Please join us for a self-drive visit to Sherborne Castle and Gardens.

The house (on the edge of the town) was originally built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 but has been extended and developed over the centuries since. It now reflects a glorious variety of decorative styles from over 400 years of English history. There is a fine collection of furniture, paintings and porcelain. The 42-acre gardens and grounds were designed by Capability Brown.

For more information please see 

https://www.sherbornecastle.com/ 

We will have a private guided tour of the castle from 10.30am - 12.00pm. The suggested total time to visit the castle, gardens and grounds is 4-5 hours. 

The cost is £22pp to include the tour of the house and entry to the gardens. 

 There is ample parking and car sharing would make sense given the current cost of fuel!

The castle doesn't have its own tea room but refreshments (including lunch) are available in the restaurant of the adjacent garden centre. See:

https://thegardensgroup.co.uk/

Alternatively, there are lots of eating options in Sherborne itself which is only a few minutes’ drive down the road. You may wish to extend your day by visiting other attractions in Sherborne, including the stunning abbey with its glorious fan-vaulted ceiling and The Sherborne, a fairly recently opened, and free, arts centre situated in a fine 18th century townhouse which boasts a painted hall by Sir Thomas Thornhill (he of St. Paul's cupola fame). It also has a café and restaurant and frequently changing exhibitions of contemporary arts and crafts. See:

https://www.sherborneabbey.com/

https://www.thesherborne.uk/art-heritage

Close by there is also Sherborne Old Castle which is in the care of English Heritage and free to enter. See:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/sherborne-old-castle/

The shopping in Sherborne is also very good and includes a fair few antique shops.  

To book a place please contact Gabrielle McBride to tell her you'd like a place on  

gabrielle.mcbride@me.com or 07900 907 295. 

You can pay online:

Name: The Arts Society Mendip

Sort code: 30-99-29

Account number: 00848988

Reference: Sherborne

Or at our May or June lectures (cash, cheque or credit card). 

For more information or if you have any queries, please contact Gabrielle as above. 

Sunday 10th - Thursday 14th May 2026

Please join us for a visit to some of the artistic and architectural highlights of Glasgow and Edinburgh, including a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Tour highlights are: Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s House for an Art Lover, the Willow Tea Rooms, The Tenement House, The Burrell Collection, Dumfries House, Drumlanrig Castle, Ardgowan House, The Palace of Holyrood House and the Royal Yacht Britannia. This schedule includes visits to two houses still in private ownership. All visits are guided. 

Please see below for the itinerary and further information. 

To book, please complete the booking form which you can find on this website under "Our Society/documents". You can either print it off and fill it in, or it's interactive, so you can complete it electonically. Please then send it direct to Heritage Travel at 

Heritage Travel, Charlotte House, 12 Charlotte Street, Bath, BA1 2NE.

Tel: 01225 466620 www.grouptravel.co.uk

At the same time please inform Gabrielle McBride, Visits Secretary, by email at gabrielle.mcbride@me.com Please email Gabrielle if you have any queries or ring her on 07900 907295. 

The cut-off date for bookings was Friday 23rd January 2026, but there are still places available. Please get in touch if you're interested in joining us. 

SUNDAY 10 MAY 2026

Independent travel arrangements to Bristol Airport.

We will depart Bristol on the flight with EasyJet to Glasgow, departing at 12.05 and arriving at 13.20 (please see flight information below). On arrival we will be met by our local guide and coach to embark on a panoramic tour en route to our hotel. We will check into the 4-star Apex City of Glasgow Hotel for 4 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation.After some time to freshen up, dinner will be taken in a nearby local restaurant.

MONDAY 11 MAY 2026

Today, we will focus on the legacy of Charles RennieMackintosh. Born in Glasgow in 1868, Mackintosh grew up in the city where he received his architectural education and spent his entire professional life as a practising architect, eventually becoming a partner in the firm of Honeyman, Keppie and Mackintosh. He retired to London at an early age in 1914, where he died in 1928.The latter years were largely spent as an artist, a textile designer and in the execution of one or two small architectural commissions. Like other great people before him, Mackintosh was slow to find recognition in his owncity, although almost all his extant work is located in the Strathclyde Region.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel by coach to Bellahouston Park for a guided tour of House for an Art Lover. This extraordinary building was designed by Mackintosh in 1900 for an international competition; however the realisation of the plans was only completed in 1996. Visitors may view the magnificent exhibition rooms, including the famous music room with its elaborately carved piano and spectacular lighting. These are some of Mackintosh's finest interiors and they have been created using the skills of Scottish craftspeople to produce works of stone carving, stained glass, gesso panels and embroidery.

Please be aware that this visit is subject to availability as it is also used as a conference venue and may therefore close for private bookings. Every effort will be made to include the visit.

We will transfer to The Tenement House (National Trust for Scotland) for a short free-flow visit. The 1892 tenement building contains four meticulously restored rooms that offer an insight into early 20th century Glasgow life. Miss Agnes Toward, a shorthand typist, lived here from 1911-1965, and her furniture and personal belongings make up most of the collection. We will walk to the Mackintosh at the Willow Tea Rooms, which are furnished in the traditional Mackintosh style, where a group lunch will be served.

This afternoon we will visit The Burrell Collection which was awarded Art Fund Museum of The Year 2023 for a guided tour. The world-renowned Burrell Collection is located in Pollok Country Park to the south of Glasgow. This astonishing array of treasures amassed by Sir William Burrell, a wealthy ship owner, was presented to the City of Glasgow in 1944. The collection includes medieval stained glass and suits of armour, Flemish tapestries, oriental jades, Degas pastels, a Ming dynasty table and chair and paintings and drawings from the 15th  to 20th centuries. We will return to our hotel by coach and the evening will be at leisure.

TUESDAY 12 MAY 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel by coach to Cumnock to visit Dumfries House. The property

belongs to The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust, which was set up to present and preserve the house and its collections. The last family member to occupy the residence was the Dowager Marchioness of Bute who died in 1993. In 2007 the house was sold by John Bute to a consortium led by King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales. The Palladian mansion was constructed in the mid 1700s to designs by the brothers, John, Robert and James Adam and is today renowned for its unique collection of 18th century rococo furniture. Tea/coffee and shortbread will be taken onarrival, followed by a Grand Tour of the house, to include the Principal Floor and extended access to the interiors. A light lunch will be served after the tour. Please be aware that the Grand Tour includes further floor access via a staircase with a handrail and there is no stairlift.

We will continue to Drumlanrig Castle (subject to availability) for a guided tour with a resident guide.

Built more than 300 years ago by William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry, it is one of the finest examples of late 17th century Renaissance architecture. Drumlanrig houses one of Scotland’s finest private art collections, furniture, silver and tapestries. We will return to ourhotel by coach and the evening will be at leisure.

WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Ardgowan House for a private guided tour led by the Laird, Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart, the 12th Baronet of Greenock and Blackhall. The Ardgowan Estate has been in the Shaw Stewart family since 1406, and its 800-year history has seen battles, witch hunts and wartime bombings. The present house was built in the early 19th century and was used as a military hospital during both world wars. Today, the walls are hung with art collected on Grand Tours. The landscape was designed by James Ramsay, said to be the Scottish equivalent of Capability Brown. Afternoon tea will be served following the tour.

We will return to the hotel by coach, and the remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. Members may wish to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum where the current collection comprises of over 8,000 exhibits which include paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso and an exhibition dedicated to Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style. Dinner will be taken together this evening in a local restaurant.

THURSDAY 14 MAY 2026

We will check out of the hotel after breakfast and travel by coach to Edinburgh to visit the Palace of

Holyrood House, the King’s official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile in the shadow of Arthur’s seat, this baroque palace is closely associated with Scotland’s turbulent past and perhaps

best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Also located within the palace is The King’s Gallery, which hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. We will transfer to a central drop-off point and there will be free time to take lunch and explore Edinburgh at leisure.

This afternoon we will visit The Royal Yacht Britannia, the former royal yacht of the British monarchy that was in service from 1954-1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660 and is the second royal yacht to bear the name. During her 43-year career, the yacht travelled more than a million nautical miles around the globe and today she is permanently berthed at the Ocean Terminal.

Early evening will travel to Edinburgh Airport for the return flight with EasyJet to Bristol, departing at 19.15pm andarriving at 20.30pm. Please note that flights are not included in the tour price and that the schedule may be subject to change by the airline.

Independent onward travel arrangements.

Please note that as this tour has been planned many months in advance, the final itinerary may vary slightly from the above.

TOUR PRICE

£1,210 per person sharing a twin/double room (excluding flights)

£265 single supplement

PRICE INCLUDES

4 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation in Glasgow

2 dinners

2 lunches

Tea/coffee and shortbread at Dumfries House

Afternoon tea at Ardgowan House

Services of a local guide for 1 half day in Glasgow

Guided tour of House for an Art Lover (subject to availability)

Guided tour of The Burrell Collection

Grand Tour of Dumfries House

Guided tour of Drumlanrig Castle (subject to availability)

Private guided tour of Ardgowan House

All coach travel in Scotland as per the itinerary

All booking and entrance fees as per the itinerary

Gratuities

HOTEL DETAILS

Apex City of Glasgow Hotel (4 star) 110 Bath Street Glasgow, G2 2EN

www.apexhotels.co.uk/destinations/glasgow/apex-city-of-glasgow-hotel

OPTIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance is not mandatory for the UK, but we strongly recommend that you have adequate insurance in place to cover any COVID-related issues. We have arranged a scheme with specialists Brokersure Limited who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 501719) full details of which can be found on the FCA website: www.fca.org.uk. Please call Brokersure on 0330 880 3625 for a quote.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Our ATOL Number is 3622. All the flights and flight-inclusive tours in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ ATOL Certificate.

SUGGESTED FLIGHTS

We hope to use the following flights:

Sunday 10 May 2026 - Bristol/Glasgow - 12.05 (13.20) EZY 207

Thursday 14 May 2026 - Edinburgh/Bristol - 19.15 (20.30) EZY 319

All flights may be subject to schedule change by the airline. The tour price shown excludes airfares as these can vary on a daily basis. Heritage Group Travel can book flights on your behalf and will pass on the airfare cost plus an administrationfee of £10 per person. We anticipate flights to be in the region of £275 per person. Should fares excessively exceed this amount we will contact you. In the unlikely event that the tour does not materialise your deposit will be refunded in full. Indicate on the booking form if you prefer to make your own travel arrangements. We ask that you do not book your flights until you have received confirmation that your booking has been accepted and the tour is going ahead.

IDENTIFICATION

Please note that photographic identification will be required for the flight (i.e. passport, driving license).

MINIMUM NUMBERS

The price of the tour is based on a minimum of 25 paying participants.

BOOKING & FINAL TRAVEL DETAILS

To reserve your place on the tour, please send your completed booking form and deposit of £350 per person, to Heritage Group Travel, as soon as possible and no later than Friday 23 January 2026. Please note that as places on the tour are limited, bookings will be accepted on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. You will receive a confirmation of your booking combined with an invoice for the final balance. Final travel details will be available approximately 10-14 days prior to travel. The final balance is due no later than Monday 2 March 2026.

You can view the brochure for the visit under Our Society/Documents 

10.30am - 12.00pm

The English Heritage Archaeology Store for the Southwest is in Temple Cloud. It stores archaeological collections from English Heritage's Southwest sites – including architectural stone, metal small finds, historic firearms and more. It provides access for researchers interested in the collections, as well as facilitating displays of objects on site. The site comprises two warehouses and a small finds store and we will enjoy a tour of all of these spaces. There will also be the opportunity to handle some of the collection.

The beginning of the visit and handling session will be up a flight of stairs. There is one disabled toilet on the ground floor. Parking is limited so you will be asked to car share as much as possible.  

 As there are no refreshments on site we have arranged an optional lunch at the Stables Tea Rooms, New Manor Farm, BS40 6HP (between Bishop Sutton and West Harptree). This will consist of: soup, half a round of sandwiches which are a generous size, tea/coffee and cake. 

The cost of the tour is £15 and the optional, pre-booked, lunch is £15 (including a tip). 

Numbers are limited to 20, so it will be first come first served (members only please, at least initially). Further details as to how to get there etc will be provided once you have a place - this is a self-drive visit. 

 If you would like to join us, please contact Gabrielle McBride, our Visits Secretary, on gabrielle.mcbride@me.com or 07900 907295. Please let her know how many places you would like and whether you would like lunch. 

 The preferred method of payment is online by direct transfer to:

Name: The Arts Society Mendip

Sort code: 30-99-29

Account number: 00848988

Reference: EH Visit

Please also send an email to Gabrielle telling her that you have paid online. 

If you wish to pay by cheque (payable to “The Arts Society Mendip”) please send it to Gabrielle at 47 Glastonbury Road, Wells, BA5 1WE, together with a covering note including your email address if you have one. 

 You can also pay by card at a lecture.  

We don’t send out tickets, but Gabrielle will acknowledge your application.    

Visit to the English Heritage Archaeology Store 

Friday 14th November 10.30am – 12.30pm

The English Heritage Archaeology Store for the Southwest is in Temple Cloud. It stores archaeological collections from English Heritage's Southwest sites – including architectural stone, metal small finds, historic firearms and more. It provides access for researchers interested in the collections, as well as facilitating displays of objects on site. The site comprises two warehouses and a small finds store and we will enjoy a tour of all of these spaces. There will also be the opportunity to handle some of the collection.

The beginning of the visit and handling session will be up a flight of stairs. There is one disabled toilet on the ground floor. Parking is limited so you will be asked to car share as much as possible.  

As there are no refreshments on site we have arranged an optional lunch at the Stables Tea Rooms, New Manor Farm, BS40 6HP (between Bishop Sutton and West Harptree). This will consist of: soup, half a round of sandwiches which are a generous size, tea/coffee and cake. 

The cost of the tour is £10 and the optional, pre-booked, lunch is £15 (including a tip). 

Numbers are limited to 20, so it will be first come first served (members only please, at least initially). Further details as to how to get there etc will be provided once you have a place - this is a self-drive visit. 

If you would like to join us, please contact Gabrielle McBride, our Visits Secretary, on gabrielle.mcbride@me.com or 07900 907295. Please let her know how many places you would like and whether you would like lunch. 

The preferred method of payment is online by direct transfer to:

Name: The Arts Society Mendip

Sort code: 30-99-29

Account number: 00848988

Reference: EH Visit

Please also send an email to Gabrielle telling her that you have paid online. 

If you wish to pay by cheque (payable to “The Arts Society Mendip”) please send it to Gabrielle at 47 Glastonbury Road, Wells, BA5 1WE, together with a covering note including your email address if you have one. 

You can also pay by card at a lecture.  

We don’t send out tickets, but Gabrielle will acknowledge your application.    

Five days, departing on Monday 13th October 2025

We will visit the Mauritshuis, Panorama Mesdag, Leiden, Zaanse Schans with boat trip, Royal Palace of Het Loo, Kröller-Müller Museum and the Koninklijke Porcleyne Flesj. 

Day 1

We meet at Bristol Airport for our direct scheduled Easyjet flight to Amsterdam Schipol. On arrival we are met by our tour manager andtransfer by private executive coach to the centrally located 4* Voco Hotel in The Hague for four nights. A welcome dinner is included in our hotel this evening.

Day 2

We enjoy a guided tour at the Mauritshuis in The Hague this morning, known as the ‘Royal Gallery of Paintings’. Recently reopened after a major expansion and renovation the gallery is home to an outstanding collection with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Van Steen, Frans Hals, Ruysdael, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Vermeer, including his famous ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’. We then spend some time at leisure for lunch in The Hague. Our guided tour at the Panorama Mesdag in The Hague this afternoon introduces us to a cylindrical painting over 14 metres high and 120 metres in circumference. Depicting the vista of the sea, the dunes and Scheveningen village, this is the largest painting in the Netherlands and was painted by Hendrik Willem Mesdag, the most famous painter at The Hague School.

Day 3

Our morning in Leiden begins with a guided walking Rembrandt tour. Leiden is the birthplace of the world-famous painter, and during our tour we visit the locations where Rembrandt lived, went to school, received his painting training and where he went to church. We then spend some time at leisure for lunch in Leiden. This afternoon we visit Zaanse Schans, an old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic wooden houses, small bridges, tradesmen’s workshops and historic windmills. During our visit to Zaanse Schans, we enjoy an included 25-minute boat excursion to see the windmills from a different perspective.

Day 4

The Royal Palace of Het Loo was built in 1685 as a country residence for William III and his wife, Mary Stuart, and was used as recently as 1962 by Wilhelmina as her royal residence. After free time for lunch in the beautiful Palace gardens, we drive the short distance to the Kröller-Müller Museum. The museum is home to a remarkable private collection of late 19th century and early 20th century paintings, including some of the 278 works by Van Gogh, an outstanding collection of Chinese porcelain and many hundreds of Delftware items.

Day 5

After checking out of our hotel this morning we visit the Koninklijke Porcleyne Flesj in Delft. The Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles / Royal Delft is the only remaining factory of the 32 earthenware factories that were established in Delft in the 17th century. We enjoy a guided tour through the history of Blue Delft and Royal Delft and its development and production process. We see a master painter at work, visit the dining room of Vermeer and the Dutch Royal family Chamber, the museum with antique Delft pieces, the historical courtyard and visit the factory. The showroom has a comprehensive collection of hand painted Delft Blue by Royal Delft, as well as an extensive selection of Dutch earthenware and souvenirs. We spend some time at leisure for lunch in Delft, before continuing to Amsterdam Schipol Airport for our flight back to Bristol.

Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Please ask Carol if you're not sure. 

Cost: £1419. Single Room Supplement £199.

The number of single rooms is limited and it's first come, first served, so please book early if you'd like one! 

Deadline for applications: 30th April 2025

For more information and a booking form please contact Carol Landman, Email. carollandman9@gmail.com Tel: 01275 331557 Mobile: 07968 029 092  

The brochure and booking form are also available on this website under "Our Society/Documents". Please print off the booking form, complete it and send it to Carol at the address on the booking form.

Three days, visiting Waddesdon Manor, Canons Ashby House, Stowe Gardens and Bletchley Park (guided tour).

Day 1

We depart by private executive coach from our designated pick-up points. En route to our hotel we visit the National Trust’s Waddesdon Manor in Oxfordshire, a French Renaissance-style chateau built for Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 19th century to display his vast collection of works of art, including French Royal furniture, Sèvres porcelain and works by Gainsborough and Reynolds. We continue to the 4* Delta Hotel by Marriott on the outskirts of Northampton for a two night stay on a half board basis.

Day 2

This morning we visit the National Trust’s Canons Ashby House, which has survived more or less unaltered since 1710. The atmospheric interior contains wall paintings and Jacobean plasterwork, and the formal gardens offer colourful herbaceous borders and an orchard featuring fruit trees from the 16th century. This afternoon we visit the National Trust’s Stowe Gardens. The scale and beauty of Stowe Gardens is such that it has attracted visitors for over 300 years. Picture perfect views, winding paths, lakeside walks and classical temples create a timeless landscape, reflecting the changing seasons.

Day 3

After checking out of our hotel and before returning home we enjoy a guided tour at Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes, the historic site of secret codebreaking activities during World War II and birthplace of the modern computer. Bletchley Park is home to the most comprehensive public display of Enigma machines in the world, including the rare 'Abwehr G312', a captured German machine used to encode messages. Other exhibitions include Hitler's "Unbreakable" Cipher Machine, the world's only fully operational Bombe rebuild, The Life and Works of Alan Turing Gallery and a Home Front exhibition, as well as an outstanding Churchill collection and numerous artefacts and documents which tell tales of spies and strategic deception.

Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we return to our original pick-up points.

Cost: £399 + £59 Single Room Supplement.

Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Please ask Carol if you're not sure. 

Deadline for applications: End of February 2025

For more information and a booking form please contact Carol Landman, Email. carollandman9@gmail.com Tel: 01275 331557 Mobile: 07986 029 092 

The brochure and booking form are also available on this website under "Our Society/Documents". Please print off the booking form, complete it and send it to Carol at the address on the booking form. 

The Fleet Air Arm Museum is devoted to the history of British naval aviation. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, aero engines, models of aircraft and Royal Navy ships, and paintings and drawings related to naval aviation. It is located on RNAS Yeovilton airfield, and the museum has viewing areas where visitors can watch military aircraft (especially helicopters) take off and land. It is located 7 miles north of Yeovil and 40 miles south of Bristol. Our guided tour, led by knowledgeable tour guides who will give us an overview of the history of Royal Naval Aviation. With plenty of opportunity to ask questions, this 1.5-hour tour will take you around all four of our aircraft halls and visit some of the key aircraft, objects and displays which tell the story. 

10am: arrive at museum, meeting at the upstairs entrance, and begin guided tour. 

11.30am: conclusion of guided tour - free time in the museum.

 

Warnefords Café 

Located in hall 1 inside the museum, Warnefords Café serves a variety of sandwiches, hot pasties and sausages rolls, delicious cakes and other tasty treats alongside a wide range of hot and cold drinks. With children’s lunch boxes, vegan and gluten free options available daily, it’s the perfect spot to recharge and refuel for a light lunch or snack during your visit. They serve a variety of items sourced from local Somerset suppliers. 

You are also welcome to bring your own picnic. During the summer months picnic benches are available on the designated grassed area in front of the museum, or you are welcome to utilise table space within the Warneford’s Café in the museum. 

By car: the museum is located at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton - also known as HMS Heron. It is on the B3151 just off the A303 and A37. It is accessible from the M5 motorway, junction 25 at Taunton. If you are using a Sat Nav device, the postcode is BA22 8HW.

Places are £25 for members and £30 for non-members. 

The preferred method of payment is online by direct transfer to:

Name: The Arts Society Mendip

Sort code: 30-99-29

Account number: 00848988

Reference: Yeovilton

Please also send an email to Carol Landman at carollandman9@gmail.com telling us that you have paid online and the names of those going. Please could you also advise Carol of your mobile telephone number.

If you wish to pay by cheque (payable to “The Arts Society Mendip”) please send it to Carol at 9 Pine Court, Chew Magna, Bristol, BS40 8SQ together with a covering note including the names of those going, your mobile telephone number and your email address if you have one.  

We don’t send out tickets, but Carol will acknowledge your application.   

If you have any questions, please email Carol or ring her on 01275 331557 or 07968 029 092 (preferred). 

Northern Ireland, Belfast, Derry and the Titanic Experience

Day 1 We meet at Bristol airport for our direct scheduled Easyjet flight to Belfast. On arrival at Belfast we are met by our guide and private coach, and transfer to Seamus Heaney HomePlace. Our visit takes us on an inspiring journeythrough the life and work of one of Ireland’s greatest writers. Situated between Heaney’s two childhood homes at Mossbawn and The Wood, and only a few hundred yards from St Mary’s Church, Bellaghy, which he chose as his final resting place, HomePlace is at the heart of the area that inspired so much of the poet’s work. We continue to the 4* Dunadry Hotel and Country Club at Templepatrick for a four night stay on a half board basis. 

Day 2 With our guide this morning we enjoy a guided tour of Belfast, taking in sights such as St Anne’s Cathedral and Stormont Castle. This afternoon we visit the Ulster Museum, located in the Botanical Gardens and home to a wonderful collection of fine and applied art. Renowned as Belfast’s best known museum, the Ulster Museum is home to a fine collection of paintings by modern Irish, and particularly Northern Irish artists.

Day 3 Our guide meets us at our hotel this morning and accompanies us throughout the day. We travel to the North Antrim coastline today and visit the National Trust’s Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage Site internationally acclaimed for its outstanding natural beauty, formed from lava eruptions over 60 million years ago and with many rich traditions in explanation of its strange rock formations. This afternoon we visit The Walled Garden at Glenarm Castle, the ancestral home of the Earls of Antrim. Since opening to the public in 2005, the restoration of The Walled Garden has continued under the stewardship of Nigel Marshall, formerly Head Gardener at Mount Stewart. There are herbaceous borders, a rose border, mound and water features.

Day 4 This morning our guided tour of Derry, UK City of Culture in 2013, takes in the Bogside and the City Walls, completed in 1618 and amongst the best preserved city fortifications in the Western world. We then visit the Tower Museum, depicting the story of Derry’s history, from its geological formation millions of years ago, right up to the present day. Covering everything from the Plantation through to the Siege of Derry and the city’s troubled political past, the museum also houses the Armada Shipwreck exhibition that explores the recovery of La Trinidad Valencera, shipwrecked off the coast of Donegal in 1588. The rest of the day is at leisure in Derry.

Day 5 With our guide we visit the Titanic Experience, housed in a new £90m, six floor building as high as the world-famous ship’s hull and located beside the historic site of its construction. This state-of-the-art visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic, from its conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through its construction and launch, to its famous maiden voyage and tragic end. We continue to Belfast Airport for our direct scheduled Easyjet flight back to Bristol.

Cost: £969 + £99 Single Room Supplement.

Deadline for applications: End of April 2024

For more information and a booking form please contact Carol Landman, Email. carollandman9@gmail.com Tel: 01275 331557 Mobile: 07986 029 092 

The brochure and booking form are also available on this website under "Our Society/Documents". Please print off the booking form, complete it and send it to Carol at the address on the booking form. 

Self-drive day visit to the Newt in Somerset, Bruton, BA7 7NG

Thursday 16th May – 10.00am start

The Newt is a most enjoyable day out and is easily accessible for most of our members as a self-drive outing. There is a spacious car park which is an easy walk to the entrance and onto the Threshers Barn and Cyder Bar where we will enjoy a delicious mug of coffee or tea on arrival. At 11.00 am we will start with a gentle hourlong guided tour of the gardens which are immaculately maintained to a very high standard. The tour includes an ornamental garden, a baroque style apple tree maze, an interesting water feature and an experimental vegetable plot. We will then have free time to explore the gardens ourselves.

An optional picnic style lunch is offered (see choice below) at around 1pm. Plenty of seating is available, inside and out. Beverages, ice-cream, additional cakes and pastries are available to purchase. Please note you are not allowed to bring your own picnic to eat on the estate. 

Rosemary & Dorset sea salt focaccia sandwiches

Rare roast beef, horseradish, rocket & red onion pickles £9.50

Crushed stored beans, roasted beetroot, sunflower seed pesto & shoots £7.50

The Roman villa tour will start at 2.30pm. This is approximately a 30-minute easy walk from the Cyder Bar. A shuttle bus is bookable for those who would prefer not to walk that distance. The tour will be using headsets which guide you through the most interesting museum covering the excavation of the villa, Roman life and the faithful reconstruction before walking a short distance to the villa itself. At the end of the approximately one-hour tour there is the opportunity to experience real life in the villa via a virtual reality headset. 

You will be free to either walk leisurely back to the main area either directly or via “The Story of Gardening” interactive museum and over the Viper elevated walkway above the woodland below back to the main area, or by shuttle bus. 

In May the Newt gardens opening hours are 9.00am – 6.00pm daily.

For more information see https://thenewtinsomerset.com

The cost is £35 per person

Including entry, welcome drink (tea or coffee), shuttle bus to and from the Roman villa, and garden tour. The optional pincic lunch is extra. 

If you would like to join us, please print off and complete the booking form available on this website under “Our society/documents”. The form also explains the payment options. 

Once you’ve done this, please email or post the booking form to 

Carol Landman – email: carollandman9@gmail.com or post to

9 Pine Court, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SQ

Tel: 07968 029092 or 01275 331557

Day 1 We leave our designated pick-up point on route we visit the National Trust’s Attingham Park in Shropshire, an elegant 18th century mansion, and home to a fine collection of ambassadorial silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour paintings. We continue to the centrally located Hotel in Liverpool for a four-night stay, one on HB basis & three on BB basis- dinner is included this evening.

Day 2 With our Blue Badge guide we tour Liverpool this morning taking in the splendour of the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral with its modern circular design and glorious multi coloured windows and Liverpool Cathedral, one of the most iconic buildings of the city. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour of the Walker Art Gallery, introducing us to one of the finest collections of fine and decorative art in Europe with works by Rembrandt, Poussin and Degas, 20th century works by artists such as Lucian Freud, David Hockney and Gilbert and George as well as one of the most important sculpture collections outside London. The evening is free to dine out.

Day 3 Port Sunlight Village was built by the Lever family for their workers and the village has over 900 listed and preserved buildings, wide streets and gardens. On arrival at the Lady Lever Art Gallery with our Blue Badge guide we have a guided tour of the works collected throughout the life of its founder, William Hesketh Lever, the first Lord Leverhulme. British 18th and 19th century painting, 18th century furniture and outstanding collections of Wedgwood and Chinese porcelain are among the treasures on show. We then visit Crosby Beach to see the internationally acclaimed artist Antony Gormley’s work ‘Another Place’. Best known for his controversial sculpture ‘Angel of the North’, ‘Another Place’ are massive installations of 100 cast iron figures, moulded from the artist’s own body in the style that has become synonymous with his work. The evening is free to dine out.

Day 4 This morning we visit the Tate Liverpool Gallery for a guided tour. Housed in a beautiful, converted warehouse in the historic Albert Dock, the gallery is the home of the National Collection of Modern Art in the North of England. Works on display will include Rodin’s ‘The Kiss’, Degas’ ‘Little Dancer Aged Fourteen’, Picasso’s ‘Weeping Woman’, and Andy Warhol’s ‘Marilyn Diptych’. The rest of the day is at leisure at the Albert Dock, Liverpool’s most visited attraction situated in a stunning World Heritage waterfront setting, where you may choose to visit the International Slavery Museum, or the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Dependent on availability Carol may offer subject to availability an optional evening concert or theatre visit. The evening is free to dine out.

Day 5 After checking out of our hotel we visit the Lowry Art Gallery in Salford with an introductory talk on arrival with free time to explore after, for those who wish you can as well visit the nearby Imperial War Museum, there will be free time for lunch. We will finish the day with tea and cakes. Taking carefully selected comfort stops en-route, we return back to our original pick-up points.

Cost: £649 + £99 Single Room Supplement.

Deadline for application: End of April 2023

For more information, contact Carol Landman, email. carollandman9@gmail.com, tel. 07986029092, 9, Pine Court, Chew Magna, BS40 8SQ

The Merchant House

The House is an outstanding example of the great merchants' houses built in Marlborough after the 1653 fire. Over the years 1653 to 1700 a fine timber and brick building was constructed, its interior brilliant with wall paintings, panelling and a commanding oak staircase. A substantial amount of this fabric survives and previously hidden painted decoration is still being revealed.

The main building fronting the High Street is timber framed while the rear wing, built some 15 years later, is of brick construction. The oak window frames are original; the glazing is a 19th century replacement but probably a copy of or close to, the original 17th century form. Thomas Bayly was a prosperous silk mercer whose lifestyle is reflected in the spacious and elegant rooms. Contrary to populist literature, the typical Puritan 'middling' household enjoyed music, alcohol and bright and cheerful clothes and surroundings. Recent researches have shown that domestic life was lived to the full, although religion was a central and guiding influence on all.

To the rear of the building is a garden laid out and planted in the formal style of the period. 

There will be a guided tour around this house with the curator. Note it is not heated.

Afterwards freeflow around the Marlborough Town Museum The Marlborough Museum, displaying items of local interest from the 18th century to the 1950s, has been set up as part of our commitment to the Town.

Charge per member £ 13.00 

Charge per visitor £15.00

Please apply for tickets using the Application Form on this link: to Carol Landman, 9 Pine Court, Chew Magna, BS40 8SQ enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope. Payment instructions are included on the Application Form.

Telephone 07968 029092 and Email carollandman9@gmail.com

The closing date for bookings is 20th November 2022.

This tour aims to bring to life the treasures that are to be found in the north of a country that has played such a central role in the development of Europe and beyond throughout history.

 The full description of this tour is shown in the Brochure produced by Heritage Tours, Bath who are organising this trip.

 Flight arrangements. Due to Covid flights from Bristol are reduced so at the moment the tour departs from Heathrow. (A coach to take people to Heathrow will be arranged.) Should however flights become available from Bristol they can be changed.

 The tour will depart from Heathrow by BA to Bologna Airport, leaving at 12.30. The return flight with BA will depart Venice, arriving at Heathrow at 19.00.

 Accommodation will be at the:

Hotel Internazionale (4 *), Via Dell’Indipendenza, 60, BOLOGNA

The cost is £1450 per person (sharing a twin/double room), with a single supplement of £190. The cost includes bed and breakfast buffet, dinner on the first night and 2 lunches at local restaurants, the services of a local guide throughout,   guided tours, entry charges, local coaching and VOX guides.

 The Itinerary over the course of the 4 days will include:

Bologna; a selection of the cultural sites around this ancient and stunning city.

Ravenna; spectacular mosaics in various churches with their distinctly Byzantine influence.

Ferrara; a walking tour of this World Heritage City and a visit to the Palazzo Schifanoia.

Padua; the Scrovegni chapel with its collection of Giotto frescoes and a short walk around the Centro Storico before returning to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport.

 APPLICATION: A hard copy of the full brochure with an application form are available from Lydia Pearse on 01225 466620 or email lydia@grouptravel.co.uk 

It is important that the full document is read carefully as it contains important information about travel and health insurance, ATOL coverage, flight booking arrangements and documentation required by passengers, as well as a more detailed itinerary. Heritage Travel, Bath provides the usual assurances required of reputable tour operators.    

Arts Society members are being given an exclusive private tour of the House when it is not open to members of the public. The tour will start at 12.00 which lasts approximately 1 hour. After the tour members will be able to have lunch and spend time in the wonderful gardens.

 The House: Forde Abbey was founded as a monastery in the 12th century and after the dissolution of the monasteries was leased by the Crown to Richard Pollard.

 It was first occupied in 1649 when it was bought by Edmund Prideaux, a Parliamentarian. (Look out for the stunning1640 Mortlake tapestries commissioned for the house.) In 1702 it was inherited by Mary Prideaux, who with her husband Francis Gwyn, laid out the garden, the design of which survives today.  After passing through several hands, Forde was bought by Mrs Betram Evans in 1863 and she carried out an extensive restoration project. Her son, William, left the house to his cousin Elizabeth Roper.

 The Kennard family inherited Forde in 2009 and live here farming, as the Cistercians did over 500 years ago. The kitchen, refectories and chapter house would still be recognised by those Cistercians. It is rare to see so much of a medieval monastery preserved as an integral part of a private dwelling. Most recently it was used to film a Hollywood version of Thomas Hardy’s “Far from the Madding Crowd”.

 The Gardens: Home to the highest powered fountain in the country, the award-winning gardens include topiary lined vistas, colourful herbaceous borders, an arboretum, a rock garden and an extensive walled garden. In July there should be a spectacular display of sweet peas.

 The cost of this tour which includes coach travel from Wells and Redhill will be £37 for members and £42 for guests. 

 There is a cafe on site for light lunches which are not included in the price.

 Schedule: The coach will leave from Redhill at 09.30 and Shepton Mallet at 10.15 to arrive at Forde Abbey around 11.00. This gives time for a coffee and comfort break before the tour starts at 12.00. The coach will leave Forde Abbey at 16.15.

 Please apply for tickets using the Application Form on this link: to

Carol Landman, 9 Pine Court, Chew Magna, BS40 8SQ 

enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope. 

Payment instructions are included on the  Application Form.

Telephone  07968 029092 and Email carollandman9@gmail.com

The closing date for bookings is 11 June 2022.

Famous for hosting the Badminton Horse Trials, Badminton House is not normally open to the public but we have a chance for special access with a private guided tour. This offers an opportunity to view the principal ground floor rooms of the House, together with the gardens, the Orangery and the Church.

The Estate at Badminton contains the remains of several Roman Villas, and Badminton is recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Madmintune’.

The medieval House was owned by the Boteler family from whom, in 1612, Edward Somerset, fourth Earl of Worcester, purchased the manors of Great and Little Badminton. Some years later, he gave Badminton to one of his sons, Sir Thomas Somerset who was the first to make what would be many significant alterations to the original House.

The Somersets are descended from John of Gaunt, and the dukedom of Beaufort was created by Charles II in 1682, being granted to Sir Thomas’ great nephew, Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester in reward for his service to the Royalists in the Civil War. The first Duke and Duchess carried out extensive works on the House, Gardens and Grounds.

The cost of this afternoon visit will be £39 to include tea and cake afterwards. The two-hour tour includes the House, the orangery, gardens and church.

We are offering this a self-drive visit and on receipt of your payment we will send you directions. As the tour begins soon after lunch – you would be expected to arrive at Badminton at 1.45 - you may wish to arrange your own lunch beforehand at one of many local hostelries. We can send you a list if that would be helpful.

We also encourage you to talk to fellow members who may be interested in this tour and with whom you can car share.

Please apply for tickets using the Application Form (follow this link) to Olwen Gillespie, 16 Chapel Hill, Backwell, BS48 3PP enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope. Telephone 01275 462597. The closing date is 18th March. Numbers are limited, so don’t delay.

Or you can pay by BACS – Lloyds Bank, 30 99 29, a/c 00848988 account name: The Arts Society Mendip. The reference is BAD and your surname. If you pay by BACS please email me to let me know you have done so – olweng@totalise.co.uk

THIS VISIT has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemic. 

Monday 27 April - Friday 01 May 2020

 This visit has been cancelled due to lack of applications.