York, Dales, Lake District & Hadrian's Wall

  • Sightseeing Tours

    York, Dales, Lake District & Hadrian's Wall

Tour length

5 days

From

1409.00$1409.00

Departs Mondays and Thursdays from Edinburgh

Mondays:  April 1 to October 28, 2024

5 Days spent discovering the best of northern England - the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. Highlights include Alnwick Castle, York and York Minster, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, the Yorkshire Dales,  Lake Windermere, Wordsworth’s Cottage, Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Borders.  

Stay 2 nights in the historic city of York and 2 nights in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District (during July this tour may stay in Windermere instead).

DEPARTURE FROM EDINBURGH: Gate J & Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew's Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DX
The tour departs at 9:15am and returns at approx. 7:00pm on Day 5.

Itinerary


Day

1

Berwick

Monday

You depart the cosmopolitan city of Edinburgh and follow the magnificent East Lothian coastline towards the walled border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
After stopping to admire the fortifications, you continue to Bamburgh Castle. This immsense seaside fortress has stood guard over the Northumberland coastline for over 1400 years and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.
Leaving Bamburgh behind, you travel towards the city of York on the Great North Road, a route that has carried countless Roman legions between the remote Northern outposts and the more populous settlements of Roman Britannia. In the late afternoon, you arrive in York; your base for the next two nights.

Overnight - York


Day

2

York

Tuesday

Is a leisurely day that gives you the flexibility to spend time exploring the medieval heart of York, a city whose rich history goes back to the time of the Romans, Vikings and the Normans. Then join our excursion to the North Sea coast of Yorkshire. Our journey begins in the late morning when we head for the magnificent North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

Lunch will be in Whitby, a bustling fishing port and the inspiration for the fertile imagination of author Bram Stoker, who stayed in the Royal Hotel on the western side of Whitby while writing his famous novel Dracula. After lunch and free time in Whitby, we travel to the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay*; a perfectly preserved conservation village of winding lanes and narrow alleys before returning towards York.

Overnight - York
* Robin Hood’s Bay - The minicoach cannot access the main village because of local restrictions. The coach will drop you at the top of the village and you must walk down (and back up!) a steep hill to reach the old village centre.


Day

3

Yorkshire Dales

Wednesday

You will be collected from your accommodation and head west into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Established in 1954, the Yorkshire Dales National Park has outstanding scenery, a range of wildlife habitats and a rich cultural heritage. It’s a special place – a fantastic outdoor arena for recreation and peaceful relaxation and a haven for wildlife.

Continuing West our route takes us through the Northern Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty that is the centre of the Dales cattle trade. Our final leg of today’s journey takes us high up into the remote hills of the Yorkshire Dales before descending into the lively market town of Keswick** where you will be dropped off at your accommodation and are then free to explore this charming town.

Overnight - Keswick **
** During July/early August this tour may stay in Windermere instead.


Day

4

Ullswater & Windermere

Thursday

After breakfast you head a short distance out of town to the mysterious Castlerigg Standing Stones, thought by many to have been built over 5,000 years ago and the scene of ancient rituals. You then travel on to the shores of Ullswater described as England’s most beautiful lake, where you can take a forest walk to see the mighty Aira Force waterfall.

Continuing south over the narrow and winding Kirkstone Pass you stop at Windermere where you have the option to take a leisurely cruise on the Lake or simply eat lunch while enjoying views of the mountains and lakes. After lunch you travel around the southern tip of Windermere and on towards Coniston Water and shortly afterwards you arrive at the picturesque conservation village of Hawkeshead, where the poet William Wordsworth attended Grammar School.

After free time to explore the village you take the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, which Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. There is free time to visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage or enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. In the late afternoon you return to Keswick.

Overnight - Keswick** 
** During July/early August this tour may stay in Windermere instead.


Day

5

Hadrian's Wall

Friday

Leaving the Lakes behind us we start our climb towards Hartside Pass, at over 1,900ft - on a clear day the hills and mountains of Scotland and the English Lake District are clearly visible.

We follow the route of the old sheep drovers road between England and Scotland. Stopping at Hadrians Wall, built by Emperor Hadrian to keep the Scots out of the Roman Empire, there’s an opportunity to explore some of the Roman remains and walk in the footsteps of the Roman Centurions who patrolled this desolate frontier of the Empire.

Following the ancient Roman Dere Street, we cross the border into Scotland and continue on to the Border town of Jedburgh for refreshments by the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Our final stop is at the world famous Scott’s View with stunning views over the River Tweed and the Cheviot Hills that form the border between Scotland before continuing north to Edinburgh for 7:00 PM arrival.


Availability

Room Type Single/ B&BDouble/ B&BSingle/ HotelDouble/ Hotel
Apr 1-May 31$1649.00$1649.00$1409.00$1409.00$1929.00$1929.00$1679.00$1679.00
Jun 1-Sep 30$1679.00$1679.00$1439.00$1439.00$1969.00$1969.00$1719.00$1719.00
Oct 1-Oct 28$1649.00$1649.00$1409.00$1409.00$1929.00$1929.00$1679.00$1679.00

Prices are per person in Canadian Dollars.
Exclusions: Lunch, dinner and refreshments. Entrance fees to all Visitor Attractions. (Admissions to: Bamburgh Castle, Windermere Lake Cruise & Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum included).
CHILDREN: Under 5 years of age are not accepted.​
Child rates available for 5-11 years sharing with 2 adults.  Please call for rates.

Luggage is restricted to one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg (44lbs.) and one small hand/day bag to go on the coach with you. Unfortunately, Rabbie’s are unable to store excess luggage.

Tour Highlights

  • Bamburgh Castle
  • York Minster
  • Robin Hood's Bay
  • Yorkshire Dales
  • Lake Windermere
  • Scottish Borders
  • Wordsworth's Cottage

Tour Inclusions

  • Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour. Air Conditioning as standard. Services of a professional local driver/guide.
  • 4 nights ensuite accommodations
  • Full Scottish breakfast daily
  • All ferry and bridge crossings
  • Admissions to: Bamburgh Castle, Windermere Lake Cruise & Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum

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