Escape the crowded streets of York for a full-day sightseeing tour of the Yorkshire Dales, and discover one of England’s most dramatic landscapes. Departing York at 09:15 the tour heads to the Yorkshire Dales national park, well known for its beautiful rolling hills and lazy rivers which flow down the dales (or valleys). Enjoy a day touring “God’s own country”, which Yorkshire is often called because of it’s natural beauty and unspoilt countryside but don’t just take our word for it – come and see for yourself.
First stop will be in the market town of Masham in Lower Wensleydale. Famous for its family-run breweries, steam engines, and annual sheep fair, it’s thriving market (Wednesdays and Saturdays) is still going strong 762 years since the 1st charter.
Continue towards Middleham, nestled between 2 rivers. Travel through the gently sloping Dales towards Castle Bolton, where you will see some of the best scenery Yorkshire has to offer. Pause to look at its magnificent castle with the largest castle keep in the North of England.
Admire one of Britain’s best-preserved medieval castles at Castle Bolton, built by Sir Richard Le Scrope to rival the most luxurious homes in the land. See the scars of its 600-year history, including its involvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace, Mary Queen of Scot’s imprisonment, and a Civil War siege.
Afterwards we continue the journey through the stunning landscapes of Yorkshire traveling towards Aysgarth Falls on the River Ure. Here you will have the chance to view the famous waterfalls, which drops over three major falls in less than one mile. An amazingly scenic stop, the falls are a showcase of the beauty of nature and were also the settling for a famous scene in the Hollywood film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. The three stepped waterfall has been a firm favourite with tourists for over 200 years. It’s said that William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy visited the falls while they waited for their coach horses.
For lunch we head to the charming market-town of Hawes. Nestled in Upper Wensleydale in North Yorkshire this beautiful place is surrounded on all sides with scenery the Yorkshire Dales is famous for. It is simple beautiful.
Travel over the Buttertubs pass which connects Hawes and the hamlet of Thwaite with spectacular views over the surrounding valleys and fells. In recent days, the pass was featured as the second King of the Mountains climb of the 2014 Grand Depart of the Tour de France.
Hawes is also home to the Wensleydale Creamery, famous for its array of cheeses which are much loved by fictional, animated characters, Wallace and Gromit. Hawes marketplace was first recorded in 1307 and still has a lively market every Tuesday. Enjoy the delights of Wensleydale Creamery including the visitors centre and cheese tasting room. Explore the creamery and have a taste of the real Dales in their sample room. There is plenty of time to shop for your favourite cheeses and marvel at the beautiful surroundings the creamery sits within.
Finally we will follow the Dales scenic route back to the medieval city of York, driving through picturesque villages and classic Dales villages, with stops along the way so you can photograph the memorable landscapes which you will treasure forever.