From Angles to Angels: A Walk Through Bede's Northumbria

June 8–18, 2026

Pomona College Alumni Association Presents
From Angles to Angels: A Walk Through Bede’s Northumbria

Dear Pomona Sagehens and Sagehen Families and Friends,

Early in his monumental Ecclesiastical History of the English People (c. 731), the Venerable Bede recounts an episode in the life of Pope Gregory I (590-604), which he regarded as pivotal for the religious history of Britain. Gregory is passing through a marketplace in Rome, when he comes upon an auction block featuring a group of young slaves. Struck by their fair complexion, Gregory asks about them and learns that they are Angles, members of a Germanic tribe that, along with the Saxons and the Jutes, conquered Roman Britain more than a century before. Gregory’s response: “These are not Angles, but angels!” (Non Angli, sed angeli).

Shortly thereafter, in the year 597, Gregory commissioned a Roman-born monk named Augustine (who would eventually become the first Archbishop of Canterbury) to lead a band of missionaries to that far-off island in the north. Little did Gregory know that his Roman mission was not the only one operating in the British Isles at that time. An Irish monk named Columba had in 563 founded a community of monks on the island of Iona on the west coast of Scotland, from which he conducted missions of his own to the pagan kings of England. The Irish and Roman missionaries—whose rituals and organizational structures were troublingly out of synch—would find themselves competing for the hearts and minds of the Anglo-Saxon kings of England. Happily for us, the ups and downs of this struggle are captured in Bede’s wonderful account.

Our particular focus will be the Angle Kingdom of Northumbria, in the heart of which Bede lived out his entire life as a monk. At its greatest extent, the Kingdom of Northumbria stretched from the Firth of Forth in the north to the Humber River in the south, from the Irish Sea in the west to the North Sea in the east. Our itinerary, stretching from Edinburgh to York, allows us to appreciate the full extent of this remarkable early medieval realm.

Peter, Ben, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Ken Wolf 
Professor of Classics and John Sutton Miner Professor of History; Chair of the Faculty; Coordinator of Late Antique-Medieval Studies

Itinerary:

Sunday, June 7 Depart USA
Depart your hometown for Edinburgh, Scotland

Monday, June 8 Arrive Edinburgh, Scotland
Arrive into Edinburgh by 2:00pm. Ken and Peter will meet you at Edinburgh Airport for the transfer to Kelso and Schloss Roxburghe Hotel. Tonight, we enjoy a reception and dinner at the hotel. – R,D Schloss Roxburghe Hotel – a fine granite house outside Kelso

Tuesday, June 9 The Scottish Borders
We are on the move in the Scottish borders visiting Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott. After lunch, we walk through Eildon Hills to Melrose Abbey before returning to our hotel for the second night. – B,L,D 
Afternoon – 3 miles

Wednesday, June 10 Northumberland, England
Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, is a remote, isolated spur, cut off from mainland England at high tide. This was once home to Cuthbert, one of England’s earliest Christian saints. Explore the island, taking in the site of the original monastery. This afternoon follows the trail of Saint Cuthbert. After his death, the monks bore his body to its final resting place in Durham Cathedral. (Note: details of this walk are subject to change, dependent on tides). Later drive south close to the Northumbrian coast, where we spend the next two nights. - B,L,D 
Doxford Hall Hotel - a lovely country house hotel 
Morning – 4 miles – tide dependent 
Afternoon – 2.6 miles

Thursday, June 11 Northumberland
The coast of Northumberland is dominated by its magnificent castles. Our walk today takes us to one of the finest of these at Dunstanburgh from where we follow the excellent coastal path with fine views over the North Sea. In the afternoon we return to our hotel by road. 
Morning – 3.5 miles 
Afternoon – 2.5 miles

Friday, June 12 Durham
Our walk takes us along the most photographed and atmospheric section of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the area’s best preserved Roman settlement known as Housesteads. Continue by road to the superb city of Durham, where we spend the next two nights. – B,L,D
Durham County Hotel - a modern hotel in the center of Durham
Morning – 3.5 miles
Afternoon – 2.5 miles

Saturday, June 13 Durham
Set on a rocky peninsula above the River Wear, the medieval city of Durham is the site of England’s finest Romanesque cathedral and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here the remains of St. Cuthbert were finally laid to rest, and here, too, is the shrine of his biographer, the Venerable Bede. This is a gentle day with opportunities to explore the town in the afternoon and into the evening. - B 
City Walking

Sunday, June 14 Durham - Middleham - Masham
Middleham Castle was the lair of one of England’s most controversial kings, Richard III. Was he the monster Shakespeare depicted – or a maligned and misunderstood hero? We begin our walk at medieval Bolton Castle before descending to follow the beautiful valley of Wensleydale to lunch. Later we climb onto the gallops at Middleham before walking on to Richard’s castle. After our visit drive on to our splendid hotel in the heart of Yorkshire for a two-night stay. - B,L,D 
Swinton Park Hotel - a lovely castle set amidst gardens 
Morning - 3.5 miles 
Afternoon – 2.5 miles

Monday, June 15 Masham
A short drive leads to the start of our walk leading us to the delightfully fortified farmhouse at Markenfield, surrounded by its charming moat. Later we continue on our way to the fine park of Studley Royal and the isolated, evocative ruins of Fountains Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery to be built in the North. It was dismantled by Henry VIII in the 16th century but still retains its capacity to inspire awe. - B,L,D 
Morning – 2.5 miles 
Afternoon – 2 miles

Tuesday, June 16 York
Travel to Whitby, home of the great Synod of 664, when the two traditions of Christian England met. Now this great town is famous as the Gothic capital of England and the setting for parts of Bram Stoker's wonderful Dracula. Later we continue to York and our lovely hotel located just outside the city. - B,L,D 
Middlethorpe Hall – a fine Queen Anne mansion outside of York 
Morning – 1.5 miles 
Afternoon 2.5 miles

Wednesday, June 17 York
Today we concentrate on York, once capital of the North, second city in the realm and full of rich history. We spend today in the city itself as we walk along its medieval walls and narrow lanes. There is plenty of free time this afternoon to explore the city on our own. Later we return to our grand country house hotel just south of the city near the Archbishop’s Palace for our farewell celebration. - B,D
City Walking

Thursday, June 18, Depart Manchester
Transfer to Manchester Airport for your flight home. The transfer time is approximately 2.5 hours so please make your flight departure after 11:00am. - B

Trip Inclusions:

• Group transfers from Edinburgh Airport on June 8 at 3:00pm.
• Departing from Manchester Airport on June 18, flights after 11:00am.
• 10 nights hotel accommodations based on double or single occupancy
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary: R= Reception, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
• Lunches and dinners include bottled water and wine
• Hotel taxes and service charges on quoted services

Trip Exclusions:

• Cost of obtaining a passport and/or visa
• Communications costs, such as phone calls, emails, and faxes
• Any items of a personal nature
• Any items not included in Trip Inclusions
• International air reservations

Cost Per Person:

$8790.00 per person based on two people sharing a twin-bedded room. The trip cost is based on a minimum of 15 paying participants. We reserve the right to cancel this trip if a minimum number of participants is not reached. 

A limited number of single rooms are available at an additional cost of $1915.00. 

A deposit of $2,000 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment is due no later than March 8, 2026. 

Should you cancel your trip for any reason before March 8, 2026, a $1,000 per person cancellation fee is charged. If you cancel between March 8 and April 8, 2026, a fee equal to 50% of the tour cost is charged. No refund can be paid if cancelled after April 8, 2026. If we can resell your booking, a $500 per person transfer fee will be charged. 

Airline tickets have separate charges and cancellation fees depending on fare paid and date of change or cancellation. TRAVEL INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

Conditions and Contract:

Travelstore VIP is the principal tour operator and is responsible to the participants for all arrangements and for all tour services and accommodations offered in these tours. Travelstore VIP, its agents, servants and employees shall not be responsible for personal injury or property damage, loss or delay, or change of itinerary incurred by any person or tour participant arising out of the act or negligence of any direct or supplemental air carrier, hotel or other person rendering any of these services, or accommodations being offered in this tour; nor shall Travelstore VIP be responsible for any injuries, death, damages, loss or delay in any means of transportation or by reason of any event beyond the actual control of Travelstore VIP or of any agent supplier or due to force majeure. The right is reserved to decline or accept or to retain any person as a member of a trip, or to cancel a trip, due to circumstances beyond the control of Travelstore VIP. 

If the contract between Travelstore VIP and the passenger, on the one hand, and/or the contract between Travelstore VIP, and the designated carrier, on the other hand, is cancelled by the tour operator for any reason whatsoever, all partial or full payments made for the trip will be refunded in their entirety, without further obligation on the part of the tour operator.    

The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category or change schedules without prior notice should circumstances so demand. In the event of a change in the itinerary necessitated by factors or conditions 
beyond the actual control of Travelstore VIP, no refund can be made, nor will credit be allowed, provided that in the event of such change in itinerary, Travelstore VIP shall attempt to provide accommodations and services of comparable quality and standards as set forth in the brochure. 

Any such change shall not modify the cancellation provisions in the brochure. No credit will be allowed, or refund given for any services provided in the Itinerary and Conditions List should any such services not be utilized by the tour members. Availability of refunds for air transportation depends on the type of air tickets purchased, and the point at which transportation is not used. 

Travelstore VIP shall not be responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveler in conjunction with other actions, omissions, or conditions outside Travelstore VIP’s control including terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or construction difficulties, diseases, local law, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions, or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or other conditions outside Travelstore VIP’s control. 

PASSPORTS: The U.S. State Department recommends that all travelers’ passports remain valid for six months beyond their expected return date. They also recommend that all travelers’ passports have a minimum of at least two blank pages left or travel may be refused to certain countries. 

INSURANCE: Travel insurance for travel accident, loss/damage/delay of baggage, flight insurance and trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Applications will be sent on request. 

OPERATORS: This program is operated by Travelstore VIP of Irvine, California, and Duende Travel, UK, and hotels listed in the itinerary. 

For further information, please contact: 
Travelstore VIP 
Karen Goodrich
18881 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1400
Irvine, CA 92612
Tel: 949.930.9288
Email: Karen.Go@Travelstore.com