Yorkshire Dales and Moors

Your holiday starts at the Gisborough Hall country house, with a warm welcome from our Tour Manager. This grand hotel is situated in the market town of Guisborough, not far from Yorkshire's east coast, on the edge of the scenic North York Moors.

Surrounded by stunning landscapes which include the Roseberry Topping hill, and set in sweeping grounds, this Victorian hotel has a peaceful ambience with a reputation for high quality cuisine and attentive service.

After settling in, there's time to discover the town at leisure. Guisborough has an interesting heritage and you could seek out the ruins of its ancient priory and high street with its traditional shops, cosy cafés, and a friendly community spirit. Later, we gather with the rest of our group for the first three-course dinner of our holiday.

• Dinner

Setting out after breakfast, we drive to the coast, pausing at the picturesque village of Goathland, before arriving in the quaint fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay. Walking through its jumble of historic cliffside cottages down to the bay, we hear intriguing stories about the bay's smuggling history on a guided tour, before continuing to the lively harbour town of Whitby. There's time before lunch to explore this iconic seaside town at your own pace, from its dramatic clifftop abbey to its charming cobbled streets and sandy beach.

After visiting an award-winning fish and chips restaurant for lunch, you're at leisure to discover more of Whitby before we drive to the village of Grosmont to join the scenic North Yorkshire Moors Railway*. With its steam engines and restored carriages, this heritage railway takes us through Yorkshire's best-loved landscapes, ancient woodlands, and heather-clad moors. We leave the train in Pickering and drive back to our hotel in time for dinner.

Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we drive to Castle Howard, one of England's most well-known stately homes, the setting for the film series 'Brideshead Revisited'. Set in the Howardian Hills, we have exclusive access to the house, enjoying private entrance before it opens to the public. We are also free to visit the beautiful Walled Garden, Atlas Fountain and Temple of the Four Winds which has fantastic views across the hilly landscape.

Leaving the grandeur of Castle Howard, we continue to the market town of Malton. Widely regarded as 'the food capital of Yorkshire', Malton showcases the region's celebrated culinary offerings. Here we take part in a Yorkshire Pudding masterclass, learning the secrets to this iconic Yorkshire staple, followed by a walking food tour of the town's gastropubs and independent eateries, stopping along the way for tastings.

After the tour, there's time to discover the streets at your own pace. You could revisit some of the wonderful local producers we visited on our tour or sample more of the town's delights. We return to our hotel at the end of the afternoon, with time to unwind before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we visit the Wensleydale Creamery, home of the popular Yorkshire cheese. After looking around, seeing live cheese-making demonstrations and sampling the delicious produce, we enjoy an exclusive afternoon tea in Hawes. The Laburnum House Afternoon Tea celebrates the best of Yorkshire ingredients - Wensleydale, The Dales, and Yorkshire - supporting British Farming and Yorkshire Artisan food producers.

After our lunchtime treat, we head to Leyburn for a ride on the heritage Wensleydale Railway*. This scenic journey takes us through the idyllic Yorkshire Dales, passing farm meadows, rippling hills, and pretty villages. Leaving the train in Leeming Bar, we join our coach and head back to our hotel with time to relax before dinner.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Afternoon Tea and Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, it's time to say our goodbyes and check out of the hotel. As you head home, you are certain to carry with you memories of beautiful Yorkshire. Alternatively, you could continue exploring the county's stunning countryside, historic towns, and peaceful villages independently.

• Breakfast