GNTA trips

APRIL
Friday 25^th – Sunday 27th

SPRING TOUR - NORTH WALES     £251.50

Staying at the 4* De Vere Daresbury Park Hotel near Chester.

On the first day visit Attingham Park, in the morning, and Chirk Castle in the afternoon.  On Saturday there will be a visit to Erddig House followed by free time in the  afternoon  to explore the historic City of Chester.  Sunday morning on the return trip a visit to Powis Castle with its world famous garden.  Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, it retains its original lead statues and orangery and aviary on the terraces.  After leaving Powis Castle the coach will drive home via scenic mid-Wales.

MAY
Thursday 15^th

SNOWSHILL MANOR, THE COTSWOLDS & WESTBURY COURT GARDENS    £29.50

Set in an intimate Arts and Crafts inspired garden, Snowshill Manor contains a unique collection of craftsmanship and design, including musical instruments, clocks, toys, bicycles and Japanese armour.  The tranquil garden is run on organic principles and is an intriguing mix of architectural features and cottage garden.  On the return journey a  visit Westbury Court Gardens to see the heritage fruit trees that were purchased  for the North Wall of the Gardens with a donation from GNTA.

JUNE
Wednesday 18^th

 
LACOCK ABBEY & TEA AT BRADFORD UPON AVON      £29.50

 Founded in 1232 and converted into a country house c.1540, the fine medieval cloisters, sacristy, chapter house and monastic rooms of the Abbey have survived largely intact. The handsome 16^thcentury stable courtyard includes a clockhouse, brewery and bakehouse. The Photographic Museum commemorates the achievements of a former resident of the Abbey, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-77), inventor of the negative/positive photographic process, whose descendants gave the Abbey and village to the Trust in 1944. 

The return trip is via Bradford upon Avon where afternoon tea is included.

** Cut off date for bookings - 30 May 2008 **

JULY
Tuesday 29^th – Wednesday 30^th

THE HALL AT ABBEY CWM HIR & LLANERCHAERON    £134.50

***Cancelled due to lack of bookings***

An overnight tour to visit two very different properties, with half-board accommodation at the 3* Park Lodge Hotel, Aberystwyth.  On Tuesday a visit The Hall at Abbey-Cwm-Hir which is Grade II* listed as one of Wales’ finest examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.  Built in 1834 by Thomas Wilson the great Victorian improver, the house was double in size by the Philips family in 1869.  The Humpherstons bought The Hall in late 1997 and have spent 9 years restoring it to a building of Gothic Victorian splendour.  The property has been featured in BBC Wales’ “Discovering Welsh Houses” and “Wales Today”.  The next day a visit Llanerchaeron and the opportunity to see where the latest donation from GNTA has been spent.  For those who have not previously had the opportunity to visit Llanerchaeron.  It is a rare example of a self-sufficient 18th-century Welsh minor gentry estate, which has survived virtually unaltered.  The villa, designed in the 1790s is the most complete example of the early work of John Nash.

SEPTEMBER
Tuesday 9^th

FORDE ABBEY AND GARDENS      £29.50

Founded in 1140, Forde became over the next 400 years one of the most learned and wealthy monasteries in the land.  The building survived the Dissolution and evolved over the years into a beautiful country house.  The house contains a collection of elaborately decorated plaster ceilings, and exquisite pictures and fine furniture.   The 30 acres of gardens that surround the house date from the early 18th century and include a magnificent Bog Garden, wonderful summer borders and a large working kitchen garden.  On the return trip there will be a stop for afternoon tea, which is included in the price.

** Cut off date for bookings - 22 August 2008 **

OCTOBER
Friday 10^th – Sunday 12^th

AUTUMN TOUR  - THE PEAK DISTRICT     £239.50

The final weekend break of the year will be based at the 4* Renaissance Hotel at Derby on a half-board basis.  We will visit Sudbury Hall, a 17th century brick-built house with fine interior decoration.  It is one of the most individual houses of the period.  There will also be visits to Hardwick Hall designed by Robert Smythson for Bess of Hardwick.  Kedleston Hall built between 1759 and 1765 for the Curzon Family.  The influence of Robert Adam, the architect, is evident everywhere from the Park buildings to the decoration of the magnificent staterooms.  Eyam Plague Village where in 1665 the local church parson who organised the courageous decision by the villagers to isolate themselves when plague struck the village.  Finally, no visit to the Peak District would be complete without a visit to Chatsworth House.

** Cut off date for bookings - 27 August 2008 **

NOVEMBER
Thursday 27^th

WORCESTER: THE GREYFRIARS, & CHRISTMAS MARKET       £29.50

An afternoon visit to Worcester starting at The Greyfriars, a 15th century merchant’s house in Worcester city centre.  There will be an afternoon tea break (which is included in the price) and then on to the Victorian Christmas Market to start getting into the Christmas spirit.

** Cut off date for bookings - 11 November 2008 **