Club Holiday

KNUTSFORD REX PROBUS CLUB

BECAUSE OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

AND CONSEQUENT LACK OF SUPPORT

THE PROPOSED HOLIDAY AT GRASMERE near AMBLESIDE

IN SEPTEMBER 2022 WAS CANCELLED

The proposal was to hold a 2022 Holiday in the Lake District, which will be a much easier journey from Knutsford than the one proposed to Lincolnshire in 2020. Driving time is just under 2 hours. Previous enjoyable holidays in the Lake District were held at Derwentwater in 2008 and Ullswater in 2011.

The dates proposed for the Probus Holiday in 2022 were Sunday evening 25th to Friday morning 30th September (5 nights).

The hotel shown is the Daffodil Hotel, located opposite the Wordsworth Museum, including Dove Cottage, at Grasmere. The hotel is situated on the main Windermere to Keswick Road (A591), within walking distance of Grasmere Village, and with clear views to Grasmere itself (the lake).

As well as the Wordsworth Museum, there are many attractions to suit all tastes within easy driving distance of the hotel, and there is an hourly comfortable bus service between Lancaster, Kendal, Windermere and Keswick, with stops at the gate of the hotel. As usual there will be organised visits to some of the main attractions, either by coach or in own cars, but members will be entirely free to plan their own itineraries. 

The indicative rate for a couple in a basic double or twin room for dinner, bed and breakfast for five nights was £262 per night, including group dinner in a private room, free car parking and use of the spa. The single occupancy rate was £218. Higher specification rooms (views and suites) are available at higher rates. All rooms have walk-in showers.

Those rates are much higher than were quoted for Lincolnshire two years ago. This reflects the greater popularity of the area and the general increase in accommodation costs following the pandemic. The cost might be lessened by reducing the number of nights from 5 to 4 (Sunday night to Thursday morning) or by choosing an alternative hotel in the centre of Grasmere village.

Jim Flett, Holiday Organiser 2022, January 2022

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KNUTSFORD REX PROBUS CLUB: HOLIDAY IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE 13 – 18 SEPTEMBER 2020

The holiday in North Lincolnshire was cancelled on 8th July 2020 in view of the ongoing coronavirus situation. Although the hotel had reopened it was implementing the recommended Covid-19 precautions which would have detracted from a relaxing group holiday. Affected members were informed.

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KNUTSFORD REX PROBUS CLUB: HOLIDAY IN CONWY, NORTH WALES 8 – 13 SEPTEMBER 2019

 LUXURY ON THE NORTH WALES COAST

Our 2019 Probus Holiday took place between Sunday 8th and Friday13th  September, centred at the delightful contemporary 4* Quay Hotel and Spa located on the breath-taking Deganwy Marina, with lovely views over the Conwy Estuary and Conwy Castle, now a World Heritage site, in North Wales.

This fully non-smoking, privately owned and managed hotel has been meticulously designed throughout, and its architecture epitomises cool sophistication on the North Wales coast. The large, airy spaces, understated chic design and sharp styling combine to create a truly inspirational hotel experience. Wall-to-wall windows with sea views flood the interiors with natural light, and the use of specially quarried Welsh slate makes a thoroughly individual design statement. The rooms incorporate plush beds dressed in crisp Egyptian cotton, luxurious bathrooms and unrivalled in-room facilities.

Our visitors were particularly impressed by the finish of the hotel, its public areas and its large bedrooms, which are all maintained to a high standard. The hotel is located within a very high-class quiet and private estate of top-end villas. The moment you enter the 4 star hotel in Deganwy Quay you are welcomed into a world of comfort and a sense of belonging. Set on the idyllic Conwy Estuary, the Quay Hotel and Spa commands awe-inspiring views of the most magical scenery in North Wales and is located within easy reach of Snowdonia National Park, the neighbouring medieval town of Conwy and Victorian Llandudno, all within close access from Knutsford: “One Hour’s Drive and a Million Miles Away…”

Voted “Best Hotel in Wales”, one of the “Top Ten Luxury Seaside Hotels in Britain”, rated “Excellent” by Trip Advisor, with an AA rosette for food, and with masses of free car parking, this is set to be one of our best Probus Holiday venues!

Each of the hotel’s 74 bedrooms, consisting of Classic, Superior, Executive, Suites and Penthouses have been exquisitely created with all the extravagance and quality of comfort you would expect from one of the best hotels in Britain. Every one of the luxurious bedrooms offers sumptuous soft furnishings with elegantly-styled en-suite bathrooms. Each room provides 24 hour Room Service, Freeview TV and complimentary WiFi Internet access. The Executive Rooms, Suites and Penthouses present breath-taking vistas of the Conwy Estuary, Castle and mountains. The Classic Rooms enjoy views of the Deganwy Quay Marina, or the exquisite “Zen” styled courtyard. The majority of the bedrooms also boast garden or balcony seating to enhance your enjoyment of the stunning surroundings. We have inspected all of the room styles, and we can confirm that they are all of a generous size and with an excellent finish.

The holiday this year was organised by Richard Fenby and Brian Williams and started with drinks and dinner in the Castle Suite prior to which there was a planning meeting regarding the activities during the holiday. The philosophy of the holiday is that organised events are available for those that wish to participate although members are free to do as they choose with the proviso that everyone meets for a daily meeting over drinks followed by dinner.

On Monday there was a private guided tour of Conwy’s amazing 13th Century Castle during which the fascinating early medieval history was explained. Lunch was at the Groes Inn which lays claim to be the oldest pub in Wales. After lunch some of the group visited Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan Town House, Aberconwy House, the Royal Cambrian Academy and the Smallest House in Britain.

On Tuesday Jim Flett led a day trip on a steam train to Caernarfon and Beddgelert and starting at the northern terminus of the steam-hauled, narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway.

On Wednesday Brian Williams led an excellent all-day coach trip through the Snowdonia countryside to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, an amazing World Heritage Site. The party took a private Canal Cruise across the aqueduct with afternoon tea. Later in the afternoon there was a coach tour of the Vale of Llangollen before the return journey to the hotel.

 

On Thursday there were visits to various local tourist places including Penrhyn Castle, Betws-y-Coed, Aber Falls, Llandudno, Great Orme, Portmeirion Village, Powis Castle, Bodnant Gardens and Plas Nywedd.

 

On Friday some members joined Scott Martin for a 5 mile walk on the North Wales Coastal on the attractive Llyn Peninsula starting at Morfa Nefyn walking towards Nefyn, then to Porthdinllaen with lunch at the famous Ty Coch Inn and returning to across on the picturesque beach, before driving home the 100 miles to Knutsford.

At the final dinner on Thursday the attendees thanked the organisers for organising such a wonderful collegiate holiday. Apart from Monday, when there were some showers the weather was sunny but cloudy and there was no impact on the planned activities.