Encountering the rugged landscapes of Britain’s North-east, this tour ranges across four centuries of Northumbria’s history, from the times of the Venerable Bede and England’s first Christian kings to the Viking conquests and their consequences. This tour allows us to explore some of the places inspiring Bernard Cornwell’s ‘Lords of the North’. We go to the real Bebbanburg, Bamburgh Castle, family seat of the 11th-century Northumbrian Earl Uhtred and the fortress city of Durham, home to a cathedral steeped in the heritage of St Cuthbert and our home for the four days of the tour. Taking in Yeavering, site of one of Northumbria’s earliest palaces and the island monastery of Lindisfarne, which suffered Britain’s earliest recorded Viking raid, our journey goes as far as the present Anglo-Scottish border at Carham on the River Tweed. Here the Northumbrian earl was defeated by an invading Scottish army in 1018. South of Durham, the tour takes us to York, which as Jórvik became the Viking heart of Northumbria, leaving the city with a rich archaeological legacy to be explored.

The kingdom of Northumbria had its origins in the union of a northern house focused on the North Sea fortress of Bamburgh and a southern dynasty whose territorial heartland lay in York. As the kingdom which was home to the “father of English History”, the Venerable Bede, the trials and tribulations of the conversions to Christianity by Northumbria’s rulers were well recorded in Bede’s Ecclesiastical History (completed in 731). Amongst these was the foundation of the island monastery of Lindisfarne, whose assault by Vikings in 793 sent shockwaves across Europe. As one of the four great Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of the 9th century, Northumbria fell to Vikings following the conquest of York in 866. Here, a line of Norse-speaking kings with links across the North Sea and Irish Sea made Jórvik their powerbase until the death of Erik Bloodaxe in 954. Although there no more kings were based in Bamburgh during the Viking Age, an Anglo-Saxon dynasty maintained power by balancing a precarious position between the rulers of York and emergent Scottish and English kingdoms, aided by a partnership with the powerful bishops of Durham. Though shaken by defeat by the Scottish King Malcolm III at Carham in 1018, the legacy of the Lords of the North lived on through the Middle Ages and beyond.

Day 1: Durham

Assemble at our hotel in Durham for a buffet lunch and introductory talk from our expert historian. In the afternoon we walk the short distance to Durham’s historic peninsula where we learn about the pre-Norman origins of the city as a place of safety against Viking raids for the relics of St Cuthbert. Our visit continues inside the monolithic Norman cathedral to see Cuthbert’s tomb and the museum where we admire his richly decorated, hand carved coffin dating from 698. The atmospheric Monks’ Dormitory houses a collection of Anglo-Scandinavian hogback grave markers, created to protect those on the way to Valhalla. We also visit the Archaeology Museum with its stunning Anglo-Saxon collection. Hotel in Durham – 4 nights. (L, D).

Day 2: Bamburgh and Lindisfarne

Today we drive into the lands of the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria to visit its Royal capital at Bamburgh, known as Din Guaydri. The Anglo-Saxon citadel was the home of Uhtred of Bamburgh (died c. 1016), better known in fiction as Uhtred Son of Uhtred in the popular TV series The Last Kingdom. We have lunch here admiring the magnificent landscape before proceeding to Lindisfarne (Holy Island). With recorded origins going as far back as the 6th century Lindisfarne monastery was a key centre for Celtic Christianity under such luminaries as Saints Aidan and Cuthbert. In 793 the monastery was sacked by the Vikings, a seismic event that reverberated powerfully throughout the Christian west. Here we enjoy the abbey ruins and two highly informative museums relating the history of this remarkable place. Return to Durham. (B, D).

Day 3: Yeavering and Carham

We drive north to the excellent Ad Gefrin Visitor Centre named after nearby Yeavering (Gefrin), the 7th century summer residence of its Anglo Saxon Royalty. Here we view a range of startling artefacts found at the site reflecting the rich court culture of Northumbria, many on loan from other collections. We also enjoy a superb insight into the Kingdom’s Great Hall during the ‘Golden Age of Northumbria’ through immersive technology. Our afternoon is spent visiting the site of Yeavering itself and the Battle of Carham (c. 1018), where Uhtred of Bamburgh was defeated by a combined Scottish and Cumbrian army. Return to Durham. (B, D).

Day 4: York

We take the train to York (First Class) where we spend the day marvelling at the multilayered history of this fabulous city known to the Vikings as Yorvik. At the Yorvik Centre we get an intimate multi-sensual experience of the people of the town - their personal stories, joys, sorrows, fears and challenges - at the site of the original excavation site. The artefacts here are astounding with the remarkably preserved leather shoes often a favourite. Our tour continues around the old city where we learn more about Viking York and at the Yorkshire Museum we wonder at the York Helmet, Gilling Sword and new acquisitions never before on public display. Return to Durham by train. (B, L).

Day 5: Jarrow

We make the short journey to Jarrow where we view the ruined Monastery of St Paul, begun in 681, and once an important centre of learning which had the largest library north of the Alps. This was home to St Bede the Venerable (d. 735) author of the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, a vital source for the period. At the nearby Bede Museum we gain further insights into the Anglo-Saxon world and view a full-sized reproduction of the Codex Amiatinus, produced at Jarrow and the oldest complete Latin Bible in existence.

Return to the Durham hotel and say our farewells. (B).