We leave Belfast on the early morning Stena HSS and travel south from Stranraer to our hotel in the centre of the historic cathedral city of Lincoln.

Our hotel is set in the centre of the city, on Brayford Marina - a great base. Many of the city’s attractions are within walking distance - the fabulous Cathedral, Jews House (reputed to be the oldest domestic building in Britain) and the Castle (where one of only four original copies of the Magna Carter is housed). Today is free to explore and get to know the city.

Our first stop today is Horncastle, on the edge of the ‘Wolds’, a favourite haunt for poachers and antique hunters. A little further east we discover the fascinating working windmill at Alford and spend the afternoon, closer to Lincoln, in Hemswell, the largest antique centre in Europe.

To the south of the city lies Stamford, “the finest stone town in England” - Pride and Prejudice country, and a magnet for film-makers (it was recently used as the village of Merton in the TV adaptation of Jane Austin’s novel). We spend the morning here, in Georgian surroundings and return to Lincoln for a relaxing afternoon back in one of England’s major historic cities.

We leave Lincoln this morning and travel north, via the mighty Humber Bridge, stopping around mid-day between the Yorkshire Moors and Dales. After crossing the Pennines we take an afternoon break in Penrith before completing our historic trip, at Stranraer. Here we catch the evening HSS back to Belfast, arriving at the Europa Buscentre around 10.00pm.