Highlights of Red Rose County

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then onto the four-star Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa.

Today we journey to Lancaster, the ‘capital’ of Red Rose Country.

The word ‘Lancaster’ translates as ‘Roman fort on the River Lune’. This original structure eventually evolved into the castle that still stands in the centre of the city, with much of local history focusing around this single building. The Priory Church is next to the castle, and was founded in 1094 and extensively remodeled in the Middle Ages.

There are also lots of restaurants, cafés and historic pubs. The oldest pub in the city is The Three Mariners, which is steeped in history and is CAMRA award winning. Atkinsons Coffee is one of Britain’s most prestigious coffee merchants, with the original Coffee Shop & Roastery where they have been based for over 180 years, as well as four unique cafés throughout the city.

Here we cruise along the Lancaster Canal, then call off at Dewlay cheese factory and shop, before continuing onto a local brewery.

This morning we head to Bury Market. For over 500 years this market has stood the test of time with a range of products that is second to none – no wonder it has been voted the best market in Britain!

We then board the East Lancashire Railway to Rawtenstall for a stunning journey through the beautiful scenery of the West Pennines.

Our final call is the popular Oswaldtwistle Mills, with over 100 retailers under one roof, along with a Textile Museum and Heritage Centre and a traditional sweet shop. Here we enjoy an afternoon tea to round off the day.

Today we visit the pretty Lancashire town of Ormskirk. The market here is one of the country’s oldest and most traditional street markets, dating back to 1286 when the monks at nearby Burscough Priory were granted a Royal Charter by Edward I. Today it is still a focal point for the town with around 100 stalls in the pedestrianised town centre, selling wonderful food, clothes, books, gifts and crafts.

Later in the day we continue on to the seaside town of Southport where there is still an air of Victorian elegance in the galleries along Lord Street, or admire the view from the beautiful pier!

Return home.