All Country Lane Tours events in 2020 were moved to 2021 and everything arranged for 2021 moved to 2022. The 13th Credit Crunch Special was already being planned for Durham well in advance of Dominic Cummings' visit to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight!
With the wedding business nowadays dominating the income stream for most hotels it's virtually impossible to get a decent weekend rate so once again the event starts on a Sunday. This time we are staying at the 4-star Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club on the outskirts of Durham, with easy access from the A1 (M). The package costs £399 per person (based on two people sharing a room) for three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast and entry to all attractions, I'm sure you'll agree it's still a bargain, and, if inflation is allowed for, the first Credit Crunch would cost £411 today!
There are 63 rooms available and when they're gone that's it as there are no other hotels near by. Enquiries exceeded capacity at the Grange in 2019 and some people were disappointed so to be certain of a place book early!
The itinerary is as follows:
Sunday, April 24th. Arrivals at the 4-star Ramside Hall Hotel followed by dinner at 7.30pm.
Monday, April 25th. We start the day by taking a short section of motorway up to Anthony Gormley's famous Angel of the North which dominates the approach to Gateshead. At sixty-six feet tall it's Britain's biggest sculpture and believed to be the largest angel sculpture in the world.
On the way to our main stop at Beamish we call at the privately owned Newburn Motor Museum which houses a small collection of interesting cars, including a Jensen bodied 1948 Invicta.
Beamish Museum will keep you amazed for many hours! In addition to the old buildings collected from all over the North East and reconstructed on site there are the vintage trams running around and all sorts of old shops in the main street. A big plus is our cars will possibly be allowed to park in the town! Dinner in the evening 7.30pm.
Tuesday, April 26th. A slightly longer mileage today but still leisurely at approximately 95. The first stop is at the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Hartlepool where we visit the restored quay and go on board HMS Trincomalee. Built in 1837 it's the oldest floating warship in Europe.
Leaving Hartlepool our next stop is Bowes Museum where the spectacular silver swan automaton will amaze! Every day at 2pm it comes to life and does a series of actions including bending its neck to the water to pick up a fish.
The museum was built as an art gallery and contains many paintings by famous artists.
The Bowes museum is just outside Barnard Castle so it's a good reason the test your eyesight when heading into town!
There's the option to visit Carossarie, long time restorer of classic cars, so if the ladies are bored at the thought of more cars they could peruse the shops of this vibrant little town whilst the men indulge. Sorry if that's not a PC suggestion in these woke times!
The route back to the hotel takes us past Locomotion which houses a large collection of steam engines and connected memorabilia. Dinner 7.30pm.
Wednesday, September 27th. Departure for home unless you’re staying the extra night. If you do decide to stay a special rate of £90 per person D,B&B applies.
There’s still plenty more to see in the area, but you could, of course, just chill out and take advantage of the swimming pool and spa facilities.
CREDIT CRUNCH SPECIAL. The cost for the event, after serious bartering, is just £399 per person, based on two people sharing. Single supplement £45 per night.
Included in the price are the following:
- Three nights’ accommodation on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis at the 4-star Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club
- Entry to Newburn Motor Museum
- Entry to Beamish Museum
- Buffet lunch at Beamish
- Entry to Royal Navy Museum, Hartlepool
- Entry to Bowes Museum & Art Gallery
- Buffet lunch at Bowes Museum
- Detailed route instructions
- Rally plates
- Information pack on arrival with leaflets on local attractions
- Plus more and a few surprises!
Bowes Museum & Art Gallery
The Bowes Automaton
ENTRY FORM Ц CHRISTMAS PARTY 2020
December 4th / 5th / 6th / (7th)
This event is only offered to people on the Country Lane Tours postal mailing list and entries are limited, so if you’re thinking of coming act quickly to ensure a place!
Name (driver)……………………………………………………………………….....
Name (co-driver)………………………………………………………………………
Car (if known)……………………………….Year………………Reg………….......
Address………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Post Code………………Tel. No……………………Email……………….…………
Do you wish to stay Wednesday evening?...................................................................
Amount enclosed £…………………………Date…………………………………….
Any special requirements (vegetarian, twin beds, disability, etc.)?………..………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Please make cheque payable to Country Lane Tours, and send with form to Country Lane Tours, Tirionfa, Bodfari Road, Llandyrnog, Denbigh, LL16 4HP. New entry fees are refundable in full (less £5 admin fee) up to February 28th.
In order to obtain the low price non-refundable deposits and payments have to be made to the hotel, attractions etc. well in advance so regrettably after March 1st no refund is possible.
NOTE!!!!!! There are 63 rooms reserved at the Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club so you wish to be certain of a place please book quickly as once the 63 places have gone that will be it and cheques will be returned to unsuccessful applicants, although a reserve list will be opened. Participants in previous Credit Crunch Weekends have already had priority notification. PLEASE NOTE!!!! THEFULL AMOUNT IS PAYABLE AS THE ADMIN. COST OF THIS EVENT IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM TO ENSURE A LOW PRICE. DEPOSITS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE RETURNED WITHOUT A ROOM BEING RESERVED.
Space precludes a detailed description of everything you will see, so the details here are necessarily a synopsis. However, the leisurely daily mileage allows plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery and quiet roads as well as the hotel facilities. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to call me on 01824 790280, or email countrylanetours@gmail.com.
Please note! There may be slight variations in the advertised schedule if conditions dictate.
If you wish to pay by bank transfer the details below:
Bank: Santander
Account Name: Country Lane Tours
Account Number: 02149028
Sort Code: 09-01-50
IBAN: GB77ABBY09015002149028
IT IS CRUCIAL IF PAYING BY TRANSFER THAT YOU SEND THE COMPLETED ENTRY FORM IN WITH THE PAYMENT MARKED TRANSFER!!!!!
IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS PLEASE DEAL VIA
Country Lane Tours
WHEN PEOPLE CONTACT THE HOTEL DIRECT IT INEVITABLY LEADS TO CONFUSION!
