Yorkshire Dales & Moors

We meet the rest of our small group and Tour Manager at our hotel, near to the market town of Guisborough. Our home for the next 4 nights is the 4-Star Gisborough Hall, an idyllic, ivy-covered hotel set in a 19th-century Jacobean style mansion house and surrounded by peaceful grounds and sprawling countryside. Marrying traditional Victorian features with luxurious contemporary touches, Gisborough Hall provides an ideal base for our explorations of Yorkshire. Breakfast is included each day, and dinner is expertly prepared for us each evening.

• Dinner

Today we travel into the heart of the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors to the delightful seaside town of Whitby. From its Benedictine hill-top abbey, perched atmospherically atop the east cliff and reached by 199 winding steps, to its charming cobbled streets, beautiful piers and stretches of sandy beaches, Whitby is a joy to explore. Known for its fish and chips and abundance of award-winning seafood restaurants, we have the opportunity to indulge in this traditional seaside staple with a visit to an award-winning local restaurant for a fish and chip lunch.

After some time to further explore the charms of this captivating coastal town at your own pace, we transfer to Grosmont, a peaceful village nestled in the heart of the Esk Valley whose enchanting 1952 themed railway station serves as the starting point for our journey on the spectacular North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Meandering through the wild, unspoiled landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors, we travel in beautifully-restored carriages to the market town of Pickering, from where we drive back to the hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We travel by coach to Hawes this morning, for a visit to the Wensleydale Creamery - home of the eponymous Yorkshire cheese. We enjoy some time to explore the museum, where we have the chance to see live demonstrations from experienced cheese makers. The cheese and gift shop here is also a delight to visit, selling over 20 varieties of delicious hand-crafted cheeses. Following our visit, we have free time for lunch in Hawes, a lovely market town set in the heart of the breathtaking Yorkshire Dales National Park.

This afternoon, we embark on a journey aboard the heritage Wensleydale Railway. First opened in March 1848, the line was reopened as a passenger line in 2003 and is now largely run by dedicated volunteers. We are treated to a splendid afternoon tea on board as we delight in the exceptional beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, passing through some of the country's most scenic landscapes and seeing quaint villages and bustling market towns as well as verdant hills and woodland. We alight in the village of Leeming Bar, and transfer by coach to our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we make the short journey to one of the country's grandest stately homes, Castle Howard. Made famous by Brideshead Revisited, Castle Howard is set amid a 1,000-acre estate in the rolling Howardian Hills Area of Natural Beauty. It was designed for the 3rd Earl of Carlise by his friend Sir John Vanbrugh - his first foray into architecture - and took over 100 years to complete, with construction beginning in 1699. The finished house is nothing short of breathtaking and features a stunning symmetrical Baroque design, crowned by an iconic central dome. We have exclusive access to the house, with a private tour before the house is opened to members of the public. We visit the Walled Garden, a tranquil paradise populated with fragrant roses and an ornamental vegetable patch; discover the outstanding water features, including the intricately sculptured Atlas Fountain; and see a myriad of beautiful temples and monuments, such as the Temple of the Four Winds.

Later, we travel to Malton, a thriving Yorkshire market town with an abundance of old-world charm, where we have some free time to explore. A glorious hive of gastropubs, independent eateries, and even a food court serving local produce, Malton showcases the very best of the region's culinary offerings, and has earned a reputation as the "food capital of Yorkshire". We immerse ourselves in Malton's passion for gastronomy this afternoon as we set off on a walking tour of the artisan food and drink offerings, visiting a number of local eateries for tastings. We enjoy a farewell dinner together at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a final breakfast together in the luxurious surroundings of Gisborough Hall, your tour comes to an end and you are free to make your way home, bidding a fond farewell to our magnificent Yorkshire adventure.

• Breakfast