Durham Land of the Prince Bishops

To fully enjoy the walking on this holiday you should be able to walk along uneven undulating paths at about 1½ to 2 miles per hour for distances between 5 and 7 miles broken into two or three sections, with walks lasting up to a total of 5 hours.

Your Adagio Leader accompanies the group throughout the holiday, helping everything run smoothly from start to finish. Experienced travellers and enthusiastic group leaders, they create the friendly, relaxed atmosphere that is such an important part of the Adagio experience. They take care of the practical arrangements, provide support when needed and help ensure everyone gets the most from their holiday.

Visiting historical sites, churches or museums are much more rewarding with a local guide. They give an insight to the local culture, language and traditions and can bring a destination alive. Many of our Adagio holidays include a knowledgeable English speaking guide on at least one of the days. Please refer to your daily itinerary to see where a guide is included.

To reach the hotel ...

By Road -  Directions from the A1 north or south - Follow signs to Durham and take the A690 into city centre. Continue straight through the first roundabout and at the second roundabout turn left. Turn left again at the traffic lights and the hotel will be on the left.

Parking - There is limited parking in the hotel car park which is charged by the hotel at £11 per vehicle, per night.

By Rail - The nearest railway station is Durham Station 15 minutes walk from the hotel. It will cost approximately £5 in a taxi to reach the hotel from the station, or if you prefer to walk, turn right outside the station and soon left down some steps. Then right over the footbridge and left down the road then an alley to cross the main road. Cross the river on the main road and straight on under the road bridge and past the car park. Turn right at the lights to go over New Elvet Bridge and the hotel is at the junction to the left. 

By Air - The nearest airport is Newcastle Airport 25 miles away.

Check in - You can check into the hotel from 3pm. Should you arrive earlier we cannot guarantee your room will be ready. If you arrive before 3pm you can of course check in and the hotel will happily store your luggage for you.

Route planning to and from Durham: 

The AA and RAC both offer free and detailed on-line route planning facilities on their websites which may help you find the hotel. 

An excellent website to assist in your travel plans is Rome2Rio.

Please ensure your personal details, including your passport information and date of birth, are accurate and up to date, and that we have all the information needed to arrange your holiday. If you have any dietary allergies or intolerances, please let us know.

You can view and update your details using Manage My Booking on our website or by contacting our Sales & Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. Please check your booking confirmation carefully and notify us of any changes as soon as possible.

Breakfast and dinners are taken at the hotel. As well as continental you can also enjoy a hearty English breakfast, just right for setting you up for the day. Dinners consist of three choices per course including a vegetarian option and tea and coffee. The hotel prides itself in its food being prepared from fresh, local ingrediants.

Packed lunches are not provided to allow for flexibility, however your leader will be able to advise you on the closest place to buy provisions.

Comfortable, broken in, walking boots or shoes with a good sole are recommended for this holiday. Walking shoes or other comfortable footwear will be suitable for sightseeing days.

Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.

If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:

• Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and trousers
• Fleece or jumper
• Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and sun screen
• Swimwear & towel (if appropriate)
• Day sack (this should be able to carry all you would need for the days activity)
• Water bottle - at least 1 litre capacity
• Basic first aid kit
• Reusable Lunchbox
• Walking poles (should you find them useful)

This list is not exhaustive and every traveller is different and may have their own preference.

In addition, we recommend that you bring a flask with you on your walks each day. Due to the time of year, it is sensible to bring a hot drink out with you to help keep warm.  

It’s a condition of booking that you obtain adequate travel insurance, from a reputable provider, to undertake the holiday, including UK trips chiefly due to the cancellation element of cover.

The policy must cover the period from the date of booking to the last day of your trip and should include, as a minimum, cover for: medical expenses, mountain rescue including helicopter rescue, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment and shall not have exclusion clauses limiting cover for the activities you will partake in on your trip, including altitudes reached in the holiday arrangement. It is your responsibility to check that your policy is adequate for the nature and destination of the holiday booked.

Once you have obtained your travel insurance, please provide us with the name of your travel insurer, the policy number and the insurer’s 24 hour emergency assistance number.

In the event that you fail to obtain suitable Travel Insurance we shall not be liable for any costs incurred or claims made against us due to your failure to comply with this term.

If travelling outside the UK you must carry proof of insurance with you and produce it if reasonably requested to do so by RWH Travel staff, tour leaders or suppliers. No refunds will be made should you be excluded from the walking programme through being uninsured or you being unable to demonstrate that you are insured.