainment and leisure activities including an indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and spa. Previous Roadmark guests have been very complimentary about the food and service at the Toorak, which has 92 bedrooms, most with lift access. There is music and dancing each night. As well as the included coach excursions you will be able to take part in an entertaining session of Short Mat Bowls. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Once everyone is on board the coach we will be on our way to the West Country. After a lunch break in pretty SHAFTESBURY we continue through Somerset and reach Torbay by late afternoon. DAY 2 Today is DARTMOOR DAY. From the comfort of the coach you will be able to admire the rugged scenery of the Dartmoor National Park, perhaps at its best in winter. DAY 3 A day at leisure to enjoy Torquay and the excellent leisure facilities at our Hotel. You can try your hand at SHORT MAT BOWLS in a fun session in which everyone can take part and is suitable for complete beginners and more experienced players alike. All the equipment will be provided and there could even be prizes for those who show promise! DAY 4 Our SCENIC TORBAY excursion will take you to the picturesque and colourful fishing port of BRIXHAM and then to PAIGNTON ZOO for a walk on the wild side. One of Britain’s top zoos and home to some of our planet’s rarest and most amazing creatures, you will come face to face with gorillas, orang utans, giraffes, tigers, lions, rhinos and many more. DAY 5 We make our way back along the south coast, making a stop for lunch in the attractive Dorset town of BRIDPORT. By late afternoon we will £299 per person rendezvous with the taxis home to your Deposit £75 per person door. Emerald Insurance www.tlh.co.uk 4 £19.75 per person Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 DAY 1 We drive through the Cotswolds to the Cathedral City of WORCESTER where there will be time to explore and find lunch. In the afternoon we continue through the delightful villages and countryside of Shropshire. A welcome drink is followed by dinner, after which a local speaker will give an introductory talk on the area. DAY 2 Today we will be joined by Blue Badge Guide Fay Wrixon. We will travel with Fay to HEREFORD through some of the beautiful BLACK & WHITE VILLAGES for which the area is renowned. After time to find lunch you can choose between a short guided city walk and a tour of the Cathedral. For those that wish there will be an opportunity to see the MAPPA MUNDI, the famous medieval map of the world (admission not included). Tonight’s entertainment will feature a Murder Mystery evening at the Hotel presented by a local amateur group. DAY 3 We begin today with a visit to the SECRET HILLS DISCOVERY CENTRE, the perfect place to start our exploration of the Shropshire Hills. The exhibition includes a fascinating film panorama made from hot air balloon flights over the area. We will then take a gentle drive through Corve Dale to the town of BRIDGNORTH, perched high above the River Severn, where there will be time to stroll and find lunch. After dinner enjoy a local QUIZ. DAY 4 This morning a short ride takes us to the LUDLOW FOOD CENTRE where over 80% of the produce is sourced from Shropshire and the surrounding counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Powys. There are 8 production kitchens preparing bread, cheese, meat, jams, pickles, chutneys and deli products. We return to LUDLOW where you can spend the rest of the day exploring this attractive town beside the River Teme. There will be musical entertainment in the Hotel this evening. DAY 5 After breakfast we visit the HOP POCKET CRAFT & GARDEN CENTRE, an Aladdin’s Cave of crafts and gifts. Our lunch stop today will be in the elegant spa town of CHELTENHAM with its Regency Townhouses, stylish shops and historic Promenade. We reach Sussex by late afternoon for taxis to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL Described by the New York Times as ‘the most handsome inn in the world’, the 3-star FEATHERS HOTEL is internationally recognised for its beautiful Jacobean architecture and medieval heritage. Situated at the heart of the ancient market town of Ludlow, there are craft and antique shops and a wealth of historic buildings all within easy walking distance. Dinner is a three-course menu with choice and includes tea or coffee. A full English breakfast is served each morning. All rooms are ensuite with bath and £299 per person shower, television, telephone and tea/coffee sharing a making. The comfortable bar is the perfect twin/double room place to enjoy a cocktail before or a liqueur £39 single room supplement after dinner. There is a lift, although the Deposit £75 per person historic nature of the building means that Emerald Insurance £19.75 there are still steps to some bedrooms. www.feathersatludlow.co.uk Includes door to door service Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 SPRING IN SOMERSET Warners Cricket St. Thomas Monday 24th March for 5 days You will never be short of things to do at Cricket St. Thomas, with activities including: 䡲 Air Rifle & Pistol Shooting 䡲 Short Mat Bowls 䡲 Table Tennis 䡲 Archery 䡲 Putting Green 䡲 Tennis 䡲 Croquet 䡲 Boules 䡲 Disc Golf 䡲 Heated indoor pool 䡲 Steam room & sauna. For a little extra you can treat yourself to Spa beauty treatments and enjoy a relaxing massage or facial. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 We head for SALISBURY, where the magnificent cathedral spire soars 404 feet above the city. The Cathedral contains the world’s oldest working clock and has one of four surviving copies of the Magna Carta. After time to explore and find lunch we drive through the Vale of Blackmoor to Cricket St. Thomas, arriving in good time to relax and prepare for dinner and the evening’s entertainment. DAY 2 After breakfast join the coach to head across the Somerset Levels to the small cathedral City of WELLS. Wells has a fascinating history stretching back to Roman times and takes its name from ancient springs which can today be found in the gardens of the Bishops Palace. The Cathedral has been welcoming pilgrims for over 1100 years and you will enjoy a fascinating tour with one of the Cathedral’s highly trained guides. DAY 3 No excursion today, enabling you to spend a full day at the Hotel, enjoying the wide range of facilities and activities. Subject to staff availability there will be a fascinating guided tour of the © www.geograph.org.uk – John Stephen We make no apologies for offering another chance to stay at this beautiful Warner country house hotel situated deep in rural Somerset. Set amidst 160 acres of lakes, cascades and gardens, Cricket St. Thomas has historical links to Lord Nelson and was the location for the TV series “To The Manor Born”. Within the grounds is the tiny 12th century parish church of St. Thomas where you can see the brocade cloth which adorned the Coronation altar in 1953. In common with all Warner Hotels you can expect comfortable ensuite accommodation, excellent food and a high standard of entertainment. spectacular gardens led by one of the gardeners at Cricket St. Thomas. DAY 4 Today we will drive to Dorset’s JURASSIC COAST. Along the scenic route we will pass Bridport, West Bay, Lyme Regis, Seaton, Beer and the attractive seaside resort of Sidmouth. DAY 5 It’s time to say farewell to Cricket St. Thomas and return to Sussex. There will be a stop for lunch in the historic market town of WAREHAM on the River Frome. By late afternoon we reach the local area for taxis home to your door. www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk £399 per person Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 5 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 Reduction for NT Members HISTORIC CHESTER and NORTH WALES with Blue Badge Guide Paul Fisher Great value just £349 for 5 days Departs Tuesday 1st April Following successful visits to York in the last two years, Paul Fisher has devised and will accompany this brand new tour to the beautiful city of Chester. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 A taxi will collect you from home and bring you to the coach to join your driver, Tour Manager and fellow travellers. We drive to the small cathedral city of LICHFIELD for a lunch break then continue through the Trent Valley and south Cheshire to reach our hotel late afternoon for a welcome cup of tea and bara brith whilst luggage is being taken to your rooms. DAY 2 After breakfast we make the short drive to CHESTER. We will spend the morning exploring the ancient city by coach and on foot. Paul will introduce you to Chester’s 2000 years of history and take you on a gentle stroll around the most complete City Walls in Britain, exploring the towers, Eastgate Clock, River Dee, largest Roman Amphitheatre and oldest racecourse in Britain. We will visit The Cross where the Town Crier still makes his traditional midday proclamation. After time to find lunch in one of Chester’s many old inns and wander among the ‘Rows’ (the unique two-tiered shopping area), we 6 will make our way to the Cathedral located in the heart of the city and featuring some of Europe’s finest medieval carvings. DAY 3 Today we explore part of the Snowdonia National Park on a scenic excursion through North Wales. A drive over the Horseshoe Pass brings us to LLANGOLLEN where the River Dee tumbles through the pretty town centre. Continuing through the glorious Vale of Llangollen we pass Betws-ycoed then descend gently through the Vale of Conwy to CONWY, Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval walled town. Paul will take you on a leisurely stroll around the World Heritage Site that includes the mighty Conwy Castle, and, as a complete contrast, the UK’s smallest house. DAY 4 Our first visit today is to ARLEY HALL, an impressive example of a Victorian country house built in the Elizabethan style. On a guided tour of the House you will discover the intricate stained glass and beautiful furnishings that make this family home so special. There are 8 acres of formal gardens with herbaceous borders and an avenue of lime trees. Close by is the ANDERTON BOAT LIFT, an incredible edifice perched on the banks of the River Weaver and built in 1875 to lift boats from the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal. There will be time to visit the Exhibition and take a trip on the ‘Edwin Clark’ through the Lift itself. DAY 5 We drive to ATTINGHAM PARK near Shrewsbury. Set in a beautiful deer park this 18th Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 century mansion was built for the first Lord Berwick in 1785 and is now in the care of the National Trust. The House was in continuous ownership by the family for over 160 years, went through a long period of neglect and is now being restored to its former Regency splendour. During the afternoon we return to Sussex for taxis home to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL You will stay for 4 nights with dinner, bed and breakfast, at the BEAUFORT PARK HOTEL (AA 3-star) near Mold in Flintshire. The Hotel has a welcoming atmosphere and friendly attentive staff. Bedrooms are well appointed with television, telephone, tea/coffee tray, trouser press and hairdryer. The Orchard Restaurant serves a traditional Welsh breakfast and table d’hôte dinner. There is no lift, but ground floor rooms are available on request. On one night of your stay there will be a quiz and on another you will be entertained by a Welsh MALE VOICE CHOIR & HARPIST. www.beaufortparkhotel.co.uk £349 per person Reduction of £9 for NT members Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 Passport Required Price held from 2013! NEWCOMERS’ INTRODUCTORY HOLIDAY TO BOURNEMOUTH Sunday 13th April for 3 days If you have never travelled on a Roadmark coach holiday before you may be wondering what the experience entails, whether you will enjoy the company of others, and about the standard of the hotels we use? This short break to Bournemouth will answer these questions and enable you to experience Roadmark hospitality at a special reduced price. We invite you to join David, our Managing Director, for a two-night stay at the charming Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth with dinner, bed and breakfast. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 You will be collected by taxi from your home. The coach will take a scenic route through THE NEW FOREST with a stop for lunch in Lyndhurst, arriving in Bournemouth mid–afternoon. Join David for a welcome drink before dinner in the Miramar’s elegant restaurant this evening. DAY 2 After breakfast we are joined by a Blue Badge Guide for a coach tour of BOURNEMOUTH. We will then travel through leafy chines to SANDBANKS to see some of the most exclusive properties in the UK before crossing by chain ferry to the ISLE OF PURBECK. We continue to the Victorian seaside town of SWANAGE for a lunch stop. DAY 3 This morning you have a choice of things to do. Bournemouth town centre with its gardens and shops is just a short stroll from our Hotel. Alternatively you can visit COMPTON ACRES. These historic gardens were built in 1924 and feature seven individual gardens including the Italian Garden and the Japanese Garden. Admission is included. We will return to the Hotel for a light sandwich lunch (included) before departing for the return trip to Sussex. When we reach the local area a taxi will be waiting £195 per person to take you home to your door. (single/twin/double) YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The HOTEL MIRAMAR styles itself as “The Country House Hotel overlooking the bay” and is the epitome of an English Country House, with its façade of Roman inspired pillars and curved balconies overlooking terraces and sweeping lawns. The restaurant offers an imaginative menu, using fresh local produce. There are 43 comfortable ensuite bedrooms furnished to a high standard and served by a lift. The Hotel is located on the East Cliff, about a ten-minute walk from the town centre. www.miramar-bournemouth.com £234 per person (sole occupancy of a double/twin room) Includes door to door service Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £14.75 All those travelling on this tour will receive a £10 Travel Voucher. Please note that this holiday is intended only for those who have not previously been with Roadmark on an extended tour. THE BULBFIELDS OF HOLLAND Thursday 17th April for 5 days Every spring the fields of western Holland, with the emergence of millions of blooms, explode in a riot of colour, and we will spend a day at the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. We will also be exploring the countryside of the Zuidersee by coach, train and boat, visiting one of Holland’s oldest cheese markets and even managing a brief visit to Amsterdam. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 A taxi will bring you to the coach and we will drive to Dover for the short sea crossing to France. We make our way through Belgium and into the Netherlands, reaching Volendam by late afternoon/early evening. DAY 2 This morning we take a short drive to the historic town of ALKMAAR to visit the weekly CHEESE MARKET that has been held on the Waagplein since 1593. Cheese is an important part of Dutch life and we will take a short guided tour of the Market, including the area where the cheese is weighed. We return to Volendam early afternoon to allow time for exploring the town, which is often referred to as “The Pearl of the Zuiderzee”. Volendam is a fishing village with a bustling harbour area. You may well find locals dressed in traditional costume and there are shops selling wooden clogs and souvenirs. You can also hop on one of the regular ferries to the nearby village of Marken. DAY 3 No trip to the Dutch Bulbfields is complete without a visit to KEUKENHOF GARDENS, which is known as ‘The Greatest Flower Show on Earth’. Every year almost a million people come from around the world to enjoy the 80-acre site boasting a dazzling display of tulips, narcissi, daffodils, hyacinths and more. DAY 4 We travel to Hoorn and board a steam tram for a nostalgic journey through the Dutch countryside, meandering from village to village and passing windmills and bulbfields before arriving in Medemblik. Here our old fashioned steamer awaits for the cruise along the Ijsselmeer to Enkhuizen. A light lunch will be served on board the historic ship “MS Friesland”. We finish the day with a visit to the ZUIDERZEE MUSEUM. Here you will stroll back in time to discover authentic buildings from the region including a church, a mill, a cheese warehouse, shops and houses from the surrounding fishing villages. We return to Volendam by coach DAY 5 It is only a half-hour drive to AMSTERDAM. A canal cruise is one of the best ways to make the most of our short stay and to experience the sights of this vibrant capital city. On the boat you will pass along some of the wide and narrow waterways that criss cross the capital during a trip lasting about an hour. We will then return to Calais for an afternoon ferry home to the UK. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL You will stay for four nights at the Best Western HOTEL SPAANDER, a very special 3 star superior hotel located in the heart of picturesque Volendam. The Hotel sits beside the pretty harbour overlooking the Ijsselmeer Lake. It has a magnificent art collection which is displayed in corridors, the bar and the restaurant. Facilities include several dining areas, a bar, reception area with comfortable seating and an indoor swimming pool. All the bedrooms have a view across the Ijsselmeer or the Volendamer Dike. There is a lift to all floors although a few steps are likely to be £529 per person encountered. Each morning you will enjoy a buffet sharing a breakfast. Dinner is 3 courses. A set menu is served on the day of arrival and on subsequent evenings twin/double room there is a choice of 2 starters, 2 main courses and £89 sole occupancy supplement 2 desserts. www.hotelspaander.nl Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £27.00 Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 7 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours NEW NEW TOUR Itinerary Reduction for NT members SIDMOUTH Friday 25th April for 6 days Sidmouth is a charming and unspoilt seaside resort in East Devon and always proves a popular destination with Roadmark clients. The little town nestles between the majestic red cliffs of Peak and Salcombe Hills and the green slopes of the Sid Valley. Our new itinerary will take you out and about to some of Devon’s top visitor attractions, whilst allowing plenty of time to explore Sidmouth and to relax in the comfortable surroundings of the Hotel. Our main stop today will be KINGSTON LACY HOUSE near Wimborne. Now owned by The National Trust, it was the family seat of the Bankes family, and the House contains an important collection of art. There are attractive formal gardens including a Japanese Garden complete with authentic tea house. During the afternoon we continue through Dorset to reach Sidmouth by late afternoon. DAY 2 Our first stop today will be at the HOUSE OF MARBLES, a working glass and games factory set in an historic pottery. Skirting Dartmoor’s southern edge we reach BUCKFAST ABBEY, home to a community of Benedictine monks and set in lovely gardens by the Dart. There will be time to explore the Abbey Church and have lunch. This afternoon we shall take a nostalgic steam train ride on the SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY. The 14 mile round trip on this former Great Western branch line takes us through the beautiful valley of the River Dart to Totnes. DAY 3 Not too far to travel today as we drive to LYME REGIS at the heart of the ‘Jurassic Coast’. The historic Cobb and harbour are set against a background of high cliffs that have yielded vast amounts of fossils. Later we shall stop in the seaside town of SEATON and take a ride on one of the narrow gauge heritage trams alongside the River Axe estuary. DAY 4 We follow the coast through Budleigh and Exmouth then head inland, following the estuary of the Exe to EXETER. We will be joined on the coach by one of the City’s famous RED COAT GUIDES for a tour that will provide an overview of the main historical sights including the ancient Quayside and the University Campus. There will be time to stroll in the Cathedral Close and have tea before we return to Sidmouth. DAY 5 A free day in which to explore the seaside town of Sidmouth with its narrow streets, attractive gardens and small independent shops. DAY 6 Our homeward route will be via SHERBOURNE and SHAFTESBURY through the beautiful Dorset and Wiltshire countryside. DAY 1 YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL Probably one of the most popular hotels that we feature, the ROYAL YORK & FAULKNER HOTEL is a charming Regency hotel at the centre of the Esplanade. Owned and personally managed by Peter Hook and his family for three generations, £495 per person it has an enviable reputation for its food. Discount of £12 for National There is a lift to all floors. 8 PROUD TO BE BRITISH PART III Traditions of the North West Thursday 8th May for 5 days Dust off your Union Jacks (this has now been confirmed as the ‘official’ name for our great flag) and join driver/guide Mark for the next instalment of ‘Proud to be British’, a fascinating journey through some the history, industry and traditions of Lancashire with great scenery thrown in along the way. HOLIDAY ITINERARY HOLIDAY ITINERARY www.royalyorkhotel.co.uk ©2009 F H Brundle © Flickr – Andy Hawkins lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 Trust members Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £21.50 Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 DAY 1 Travel from Sussex to The Last Drop Village Hotel near Bolton. Arrive in good time to use the leisure facilities before dinner. This evening enjoy an introduction to the area and some regional anecdotes from a local guide. DAY 2 Short journey to Rawtenstall to visit Britain’s last TEMPERENCE BAR. Next we go to BOLTON where there will be time to visit the Market and enjoy lunch at one of the country’s finest Fish & Chip Restaurants (included). This afternoon we shall visit the FRED DIBNAH HERITAGE CENTRE. See the charming Victorian house that Fred called home, the scruffy yard and workshop where he spent much of his time, and his vast collection of tools and bits of old machinery. DAY 3 First to Rochdale, the town where Gracie Fields grew up and where the Co-op movement started. In the hands of a local guide we visit the wonderful CO-OP PIONEERS MUSEUM and the town’s architectural masterpiece, the TOWN HALL. Then it’s off to BURY MARKET, one of the biggest and most vibrant in England. We round off the day with a nostalgic steam train ride through the Irwell Valley on the EAST LANCS RAILWAY. DAY 4 We head for the PENDLE HERITAGE CENTRE then through the beautiful scenery of the Forest of Bowland, following the Witches’ route to Lancaster where they were hanged. Time to find lunch and explore before we return to the Hotel. The final evening will feature a gala buffet of local dishes such as Morecambe Bay Shrimps, Lancashire Hot Pot and Lancashire Cheese. DAY 5 Burton-on-Trent is the UK’s historic capital of Beer and Brewing. We shall visit the NATIONAL BREWERY CENTRE for a guided tour of the ‘Brewery Experience Museum’. We round off this Proud to be British tour with a two-course lunch accompanied by a glass of local ale. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The LAST DROP VILLAGE HOTEL has an intriguing history and a marvellous location with sweeping views across the Pennine Moors. The Hotel is unusual in that it has been created from a former 18th century farmhouse with cobbled £379 per person streets and a number of quaint little shops in the “Village”. Facilities include a large sharing a twin/double heated swimming pool with both indoor room and outdoor areas. Roadmark has stayed £39 single supplement at the Hotel on several previous occasions Deposit £75 per person with good feedback. Emerald Insurance £19.75 www.mercure.com Includes door to door service NEW TOUR Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 Reduction for NT Members © Renishaw Hall and F Stop Press 14 LINCOLNSHIRE & THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS Sunday 25th May for 5 days A brand new tour taking you to two of England’s most tranquil and historic landscapes, the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire Wolds. Home to a wealth of charming market towns, church spires, idyllic villages, historic houses and gardens, the ‘Wonderful Wolds’ are a relatively forgotten corner of England. Marvel at the impressive Humber Bridge, visit the Georgian town of Beverley, an Elizabethan Stately Home, ‘Britain’s Favourite Market Town’ and the historic cathedral city of Lincoln. HOLIDAY ITINERARY SUNDAY ©D H Wright Our taxi will pick you up from home and bring you to the coach to join your fellow travellers. We head north and pay a visit to RENISHAW HALL & GARDENS, home of the Sitwell family for nearly 400 years. Renishaw is celebrated for its famous Italianate Gardens. We continue to the Forest Pines Hotel in North Lincolnshire for a four night stay. MONDAY After sampling the delicious breakfast at the Forest Pines we wend our way to the ancient CITY OF LINCOLN. Dominating the City skyline is the Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest Gothic buildings. Lincoln Cathedral owns one of only four surviving copies of Magna Carta and there is a replica on view. There are many other attractions, including the Norman Castle, medieval and Georgian houses, the Bayford Waterfront and Marina, and Newport Arch, the only Roman arch in Britain still in everyday use. TUESDAY Enjoy the views from one of the world’s longest single span suspension bridges as we head across the Humber into the tranquil YORKSHIRE WOLDS. We will be visiting BEVERLEY, a town full of character with its spectacular Gothic Minster, St. Mary’s Church, winding cobbled streets and Georgian-fronted shops. This afternoon we shall make our way to BURTON AGNES HALL. Built in the early 17th century, Burton Agnes is an Elizabethan house filled with treasures, including magnificent carvings, paintings, furniture and tapestries. The beautiful, award-winning gardens include a walled garden, spectacular herbaceous borders, a jungle garden and the national collection of campanulas. WEDNESDAY The serenity, landscape and heritage of the LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, beckons today. We drive to LOUTH, historic capital of the Wolds. This beautifully preserved Georgian Market Town has a Wednesday market and, in 2012, was named ‘Britain’s Favourite Market Town’ at the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards. This afternoon we visit the National Trust’s GUNBY HALL & GARDENS. Tennyson’s ‘Haunt of Ancient Peace’ House built in 1700, where there are fine gardens and sweeping lawns. After time for tea we return to our Hotel via a different route. THURSDAY Our homeward journey today will be via STAMFORD, another well preserved Lincolnshire stone town. During the afternoon we continue through Cambridgeshire and home to Sussex, where taxis will be waiting to take you to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL One of the respected ‘Q Hotels’ group of hotels, the 4 star FOREST PINES HOTEL is a gem in the North Lincolnshire countryside, where it nestles in 190 acres of beautiful woodland. There are 188 bright and spacious bedrooms served by a lift. The Hotel has excellent leisure facilities including an indoor swimming pool, gym, steam room, sauna and spa treatment rooms. It also has a championship golf course and there are wonderful views from the golf bar terrace down the fairways. www.qhotels.co.uk £385 per person sharing a twin/double room £79 sole occupancy supplement (single travellers will have either a double or twin room for sole use) Reduction of £6 for National Trust members Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £19.75 Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 9 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 Passport Required CANTABRIA AND THE PICOS DE EUROPA Tuesday 17th June for 8 days The region of Cantabria in northern Spain has a stunning coastline, an enviable range of historic villages and ports and the beautiful Picos de Europa Mountains. Our 4-star hotel has a fantastic setting in the village of Isla, close to Santander. From here we shall be exploring quaint fishing ports, the city of Santander, the mountainous interior and Bilbao where you can visit the world-famous Guggenheim Museum. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 A taxi will collect you from home after lunch and bring you to the coach to join your fellow travellers. We shall make the short drive to Portsmouth for the late afternoon Brittany Ferries sailing to SANTANDER. Brittany Ferries operates a fleet of modern, high specification ships with an excellent range of facilities. Your comfortable air-conditioned cabin will have a private WC and shower. Linen, towels and toiletries are provided. Please note that the cost of meals on board ship is not included. DAY 2 The sailing takes about 24 hours and on arrival we drive to our Hotel in pretty Isla, less than an hour’s drive from the port. Enjoy a welcome drink before a three course evening meal, consisting of salad buffet, set starter, choice of two main courses and two desserts. House wine and mineral water are included with your meal every day. DAY 3 A full day excursion along the verdant coastline of Cantabria, visiting pretty SANTILLANA DEL MAR, a village on the World Heritage list with cobbled streets and honeycoloured sandstone churches. Next we stop at the new visitor centre at the ALTAMIRA CAVE, a World Heritage Site. The cave, of which you will see an exact reproduction, houses the world’s first discovery of Palaeolithic cave art with painted and engraved animals and mysterious signs. This afternoon we continue through Comillas to the delightful village of SAN VINCENTE DE LA BARQUERA. DAY 4 A morning excursion to the handsome resort of CASTRO URDIALES where the town’s harbour is packed with fishing boats and pleasure craft. There is a reconstructed medieval bridge leading to a small promontory on top of which stands a lighthouse, the ruins of a Knights Templar castle, and a heavily buttressed Gothic church. We return to the hotel for a leisurely afternoon in Isla where you can enjoy a stroll through small sandy coves along the dramatic rocky shoreline. 10 DAY 5 A busy day packed with wonderful scenery as we journey into the stunning PICOS DE EUROPA mountain range. The majestic Picos de Europa National Park has rugged peaks rising to almost 9000 feet and reached through the dramatic gorge of the Rio Deva. We will call at the attractive market town of Potes before continuing to FUENTE DE FROM where it is possible to take a cable car some 900m up into the high mountain peaks (extra charge applies). DAY 6 We are off to BILBAO today. This lively city is the capital of the Basque region. Since the opening of the GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM in 1997 the city has given itself a new lease of life as a tourism destination. This amazing building is clad with curved titanium panels and has been hailed as an architectural masterpiece. It houses an outstanding collection of outstanding 20th century art, with works by Picasso and Warhol. There is so much to see in Bilbao besides the Guggenheim. One of the best ways to explore is by open-top sightseeing bus, and this option will be available to you – details will be available nearer the time (supplement applies). There is easy walking along the river to the Maritime Museum or towards the atmospheric old quarter known as the CASCO VIEJO. Our final night at the Hotel includes a special candlelight dinner with a seafood main course (other choices available on request), a glass of Rioja and special liquor from Potes. DAY 7 We take our leave of the OLIMPO and drive to the refined town of Santander. Largely rebuilt in 1941 after a devastating fire, Santander offers plenty of charm in its maze of narrow lanes, its historic market hall filled with tapas bars, and walks through the gardens of the 19th century MAGDALENA PALACE. There will be time to explore and treat yourself to a farewell lunch before boarding the afternoon ferry back to the UK. DAY 8 This afternoon we arrive in Portsmouth for the short coach and taxi ride home to your door. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL THE HOTEL OLIMPO (4-star Spanish) has a fantastic location on a small peninsula in the village of Isla. From the Hotel’s lush gardens there is direct access onto the sandy beach below. All bedrooms are ensuite, with either a terrace or balcony, and enjoy a view of the beach or gardens. The Hotel is just a 300-metre walk from the small beachside town of Playa del Isla where there is a selection of shops and cafes. The Olimpo has a bright and airy restaurant with a nautical theme, a large bar, lifts, terrace, quiet lounge, small shop, hairdresser and sauna/solarium. www.hotelesdecantabria.com CABIN SUPPLEMENTS We have booked cabins with 2 lower berths (i.e. not bunk beds) on outward and return ferry crossings and have a mixture of inside and outside cabins, the latter of which are available at a supplement. Cabins for sole occupancy will all be inside cabins. MEAL TIMES Traditionally the Spanish take their meals fairly late and often enjoy a mid-afternoon siesta. Meal times at the Hotel Olimpo are: Breakfast from 08.30 to 11.00 Dinner from 20.00 to 23.00 £659 per person sharing a twin/ double room and inside cabin £127 supplement for single room and cabin occupancy £25 supplement per person for twin occupancy of an outside cabin Price does not include the cost of meals on board ship Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £33.50 NEW TOUR Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 Passport Required SIMPLY BRUGES ANCHORS AWAY Warners Norton Grange Coastal Village Monday 2nd June for 5 days Now boarding for a fun-filled holiday on the Good Ship SS Norton Grange, where Warner holidays have come up with a novel idea for an entertaining themed break at their Coastal Holiday Village on the Isle of Wight. A four night ‘cruise’ will take you around the world – on dry land! Warners provide great value for money and you can be assured of a comfortable night’s sleep, a wide choice of food and fabulous entertainment. ‘CRUISE’ PROGRAMME MONDAY – (NEW YORK) Join your captain for a pre-dinner drink, sail away party, American specials on the menu and a dazzling welcome aboard show TUESDAY – (CARIBBEAN) The voyage continues with hot new activities, a fiesta of entertainment plus food and drinks with a taste of the Caribbean WEDNESDAY – (ITALY) – After a night of partying, join in with fun and activities, feast on Italian Treats and enjoy great music on your journey THURSDAY – (BRITAIN) – Our final stop on our cruise on land is in good old Blighty! Traditional fun and games, the best of British Fayre and a Farewell Night party to top them all. THE ISLE OF WIGHT Although the Isle of Wight is not far to travel for Roadmark, when you drive off the ferry it can sometimes seem as if you are in a foreign country and have taken a ‘step back in time’. During your holiday there will be included excursions to some of the Island’s towns and villages and around the amazingly beautiful coastline. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL Situated in a peaceful waterfront location close to the pretty harbour at Yarmouth in the western Isle of Wight, NORTON GRANGE is one of the best spots on the Island to relax and enjoy views of the Solent. There is a wide range of activities to keep you occupied during the day, including a bowls green, pitch ‘n’ putt, short mat bowls, tennis, and indoor games room with snooker, billiards and darts. Accommodation is in cosy chalets with £345 per person television, radio, tea and coffee making and hairdryer. Complimentary toiletries sharing a twin/ are provided in the ensuite bathrooms. double chalet There is a Leisure Club with heated indoor £23 single supplement swimming pool, bubble pool and sauna. Deposit £75 per person www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Saturday 28th June for 3 days Midsummer is a great time to visit the fabulous Flemish city of Bruges. Join us for a three-day break that will enable you to see many of the sights for which 'Brugge' is justly proud and famous. It is one of the bestpreserved medieval cities in Europe, with a wealth of historic buildings and criss-crossed by a network of pretty canals and bridges lined with flowers. Explore the narrow cobbled streets that lead to bustling squares surrounded by pavement bars and restaurants. We are returning to The Park Hotel, right on the t'Zand Square and within an easy stroll of all the main attractions. HOLIDAY ITINERARY SATURDAY Join the Roadmark coach at one of our convenient local pick-up points. We travel to Folkestone and take a shuttle train through the Channel Tunnel. Soon after lunchtime you will arrive in the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CITY to check into the Hotel, begin your exploration and select a restaurant for dinner. SUNDAY After breakfast we shall pay a visit to the latest attraction in Bruges, the HISTORIUM, with admission included. Step back in time to the year 1435 and learn how life was in medieval times, and feel the wind as you fly over the old city. Experience the golden age of Bruges through film, music, sets and special effects. After our visit enjoy the rest of the day exploring at your own pace. You may choose to book a guided tour by minibus or horse-drawn carriage, take a sightseeing cruise on the canals, or visit one of the many museums. MONDAY Another day in which to soak up the atmosphere. You will probably want to go shopping for some delicate Flemish lace or mouth-watering Belgian chocolates to take home. Lovers of Belgian beer may wish to head to the old 'De Halve Maan' brewery for a tour and tasting. The coach will leave at around 4pm for the homeward journey, reaching original joining points mid-evening. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The PARK HOTEL is situated on one of the main squares in Bruges called the t'Zand, a perfect base for exploring all the main sights around the city centre. Bedrooms are of a good standard with private facilities, telephone, television, hairdryer and minibar. The hotel is not part of a chain and has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. All the bedrooms are non-smoking and are reached by a lift. There is a cosy lounge bar and a hot/cold buffet breakfast is served in the conservatory style restaurant. Please note that this holiday is on a Bed & Breakfast basis only, leaving you free to dine at leisure in Bruges each evening. www.parkhotelbrugge.be £199 per person sharing a twin/double room £79 supplement for sole occupancy of a twin/double £75 deposit Emerald Insurance £21.50 This holiday does not include our door to door service. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 11 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours NEW TOUR © Flickr – alexbrn lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 SUNNY WEYMOUTH Monday 7th July for 5 days Of course we cannot be sure that it will be sunny for your holiday in the attractive south coast resort of Weymouth, even though it does have one of the best sunshine records in the Country. What we can guarantee is a comfortable Hotel, convivial fellow travellers and interesting excursions. We first stayed at the Hotel Rex in early 2013 and it was very well received with lots of nice comments about the friendly atmosphere and excellent food. This is the classic British seaside holiday so don’t forget your bucket and spade! MURDER MYSTERY IN CARDIFF Including Cardiff Castle tour Great value from just £165 Friday 11th July for 3 days A weekend summer break to the Welsh capital of CARDIFF. You will be surprised by just how many attractions Cardiff has to offer, from historic buildings to innovative modern architecture, great shopping and sightseeing opportunities. You will stay for two nights at the modern Park Inn by Radisson Hotel on the outskirts of the City. During your stay you will visit Cardiff Castle and take a coach tour of the main sights. On Saturday evening there will be a chilling twist to the tour! HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Once our taxi has collected you from home and everyone is on board the coach we will drive through the NEW FOREST to POOLE for a lunch break then continue to Weymouth. We include a welcome drink before dinner this evening. DAY 2 We head for PORTLAND BILL, where lighthouses have been protecting the hazardous waters off Weymouth and Chesil Beach for nearly 300 years. Next we drive to the picturesque village of Abbotsbury where you can choose to spend time at the world-famous SWANNERY or the beautiful SUBTROPICAL GARDENS established in 1765. Our final stop of the day will be in WEST BAY, formerly known as Bridport Harbour, with its piers and beaches. DAY 3 A free day allows time to explore Weymouth, where there is plenty to see and do. You may choose to take an exhilarating ride to the top of the SEALIFE TOWER for amazing views of the Jurassic Coast, or to visit the SEALIFE CENTRE. The County Town of Dorchester is only a short bus or train ride away, or you may simply want to relax in a deckchair on Weymouth’s long sandy beach and admire the work of the Sand Sculptor. DAY 4 Today’s excursion takes us to MONKEY WORLD. This amazing animal rescue centre often features on TV and has built up an enormous collection of Chimps, OrangUtans, Gibbons and smaller monkeys since its foundation in 1987. Later we will call at pretty LULWORTH COVE. DAY 5 We say farewell to Weymouth and drive via Corfe Castle to SWANAGE, where there will be time for lunch in the pretty Victorian seaside town. Finally it’s home to Sussex and the waiting taxis. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL Situated on the Esplanade the 3-star HOTEL REX is close to the shops, harbour and Sealife Tower. It was built as a summer residence for the future King William IV and provides all the comforts of a modern hotel whilst retaining much of its original Georgian charm and features. A full English Breakfast and 3-course dinner (with menu choice) is served at your table in the Duke’s restaurant each day. This splendid vaulted restaurant is located below the Hotel in what was once the Duke of Clarence’s wine cellar. The Hotel has a comfortable lounge bar. There is a lift, although there are a few stairs £399 per person to some bedrooms. Deposit £75 per person www.kingshotels.co.uk 12 Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 HOLIDAY ITINERARY FRIDAY Our taxis will collect you from home and bring you to the coach. We drive to Cardiff and make our way to CARDIFF CASTLE, a site with a remarkable history spanning over 200 years. It was a Roman stronghold, medieval court, and romantic Victorian fantasy. Eccentric genius architect William Burges was given free rein to create the amazingly lavish and opulent interiors; each breathtaking room rich with murals, stained glass, gilding and superb craftsmanship. After time for refreshment we will be joined by an expert Castle guide for a PREMIUM TOUR of the spectacular apartments. SATURDAY A local guide joins us for an informative COACH TOUR of Cardiff and Cardiff Bay taking in the historical landmarks and key sights. Cardiff Bay was once the biggest coal exporting port in the world and is now a clever mix of old and new that has transformed it into an impressive waterfront with new constructions such as the Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay Barrage. The rest of the day is free for your own exploration of the City before we return to the Hotel to enjoy a MURDER MYSTERY EVENING, held during dinner. Find out if you are a budding Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot as a group of Professional actors set the task of finding out ‘who dunnit’ in an evening of intrigue, foul play and suspense! SUNDAY After breakfast we drive to MARLBOROUGH, a handsome Georgian town with one of the country’s widest high streets. There will be time to enjoy a leisurely Sunday lunch (not included) in one of the many old pubs and eateries before we continue home to Sussex. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 3-star PARK INN BY RADISSON CARDIFF NORTH is a modern hotel about four miles from the centre of the City. The bright and comfortable bedrooms are on three floors and are served by lift. Rooms are ensuite with tea/coffee making facilities, television and telephone. www.parkinn.co.uk £165 per person sharing a twin/ double room £29 sole occupancy supplement Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £14.75 Includes door to door service NEW Itinerary Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 © www.geograph.org.uk – Colin Park 14 THE ENGLISH LAKES Sunday 13th July for 7 days Roadmark is a regular visitor to this beautiful corner of England, where the sweeping panorama of slate-capped fells, craggy hilltops, misty mountain tarns and glittering lakes has been attracting visitors since the early 19th century. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Once the taxis have picked you up from home and brought you to the coach we shall drive through the Midlands to our lunch stop at Dobbies in Staffordshire. During the afternoon we continue past Kendal and arrive at our destination on the shore of Windermere by late afternoon. DAY 2 Our old friend IAN JONES, a registered Cumbria Blue Badge Guide, will be with us on the coach today for a fascinating “7 Lakes Tour”. Heading north from Windermere we pass Ambleside and Rydal Water before arriving in pretty Grasmere and Ian will lead a short walk to the Church where William Wordsworth and his wife are buried. Then it’s on to Thirlmere, Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake with some spectacular views of Lakeland peaks along the way. We break for lunch in Keswick then head across to Ullswater, returning to base via the truly spectacular Kirkstone Pass. DAY 3 Today we travel south to Ulverston for a visit to the LAKES GLASS CENTRE, home of Cumbria Crystal. Here you will have a unique opportunity to see the last working full lead crystal glassware factory in England. View the craftsmen at work and browse in the factory shop. Making our way around the Cartmel Peninsula we reach GRANGE OVER SANDS, a pretty seaside town that developed from a small fishing village into a fashionable Victorian and Edwardian resort. There will be time to find lunch and enjoy the grand houses, traffic free promenade and ornamental gardens. DAY 4 Enjoy a “SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS” adventure, travelling by MOUNTAIN GOAT minibus. Swallows and Amazons was the first in a series of children’s books written by Arthur Ransome when he lived in South Lakeland. You will be collected from the Hotel and taken to the foot of Windermere for a nostalgic steam train ride to Lakeside Station. Passing through beautiful woodland you arrive at Eswaithe Water for a photo stop. Next it’s on to Coniston where, after time for lunch, an afternoon cruise takes you down the peaceful east side of the Lake to some of the locations Ransome used in his stories, and to his final resting place in the lovely Rusland Valley. DAY 5 This morning we shall visit the “Auld Grey Town” of KENDAL, once an important woollen centre and synonymous with the production of Kendal Mint Cake (either you love it or you hate it!). If you prefer you can spend time at the K VILLAGE OUTLET with its variety of shops and HERITAGE CENTRE that tells the story of 160 years of shoe making in Kendal. This afternoon we visit LEVENS HALL, an atmospheric Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th century Pele Tower and famous for its topiary garden dating from 1694. DAY 6 A free day allowing you to explore more of Windermere at leisure. Why not take one of the historic Lake Steamers that ply between Ambleside, Bowness and Lakeside. Or visit the Lakeland Store in Windermere by open-top bus. There are some great walks along the shore of Windermere, or you may simply prefer a day of relaxation at the Hotel. DAY 7 We bid farewell to the Lake District and make our way home. We will break the journey at TRENTHAM GARDENS where there will be time to explore the shops, garden centre and Japanese Gardens. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The BEST WESTERN BURNSIDE HOTEL in Bowness has been providing hospitality to Roadmark groups for a number of years. The 3-star Hotel occupies an elevated position overlooking Windermere and just a few minutes walk from the promenade and steamer quay. There are beautiful gardens and a terrace with views across the Lake. The Hotel has comfortable lounges where entertainment is provided on certain evenings. Silhouettes Restaurant serves a 3-course table d’hôte dinner complemented by a fine wine list. Guests have complimentary use of the leisure centre and swimming pool. Bedrooms are well appointed and served by a lift. www.burnsidehotel.com £599 per person sharing a twin/double room £95 single room supplement Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £23 Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 13 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours © Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 PERFECT PEMBROKESHIRE Monday 21st July for 5 days Join Roadmark to explore this unspoilt area of South Wales. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is Britain’s only truly coastal National Park, a spectacular landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and wooded estuaries. Pembrokeshire has been judged the second most outstanding of the world’s coastal destinations by National Geographic’s Traveller magazine, and is a haven for birds and wildlife. This is a repeat of the holiday we first ran in 2011, and which was very well received. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 © www.rheidolrailway.co.uk One of our taxis will collect you from home and bring you to the coach. Today’s journey includes some beautiful countryside as we travel through the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, continuing through rural Herefordshire and South Wales, skirting the edge of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. By late afternoon we reach our Hotel in a stunning location on the Pembrokeshire coastline. DAY 2 Enjoy a full day excursion to some of the most beautiful parts of the PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK. We shall visit the historic town of PEMBROKE. The magnificent Norman Castle is one of the best-preserved strongholds in the country. In the afternoon we continue to the tiny city of ST. DAVID’S. The Cathedral dominates what is really only a small village, and was a popular pilgrimage destination throughout the Middle Ages, still attracting thousands of visitors today. DAY 3 We travel along the coast to the seaside and university town of ABERYSTWYTH. Next we 14 take an unforgettable journey through some of Wales’ most spectacular scenery by narrow-gauge steam train on the VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY, one of “The Great Little Trains of Wales”. Opened in 1902, the line is a masterpiece of engineering and follows the contours of the terrain with sharp curves and steep gradients. The 11¾-mile journey between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge takes approximately one hour as the train overcomes a height difference of over 600ft, affording superb views of the Rheidol Valley. DAY 4 This morning we shall visit the NATIONAL WOOL MUSEUM in the beautiful Teifi Valley, which was once the centre of a thriving woollen industry, earning the nickname ‘The Huddersfield of Wales’. Located in the former Cambrian Mills, the Museum is a special place with a spellbinding story to tell. Next we visit the small but fascinating NATIONAL CORACLE CENTRE, set in the grounds of a 17th century mill beside the salmon leap at Cenarth Falls. The Museum has a fine collection of coracles from Wales and as far afield as India, and tells the story of these special little boats. This afternoon you may choose to relax at the Hotel, spend some time in the small town of CARDIGAN, or take an optional ADVENTURE WILDLIFE BOAT TRIP in Cardigan Bay to see DOLPHINS, SEALS and SEABIRDS. Cardigan Bay is the largest bay in the British Isles and one of only two places in the UK with a resident population of bottlenose dolphins. Further details of this exciting trip will be sent nearer the time. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 DAY 5 We leave Pembrokeshire and travel to THE NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN OF WALES. The Gardens combine 200 year-old historical features with spectacular modern architecture and landscaping. There will be time to explore and visit the Restaurant and Garden Shop. We continue our homeward journey across the Severn Bridge and reach the local area around mid-evening for taxis to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 3-star CLIFF HOTEL & SPA is set high up on a headland overlooking Cardigan Bay surrounded by Pembrokeshire Heritage Coastline. The area is well known for its cliff-top walks and wildlife – including a large variety of seabirds. Each of the 70 bedrooms has hairdryer, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite television. The Hotel has a lift. Leisure facilities include a heated indoor Hydro Spa, Sauna, Jacuzzi and Steam Room. Spa and Beauty Treatments are available for which we recommend advance booking. There is a large bar with outstanding sea views where you can enjoy a relaxing drink before dinner. www.cliffhotel.com £379 per person £75 deposit per person Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service NEW TOUR Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 Reduction for NT Members NATIONAL TRUST HOUSES & GARDENS OF EAST ANGLIA Thursday 24th July for 5 days This holiday is based at the comfortable Knight’s Hill Hotel near King’s Lynn. The Hotel, which Roadmark has used on several previous occasions, provides the ideal base from which to explore a relatively undiscovered area of the country. Among the excursions will be visits to four National Trust properties, each with a fascinating House and beautiful Garden. HOLIDAY ITINERARY Taxi pick up from your home to the coach. We make our way through Cambridgeshire and continue to SANDRINGHAM, much loved country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen. The House is set among stunning gardens and has been the private home of four generations of British Monarchs since 1862. King George V referred to “Dear Old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere in the world”. From Sandringham it is just a short ride to our Hotel on the outskirts of King’s Lynn. DAY 2 Passing through pretty little Norfolk villages we reach WALSINGHAM, which holds a unique place in history as the premier place for pilgrimage in England. There will be time to stroll in the village and visit the Anglican Shrine with its peaceful gardens. This afternoon we visit BLICKLING HALL (NT) near Aylsham. The famous Jacobean House has a Long Gallery containing over 12,000 books. In the late 15th and early 16th centuries Blickling belonged to the Boleyn family. The attractive gardens feature herbaceous borders, yew hedge topiary and old English roses. They were transformed by aristocratic garden designer Norah Lindsay, an admirer of Gertrude Jekyll’s “Arts & Crafts” style, who also left her mark on other famous © www.geograph.org.uk – Ashley Dace DAY 1 properties such as Cliveden and Hidcote Manor. DAY 3 This morning we will take a guided walk around “HISTORIC LYNN”. A Town Guide will lead a leisurely stroll and talk about the development of King’s Lynn from 1100 to the present day, its important buildings and maritime heritage. This afternoon we travel to Wisbech in the Fens to visit PECKOVER HOUSE (NT). Built in 1722, the beautiful Georgian town house gets its name from the Peckovers, a family of Quaker bankers. The grounds contain a 17th century thatched barn and Georgian stables. The gardens are rated among the finest of all English walled gardens and feature exotic and unusual plantings including orange trees thought to be over 300 years old. DAY 4 After breakfast we make our way to Great Bircham for a visit to BIRCHAM WINDMILL, one of the finest windmills remaining in Norfolk. Morning tea/coffee is included and will be accompanied by an assortment of homemade traybakes. Those who wish can climb the five floors to the top of the Mill (small additional charge). We continue to FELBRIGG HALL (NT), one of the finest country estates in East Anglia. The House is a mixture of opulence and homeliness where each room has something different to feed the imagination. The decorative walled garden at Felbrigg is a gardener’s delight, providing fruit and vegetables for the restaurant and flowers for the Hall. There is a National Trust Tea Room, Gift Shop, Plant Shop and Bookshop. DAY 5 Our final visit of the holiday will be to WIMPOLE HALL (NT). This impressive estate has one of Cambridgeshire’s finest country houses, with splendid Georgian interiors and fascinating servants’ rooms below stairs. The House is set in parkland landscaped by, among others, ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphrey Repton. You can stroll through the colourful parterre garden and Pleasure Grounds to the Walled Garden with its fruit, vegetables and herbaceous borders. Later we complete the homeward journey to Sussex, arriving late afternoon for taxis to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL KNIGHTS HILL HOTEL (3-star) is a member of the respected Best Western Group. Formerly a working farm, the original buildings and later additions have blended well with each other to create a hotel with character and an informal atmosphere. The 79 bedrooms, many of which look out onto a delightful walled garden, are in a modern style and all have bath and shower, hair dryer, trouser press and tea/coffee making. There is a traditional pub, the “Farmers Arms”, and a leisure centre with indoor swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. Although there is no lift, ground floor rooms are available on request. www.abacushotels.co.uk £479 per person sharing a twin/double room Reduction of £40 for NT Members Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 15 NEW 25 Itinerary S Y E ACoRach Tours © Flickr – xlibber lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 THE EDINBURGH TATTOO Monday 11th August for 4 days The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of Scotland’s greatest events. This unforgettable annual show takes place high above the skyline of Edinburgh on the floodlit Castle Esplanade. It is a stunning international spectacle of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre. There will be two drivers on this tour, enabling us to serve complimentary refreshments on board the coach during the journey to and from Scotland. HISTORY OF THE TATTOO The word “Tattoo” comes from the closing-time cry in the inns in the Low Countries during the 17th and 18th centuries and translates as ‘Turn off the Taps’. The first official Tattoo was held in 1950 when there were just eight items in the programme. In 1952 the first regiment from overseas took part when the Band of the Royal Netherlands Grenadiers performed. Since that time over 46 countries from across six continents have been represented. The first lone piper was Pipe Major George Stoddart who played in every performance for the first eleven years of the Tattoo. The event was first seen in colour on TV in 1968 and today it is broadcast in around 30 countries. About 35 miles of cabling is required. It is estimated that about 100 million people see the Tattoo on television each year. New stands and facilities were erected for the summer of 2011 at a cost of £16 million. The Tattoo is run for charitable causes and over the years in excess of £5 million has been given to military and civilian charities. Not a single performance of the Tattoo has ever been cancelled. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Taxi pick up from your home to the coach. We travel north through the Midlands, Cumbria and the Borders to reach our Hotel in Peebles by early evening. DAY 2 After breakfast we make our way to 16 EDINBURGH, less than an hour’s drive away. One of the best ways to see the historic Scottish capital is from the top deck of a sightseeing bus. We include a ticket for the Edinburgh ‘Majestic’ Bus Tour which departs every 15 minutes from Waverley Bridge and takes about one hour for the round trip. The journey takes you from the City Centre, through the New Town out to the coast at Newhaven and Leith, then back via the Old Town. Highlights along the route include THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA and the PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Your ticket allows you to hop on and hop off as many times as you wish. Later rejoin the Roadmark coach to head for the EDINBURGH TATTOO. The 2014 theme will be ‘Home, Friends and Family’ and the performance will include dance and precision displays with the Massed Pipes and drums, the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, cultural troupes, singers and the poignant refrain of the Lone Piper. Please note that there is no dinner at the Hotel this evening, leaving you free to dine at leisure in Edinburgh. DAY 3 We shall spend a leisurely day exploring the Scottish Borders. After following the Tweed Valley we drive to Hawick on the banks of the River Teviot to visit JOHNSTONS OF ELGIN. This firm has been making fine woollen cloth in Scotland since 1797 and we will visit their Mill to explore the craftsmanship behind the process of cashmere manufacture. In the Visitor Centre you can browse some of the world’s finest cashmere and enjoy refreshments in the café. Next we call at the TEVIOT WATER GARDENS located on the banks of the River around an 18th century coaching inn. Our final stop will beat FLOORS CASTLE, a romantic fairytale castle built for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe in 1721. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 DAY 4 We set off for home, making a stop in the border village of GRETNA GREEN. The famous Blacksmith’s Shop has stood in Gretna since 1712 and was a popular destination for eloping couples. We reach Sussex by mid evening for taxis to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 4-star PEEBLES HYDRO is an iconic Scottish Edwardian Hotel overlooking the Tweed Valley in the beautiful Border region. Bedrooms vary in size and shape and are all extremely comfortable and well equipped with tea and coffee tray, television, telephone, hairdryer and bathrobes. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, spa bath, steam room and sauna. There is a lift although steps may be encountered to some of the bedrooms on half-landings. www.peebleshydro.co.uk www.edintattoo.co.uk PLEASE NOTE that this holiday is not ideally suited to those with a walking difficulty. The old cobbled approach to Edinburgh Castle is on a steep incline, and seating in the Tattoo arena is quite steeply tiered. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of this tour for you please consult us before booking. Seats for the Tattoo are included and will be in blocks 3-5 or 12-14. £345 per person sharing a twin/double room £59 single supplement Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £17.50 Includes door to door service NEW TOUR Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 JERSEY – THE BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS Wednesday 13th August for 5 days Jersey lies in the Bay of Mont St. Michel just 14 miles off the French coast, and is the largest of the Channel Islands. It is rich in natural beauty and views of the sea can be enjoyed from virtually every point on the Island. The holiday will be accompanied throughout by a representative from Roadmark Travel. THE BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS First staged in 1902 in celebration of the Coronation of Edward VII, the Jersey Battle of Flowers has grown into one of the largest floral carnivals in Europe and is a major highlight in the Island’s summer calendar. In the early days the floral floats were mostly horse-drawn and it was traditional for flowers and petals to be torn from the float and thrown to a lady in the crowd, in the hope that one would be thrown back. Hence this is how the ‘Battle’ got its name. Parades were suspended during the First and Second World Wars and it wasn’t until the 1950’s that a group of local businessmen decided to revive the Battle. Nowadays the floats can be anything up to 45 feet long, and horses have been replaced by motorised transport. Islanders work for months to prepare the floats which are works of art with designs a closely guarded secret right up to the grand reveal on Battle day itself. For more information see www.battleofflowers.com HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Our taxis will collect you from home and bring you to the coach. We shall make our way to Poole or Weymouth. The operator to/from the Channel Islands is CONDOR FERRIES, and you will travel on one of their comfortable Express/Vitesse fast ferries that make the crossing in around four hours. On board you will find spacious lounges, a cafeteria and a duty-free shop. On arrival in Jersey a coach is provided for the short transfer to the Merton Hotel. DAY 2 A free morning to relax and begin your exploration of Jersey. This afternoon enjoy the spectacle of THE BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS from your included seat in the grandstand. The flower festooned floats parade around the arena accompanied by musicians, dancers and bands. DAY 3 Today we include a “ROUND THE ISLAND” coach excursion. You will see the beautiful bays of St. Brelade’s and St. Ouen’s, the Corkier Lighthouse and village of St. Aubin’s. This evening you can choose to watch the amazing MOONLIGHT PARADE when the floats that took part in the Thursday parade will be lit up with thousands of tiny fairy lights. The evening concludes with a fabulous fireworks display over St. Aubin’s Bay. DAY 4 A day at leisure to explore at your own pace. Your Roadmark courier will be on hand to offer suggestions for excursions. There is a wide choice including the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust where you will come face to face with some of our rarest animals, the fascinating Wartime Tunnels, the Jersey Lavender Farm and Mount Orgueil Castle. If you wish to travel further afield you can take a ferry to St. Malo, but remember to bring your passport. You may prefer to relax and enjoy the facilities at the Hotel, or head for the shops in St. Helier where lower taxes and no VAT mean that you can find some real bargains. DAY 5 After breakfast transfer to the port for the return ferry. On arrival the Roadmark coach will be waiting to take you home to Sussex for the waiting taxis to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 3 Sun MERTON HOTEL is a large Hotel (291 bedrooms) located in St. Saviour, just a 15 minute walk into the centre of St. Helier, via a pretty park. We received good feedback from Roadmark guests who stayed there in May 2013. The Belvedere Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast and a delicious three-course buffet dinner with a wide choice of dishes. For those who prefer a more private dining experience there is the brasserie-style Bonetti’s Restaurant which offers Italian-inspired cuisine at a modest supplement. Bedrooms have private facilities, satellite television, radio, free Wi-Fi, hospitality tray and hair dryer. There is lift. The Merton provides a varied programme of entertainment, with nightly music and shows in their Star Room. Just across the road the Hotel has its own fabulous swimming pool, the Aquadome, and leisure club. www.mertonhotel.com £499 per person sharing a twin/double room £110 sole occupancy supplement • Deposit £75 per person • Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service A passport is not required for Jersey, unless you intend to take an excursion to St. Malo At the time of going to press Condor Ferries had not published their timetable for summer 2014. As soon as the crossing time is known we will contact you and advise approximate pick up and return times. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 17 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours ©Great Dorset Steam Fair lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 STEAMING THROUGH DORSET by Classic 1960’s Monday 25th August for 4 days Coach Calling all steam enthusiasts and lovers of vintage transport. Roadmark has teamed up with the well-respected company of South Coast Motor Services from whom we have hired a classic coach for this tour. Travel to the beautiful county of Dorset where you will spend one day at the Great Dorset Steam Fair and another enjoying the charms of Swanage and its preserved Steam Railway. This will be a real trip ‘down Memory Lane’ and what better way to travel than in a classic coach from the ’60’s? YOUR TRANSPORT – LEYLAND LEOPARD COACH REG. 749DCD South Coast Motor Services has spent the last 5 years lovingly restoring this classic coach that was new in 1963 to Southdown who used it on luxury touring holidays throughout Britain. The body was built by local coachbuilder Harrington of Hove and is fitted with just 28 reclining armchair seats. In it’s day it was considered to be the height of luxury. It had the benefit of air suspension, which was an innovative feature in the 1960’s. There are large picture windows providing unparalleled views of the passing countryside. With a top speed of around 40mph this is bound to be a leisurely tour! HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 A Roadmark taxi will collect you from home and bring you to join the vintage Leyland Leopard coach where your driver and fellow passengers await. We head at a genteel pace for The New Forest where we shall visit BEAULIEU, home to the NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM. The fascinating collection of over 250 cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles tells the story of motoring on the roads of Britain from the early pioneers in the days when a person with a red flag had to walk in front, to the present day. You can also visit PALACE HOUSE, formerly the 13th century Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey set in glorious grounds and gardens overlooking the River. Later this afternoon we continue to our Hotel situated on Bournemouth’s East Cliff. Join Roadmark for a welcome drink before dinner. DAY 2 After breakfast we head along the coast, passing the leafy chines of Bournemouth and the chic mansions of 18 Sandbanks, home to the rich and famous. We pause for a while in POOLE with its colourful and lively quayside before continuing to the Isle of Purbeck. There will be time to explore CORFE CASTLE, where the ruins of the once mighty fortress tower over houses of grey Purbeck limestone. After time to explore Corfe and find lunch we shall take a nostalgic steam train journey through the Purbeck Hills. The award winning preserved SWANAGE RAILWAY runs for six miles to Swanage, a Victorian seaside town at the end of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage site. There will be time for tea and a stroll before we head back to Bournemouth. DAY 3 We shall leave early for Tarrant Hinton, site of the GREAT DORSET STEAM FAIR, which starts today. From small beginnings this annual event has grown to become one of the best places to see how people lived, worked and played in bygone years and is widely regarded as the leading show of its kind in the world. It is an amazing, noisy and colourful spectacle with around 2000 exhibits, 800 trade stalls and around 200 full size steam engines. We will spend a full day at the Fair. DAY 4 The MOORS VALLEY COUNTRY PARK is managed jointly by Dorset Council and the Forestry Commission. It is home to the MOORS VALLEY RAILWAY and its collection of 17 steam locomotives, most of which were built specially for this 7¼-inch gauge railway on which we will take a ride. The trip lasts about 20 minutes and takes us along the banks of the Moors Lake through 4 tunnels, around tight curves and over a bridge before returning to Kingsmere Station where you can visit the shop and buffet. After lunch Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 rejoin 1749 for the final leg of the journey home to Sussex where taxis will be waiting to take you to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL You will stay for 3 nights with dinner, bed and breakfast, at the CLIFFSIDE HOTEL, one of three hotels owned by Oceana Hotels on Bournemouth’s East Cliff and about ten minutes walk from the Town Centre. A traditional 3-star seafront hotel, the Cliffside has 63 bedrooms, accessible by lift although with a few steps on some floors. The service is friendly and there is a cosy bar and pool view restaurant. As well as the Hotel’s own outdoor swimming pool guests have access to all the facilities at the larger hotels next door. There will be entertainment in the Hotel on two nights of your stay. www.oceanahotels.co.uk £345 per person Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £17.50 Includes door to door service Please note that the coach that will be used on this holiday is from the 1960’s and as such was not designed and is not equipped to carry mobility-impaired people. The entrance steps are fairly high and, unlike our modern coaches, there is no kneeling facility. Please bear this in mind when considering if this tour is suitable for you. Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 © WordPress.com © Paul Tomkins – ScottishViewpoint 14 ORKNEY & SHETLAND MINICRUISE Friday 12th September for 8 days Join us for a fantastic journey right up to the northern tip of the Highlands before boarding a minicruise to take a look at both the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Orkney is a group of 7 islands, the closest of which is just six miles off the Scottish coast. The Shetlands actually lie a fraction closer to Norway than to Britain so tend to have a more Scandinavian feel than Orkney. Both have amazing prehistoric remains with a strong Viking legacy. This circular route means that a wide variety of Scottish landscape can be enjoyed both on the way up and the return journey. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Join your fellow passengers on the coach. There will be a courier on board, enabling us to provide a tea/coffee service during the journey to and from Scotland. Our first night will be at the BEST WESTERN KEAVIL HOUSE HOTEL (www.keavilhouse.co.uk), an elegant country house hotel just across the Forth Bridge near Dunfermline. DAY 2 Continuing through the glorious scenery of the Highlands we take a break to find lunch in INVERNESS. By late afternoon we shall arrive in THURSO on the north coast, for a three night stay at either the ST. CLAIR or STATION HOTEL. (www.northhotels.co.uk). Both these 3-star hotels provide comfortable accommodation and are situated in the town centre. DAY 3 Today we shall head to JOHN O’GROATS, a small coastal village and the most northerly inhabited place on the British mainland. We will also visit THE CASTLE & GARDENS OF MEY, the beloved former holiday home of the late Queen Mother. You will see the rooms used by Her Majesty, including her bedroom, and can wander in the beautiful grounds and gardens that have views across the Pentland Firth to Hoy, the nearest of the Orkney Islands. DAY 4 A free day to relax and explore in Thurso. The attractive little town was laid out by John Sinclair in 1798 and has been an important trading port through the ages. Thurso has wide sandy beaches and has become a top destination for surfers. There is a local museum called ‘Caithness Horizons’, opened by Prince Charles in 2009. YOUR FERRY TO ORKNEY & SHETLAND NORTHLINK FERRIES operate the routes between the Scottish mainland and Orkney/Shetland using modern purpose-built ships. The comfortable cabins have two single beds side by side (no bunks). Your cabin will have tea/coffee making facilities, individual temperature control, ensuite washbasin, hairdryer, toilet and shower. There is a lounge bar and the restaurant serves breakfast and a three-course dinner using locally sourced food. www.northlinkferries.co.uk DAY 5 An early start in order to catch the morning ferry to STROMNESS on Orkney. On the 90 minute crossing we will pass the spectacular granite outcrop ‘The Old Man of Hoy’ and some of the highest cliffs in Britain. A local guide joins us for a coach tour of Orkney’s mainland. We will see Skara Brae, an amazing neolithic village that lay buried by sand for 4000 years, the stone Ring of Brodgar, a chapel built by Italian POWs, and the remains of battleships scuppered at Scapa Flow. A fascinating evening visit takes us to the Orkney Fossil Centre before moving on to Kirkwall for dinner. Later we board the ship for an overnight crossing to LERWICK, capital of Shetland. DAY 6 Breakfast is served on board. We then depart on a guided coach excursion of SHETLAND. There are 900 miles of coastline with dramatic cliffs and beautiful scenery. We will visit the Jarlshof Viking Settlement in the south and Scalloway Castle built by Earl Patrick Stewart in 1600. This is followed by free time in LERWICK before re-joining the ship for an overnight sailing to Aberdeen. Dinner on board. DAY 7 An early breakfast before docking in ABERDEEN. We shall proceed along beautiful ROYAL DEESIDE, passing the Balmoral Estate before stopping for a while in BRAEMAR. The road climbs to the Spittal of Glenshee before descending towards Blairgowrie and Perth. During the afternoon we pass Stirling and on to Renfrew for the final night of the holiday. This will be spent at the 4-star GYNHILL HOTEL (www.glynhill.com) DAY 8 We continue south on the motorway network to Sussex. Roadmark taxis will be waiting to take you home to your door. £769 per person sharing a twin/ double room and twin cabin £139 sole occupancy supplement Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £24 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 19 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours MERSEY MAGIC Includes Manchester Ship Canal Cruise Monday 22nd September for 5 days © www.VisitLiverpool.com lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 The very name of Liverpool conjures up images of a glorious maritime history on the banks of the River Mersey, magnificent architecture and a remarkable musical heritage, not to mention the popular ‘Liver Birds’ TV series from the 1970’s. Join Roadmark for an introduction to this amazing city, including a memorable cruise on the Manchester Ship Canal. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Taxi pick up from your home. We travel through the Midlands to Liverpool for a 4 night stay. DAY 2 After breakfast board the coach for a fascinating and informative GUIDED TOUR OF LIVERPOOL. Your guide will introduce you to the history, heritage and architecture of this vibrant city. This afternoon explore further at your own leisure. Visit one of the two great cathedrals, the historic waterfront and Albert Dock where you will find the largest collection of Grade 1 listed buildings in Europe, Tate Liverpool, the Maritime Museum, the Beatles Story or one of the many other attractions. DAY 3 The Pier Head is just across the road from our Hotel and it is here that you join one of Mersey Ferries cruise boats for a six hour cruise on the MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL. You'll travel the 35 miles of the Canal, enjoying spectacular scenery and a lively commentary. Learn how the waterway shaped the history of Manchester and the Northwest as you travel through locks and bridges that have remained largely unchanged since they were built over 100 years ago. There is a licensed bar and cafeteria on board. On arrival in Salford Quays the coach will be waiting to take you back to Liverpool. DAY 4 We drive through the Mersey Tunnel to the Wirral Peninsula and make our way to PORT SUNLIGHT. This atmospheric 19th century 'model' village was built by William Hesketh Lever in 1888 to house his soap factory workers. We shall return to Liverpool at lunchtime to allow additional time to spend visiting some more of the City. DAY 5 Today we bid farewell to Merseyside and make our way home, pausing to spend some time at TRENTHAM GARDENS in Staffordshire. There will be time for shopping and lunch and you may choose to visit the Italian Gardens for a small additional charge. During the afternoon we return to Sussex and the waiting taxis. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 4-star ATLANTIC TOWER THISTLE LIVERPOOL is in the very heart of the City overlooking the world famous waterfront and the iconic Liver Building. The Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool One shopping area and new Museum of Liverpool are just a few minutes stroll along the River. There are 225 rooms on 12 floors, all accessible by lift. While the bedrooms and bathrooms are quite small they have £395 per person everything you need for a relaxed and comfortable stay, including a refreshment sharing a twin/ tray and complimentary toiletries. Many of double room the rooms have great views of the Mersey £69 sole occupancy and City Centre. Dinner and breakfast are supplement buffet style. £75 deposit www.thistle.com 20 Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 Passport Required MENEN & THE WESTERN FRONT “In Flanders Field” WWI 100th Anniversary tour Monday 29th September for 5 days 2014 sees the Centenary of the start of World War I. The battles that raged in Flanders and on the Somme were on a massive scale and left countless thousands dead. Hardly anyone in Britain was left untouched by the conflict and the passing of time has not diminished the huge debt we owe to those who gave their lives ‘In Flanders Fields’. On three days you will be accompanied by expert guides who will take you to some of the bestknown battlefields, war cemeteries and memorials. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 We take the Channel Tunnel to France and drive to the historic town of YPRES in Belgium for a visit to the ‘IN FLANDERS FIELDS MUSEUM’. This excellent museum is located in the ancient Cloth Hall and provides a fascinating and poignant insight into the horrors of the war and its effect upon both civilians and the military of all nations involved. DAY 2 A local guide joins us for a guided tour of the SOMME, including Peronne, Lochnagar Crater, Thiepval and Newfoundland Park. DAY 3 A full day excursion will take us to Zonnebeke and Passchendaele, including visits to the Memorial Museum of 1917 and Tyne Cot, the largest British war cemetery. After an early dinner at the Hotel we drive to the MENIN GATE, the huge memorial dedicated to the 54,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the Ypres Salient and whose graves are unknown. We will hear the LAST POST, a ceremony that has been performed every night at 8pm since 1928. DAY 4 We travel to ARRAS. The city sits over chalk tunnels and we will visit the WELLINGTON QUARRY which was used as a rallying point for allied troops in 1917. Later we will see the VIMY RIDGE MEMORIAL, said to be Canada's most impressive tribute overseas to Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the Great War. DAY 5 After breakfast we visit the town of POPERINGE, or 'Pops' as the British soldiers called it. We spend time exploring TALBOT HOUSE, a club house where troops could spend time relaxing, writing letters and meeting with friends. Later there will be time to find lunch in ST. OMER before we return home through the Eurotunnel. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 4-star BEST WESTERN AMBASSADOR HOTEL, where you will stay for four nights, is located in the market town of Menen near Ypres and specialises in welcoming groups. There are 30 guest bedrooms, a bar, small lounge and a pleasant restaurant £449 per person overlooking the garden. Tea and coffee sharing a twin/ facilities are provided in each room. A hot double room buffet breakfast and 3 course evening meals £79 sole occupancy are served. On the day of arrival it is a fixed supplement menu whilst for other evenings a choice of £75 deposit main course is offered. www.ambassadorhotel.be Emerald Insurance £27 Includes door to door service NEW TOUR Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 Passport Required KRAKÓW & THE TATRA MOUNTAINS by air with Success Tours Sunday 28th September for 6 days Kraków is the cultural capital of Poland and is the only city to have remained totally unscathed from the ravages of the Second World War. The City has a beautiful yet compact historic centre with many good shops, restaurants and bars. The 14th century Gothic Basilica of the Virgin Mary’s with its astonishing Great Altar overlooks picturesque Rynek Glonwy Grand Square. There are many wonderful churches and medieval treasures, and highlights include the renaissance Royal Castle at Wawel and the splendid Cloth Hall. You will visit the narrow streets of Europe’s best-preserved Jewish district including synagogues, the unique 16th century cemetery and sites from Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. Our 6-day tour will take you to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the most visited tourist sites in Poland. Its unique character and beauty was created by nature about 15 million years ago, and during nine centuries of salt extraction the Mine developed into an extensive underground city with a therapeutic climate and constant temperature of 14°C. A guide will show you the ancient shafts, mysterious salt lakes, historic mining machines, sculptures and the opulent St. Kinga’s Chapel. Auschwitz-Birkenau is the best-known place of genocide in the world. Started as a concentration camp, it became the centre of extermination for 1.5 million people: Jews, Poles, Gypsies and many others. Your tour starts with a documentary film about the liberation of the camp. A guide will introduce you to the historical and political background of creating the camp in Auschwitz. Then the tour proceeds to the museum in the prison blocks, the gas chamber and the crematorium. After a short break you will continue to Birkenau, the Nazi’s biggest concentration camp. Auschwitz Birkenau is included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. A full day guided tour takes you to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains to experience the culture and fresh air of the Polish highlands. Included is a cable car ride up the Gubalówka Mountain, followed by time in the Old Town of Zakopane where you can visit an ancient cemetery, the Tatra Museum or the Jaszczurówka Chapel. On the way back to Krakow you will see the unique 19th century wooden houses in Chocholów. A representative from Roadmark Travel will accompany the group throughout the holiday. Flights will be with easyJet from Gatwick and the flight time to Kraków is 2.5 hours. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Depart Gatwick for the late morning flight** direct to Kraków with easyJet. Meet a local representative for the transfer from the airport to the Wyspianski Hotel. Dinner included at the hotel this evening. DAY 2 A morning walking tour of the City including entrances to Wawel Castle, the Royal Tombs and St. Mary’s Church. Time in the City for lunch (cost not included), followed by an afternoon excursion to the Salt Mines at Wieliczka. Dinner included at the Hotel this evening. DAY 3 Morning guided walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. Lunch and afternoon at leisure in the city. Dinner included at the Hotel this evening. DAY 4 Excursion to Auschwitz – Birkenau including the visit to both sites, documentary film and guided tour. Return to Kraków for dinner at the Hotel. DAY 5 Full day tour to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains including the return cable car ride up the Gubalówka Mountain. Time in the Old Town of Zakopane for lunch before returning to the City. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 6 After breakfast, check out and take the coach transfer to the airport for the return flight** to the UK. **FLIGHT TIMES Schedules for 2014 are not yet available but, based on 2013, flights would be at approximately 11.45 from Gatwick and 10.35 from Kraków. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL A 3-star hotel located in the centre of Kraków, the Wyspianski Hotel offers easy access to all the major tourist attractions and shops. The 231 ensuite bedrooms are classic in design, spacious and all have TV and hairdryer. A hot & cold buffet breakfast is served each evening. Dinner consists of a set 3-course meal on the first evening. On subsequent evenings you will have a set starter and dessert and 3 choices of main course. Tea/coffee are included after dinner. View the Hotel at www.hotel-wyspianski.pl HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES • Door to door service (within 15 miles of Horsham/Washington) • Return flights Gatwick – Kraków with easyJet • Return Airport transfers • 5 nights half board at the Wyspianski Hotel in Classic rooms • City tax • Hot/Cold Buffet Breakfast & Dinner • Porterage • Half day guided city tour with entrances to Wawel Castle & Royal Tombs & St. Mary’s Church • Afternoon excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines • Tour to Auschwitz & Birkenau including entrance fees and documentary film • Excursion to Zakopane with a local guide & Gubalowka Mountain cable car • Farewell dinner at a local restaurant £775 per person sharing a twin/double room Sole occupancy supplement £135 Deposit £150 per person (cheques payable to Roadmark Travel Ltd) Emerald Travel Insurance £39.50 This tour will be booked with Success Tours Limited ATOL 5114 for whom we act as agents, and all bookings are subject to their booking conditions. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 21 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours Reduction for NT Members COASTS & CASTLES OF IRELAND Saturday 4th October for 8 days Our holiday to Ireland this year combines the remarkable Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland and the unique Giant’s Causeway, with a stay in County Donegal to discover some of the loughs and mountains in this beautifully preserved corner of the Emerald Isle. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 A taxi will collect you from home and bring you to the coach to meet your driver and fellow passengers. We spend today driving north to our overnight hotel in the Scottish borders. DAY 2 With views across the Solway Firth we make our way to CAERLAVEROCK CASTLE near Dumfries. Caerlaverock is one of Scotland’s great medieval fortresses and has a triangular shape that is unique among British castles. It has an impressive twin-towered gatehouse and imposing battlements. We continue through the beautiful scenery of the GALLOWAY FOREST PARK before reaching the port of Cairnryan. The ferry crossing from here to Larne is one of the quickest over the Irish Sea and takes just two hours. From Larne it is a short drive to the BALLYGALLY CASTLE HOTEL where we will enjoy dinner, bed and a full Irish breakfast. The Hotel is based around a 17th century castle and overlooks the golden sands of Ballygally Bay. DAY 3 With the Antrim Hills to our left and spectacular Antrim coast to our right we drive to THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, Northern Ireland’s iconic World Heritage Site. The basalt stone columns were 22 left by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago and feature distinctive stone formations nicknamed the Camel, Harp & Organ. After our visit we continue through County Londonderry, cross the border and arrive in Donegal late afternoon. DAY 4 Today we shall explore the beautiful countryside of County Sligo, the inspiration of much of the poetry of W.B.Yeats. We visit Drumcliffe, final resting place of Ireland’s most famous poet, before continuing along the Glencar Valley en route to the calm waters of Lough Gill. We also pass the village of Dromahair with its remarkable ruin of the 16th century Creevelea Friary. DAY 5 We swap poetry for music today, travelling north to Dungloe. This is DANIEL O’DONNELL COUNTRY and we shall stop at the Visitor Centre where the singer’s life is explored through displays, film and memorabilia, from his roots in a small coastal village to the World stage. Our next stop will be at the GLENVEAGH NATIONAL PARK, one of six National Parks in Ireland. Formerly a private deer forest in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains the Park now has a Visitor Centre from where we shall take a guided tour of 19th century GLENVEAGH CASTLE. We return to the Hotel via Letterkenny and the Blue Stack Mountains. DAY 6 A morning excursion to the pretty fishing village of KILLYBEGS is followed by an afternoon in which to take a stroll around DONEGAL TOWN. Often referred to as the ‘Fort of the Foreigners’, Donegal has a castle, abbey ruins and a number of local craft shops. DAY 7 Our route today passes through more of Northern Ireland as we make our way to DUBLIN’S FAIR CITY. Arriving mid-afternoon there will be Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 time to see some of Dublin’s most important landmarks and take a stroll beside the River Liffey. We spend tonight at the comfortable STILLORGAN PARK HOTEL on the outskirts of the City where we have stayed on several previous occasions. DAY 8 An early departure to Dublin Port for the morning sailing to Holyhead. The crossing will be on a conventional ferry and takes around three and a half hours. We reach North Wales late morning and head for home via the motorways. On arrival in Sussex a taxi will take you to your door. YOUR MAIN HOLIDAY HOTEL Just 10 minutes from the centre of Donegal the MILL PARK HOTEL is an independently owned hotel offering a good level of accommodation and friendly and efficient service. The Hotel has its own leisure centre with swimming pool, steam room, Jacuzzi and gym. The Granary Restaurant offers a great selection of fresh Donegal produce. There is a lift to the bedrooms, which are spacious with television, telephone, hairdryer, tea and coffee tray and trouser press. www.millparkhotel.com £655 per person sharing a twin/double room £95 sole occupancy supplement Deposit £75 per person £7 discount for NT members Emerald Insurance £24 Includes door to door service © Flickr – Paul Stevenson lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 NEW TOUR Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 Passport Required © Michielverbeek 14 AUTUMN IN THE EIFEL Sunday 12th October for 5 days Germany’s Eifel National Park is a beautiful wooded area, bordered by the Moselle in the south and the Rhine in the east. Our base for this tour is the ancient town of Monschau with its wonderfully preserved and distinctive buildings. We include one full day and two half-day excursions, allowing plenty of time in Monschau itself. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 We travel via the Channel Tunnel then continue through France and Belgium to MONSCHAU, which lies just inside the German border. Monschau is a hidden treasure of a town with lovely old buildings dating from its time as the thriving linen capital of the area. Our Hotel is conveniently situated for exploring the town. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival followed by dinner. DAY 2 We drive through the picturesque EIFEL NATIONAL PARK, where the countryside is amazingly unspoilt and among the most beautiful in western Germany. Our journey leads us to the romantic town of BAD MUNSTEREIFEL with narrow streets and alleys, picturesque halftimbered buildings, shops and cafes along the Erft. We return to Monschau for free time to explore. Take a stroll to the Castle overlooking the town or visit the Red House Museum to see how the wealthy merchants lived. DAY 3 A full day excursion takes us first to AACHEN, the city of Charlemagne with an impressive cathedral. Later we cross the border into Holland to pay a visit to VALKENBURG. This attractive medieval town has a network of caves hewn into the rock creating a magical atmosphere. DAY 4 This morning we cross the Belgian border to visit SPA, often referred to as ‘The Pearl of the Ardennes’. This little town lies in a wooded valley surrounded by undulating hills, rivers and springs. It has a very attractive centre with the oldest casino in the world, dating from 1763. There will be time to complete your exploration of Monschau when we return to the Hotel after lunch. DAY 5 After a hearty buffet breakfast we drive to the Flemish city of GHENT. Not as well known as its neighbour Bruges, Ghent is an attractive place in which to spend a few hours. There are rivers and canals, narrow streets leading to fascinating squares, and a pedestrianised shopping area with restaurants and bars serving local food and some of the best beers in the world. Later we continue the homeward journey, reaching Sussex by mid evening. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The 4-star HOTEL CARAT is situated by a pretty stream only 300m from the centre of Monschau. There are 100 bedrooms decorated in warm and cosy colours. Both dinner and breakfast are buffet style. The Hotel skittles alley and games area provides a great place to spend the evening, or enjoy a drink in the bistro style bar. The Carat has a swimming pool and sauna. There are some ground floor rooms and the Hotel has a lift. www.carathotel.de © Flickr – kismihok £399 per person sharing a twin/double room £59 sole occupancy supplement £75 deposit Emerald Insurance £27 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 23 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours © Flickr – Anguskirk lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 Reduction for NT Members n R yH ec n tr t io Co u A fully escorted tour Thursday 16th October for 5 days m o ad a r k TORTWORTH COURT o u s e Co ll Following the highly successful 'Nautical Devon' tour in 2013 we are pleased to present the second in our Country House Collection. Not only have we found another charming hotel, but you will see from the itinerary just how much is included in the holiday, from the beauty and tranquillity of the Cotswolds to Bristol's bustling harbour scene and ss Great Britain. HOLIDAY ITINERARY THURSDAY © Stuart Wilding – geograph.org.uk You will be collected by taxi and brought to the coach where you will join your driver, Tour Manager and fellow passengers. There will be a stop for refreshments on the journey to TETBURY, a charming little town situated in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds. Tetbury came to life with the growth of the wool trade and its church has one of the tallest spires in the UK. There will be time to see the iconic Market House built in 1655, meander down the medieval cobbled Chipping Steps and find lunch. This afternoon we visit WESTONBIRT NATIONAL ARBORETUM. The historic picturesque Victorian landscape was first planted in the 1850’s and is now managed by the Forestry Commission. There are around 2,500 different types of tree from Britain and around the globe. Hopefully the autumn colours will be starting to appear. From Westonbirt it is only a short drive to our Hotel, where we will arrive in time for relaxation and a dip in the pool before dinner. 24 FRIDAY Today we head off into the COTSWOLDS. After a lunchtime stop in pretty BOURTON-ON-THEWATER we will spend the afternoon visiting ADAM HENSON'S COTSWOLD FARM PARK at Temple Guiting. The farm has a collection of rare breeds from Gloucester cattle to Guernsey goats, Cotswold sheep to crested ducks. After an introductory talk we will take a trailer ride around the park and round off our visit with tea and scones. SATURDAY Tortworth is only a short drive from the city of BRISTOL, where we make for today. There will be a guided coach tour of the main sights, followed by a visit to the ss GREAT BRITAIN. Step on board Brunel's iconic steam ship, rescued from rust and wreckage in 1970 and lovingly restored to her Victorian hey-day. During our stay in Bristol we will take in the sights and sounds on a round trip cruise of the Harbour. SUNDAY Relax and enjoy a scenic excursion that will take us across the Severn Bridge and through the WYE VALLEY, resplendent in its rich Autumn colours. We will stop at Tintern Mill besides the River Wye so that you can buy lunch before continuing into the FOREST OF DEAN. A steam-train journey on the Dean Forest Railway takes us through the medieval forest to experience the bygone age of travel on a rural branch line. Roadmark will have private carriages and during the 90-minute trip you will enjoy a delicious cream tea. MONDAY The homeward journey takes us via DYRHAM PARK, a beautiful late 17th century home Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 where you can see how fashions have changed over the centuries, from the original Dutch-inspired interiors and formal gardens to the very different style of a Victorian country house. There is a National Trust shop and tea room. We will arrive back in Sussex late afternoon for taxis to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL A grade II Victorian listed mansion, TORTWORTH COURT FOUR PILLARS HOTEL is situated in South Gloucestershire on the edge of the Cotswolds surrounded by 30 acres of parkland. The Hotel exudes elegance and character, having been totally restored to its former glory following a major fire in 1991. Dining will be in the main restaurant with a good menu choice. Bedrooms will be in the newer Courtyard part of the Hotel and although there is no lift there are ground floor rooms that can be booked on request. There is a heated indoor 12 metre swimming pool with sauna, steam room and spa bath. www.tortworth-court-hotel.four-pillars.co.uk £439 per person sharing a twin/double room £89 sole occupancy supplement Deposit £75 per person Reduction of £10 for NT members Emerald Insurance £19.75 NEW NEW TOUR Itinerary Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 © www.geograph.org.uk – Paul Buckingham 14 WARNERS BEMBRIDGE COAST STUDLEY CASTLE Friday 14th November for 4 days Murder Mystery & Medieval Banquet Friday 7th November for 3 days Great value – only £199 per person! If you are looking for a new and unusual weekend break Roadmark has come up with the perfect solution. Join us as for a relaxing and entertaining stay at a comfortable De Vere Hotel where there will be an intriguing Murder Mystery Presentation on one evening, and a Medieval Banquet on the other night. This will be the third consecutive year that we have offered this long weekend to one of Warner's finest hotels, beautifully situated on the eastern shore of the Isle of Wight directly overlooking the Solent. Roadmark clients always enjoy the comfortable accommodation, wide choice of food and great entertainment on offer at Bembridge Coast. It has the added advantage of being just a short distance to travel, allowing plenty of time for us to introduce you to some of the Island's coast and countryside. HOLIDAY ITINERARY HOLIDAY ITINERARY FRIDAY Join the coach at one of our convenient pick-up points. We make our way through the Cotswolds to STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, birthplace of England's greatest poet and playwright. Time to explore, stroll by the River and see some of the original houses from Shakespeare's time. From Stratford it is just a short drive to Studley Castle. This evening sit down in the flickering torch-light to a sumptuous feast in the atmosphere of Merrie Olde England. The regal repast will be brought to you by servers in authentic costume while you enjoy the pageantry with your host King Henry VIII. A Court Jester and Tudor style musicians will entertain you during dinner. SATURDAY After breakfast join the coach and travel through the Warwickshire countryside to the JINNY RING CRAFT CENTRE. Here you will find craftspeople at work and can browse through the galleries to find glass, pottery, artwork, jewellery and other unusual hand-crafted items. We continue to the CITY OF WORCESTER where there will be time to shop, find lunch and visit the magnificent Cathedral towering above the River Severn. Back at the Hotel the MURDER MYSTERY EVENING starts over dinner. The “Who dunnit” presentation includes quizzes, competitions and prizes and promises to be great fun! SUNDAY No need to rush today so plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and read the Sunday papers. We make our way to BURFORD, one of England's prettiest small medieval towns. The River Windrush flows at the bottom of the broad main street, which is lined with antique shops, pubs and restaurants. Return to your original pick-up point during the afternoon. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL Set in attractive grounds deep within the Warwickshire countryside, DE VERE STUDLEY CASTLE was built in 1836 in the style of a medieval castle and combines historic character and modern charm. There are 57 bedrooms at Studley on three floors. There is a lift in the West Wing but some bedrooms are accessible by stairs only. All rooms are ensuite with tea and coffee making £199 per person facilities, hairdryer and trouser press. Deposit £75 per person The Hotel has an elegant Georgian dining Emerald Insurance £14.75 room and lounge. Guests have use of the Please note door to door Hotel mini-gym and sauna. www.deverevenues.co.uk service is not included FRIDAY We take the ferry from Portsmouth to RYDE, one of the Isle of Wight's biggest towns with elegant Victorian villas and the oldest seaside pier in the UK. Time to explore and have lunch before we continue to BEMBRIDGE with its attractive harbour. We will arrive at the Hotel in good time for a dip in the pool or a pre-dinner drink from the bar (or both if you prefer!) SATURDAY A morning excursion takes us to one of the Island's latest attractions, OWL & MONKEY HAVEN. This small but fascinating award-winning centre is home to a diverse collection of rescued primates and birds of prey, and you can see the magnificent animals relax and play in their spacious enclosures. Alternatively spend some time exploring and shopping in NEWPORT, the main town of the Island. This afternoon is free to enjoy all the facilities and entertainment at the Hotel. SUNDAY After a leisurely breakfast and a read of the Sunday papers why not join your driver for an ISLAND COASTAL TOUR? Passing Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor we will show you some of the Island's best coastline and charming villages. We will visit ISLE OF WIGHT PEARL which has the largest collection of pearl jewellery in the UK, and make a stop in GODSHILL with its pretty hilltop church and gift shops. MONDAY After the return ferry crossing we head to GUNWHARF QUAYS in Portsmouth where you can find lunch and enjoy a spot of shopping before we return home to Sussex and meet the taxis that will return you to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL BEMBRIDGE COAST is set in 23 acres of attractive grounds just a pebble's throw from the beach and with wonderful views across the Solent. Bedrooms are well appointed and have everything you need for a comfortable stay. Those on the first floor are reached by lift. As at all Warner Leisure Hotels there is a wide range of daytime activities and fabulous nightly entertainment. Meals are served in the Four Tides Restaurant with all-you-can-eat buffet breakfasts and three-course dinners served at your table. The Hotel has a coffee lounge and well stocked bar. Please note that single travellers will probably have rooms in “The Mews”, separate chalet-style accommodation a £339 per person short walk from the main building. www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk Deposit £75 per person Emerald Insurance £17.50 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 25 NEW TOUR 25 S Y E ACoRach Tours Passport NOT Required DERBYSHIRE & THE FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET Friday 28th November for 4 days A strange combination you might say! But this new pre-Christmas break provides a perfect opportunity to visit one of the UK’s best Christmas Markets (in Birmingham, not Frankfurt!). You will also visit a number of Outlet centres where there are bargains to be had and take your seat at the spectacular Birmingham Military Tattoo. You will stay for three nights at a 4-star Menzies Hotel with comfortable accommodation, delicious food and great leisure facilities. And don’t worry how much shopping you buy as we have plenty of room on the coach for all your purchases! HOLIDAY ITINERARY FRIDAY © Flickr – Birmingham Culture A taxi collects you from your home and brings you to the coach. We will drive to Oxfordshire to visit the BICESTER OUTLET SHOPPING VILLAGE. Here you will find a wide range of shops selling some of the leading fashion and lifestyle brands. Browse in the shopping centre and enjoy savings of up to 60% on normal high street prices. After time to find those all important bargains and enjoy lunch we continue through the Midlands to our Hotel situated in the village of Mickleover to the south of Derby. Time to relax and unwind in the bar or swimming pool before dinner. SATURDAY We will be visiting three places today, each of which offer great shopping opportunities. Just north of Derby in the picturesque Amber Valley is the town of Belper, home to DE BRADELEI STORES where a range of shops is housed within a historic hosiery mill. Discover a great selection of 26 ladies and menswear, shoes and accessories, gifts and soft furnishings. DENBY POTTERY has been established in Derbyshire for over 200 years and has a reputation for high quality dinner and glass ware. Around an attractive courtyard there are Home, Garden, Cookery and Gift shops, together with the DENBY FACTORY SHOP with substantial savings off rrp. MASSON MILLS is a former Arkwright Cotton Spinning Mill in the Derwent Valley, a World Heritage Site. Here you will find around 50 retailers under the same roof, including fashion, sportswear, books, crafts, music and specialist food and drink. SUNDAY After breakfast we board the coach and drive to BIRMINGHAM. The City has been hosting the ‘FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET’ for over ten years and it has grown to become one of our largest Christmas Markets, and certainly the biggest outside Germany. As well as visiting the Market you can head for the Bull Ring for some Christmas shopping. This afternoon we have arranged a special treat in the form of the BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TATTOO. The Show is held in the National Indoor Arena and is similar to the Edinburgh Tattoo but not confined to Commonwealth countries. It is a dazzle of dress uniforms, marching bands and parades, a field gun competition, a lone piper and over a thousand performers massed in a spectacular grand finale. After the performance we return to our Hotel for dinner. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 MONDAY We make our way to the compact and attractive city of LICHFIELD, where the Cathedral is one of the oldest places of Christian worship in Britain. There will be time to explore the shops clustered around the historic Market Place and Three Spires Shopping Centre, and to visit the Cathedral if you wish. During the afternoon we return to Sussex where taxis will be waiting to take you and your shopping home to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL A warm welcome awaits at The MENZIES DERBY MICKLEOVER COURT HOTEL. There are 99 ensuite bedrooms, reached by lifts and each with satellite TV, telephone, complimentary Wi-Fi and tea/coffee making facilities. There will be time to relax in the indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and whirlpool bath and, if you are feeling energetic, to try out the fully equipped gymnasium. www.menzieshotels.co.uk £279 per person sharing a twin/double room £39 sole occupancy supplement Deposit £75 Emerald Insurance £17.50 Includes door to door service © www.christmasmarkets.com lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 Reduction for EH Members Price held from 2013! THE 2014 THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Tuesday 2nd December for 3 days A visit to this magical Christmas Show in rural Norfolk has become a “must” for many Roadmark clients. The Show is recognised as the largest of its kind in the country and has a budget of around £3 million. Thursford is simply unique, a pageant of spectacle and colour, featuring everything from up-beat dance routines to choral renditions of favourite Christmas carols. The incredible lighting and sound matches anything you are likely to see in the West End, while the decorations and gorgeous costumes have to be seen to be believed! HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 A Roadmark taxi will bring you from home to the coach. We travel to the historic market town of BURY ST. EDMUNDS in Suffolk. Bury has a striking combination of medieval architecture, elegant Georgian squares and a glorious cathedral, and there will be time to explore and find lunch. This afternoon we continue to our hotel on the outskirts of Norwich. DAY 2 This morning enjoy a leisurely breakfast, a read of the papers or perhaps a dip in the pool before we leave for THURSFORD mid-morning. We aim to arrive early to allow plenty of time for a snack and some shopping in the Thursford gift shops before this afternoon’s performance. Whether you have seen the Christmas Spectacular before or if this is your first visit, you will be completely bowled over by the wonderful festive atmosphere and talented cast of 130 professional singers, dancers and musicians. DAY 3 After breakfast we make our way to COLCHESTER, the oldest recorded town in Britain with a unique heritage and history. Time for lunch and a spot of Christmas shopping before we complete the homeward journey to Sussex. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL You will stay for two nights at the DE VERE DUNSTON HALL HOTEL, an Elizabethan-style mansion built in 1859, a few miles from Norwich. This 4-star country house hotel retains a traditional elegance amidst 150 acres of landscaped grounds. The public areas include an elegantly decorated bar and an impressive restaurant. Each of the 169 bedrooms is equipped with modern £277 per person facilities including tea/coffee-making sharing a twin/ facilities. The Dunston Hall’s impressive double room leisure facilities include an indoor £43 single supplement swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and Deposit £75 per person steam room. There is a lift. www.devere-hotels.co.uk Emerald Insurance £14.75 Includes door to door service A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS at the Bourne Hall Country House Hotel Thursday 4th December for 5 days Picture an elegant and comfortable Victorian country house with period features set in mature gardens on the outskirts of the old village of Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Bourne Hall was built in the 1860’s for a lady-inwaiting to Queen Victoria and provides a hotel with great character, welcoming staff and delicious food. This will be Roadmark’s 4th visit. YOUR FESTIVE HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 We travel through THE NEW FOREST to Lymington for the pretty ferry crossing to the Isle of Wight. On arrival at the Bourne Hall tea and mince pies will be served in the drawing room, decorated for the season with garlands, cinnamon bunches and holly. Meet the Hotel owners and staff at a drinks reception before a candlelit dinner in the Cameron Restaurant, named after Julia Cameron the famous Victorian photographer. DAY 2 A morning excursion to WALTZING WATERS. Take your seat in the comfortable theatre to enjoy the elaborate water, music and light show. Next we shall visit ROSEMARY VINEYARD for a tour of the winery and tasting of some the quality wines produced on the Island. Tea and cakes awaits our arrival back at the Hotel, and a Mulled Wine Reception will precede a gala Christmas buffet. DAY 3 Today relax and enjoy the scenery as we take a ROUND THE ISLAND TOUR. We shall drive through Ventnor and along the coastal “Military Road” with magnificent views all the way as far as Freshwater Bay and Yarmouth. This evening there will be a wine tasting Reception prior to a three-course festive dinner with all the trimmings. DAY 4 In keeping with our theme we visit OSBORNE HOUSE, the beloved Island home of Queen Victoria. A guided tour provides an intimate glimpse into the private family life of Britain’s longest reigning monarch. During dinner on our last night at the Bourne Hall you will be entertained by the trickery of a Table Magician. Afterwards relax with coffee and mints and await the arrival – perhaps – of a surprise guest! DAY 5 After the return ferry crossing to Portsmouth we shall visit GUNWHARF QUAYS where there will be time for lunch and a spot of Christmas shopping before completing our journey home to Sussex. A taxi will take you to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL THE BOURNE HALL HOTEL occupies an elevated position about 10-15 minutes walk from the old village of Shanklin with views across Sandown Bay and the Culver Cliffs. Bedrooms are well appointed with television, radio, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. Some have sea views whilst others look over the garden or surrounding countryside. There is no lift at the Hotel, although there are a few rooms on the ground floor. If a ground floor room is essential for £375 per person you please let us know when making £75 deposit your booking. www.bournehallhotel.co.uk Emerald Insurance £19.75 Includes door to door service Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 27 NEW 25 Itinerary S Y E ACoRach Tours lity of Qua1 9 8 9 - 2 0 1 4 Passport Required GERMANY’S FAIRYTALE CHRISTMAS MARKETS Monday 15th December for 5 days Although many places in the UK have Christmas Markets, you have to travel to Germany for ‘The Real Thing’. German Christmas Markets are characterised by candlelight and the aroma of traditional gingerbread, stollen cakes and cinnamon cookies. The seductive smell of Gluhwein hangs in the air and you will discover an endless array of treats to tempt you as you stroll around. The markets are brimming with wonderful and unusual gifts, from jewellery to candles, leather goods, hats, gloves and scarves and hand crafted festive decorations. This tour will take you to a selection of Markets in the Ruhr and Rhine Valleys, including those in the city of Cologne. This will be the second time we have stayed at a hotel in the Maritim chain, which is well respected in Germany for providing a high level of comfort, food and service. HOLIDAY ITINERARY DAY 1 Taxi collection from your home to the coach to meet your fellow travellers. There will be two drivers on this tour, enabling us to provide a complimentary on-board tea/coffee service. We drive to Folkestone for the convenient Eurotunnel train service through the Channel Tunnel. From Calais it is a journey of about five hours to our hotel in Gelsenkirchen, situated in the Ruhr Valley not far from the German border between Essen and Dortmund. A welcome glass of mulled wine will be served before dinner this evening. DAY 2 Today we will visit two of the regions Markets. DORTMUND is among Germany’s largest Christmas Markets, with 300 stalls packed around a gigantic Christmas Tree made up of 1,700 individual fir trees. The ESSEN CHRISTMAS MARKET has more of an international flavour, with exotic 28 products from all over the world, sculptures from Africa, craft from Russia and figurines from Cuba. Essen has become known for its ‘Lichtwohen’ (Light weeks), a tradition that started 50 years ago. Each year a different European country is featured in dazzling light displays around the city. DAY 3 It will take us just over an hour to reach COLOGNE, which has one of the largest and bestknown Christmas Markets in Germany. We include a visit to the LINDT CHOCOLATE MUSEUM, housed in a spectacular glass and metal building at the Rheinau harbour, to enjoy an expedition through 3000 years of chocolate history. This is followed by time to explore the four individual Markets, located in the Cathedral, the Alter Markt, on the Neumarkt and on the Rudolfplatz. Probably most impressive is the Cathedral Market, held against the backdrop of one of Europe’s most imposing cathedrals. Here you can browse among over 160 stalls, watch artisans at work and choose from a huge range of sweets and local delicacies. DAY 4 This morning we will take you to nearby BOCHUM which hosts one of the best Christmas Markets in the Ruhr. The stalls are arranged around the Medieval Market Square and entertainment is provided on the stage. Among the tasty specialities are biscuits shaped like Bochum’s buildings and Christmas beer from a mobile brewery. After time for lunch we shall return to Gelsenkirchen so that Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 the rest of the day can be spent exploring the Market here, which is only a short stroll from our Hotel, and making your final purchases. DAY 5 After breakfast we load the luggage onto the coach and begin our homeward journey. Taking an afternoon train through the Tunnel we reach the local area by late afternoon/early evening and taxis will return you to your door. YOUR HOLIDAY HOTEL The MARITIM GELSENKIRCHEN is a modern multifloor hotel located next to attractive gardens and a lake and within walking distance of the city centre. The bedrooms are comfortably furnished with private facilities, bath with shower, satellite television, telephone, hairdryer, room safe and minibar. The restaurant serves a rich buffet breakfast and three course meal each evening. Guests have use of the indoor heated pool and sauna. www.maritim.com £439 per person sharing a twin/double room £65 sole occupancy supplement Deposit £75 Emerald Insurance £27 Includes door to door service Y 25 of Qua E A R S lity Coa ch Tours 1989 -2 0 14 A LOOK AHEAD TO 2015 In August 2013 a Roadmark group, with driver Mark and tour escort Martin, travelled to Norway on a 9-day holiday entitled ‘The Majestic Sognefjord’. Travelling via Denmark and the beautiful fruit growing region around the Hardangerfjord they experienced some of Norway’s fjords, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and high mountain passes on a journey to the longest and deepest fjord, the Sognefjord, where they stayed for three nights. Excursions included the Sogn Folk Museum, Norwegian Glacier Museum and a scenic drive along the famous Glacier Route. We are planning to offer Norway as a destination again in 2015 and hope that many of you will decide to join us. In order to cut down the travelling and maximise the time spent in Norway we are looking at the possibility of arranging it as a “fly-coach” holiday, making the outward journey by coach and flying home at the end of the tour (or vice-versa). On FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY we are holding a HOLIDAY PRESENTATION DAY in Horsham, when we will be showing a short film with highlights of the 2013 holiday, and presenting details of Norway in 2015. If you would like to attend please ask for your name to be added to our list and we will send you full details nearer the time. This will also ensure that you receive information about the Norway tour as soon as it becomes available. We will be offering complimentary coach travel from our normal pick-up points. “We rarely venture abroad, preferring to explore the delights of GB ourselves. However, when we saw Norway in your brochure last year we jumped at the prospect for our first holiday with Roadmark. Thank you for enabling us to see a part of Europe we had always wanted to visit, but wouldn’t otherwise have been able to see in such breadth. Thank you too for the impromptu opportunities for visits to locations at unexpected times and places.” Yours sincerely Anne & Graham Rumney – September 2013 PLEASE LET US HAVE YOUR IDEAS… We are always looking for suggestions for new destinations for our British and European holidays. If there is somewhere you would like to visit please do let us know and we will explore the possibilities. Photos (from left to right) The Roadmark Group at the Jostedalsbreen Glacier Anne & Graham Rumney Roadmark Group outside the Glacier Museum (the woolly mammoths were not travelling on the coach!) Martin Phillips “Lesley was unhappy about having to fetch and carry her own bathwater!” (at the Sogn Folk Museum) Frank Williams Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 29 Holiday Booking Terms and Conditions CONSUMER PROTECTION INSURANCE In accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992” all passengers booking with Roadmark Travel Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Roadmark Travel Ltd. Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of Insurers. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Roadmark Travel Ltd. This insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by Certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. For further information see www.ipplondon.co.uk ALL ROADMARK COACH HOLIDAYS ARE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: When signing the booking form you will sign on behalf of yourself, and the others named in your party that you have read, understood, and have accepted these conditions and the Holiday Information provided in this brochure. A contract between us is entered into when you make a booking and we accept it by written confirmation on the terms set out in this brochure. Your contract is with ROADMARK TRAVEL LIMITED of Stockbury House, Church Street, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 4LD, hereinafter referred to as “The Company”. 1. You Pay a Deposit When you make a booking you must pay a deposit. This is normally £75 per person and the exact amount will be advised to you when booking. If you are taking Roadmark Travel “Emerald” Travel Insurance” you must also pay the appropriate premium as shown in our Brochure. Should you decide to cancel or be unable to take up the holiday for any reason this deposit and insurance premium are both NON-REFUNDABLE. 2. You Pay the Balance You must pay the balance by the date specified in the tour confirmation. If the balance is not paid in time the Company reserves the right, after due notice to the customer, to cancel your booking. In this event, or if you, the customer, cancel the holiday arrangements after the booking is accepted, the deposit (and insurance premium if applicable) will be forfeited. 3. If You Cancel Your Holiday If you or any member of your party decide to cancel your holiday, the person signing the booking form must notify us in writing. As cancellation incurs administrative costs we will retain the deposit applicable to each person’s holiday cancelled. Any insurance premium you have paid will also be forfeited. Additionally, if you cancel within 42 days of departure, The Company will apply a cancellation charge in accordance with the following scale: Period before departure within which written cancellation is received Cancellation Charge (including deposit paid) as a percentage of the holiday price Prior to 42 days Loss of deposit & Insurance premium 28 – 42 days 14 – 27 days 7 – 13 days 1 – 6 days Departure Day or later including voluntary termination whilst on holiday 30% 45% 60% 100% 100% NOTE: If the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges subject to the policy excess. Insurance premiums are not reclaimable. 4. If You Change Your Booking If after our confirmation has been issued you wish to change your booking (e.g. change to another holiday or departure date), we will do our best to make the changes provided that we receive written notification from the person signing the booking form not later than the date on which the balance of the original holiday cost was due for payment. This must be accompanied by a payment of £25 to cover administration costs. Any alteration by you made later than the original balance date will be treated as a cancellation and subject to the charges set out in paragraph 3 above. 30 Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 5. If You Have a Complaint If you have a complaint during your holiday, please inform, in the first instance, the supplier of the service and then inform our driver/courier or representative immediately, who will do his/her best to help you there and then. If the matter cannot be resolved to your satisfaction you must put your complaint in writing to Roadmark Travel Limited. This should give full details of the complaint and be received by the Company not later than 28 days following the return of your holiday. Failure to establish your complaint immediately in accordance with the above procedure may affect the outcome of it. 6. STATUTORY AUTHORITIES & CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE This brochure is issued subject to applicable Acts of Parliament and Government Regulations and The Company reserves the right to modify itineraries to conform with requests from competent authorities in the United Kingdom and any other sovereign state through which the tours operate. Overland carriage may be in vehicles other than those owned by Roadmark Travel Limited. When you travel on an aircraft, train or ship, the conditions of that carrier apply and are subject to National and International conditions which may limit or exclude liability. The Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations as amended 1990, apply to all coaches throughout any holiday in the UK. 7. INSURANCE It is a condition of booking with Roadmark Travel that you are covered by Travel Insurance for any UK or European Holiday. There is a wide range of providers to choose from and you do not have to take the insurance offered by Roadmark. Roadmark Travel Limited is an Appointed Representative of Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd. Through Giles we offer the “EMERALD COACH HOLIDAY SCHEME”. The insurance premium is shown next to the price of each holiday listed in our brochure and on the website, and includes Insurance Premium Tax at the prevailing rate (currently 20%). A summary of the cover is shown on page 31 of this brochure under TRAVEL INSURANCE Important Information, and a full policy document can be inspected at our office. Roadmark Travel does not provide advice or recommendation as to whether the policy meets your own specific requirements. If you decide to purchase Roadmark’s Travel Insurance and pay the relevant premium we will send you a policy document. If you decide that the cover does not meet your requirements you may return the policy document to us within 14 days and we will refund the premium paid. If you cancel your holiday for any reason after the 14-day period the insurance premium is non-refundable. You should always take your Insurance Policy document with you on the holiday. If you are not covered by the Emerald Scheme you must provide details of your own alternative insurance cover, for which there is a space on the booking form. EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS (applies to both UK & EUROPE) Your Emerald policy may not cover claims arising from your pre-existing medical conditions, so if you have a medical condition and/or are taking prescribed medicine, it is essential that you telephone Travellers Healthcheck on 01732 853375 to advise them of your condition/medication. You must also telephone the Healthcheck line if you are on a waiting list for any treatment, and if your condition or medication changes after you have purchased your travel insurance. 8. PASSPORTS For all holidays abroad you will require a full 10 year British Passport. If you do not hold a full British Passport it may be possible to travel, provided that you have checked with the appropriate immigration authorities of the Country(ies) to be visited whether a visa is required, and that you are in possession of the visa and any other documentation necessary for entry into that country(ies). The Company cannot accept responsibility for delays or difficulties caused if passengers are not in possession of the correct travel documents. 9. SPECIAL NEEDS We will accept lightweight wheelchairs for travel, subject to them being able to be folded and stowed away in the luggage hold of the coach. We regret we are unable to accept wheelchairs that are more than 20kg in weight. This means we cannot carry battery powered wheelchairs or scooters that need to be taken apart for storage. We MUST be advised at the time of booking that a folding wheelchair or walking aid is being taken on a trip, as we have also to consider the luggage capacity and weight of the coach. Our drivers and escorts will be happy to provide general assistance to passengers but will not be expected to: • Provide assistance that extends to the bodily lifting and carrying of any customers on and off the coach. • Undertake any action that may put their health, safety, welfare or the legal requirements for a break in duty at risk. • Act as carers for customers at departure, during the journey or on arrival at destination. Unfortunately, many hotels do not provide adequate facilities for guests with mobility problems or who suffer from other disabilities. We are keen to plan arrangements for your holiday so that special needs and requests can be accommodated as far as possible. If you will need assistance or special facilities in the hotel, or may have difficulties in taking part in excursions or boarding and travelling on the coach or other means of transport you must let us know in advance. Not all holidays in this brochure may be suitable for you. We want you to enjoy your holiday and will try to help you select an appropriate trip. If you need advice or further information you should contact Roadmark Travel Ltd. 10. HEALTH If you are in any doubt as to whether your state of health may render you unfit to travel you should consult your doctor and act on his/her advice. If a doctor confirms that you are medically unfit to start your holiday it is essential that you cancel the holiday. Travel Insurance – Important Information In this case you will normally be able to make a claim on your insurance. At the time of going to press no special precautions regarding health matters were needed by travellers to the countries mentioned in this brochure. However, regulations are subject to change and our clients are responsible for complying with entry and current health requirements. For all foreign holidays we advise you to obtain a copy of the Department of Health leaflet “Advice on Health for Travellers”. If you are going on holiday to a member state of the EEC we advise you to carry with you a EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD which entitles you to benefit in kind during your stay. You can apply by telephone 0300 3301350 or online at www.ehic.org.uk 11. DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE Our door-to-door service automatically applies unless stated, and provided that your home (pick-up) address is within fifteen miles of one of our main holiday pick-up points, which are WASHINGTON and HOP OAST PARK & RIDE in Horsham. We can usually arrange door-todoor service for passengers outside our fifteen-mile area at a supplementary charge. 12. OTHER TERMS (a) On any Roadmark holiday you are not permitted to bring a pet or any other animal (other than Guide Dogs in the UK and Eire only and by prior arrangement). (b) Smoking and the consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited on Roadmark coaches. (c) You are not permitted to play a radio, cassette or CD player on Roadmark coaches or to use any form of electronic device without head/earphones. (d) Excursions are included in the price of most Roadmark holidays and refunds cannot be made for passengers who do not wish to go on these excursions. Admission fees to buildings, grounds etc. are not included in the price of the holiday unless otherwise stated in the brochure. (e) Roadmark Travel Limited reserves the unconditional right to refuse a booking or to terminate a client’s holiday in the event of unreasonable conduct which in our opinion is likely to cause damage, distress, danger or annoyance to other clients, employees, property or to any third party. This includes unsuitable or inappropriate attire being worn in places such as restaurants and hotels. The minimum standard dress code is normally smart/casual. If you are prevented from travelling or continuing your holiday by such a termination our responsibility for your holiday thereupon ceases. Full cancellation charges will apply and Roadmark Travel Limited will be under no obligation for any refund, compensation or loss which you may incur. Our Obligation To You – forms part of the Holiday Terms & Conditions 1. YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE We will only increase the price of your holiday in the following, limited circumstances: i) If there is an increase in the cost of transportation, including fuel and fuel tax, ferry operator fares and tolls, airfares and embarkation or disembarkation fees at terminals. ii) If there is an increase in applicable duties or taxes (including the rate of VAT). iii) Adverse currency exchange rate variations. Even in the event of increases in the above, we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price. We will not alter the price of your holiday within 30 days of departure. In addition to Sterling we use the Euro in calculating our holiday prices for 2012 at an exchange rate of £1 = €1.14 2. IF WE CHANGE YOUR HOLIDAY Every effort will be made to operate all the holidays as advertised, but arrangements are made many months in advance and changes are, therefore, sometimes unavoidable. Most changes are likely to be minor, but where a change is significant we will notify you as soon as possible. Significant changes are those that involve changing your departure or return date, the location of resort, a change to the main hotel (not single overnight hotels), or tour itinerary changes which involve a main destination being completely eliminated. In the event of such a significant change you can decide either: a) To continue with the holiday as amended or b) To accept an alternative holiday we may offer you with an appropriate increase or reduction in price, or c) To cancel your booking, and receive a full refund of all monies paid by you. 3. IF WE CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY It is necessary for there to be a minimum number of passengers in order to operate a holiday. This number will vary depending on the tour, and the minimum for each holiday is available from Roadmark Travel on request. If this minimum number is not achieved we reserve the right to cancel the holiday. In this case we will offer you the choice of a full refund of all the monies you have paid to us, or an alternative holiday if one is available. However, we-will not cancel your holiday after the balance date unless (a) You have not paid for your holiday in full or (b) our holiday is influenced by events beyond our control such as hostilities, political unrest, industrial action, natural disasters, severe weather, technical problems to transport, Governmental action or other circumstance amounting to force majeure. If we have to cancel your holiday The Company is liable only for any monies you have paid to us at the time. Roadmark Travel Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd. Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This can be checked on the FCA’s website, www.fca.gov.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768. We only offer travel insurance from a single insurer – Union Reiseversicherung AG. This travel insurance is suitable for those who wish to insure themselves when travelling against the specified financial loss of unforeseen circumstances and events relating to your trip. A list of the covers and corresponding levels, as well as the main policy exclusions, can be found below. Further details will be in your policy document, a copy of which is available on request. We have not provided you with any recommendation or advice about whether this product meets your specific insurance requirements. It is your responsibility to decide whether this policy suits your requirements. Should you require any further information, please contact Roadmark Travel Ltd. Health Conditions If you are travelling within UK and Europe – Your policy may not cover claims arising from your pre-existing medical conditions so you need to telephone Travellers Healthcheck on 01732 853375 so that underwriters can ensure you are provided with the best cover they can offer. Please refer to the policy document. If your condition changes, after purchasing your travel insurance, or you are on a waiting list or have been sent for tests, investigations or your medication has changed, you are required to advise Travellers Healthcheck on 01732 853375 where they will advise on what cover can be provided. General Exclusions This policy includes some general exclusions relating to health conditions of you or those on who your trip depends unless previously agreed in writing by the underwriters. It also excludes claims whereby you are under the influence of drugs (other than those prescribed by a doctor) or alcohol or solvents. Full exclusions are listed in the policy document. Cover & Premiums The Insurance Premium is shown in the price panel for each holiday in this brochure and is inclusive of 20% Insurance Premium Tax Cancellation Up to £1,000 for UK Trips Up to £3,000 for EU Trips Curtailment Medical Expenses Unused portion of costs up to Up to £2,000,000 outside £3,000 home country Up to £1,500 within your home country Personal Possessions Up to £1,750 in total Up to £250 each individual item Up to total of £250 for valuables Personal Money Up to £250 in cash on your person Up to £500 in total Lost travel documents up to £250 Personal Liability Up to £2,000,000 Personal Accident Up to £15,000 Policy excess: Cancellation/Curtailment/Abandonment: £60 Deposit only £20.00 Personal Possessions, Personal Money/Medical Expenses – £60.00 Relevant Information You have a duty to take reasonable care to answer questions fully and accurately, and that any information you volunteer is not misleading. This applies both when you take the policy out and at any time during the policy period. If you do not do so, the underwriters reserve the right to void your policy from inception. Because an insurance policy can only provide cover in respect of accident, illness, loss or damage for an event/occurrence which is sudden, unforeseen and beyond your reasonable control, you must also tell us if you are aware of any circumstances at the time you purchase this insurance, or at any time afterwards, which could possibly result in you having to make a claim; otherwise you may not be covered. We reserve the right to charge an additional premium, amend the policy terms, or decline to offer cover if we feel that the information you give us changes our assessment of the risk involved. Cancellation Rights If your cover doesn’t meet your requirements, please let Roadmark Travel Ltd know within 14 days of receiving your policy document and return all your documents for a refund of your premium. Any premium already paid will be refunded to you providing you have not travelled, no claim has been made or is intended to be made and no incident likely to give rise to a claim has occurred. Claims The procedure for policyholders to make a claim is to contact Travel Claims Facilities, P O Box 420, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 9DE. Tel: 08453 707 133 Fax: 0870 620 5001 or from the internet at: www.travel-claims.net Complaints Should you have a complaint about the sale of your travel insurance policy, please contact Roadmark Travel Limited, Stockbury House, Church Street, Storrington, Pulborough RH20 4LD. Should you remain unhappy with our final reply, you may have the right to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR, by email to enquiries@financial-ombudsman.org.uk or telephone 0845-0801800. Financial Services Compensation Scheme We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim. Insurance advising and arranging is covered for 90% of the claim, with no upper limit. Further information is available from the FSCS. Roadmark Reservations 01903 741233 31 We have received lots of letters and emails from customers who travelled with us in 2013 “We have just returned from “Nautical Devon” and my wife and I want to thank Roadmark for a memorable and enjoyable holiday. Wendy our courier and Colin our driver were excellent and added a great deal to our enjoyment. We are looking forward to the next in the ‘Country House Collection.” “I am writing to say how much I enjoyed my holiday to The Isle of Man. Julia and Peter looked after us so well. It was a splendid hotel, excellent staff, a lovely view from the dining room and a lake with ducks which you could walk around.” “Thanks to your company I have achieved my desire to visit the Channel Islands. It was a most successful holiday, the hotels were good, the trips to the islands just perfect and, above all, Kate should be highly commended.” “Having just returned from Hats, Coats & Ties, we felt that we had to write to congratulate you on a first-class trip… The main reason for writing is to say how nice David our driver is. He made everything seem easy and was always so cheerful.” And we enjoyed your holiday photos Customers pictures (From top to bottom) Miracle in Mechelen Bill & Rhos Thornton Treasures of Tuscany Ron & Brenda Thomas The end of a perfect day on Lake Windermere Rosemary Hall Boats in Portofino Carole Duffy Ireland’s Wild West Ruby Nicholson ROADMARK TRAVEL LTD Stockbury House, Church Street, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 4LD 01903 741233 www.roadmarktravel.co.uk • Email: coaches@roadmarktravel.co.uk