Yorkshire Guides and Tours
Ripley Castle and Fountains Abbey
Depart 09.00 hours and travel to Ripley Castle for a guided tour – this can be followed with tea/coffee by special arrangement with Sir Thomas Ingilby, Lord of the Manor. Depart Ripley, passing through beautiful countryside en route to Fountains Abbey. Our estimated time of arrival will be 12.00 with approx one and a half hours to enjoy the many interesting features of Fountains Abbey, returning for approx 14.30 hours.
Ripley Castle – The home of the Ingilby’s for over 600 years, the Castle contains a wonderful range of works of art and other miscellany. These range from one of the finest collections of Majolica in the United Kingdom, to a Priest’s secret hiding hole, a Treasure Chest and an amazing suit of Royal Greenwich armour. In the Knight’s Chamber, you will see the 1555 ‘Waggon Roof’ ceiling and panelling, thought to be virtually unique in this country. You can stroll around the Capability Brown designed walled gardens and grounds and admire the herbaceous borders and beautiful lakeside views.
Fountains Abbey - Founded by Cistercian Monks in 1132, Fountains Abbey is the largest monastic ruin in Europe. Situated on the banks of the River Skell, the Abbey ruins provide the dramatic focal point of the 18th century landscape gardens at Studley Royal. This is one of the few surviving examples of a Georgian green garden. Famous for its water gardens, ornamental temples, follies and magnificent vistas, the garden is bounded at its western edge by a lake and 400 acre deer park.
Half-day Tour to Lower Wharfedale and Ilkley Moor
Depart 09.30 hours and travel by way of Farnley Park to Otley. From Otley we climb over Otley Chevin and onto Ilkley Moors. We will pass the Cow and Calf Rocks, where we enjoy excellent views of Wharfedale, before dropping down into the picturesque market town of Ilkley. A short break here before returning to Harrogate by way of Addingham and Bolton Bridge. A stop could be made for coffee at the Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey where there will be time to look around. Our return time will be approx 13.00 hours (subject to coffee stop at Bolton Abbey).
Bolton Abbey - Woodlands and pastures in a bend of the River Wharfe make a fittingly peaceful setting for the remains of this once-powerful 12th-century priory. Most of the structure lies in ruins, but the Nave has served as a parish church for hundreds of years. The river can be crossed by stepping-stones or a footbridge here, and attractive riverside walks extend from the ruins to the Strid Gorge.
Half-day Tour to Harewood House
Harewood House
Depart early afternoon (14.00 hours) for a scenic drive, travelling by way of Knaresborough, Follifoot and Rudding Park to Harewood House.
Harewood House – Built in 1759 by Carr of York and Robert Adam, the interior is a superb example of Adam’s style with Chippendale furniture. Home of the Earl of Harewood, the House is a treasure store of works of art including Sevres and Chinese porcelain as well as English and Italian paintings. The park and gardens were designed by Capability Brown and in the grounds is the famous Harewood Bird Garden.
There will be time for a cup of tea/coffee at Harewood before returning by way of Kirkby Overblow, Lower Wharfedale and Almsford Crag back to Harrogate/York.
Half-day Tour to York
York Minster
Depart Harrogate at 13.00 hours and travel to York, arriving near the Minster, the largest Medieval Cathedral in Northern Europe, at 14.00 hours. Join your Yorktour guide for a tour of the Minster, followed by a sightseeing walking tour of the city centre. Afterwards, free time for shopping or perhaps a visit to the famous Jorvik Viking Centre in Coppergate. The award-winning Yorkshire Museum, where some of the finest Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Medieval treasures ever discovered in Britain are displayed is also worth a visit. Depart York at 16.30 hours, returning to Harrogate for approx 17.30 hours.
Half-day Tour to Newby Hall
Depart at 13.00 hours and travel to picturesque Newby Hall for an afternoon visit.
Newby Hall - Set in 25 acres of glorious gardens, the Hall is a fine example of an 18th century stately home. It is famous for its Adam interiors, the world-renowned Gobelin Tapestries, Greek and Roman sculpture and selections of fine Chippendale furniture.
We can suggest an afternoon tea stop at the Crown Hotel in the pretty village of Roecliffe or the Crown Hotel in historic Boroughbridge before returning to Harrogate for approx 17.30 hours.
Half-day Tour to Haworth
Haworth
Depart at 12.00 hours, travelling via Blubberhouses Moor, Bolton Bridge and Addingham to enjoy magnificent views as we climb and descend from Silsden Moor. Continue via Keighley into Haworth, arriving at approx 14.15 hours.
Haworth - World-famous as the home of the literary Bronte sisters. During your visit there will be time to look around their former home – the Parsonage and to enjoy a walk through the quaint cobbled streets, which are lined with cafes, restaurants and craft shops.
We depart Haworth at 16.30 hours and return by way of Silsden Moor, Addingham and the picturesque market town of Ilkley, returning for 18.00 hours.
Half-day Tour to Grassington and Wharfedale
Depart Harrogate at 09.30 hours and travel via Beckwithshaw and Norwood Edge to Bolton Abbey. This journey follows the River Wharfe, through beautiful Yorkshire Dales scenery to Burnsall, where coffee can be taken at the Red Lion. Continuing to the quaint market town of Grassington, here you will have time to look around the many little craft shops or relax in the local tearooms. Our return journey from Grassington will be by way of Hebden and the Stone House Moors, from where you will enjoy magnificent views of the Washburn Valley and Nidderdale.
Half-day Tour to Ripon (Market Day – Thursday)
Depart 09.30 hours and travel via Scriven and Burton Leonard to Ripon (one of England’s oldest cities). At Ripon you will be able to see one of Yorkshire’s best and most extensive country markets, with a host of varied stalls. You may wish to also visit the magnificent Cathedral that dominates the city skyline – this lovely 12th century Cathedral boasts a Saxon crypt which may be the earliest Christian example in England as well as a beautiful 15th century screen.
Coffee can be arranged at the Spa Hotel if required before departing at 13.00 hours to return to Harrogate for approx 13.30 hours.
Half-day Tour to Ripon (on Market Day – Thursday) and Ripley Castle
Depart at 08.30 hours and travel direct to Ripon (one of England’s oldest cities). You will have time to browse around one of Yorkshire’s best and most extensive country markets, with its huge variety of stalls. A visit to the magnificent Cathedral is highly recommended. The 12th century Cathedral features architecture from Saxon times and superb examples of work by local carvers. It also boasts the North of England’s finest example of medieval stained glass. There are numerous cafes and restaurants in Ripon, where you can take refreshment before travelling to the historical village of Ripley. Here we make a short stop in which you will have time to look around the Castle and, if required, a guided tour of the Castle can be arranged with the owner Sir Thomas Ingilby. Depart Ripley at 12.30 hours and return for approx 13.00 hours.
Full Day Tour to Castle Howard
Depart at 09.30 hours, travelling through beautiful Yorkshire countryside, by way of the villages of Boroughbridge, Helperby and Raskelf. Continue via the Hambleton Hills area, Byland Abbey and Helmsley, where coffee can be arranged at The Feathers Hotel. Our route takes us to the Howardian Hills and via Hovingham to Castle Howard. Lunch could be arranged at the Castle’s excellent restaurant, following which there will be free time to look around this magnificent palace designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1699.
Castle Howard - Considered one of the most stunning private homes in England – a classic for all time. Most famously, Castle Howard was used as the location for TV’s award-winning series, “Brideshead Revisited”. The beautiful rooms and galleries are filled with family treasures: paintings, furniture, china, and tapestries. The Great Hall, 70 feet high, is a soaring triumph of English architecture. In the Costume Galleries, new selections are shown every year from the largest privately owned collection of original period costumes in Britain. Surrounding the house are extensive grounds with two lakes, a fountain, Vanbrugh’s Temple of the Four Winds and the world-famous Mausoleum designed by Hawksmoor. Within the walled garden are rose gardens, pyramid and sundial gardens and a plant centre.
At 16.00 hours we depart Castle Howard, returning approx 17.30 hours.
Full Day Tour Herriot Country Tour
Depart at 09.30 hours and travel by way of Boroughbridge and the quaint villages of the York Plain to Thirsk, where coffee can be arranged at the Golden Fleece Hotel. In Thirsk, we make a short stop to view Herriot’s surgery or perhaps visit the Church of Mary Magdalene where Herriot was married. Continue by way of Northallerton to the market town of Richmond, where lunch can be arranged at the excellent King’s Head Hotel. During the afternoon our route takes us through the rugged valley of Swaledale to Thwaite and over the famous Buttertubs Pass into Wensleydale.
A special visit to Askrigg is a must for the ardent Herriot fan who will recognise many of the landmarks featured in the series “All Creatures Great and Small” such as the King’s Arms Hotel where Herriot used to enjoy a drink. From Askrigg we follow the River Ure down to Aysgarth Falls, enjoying the magnificent views of the Falls and making a stop for afternoon tea. Return by way of Wensley, Middleham, and Masham to arrive back approx 18.00 hours.
Full Day Tour to the North Yorkshire Moors and Whitby
Whitby Port and Abbey
Depart at 09.15 and travel through the quaint villages of the York Plain with a chance to view the White Horse and Byland Abbey en route to Helmsley on the edge of the North Yorks Moors. The imposing semi-ruin of Helmsley Castle dates back to the 12th & 13th centuries whilst the massive keep was added in the 14th century and Tudor period domestic buildings were in use until the early 18th century. Helmsley itself has a sense of dignity and the spacious market square shops, inns and town hall reflect centuries of peace and prosperity. If time permits, coffee can be taken at Helmsley, at either the Black Swan (part of which is Georgian), or The Feathers.
Continue to Pickering (a country town with a Monday market, a castle, trout farm, and the Beck Isle Museum of Rural Life) to join the North Yorks Moors Railway. Whatever the time of year, a trip on the railway is something to remember as you experience the nostalgic pleasures of steam travel via moor, dale, woodland and waterfalls. At Grosmont the coach will transfer you back to Pickering where lunch can be taken at the Forest and Vale Hotel. Alternatively, you may prefer to travel onwards to Whitby to enjoy a traditional Fish & Chip lunch and a free afternoon to explore the old town which lies beneath the dramatic Abbey on the East Cliff. Around the Market Place is a maze of red-roofed houses, narrow winding streets and steep alleyways. Optional visit to the sandstone ruins of the 13th century Abbey with its infamous Dracula connections before returning over the moors and via Guisborough, expected arrival back at 18.00 hours.
Full Day Visit to York
Depart 09.30 hours, travelling through Knaresborough and Green Hammerton to York. On arrival, optional coffee stop at St Williams College before a short walking tour to see York’s finest buildings and the magnificent Cathedral – the largest of its kind in northern Europe. Close to the Minster is a maze of narrow old streets, of which the Shambles is the most famous. The town walls still stand and a walk around them serves as a good introduction to the old city. Lunch could be arranged at one of the city’s hotels, after which a visit to the Jorvik Viking Museum in Coppergate is recommended to experience a journey 1,000 years back in time to an exact reconstruction of a Viking street, complete with the people, sounds and smells of the era! Alternatively, take an afternoon river cruise or hit the local shops. Depart York at 16.15 hours, returning by way of Marston Moor and Wetherby back to Harrogate for approx 17.00 hours.
Full Day Fountains Abbey and Herriot Tour
Depart Harrogate at 09.30 hours and travel via the historical village of Ripley, to Fountains Abbey. Here we make a short stop to view the grounds and the Abbey.
Fountains Abbey – Founded by Cistercian Monks in 1132. it is the largest monastic ruin in Europe. Situated on the banks of the River Skell, the Abbey ruins provide the dramatic focal point of the 18th century landscaped garden at Studley Royal. This is one of the few surviving examples of a Georgian green garden. Famous for its water gardens, ornamental temples, follies and magnificent vistas, the garden is bounded at its northern edge by a lake and 400-acre deer park.
From Fountains Abbey our route takes us by way of the cathedral city of Ripon, towards Masham (home of Theakston’s Brewery). We then take a route via Thornton Watlass Moor and Bedale to Richmond, where lunch can be arranged at the King’s Head Hotel.
Richmond is one of Yorkshire’s most splendid historical market towns. It is famous for its Castle, which can be seen high on its fortress setting above the River Swale and its huge Norman keep dominating the old market place which affords incomparable views over the whole town.
After lunch, travel through Swaledale and over Bellerby Moor into Upper Wensleydale. Our route includes Leyburn and the Herriot villages of Redmire, Carperby and Askrigg. Our return journey takes us past Aysgarth Falls, where we make a short stop and through Wensley, Middleham and Masham back to Harrogate for approx 17.30 hours.
Five Yorkshire Dales Full Day Tour
Depart at 09.30 hours and travel through picturesque Nidderdale and over the Stone House Moors into Wharfedale for a short stop at Grassington. Free time for coffee at the excellent Grassington House Hotel or a look around the many little craft shops. Continue into Upper Wharfedale and over the Kidstones Pass for glorious views of Wharfedale and Bishopdale. A lunch stop can be made at the Rose and Crown Hotel, Bainbridge, or the Falls Motel, Aysgarth before a scenic tour through beautiful Wensleydale, travelling to Hawes and over the Buttertubs Pass into Swaledale. Afternoon tea can be taken at the King’s Head Hotel in Richmond, returning to Harrogate by way of Leyburn, Middleham, Masham and Ripon to arrive back approx 18.00 hours.
