Welcome to Yorkshire Dales National Park
The Yorkshire Dales – named from the old Norse word dalr, meaning 'valleys', and protected as a national park since the 1950s – are beloved as one of England's best hiking and cycling areas. The park's glacial valleys are characterised by a distinctive landscape of high heather moorland, stepped skylines and flat-topped hills, punctuated by delightful country pubs and windswept trails.
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Yorkshire Dales National Park activities
Yorkshire Dales Day Trip from York
This small-group guided day trip from York takes you to the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Wensleydale, Littondale and Nidderdale. The tour departs at 9.00am from a centrally located meeting point near York Minster and heads off for the Yorkshire Dales National Park.To ensure personal service and comfort, the tour capacity is limited to 16 passengers and the Minicoach is equipped with air-con. The first stop is at Wensleydale’s most famous landmark, the 14th century Bolton Castle which once housed Mary Queen of Scots, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy and photograph the magnificent views over Wensleydale, learn a bit about the history of the area from your Guide, or just have a leisurely Yorkshire Brew in the medieval castle’s Tea Room!The tour then follows the scenic route to Hawes, passing through the traditional Dales village of Askrigg, the filming location for "Darrowby" in the James Herriot "All Creatures Great and Small" TV series.You will have one and a half hours free time in Hawes, the highest Market Town in England, where you can maybe grab some lunch and sample the cheeses at the world famous Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre, visit the Dales Countryside Museum or just explore the quaint shops and cafes of the town itself - the choice is yours! After Hawes you will head into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park for some photo stops as you pass through the picturesque villages along the meandering route of the River Wharfe.You will arrive in the traditional Dales village of Kettlewell, made internationally famous in 2003 as the main filming location for the Calendar Girls movie. You can explore the village and learn more about the true story behind the movie, or just enjoy a beer or coffee with the locals in one of the pubs and cafes - whatever you prefer! Continue your journey through the beautiful countryside of the National Park, passing Kilnsey Crag and the village of Grassington, then into the rolling hills of Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty.The final stop is in the charming little town of Pateley Bridge, category winner in the Great British High Street Competition in 2016, where you will have the option to visit "The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World" (2014 Guinness Book of Records), before heading back to York.The tour arrives back at the meeting point in York at around 5:15pm but you should not book onward travel arrangements too close to the time of arrival back in York just in case of traffic problems.
York to Yorkshire Dales, Fountains Abbey Small-Group Day Trip
Meet your small group and driver/guide in York city center at 8:45am, ready for your full-day tour of the Yorkshire Dales in a comfortable, climate-controlled minibus. To get the best out of the day's weather, the exact order of the itinerary is fine-tuned every day. A typical day starts with a scenic drive to Knaresborough to view the ruins of Knaresborough Castle and the stunning views of the Nidd Gorge. You'll then arrive at one of the highlights of the day: the magnificent estate of Studley Royal Park and the ruins of Fountains Abbey (own expense). A UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the twelfth century, Fountains Abbey was once one of England's leading Cistercian monasteries, and its ruins are some of the best-preserved in the UK. You'll have one hour 45 minutes at leisure here to appreciate not only the ruins but the glorious 18th-century landscaped estate that houses them. Stroll through the Georgian water gardens with their elaborate follies, follow walking trails through Studley Royal Park, or enjoy coffee and cake overlooking the lake at the Lakeside Café. As you leave, admire the deer in the Medieval Deer Park, where herds from three species roam freely across the vast estate grounds.Heading into the Yorkshire Dales National Park, you'll have chance to see the famous landscapes of Yorkshire and the gorgeous rural villages that line the valleys. After passing through the historic village of Middleham, breaking for a photo at Middleham Castle where King Richard III grew up, you'll reach the stunning Aysgarth Falls, a tumbling series of low, wide waterfalls that featured in the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. You'll have some time to explore the dramatic Upper Falls before continuing through Wensleydale to Hawes. Here you'll have some time at the famous Wensleydale Creamery, where you can taste the local cheese and have the opportunity to see it being made in the cheese-viewing gallery. Next, the route winds up the spectacular Buttertubs Pass, one of England's most striking roads: you'll pause at the top to look down into the butter tub formations that gave it its name, before dropping down into Swaledale valley. After passing through the village of Muker you'll have a remarkable drive on an amazing winding route up and over the hilltop to Wensleydale. Pausing to take in the natural scenery and the breathtaking peace and tranquility of this unspoilt backroad, you'll get a real feel for the remoteness of the area and the beauty of the region. Our route out of the Yorkshire Dales takes us to the village of Castle Bolton for a photo stop at the ruins of Bolton Castle. The drive back to York takes about one hour: you'll be back in the center around 5:30pm.
Haworth, Bolton Abbey and Steam Trains Day Trip from York
Starting in the morning from York, this guided day trip provides the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to explore Bronte Country and the scenic and picturesque Yorkshire Dales National Park. To ensure personal service and comfort, the tour capacity is limited to 16 passengers and the Minicoach is equipped with air-con.The tour departs from opposite the Dean Court Hotel in York city centre (near York Minster) at 9.00am and heads off for Bronte Country, with your Tour Guide telling you about the history and features of the area as you pass through. The first stop is at the Bingley Five Rise Locks where you will see the highest Staircase Lock in the UK, a spectacular feat of engineering constructed in 1774 as part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. You can explore and photograph the working locks, or just enjoy a leisurely Yorkshire Brew and soak up the local atmosphere in the nearby cafe.You will then arrive in Haworth, on the edge of the rugged Pennine Moors, where the Bronte family lived from 1820 and the sisters wrote their famous novels, for a two hour stop over lunchtime. You can visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum and the Bronte Memorial Chapel in the nearby Church where their father preached, or just explore the quaint shops on the cobbled main street and have a leisurely lunch in one of the traditional cafes - the choice is yours!On leaving Haworth you will head up Penistone Hill to admire and photograph the moorland views towards Top Withens, where the sisters walked to gain inspiration, before travelling north into Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park for another photo stop at the falls in the picturesque traditional Dales village of Linton.The next stop is at Bolton Abbey, where entry is free and you will have time to explore the Priory Church and ruins of the 12th Century Augustinian Priory in its beautiful riverside setting, or maybe take the stepping stones challenge if you are feeling more adventurous!After leaving Bolton Abbey, you will visit the nearby Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway (as seen on “Great Railway Journeys” with Michael Portillo), where you will have the option to take a steam train ride through the picturesque Yorkshire Dales scenery between Bolton Abbey and Embsay Stations at a special discounted rate of £5 for adults/£2.50 for children (available mid-March through to October and paid locally on the day with no need to book ahead).The Minicoach with any passengers not wishing to take the train continues the journey by road to meet up with the train passengers at Embsay Station before heading back to York, passing through Harrogate and learning a bit about the history of this famous spa town.You will arrive back at the meeting point in York at approximately 5.45pm but should not book onward travel too close to the arrival time just in case of traffic problems.
Private Group Yorkshire Dales Day Trip from Leeds
Starting in the morning from Leeds, this private guided full-day trip takes you to the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Wensleydale, Littondale and Nidderdale. The tour departs at 9.00am from any location in Leeds of your choice and heads off for the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The first stop is at Wensleydale’s most famous landmark, the 14th century Bolton Castle which once housed Mary Queen of Scots, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy and photograph the magnificent views over Wensleydale, learn a bit about the history of the area from your Guide, or just have a leisurely Yorkshire Brew in the medieval castle’s Tea Room! The tour then follows the scenic route to Hawes, passing through the traditional Dales village of Askrigg, the filming location for "Darrowby" in the James Herriot "All Creatures Great and Small" TV series. You will have one and a half hours free time in Hawes, the highest Market Town in England, where you can maybe grab some lunch and sample the cheeses at the world famous Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre, visit the Dales Countryside Museum or just explore the quaint shops and cafes of the town itself - the choice is yours! After Hawes you will head into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park for some photo stops as you pass through the picturesque villages along the meandering route of the River Wharfe. You will arrive in the traditional Dales village of Kettlewell, made internationally famous in 2003 as the main filming location for the Calendar Girls movie. You can explore the village and learn more about the true story behind the movie, or just enjoy a beer or coffee with the locals in one of the pubs and cafes - whatever you prefer! Continue your journey through the beautiful countryside of the National Park, passing Kilnsey Crag and the village of Grassington, then into the rolling hills of Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty. The final stop is in the charming little town of Pateley Bridge, category winner in the Great British High Street Competition in 2016, where you will have the option to visit "The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World" (2014 Guinness Book of Records), before heading back to Leeds. The tour arrives back in Leeds at around 5:30pm but you should not book onward travel arrangements too close to the drop-off time, just in case of traffic problems.
York & the Lake District: Small-Group Tour from London (5-days)
Day 1: Your journey begins by departing London and travelling to your first stop, the university city of Cambridge. Whilst here you'll be able to visit some of the famous colleges where the likes of Stephen Hawking and Sir Isaac Newton studied, and perhaps partake in a Cambridge tradition; punting. After lunch you’ll continue north to the historic city of Lincoln. Here you can visit the Cathedral or explore the historic castle where you can see an original copy of the Magna Carta, written in 1215. Day 2: This morning, your first stop is the charming spa town of Harrogate before traversing the beautiful green valleys of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You'll meander along country lanes towards the stunning Asygarth Falls, which featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. After lunch in the market town of Hawes, enjoy the scenery on your way into the Lake District. This afternoon you’ll visit Grasmere, where you can try the famous gingerbread and visit Dove Cottage; home of the famous poet Will Wordsworth. Day 3: Today you'll travel around the highlights of the Lake District. You’ll start at Hill Top; home of Beatrix Potter, author of the Tales of Peter Rabbit. Next, soak up the mountain scenery as you negotiate the Honister Pass; one of Britain’s most dramatic roads. After lunch in the market town of Keswick you’ll stop at the ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle; thought to be over 4,000-years-old. This afternoon travel you'll see the beautiful Ullswater Lake, with a stop at Aira Force Waterfall. Then it's back to Lake Windermere with time to explore and perhaps take a boat trip. Day 4: This morning you’ll travel back to York, where you’ll have the afternoon free to explore this beautiful and historic city. There’s lots to do here, including; a visit to the magnificent York Minister, discovering the celebrated National Railway museum, taking a wander along the city walls, learn about the Roman and Viking history of the city, navigating through the historic central streets known as ‘The Shambles’, or joining one of the famous ghost tours. Day 5: Your final day begins by travelling to the Peak District National Park to visit Chatsworth House. This is one of Britain’s grandest stately homes; famous for its connection to Pride & Prejudice and as the home of the Duke of Devonshire. After ample time to explore this astonishing house and grounds, you’ll travel south to Stratford-upon-Avon; the home of the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare. Here, you can discover Shakespeare’s story and the visit many places with a connection to him, like his birthplace. Now it's time to return to London where your adventure concludes. Overnight locations: York (1&4) and Lake Windermere (2&3)
Bronte’s Parsonage and Historic Yorkshire
We leave York heading west to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales before making our way above Ilkley and up to the famous landmark of the Cow and Calf Rocks and the famous Ilkley Moors where the unofficial Yorkshire Anthem was penned. Enjoy a hot brew in the Café and take in the views over Wharfedale and Ilkley in the Valley below or for the more energetic head up explore the moors a little. We then head for Salts Mill. In the centre of the industrial West Yorkshire the Mill was the focal point of Saltaire Village. The World’s first Model village designed to improve the health of the mills employees and of course increase its profits. We stop at the grade II listed building which has been converted into gallery, shopping and food complex as well as a small museum about the mills history. In its time the mill was the largest and most advanced mill in the world its architectural design is inspiring. From here it is a short scenic drive through more of West Yorkshire where the Railway children was filmed and into Haworth. Your Driver will drop you outside the Bronte Parsonage where you will have plenty of time to explore the Parsonage and learn all about the famous family. You can take lunch in one of the traditional pubs, cafes or tearooms and potter around the plethora of unique shops. After Lunch we take another scenic drive out of the industrial west and into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Just a mile into the boundary of the Park we stop at Bolton Abbey. A 12th Century Abbey ruin, with the unique feature of its priory church standing and still in use after rest of the sire was dissolved. The abbey ruin, located on the banks of the River Wharfe is of referred to as “one of the most Beautiful historical sites in England” and has inspired artists like Turner and writers like Wordsworth.