NORTHERN LIGHTS The Arts and Crafts from the lakes to the borders

5 days | £2195 per person | 7 - 11 July 2026

The Arts and Crafts from the lakes to the borders

Mention the Arts and Crafts Movement and most people’s minds will go immediately to the south of the country: to the Cotswolds, home to Chipping Campden and William Morris’ beloved Kelmscott Manor, or perhaps the Home Counties, where Morris’ first home, The Red House, and Munstead Wood, Gertrude Jekyll’s first collaboration with Edwin Lutyens are to be found. But the magnates of the North, whose money came by commerce rather than inheritance, were nothing if not ambitious, and determined to set their own mark on the long traditions of the aristocratic country house built in the style of the age. Which, for the late Victorians, increasingly meant some variant on the theme of the Arts and Crafts.

This tour explores that Arts and Crafts blossoming in the North, introducing masterly buildings and their spectacular gardens as we travel in time from the beginnings of the Movement to its maturity, and in space from John Ruskin’s historic home and garden on the banks of Coniston Water to Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island. Even the landscape plays its part, as at aptly-named Cragside, literally nestled into a Northumbrian cliff-face, where a modest hunting lodge became a stately home fit to entertain Royalty with the help of a visionary architect, a large budget and the judicious use of dynamite.



Arts and Crafts architects prided themselves on their sympathy with local styles, materials and techniques in their designs. The diversity of Northern building traditions, from simple farm cottages to towering castles, filtered through the artistic visions of more than a hundred years of Picturesque enthusiasm, offered ample material for inspiration of which they took full advantage. From the Lake District to the Scottish Borders the legacy of Morris and his admirers can be found - less generally celebrated than the Cotswolds, perhaps, but certainly no less splendid.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1
The tour begins at Lake Windermere, where we will meet at the hotel before setting off for an afternoon at Mackay Baillie Scott’s magnificent Blackwell, one of the finest Arts and Crafts houses. It has a deliberately crafted aesthetic of simplicity where furniture and surroundings are seamlessly integrated into a whole and nothing is merely for show. The house retains almost all its original architectural features, and the Lakeland Arts Trust - which acquired the house in 1999 - have refurnished it with a carefully chosen selection of outstanding Arts and Crafts pieces, many by Baillie-Scott himself. Outside, the gardens have also been lovingly restored to the original designs of renowned garden designer Thomas Mawson. After taking time to appreciate this unique place, we return to the hotel to settle in and enjoy a group dinner. 

Day 2

Today begins with a trip back to the roots of the Arts and Crafts Movement, as we visit Brantwood, on the shores of Coniston. The best way to appreciate Brantwood is from the water, and we will take a launch across from Coniston Pier to Ruskin’s own harbour at Brantwood. John Ruskin’s treasured haven from the modern world, and the place where he passed the final years of his life. The house today is a splendid amalgam of architectural styles, including the Turret Room, Lodge and Dining Room added as part of Ruskin’s extensive renovations, which continued throughout his 28 years in residence. After an independent lunch at the café in the former Coach House, enjoying spectacular views over the lake, we will explore the gardens, planned and managed by Ruskin and his cousin, Joan Severn. Returning by water and after a short break, we continue on to another outstanding Arts and Crafts creation: Charles Voysey’s Broad Leys, completed in 1899 and considered to be his masterpiece. The house, where Beatrix Potter spent family summer holidays and which was used as a hospital during World War I, now belongs to the Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, which has taken care to preserve its original architectural features. Exploration of the house and gardens (also laid out by Mawson), is followed by dinner in the Dining Room - still as Voysey imagined it, including glorious views across the lake to the fells - before returning to the hotel.

Day 3

Today we head north across Hadrian’s Wall, with a stop at Chesters, the best-preserved Roman cavalry fort in Britain. After a coffee stop at the Chesters Tea Room, we continue north to our next Arts and Crafts architectural phenomenon and architect Norman Shaw’s most dynamic achievement: Cragside. Cragside was the first house ever to be lit entirely with electricity, generated in true Arts and Crafts style by the world’s first hydroelectric power station, built on the estate. The house had to be built literally into a cliff-face, dropping a full storey from the back rooms to the entrance front. The interior has remained largely untouched and features fine works by Morris and Co and their local disciples. Cragside’s gardens are as breathtaking as the house, spanning both sides of an immense gorge which William Armstrong bridged with an elegantly arched iron footbridge made in his own workshops. Margaret Armstrong was an enthusiastic gardener, and much of her planting remains. After an independent lunch in Cragside’s charming Tea Rooms we spend the afternoon touring the house and gardens, before proceeding to the luxurious Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa for an evening at leisure.

Belsfield Hotel

The Belsfield Hotel is a luxurious property located on the eastern shore of Lake Windermere. The hotel boasts beautifully appointed rooms, blending classic elegancy with contemporary comfort and modern amenities. Guests can enjoy a several dining options at the hotel from their Belsfield Restaurant, awarded to AA Rosettes, to The Terrace, offering a selection of cocktails and light bites.

Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa

This beautiful country house hotel situated in the serene countryside of Northumberland is set within 10 acres of private grounds, providing guests with the opportunity to truly relax. Individually styled rooms embrace original features of the Georgian building such as grand windows and exposed beams and brickwork.

Price: £2195

Single Supp: £225

Deposit: £350

Departure Dates:

7 - 11 July 2026

Duration:

4 nights / 5 days

Your Holiday Includes:

• Two nights’ accommodation at the Belsfield Hotel
• Two nights’ accommodation at the Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa
• Private coach transfers and excursions
• Three evening meals
• Guided visits to the sites and monuments listed in the programme
• Services of the Tour Lecturer and a Tour Manager
• Detailed programme and study notes
• All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff
  

Tour Lecturers

Dr Justine Hopkins

Dr Justine Hopkins is a freelance writer and lecturer, specialising in art of the 19th and 20th centuries. Justine has taught for various universities, including Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and London and lectures at Tate, the V&A, the National Gallery and for numerous independent art groups. She has published articles in various journals, most recently on the 2024 National Gallery bicentenary celebrations. 

Tour Manager

Travel Information

The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.

Please note that Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.

Stamina

Please note that most of our tours involve a large amount of walking, across uneven ground and often without the opportunity to sit down for at least half an hour. We ask that clients inform us if they have difficulties before booking to avoid any issues whilst on tour.