Stoke Rochford Hall
Suggested excursions
for groups
A leisurely day out in Nottinghamshire
Visiting the traditional market town of Newark on Trent, then onwards to Southwell and its historic
minster.
After a leisurely breakfast at Stoke Rochford Hall, head off for the short 22 mile /30 minute drive to
Newark on Trent. Sat Navfor Newark Market Place: (NG24 1EE)
From Stoke Rochford, join the A1 northbound and follow for approx. 20 miles to Newark on Trent.
Newark –on-Trent Market Place
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This historic town has an active daily market, with Collectables & Antiques theme on Monday’s
& Thursday and a Farmers market on Wednesdays.
A short walk away from the Market Place is the historic Newark Castle, park and riverside walks.
Newark Town Hall museum is located in a Grade 1 listed building in the town centre
Newark’s historic town centre & Market Place has an abundance of cafes pubs & restaurants to
make this an ideal stop for late morning coffee or lunch.
Suggested dwell time: 1.5 hours – 2 hours
From Newark, we re-join the coach for the short 8 mile / 25 minute journey to the picturesque town
of Southwell. Sat Nav for Southwell Minster: NG25 0HQ
From Newark on Trent, exit the town centre to the A46 heading towards Leicester & M1. Follow
the A617 to join the A612, which takes us to Southwell.
Southwell Minster
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Southwell’s distinctive Minster has long been the seat of the Archdiocese of
Nottinghamshire.
Nearby, you will also find the ruins of the Archbishop’s Palace
The Workhouse (National Trust property) gives a fascinating insight to the plight of those
less fortunate souls who found themselves in this institution. (entry free of £7.30)
Take a stroll around the picturesque town centre with its collection of independent retailers,
cafes and pubs.
The Workhouse - Southwell
Suggested dwell time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Then it’s back to the coach for the return journey to Stoke Rochford Hall Sat Nav: NG33 5EJ. The 32
mile journey should take you approx. 50 minutes.
We retrace our journey via the A612 to the A617, to join the A46 briefly, until we join the A1
SOUHTBOUND – signed for Grantham.
N.B. To access Stoke Rochford Hall from the A1, remember to pass the signed Right Hand turn across
the A1 to the next exit for Easton & Woolsthorpe. Turn right, cross over the A1 and re-join heading
northbound (signed Grantham A1) Stoke Rochford Hall is the 2nd exit left, signed Stoke Rochford &
Skillington.
A scenic day out around Rutland
Today we take a scenic drive around England’s smallest county, Rutland. En-route, we will take in
Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Georgian Stamford.
Leaving Stoke Rochford Hall, we take the A1 northbound to the A607, following signs for Harlaxton &
Melton Mowbray. The 18 mile journey should take you approx. 30 minutes.
Our first stop is the small market town of Melton Mowbray, home to the world famous Pork Pie and
the home of Stilton cheese. No visit to Lincolnshire & Leicestershire is complete without a visit to
Dickinson & Morris’ Ye Olde Pie Shoppe, just off the market Square. (Sat Nav. LE13 1NW) Group
tours (in small groups) are available with prior booking.
Ye Olde Pie Shoppe – Melton Mowbray
Suggested dwell time: 30 – 60 minutes
Leaving Melton Mowbray, we take the A606 for the 30 mile / 1 hour drive, passing through the
pretty town of Oakham, to Rutland Water, for a cruise aboard the Rutland Belle (pre-booking
essential @ £8 per person). Enjoy a 45 minute sailing around this vast reservoir and take in the
beautiful scenery
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Rutland Belle on Rutland Water
Allow 1 hour 15 minutes from arrival for boarding, the 45 minute cruise and then disembarking the
boat.
Back on the coach, we now head to our final stop for the day, the beautiful Georgian town of
Stamford. Taking the A606 eastwards along the north shore of the lake, the 8 mile journey will take
us 15 - 20 minutes.
The centre of Stamford boasts traditional Lincolnshire Limestone houses and is visitor friendly with
its pedestrianised main street. Don’t forget to explore the many alleyways & side streets, full of
quaint independent shops, lovely cafes and pubs where you can enjoy a snack or a more substantial
lunch.
Stamford town centre
Suggested dwell time: 2 hours
We leave Stamford behind for the leisurely 17 mile/ 25 minute drive back to Stoke Rochford Hall.
(NG33 5EF) Leaving Stamford town centre on the B1081, to join the A6121 for the short drive out of
town, to reach the A1 northbound (signed for Grantham), returning at approx. 4.30pm.
Historic Lincoln
No visit to Lincolnshire is complete without a visit to the medieval city of Lincoln.
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln is relatively small but delightful and enchanting and in recent years, the City of Lincoln has
developed into a major UK tourist centre. The City of Lincoln is steeped in history, much of it dating
back to Roman times, perhaps the best-known attraction and landmark is Lincoln Cathedral along
with the Castle and Steep Hill but beyond that our wonderful city boasts the very fine medieval
Bailgate area with its varied and interesting range of shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and many
attractions.
Downhill, the very popular Brayford Pool is where to promenade, take a boat trip or simply sit,
people watching, outside a new restaurant or bar - just another of the many interesting places to
visit in our lovely City of Lincoln.
Brayford Pool - Lincoln
Our journey of 40 miles / 1 hour, we exit Stoke Rochford onto the A1 northbound to Newark on
Trent and the junction of the A46. Follow the A46 to Lincoln. Our drop off point at minster Yard (LN2
1PX) is ideal for the Cathedral and the medieval old city at the top of Big Hill.
Suggested dwell time 3-4 hours
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside
Take in a day at the traditional seaside with a full day out to sunny Skegness.
Leaving Stoke Rochford after breakfast for the 50 mile / 1.5 hour drive, we follow the A1 north to
Grantham, to then pick up the A52 through Boston and across the Lincolnshire wolds to reach
Skegness.
Sunny Skegness beach
Plenty of time to stroll along the “prom prom prom” and have some tasty fish & chips for lunch,
before a leisurely drive back for a late afternoon arrival back at Stoke Rochford.
Suggested dwell time 3-4 hours
Pie & a Pint
For an alternative day out in Rutland, combine a morning private cruise on the Rutland Belle
(advance booking required £10 per person for the private group tour), with a lunchtime break in
Oakham, followed by an afternoon tipple at the Belvoir Brewhouse brewery & tour near Melton
Mowbray.
Rutland Belle at Normanton Church
Leaving Stoke Rochford via the A1 Northbound, we take the A607 towards Melton Mowbray, before
joining the A606 towards Oakham. Sat Nav postcode for Rutland Belle cruises is LE15 8BL. The 30
mile journey will take us about 60 minutes.
Dwell time minimum 1hr 20 minutes for boarding, cruise and disembarking.
From Rutland, we head back to the quaint market town of Oakham, the county town of Rutland, for
our lunch stop. This foodie heaven is full of artisan cafes with tasty regional treats to tempt you
along with a selection of independent boutique shops. For SATNAV use LE15 6AH to take you to the
High Street, with coach parking available nearby at LE15 6QL.
From Oakham, we re-trace our steps along the A606 towards Melton Mowbray, where our first stop
is at the artisan Belvoir Alehouse brewery (LE13 1NW) . Here you can follow the brewing process
from start to finish with a guided tour by a master brewer (advance booking essential @ £8.95pp –
group discounts are available).
Dwell time 1hr – 1 ½ hours
Ye Olde Pie Shoppe – Melton Mowbray
Our final stop is the Market Place in Melton Mowbray (LE13 1NW), with a visit to Ye Old Pie Shoppe
home of the famous Leicestershire pie and pick up a round of Stilton cheese, before we wind our
way home for the 20 mile / 40 minute drive via the A607 to Grantham and the A1 to Stoke Rochford
(NG33 5EJ).
Dwell time 30-60 minutes
The Iron Lady tour
Whatever your political viewpoint, there’s no denying that Margaret Thatcher was a key figure in
20th Century UK history. As the most famous daughter of Grantham, this half day tour gives you an
insight into her early life in rural Lincolnshire.
This excursion will give an insight into locations in Grantham beginning with the site of Thatcher’s
home above her father’s corner grocery shop (NG31 8AT), her school Kesteven & Grantham Girl’s
School (NG31 9AU) along with a visit to the Grantham Museum (NG31 6PY) where there is an
exhibition about Margaret Thatcher and includes details of the Margaret Thatcher Statue campaign
.
Also at the Grantham Museum guests will have the opportunity to see the D-Day exhibition and the
Dambusters exhibition, the iconic raid on Germany’s Ruhr Valley in 1943, the historic achievement of
this raid and the crucial part it played in World War II that was devised in Grantham.
This itinerary can form the base of a half day morning or afternoon excursion, whilst also allowing
for free time in Grantham town centre.