We sail from Belfast on the mid-day HSS and check into the Cairndale in good time for dinner.

After breakfast we travel along part of Hadrian’s Wall before turning back from Northumberland to take one of the most scenic roads in Britain, the A686 from Alston down to Penrith. Weather permitting the views over Cumbria and the Solway Firth are truly spectacular.

Today we call at the Rheged Centre at the northern entrance to the Lake District for an introduction to the “Treasures of Cumbria and the North Pennines”. Rheged was the name of the ancient Kingdom of Cumbria during the Dark Ages - at its peak around 590 AD.

In the afternoon we travel through the National Park, alongside Bassenthwate Lake through Cockermouth to Maryport on the coast, before turning back through Carlisle to Dumfries.

We return home today, again via Stranraer, where we catch the afternoon HSS and arrive back at the Europa Buscentre around 5.00pm.