Travel through Yorkshire on a historic steam train and witness some of the incredible scenery and monuments that this unique county has to offer. From the historic city centre of York to nostalgic Brontë Country, each part of Yorkshire has something to enchant its visitors. Just wandering around the city of York provides an array of attractions for guests to marvel at including York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, and the National Railway Museum. As well as this charming city, Yorkshire has an abundance of natural highlights, such as the breathtaking Yorkshire Moors and the idyllic seaside town of Whitby.
Day 1 - Harrogate
Our tour begins in beautiful Harrogate where you meet your Tour Manager and the rest of the group at your chosen 3- or 4-star hotel*. The hotels are located close to the pretty town centre. Harrogate is a joy to explore with its beautiful parks and an abundance of historic buildings including the famous spa. Situated at the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the town is ideally located for exploring Yorkshire. Tonight, we dine together in the hotel. (D)
*Our hotels in Harrogate are the 4-star Holiday Inn, the 4-star Cedar Court Hotel, the 4-star Swan Hotel, the 4-star Holiday Inn and the 3-star White Hart Hotel. Each hotel is available on a number of departure dates. Please call us and we will be happy to confirm which tours will be staying in your chosen hotel.
Day 2 - Historic York
Today we travel by train on the scenic line from Harrogate to York for a guided tour of this beautiful city. York has a long and varied history. Founded by the Romans in 71 AD it became a Viking stronghold in 866 AD, and our tour brings the city's rich story to life. We see York Minster, the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, which was consecrated in 1472 AD and towers above the city's pretty medieval streets. Our tour ends at the National Railway Museum, where you have the opportunity to explore the exhibits. We return to Harrogate and dine in the hotel. (B,D)
Day 3 - Worth Valley & the Brontës
We travel west by coach to join the Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway*. Our nostalgic journey takes us through Brontë country, climbing the steep gradient of the Worth Valley to the village of Oxenhope. The railway is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1970 film 'The Railway Children'. We return by coach, via Haworth, where we visit the Brontë Parsonage, which was the home of the world's most famous literary family and is now a museum. It was here, amid the dramatic landscape of the Pennine moors, that Emily, Anne and Charlotte penned some of the world's best loved novels including Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. We return to Harrogate and dine together in the hotel. (B,D)
Day 4 - The North Yorkshire Moors Railway
This morning we travel by coach to the market town of Pickering where we join the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for an enthralling journey by steam* across the breathtaking landscape of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park to Whitby. We are accommodated in Heritage carriages as the train winds through hidden valleys, passing the 1912 style station at Levisham and Goathland, which was better known as 'Aidensfield' in television's 'Heartbeat'. You have free time in the traditional seaside town of Whitby to explore. (B,D)
Day 5 - Homeward bound
After breakfast you are free to depart from Harrogate, but perhaps you might wish to spend a little time exploring this pretty town first. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday
Please note:
Please note that the order of the excursions may vary from the itinerary described above.
* At time of publishing schedules are unconfirmed. Where possible the rail excursions will be steam-hauled.
Trains
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was first opened to traffic by the Midland Railway in 1867, designed to supply the local mills with the coal they required. After the Grouping of the Railways in 1923, the line became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and was later absorbed into British Rail in 1948.
The line continued until 1962, after the infamous Beeching Report suggested it should close. However, a preservation group was soon formed, and they quickly purchased the line from BR. The Keighley & Worth Valley was reopened in 1968 as a heritage railway, and remains the only preserved line to run at its complete original length.
Since its preservation, the railway has gone from strength to strength, and it is not difficult to see why; the line passes through five miles of the wild countryside immortalised by the Brontës, some of England's most beautiful scenery. The line was used to film The Railway Children in 1970, and has "starred" in countless other TV and film productions since, ranging from episodes of Poirot to Pink Floyd's The Wall.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The current section of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was originally opened as the Whitby & Pickering Railway in 1835, and operated using horse-power. It was designed to make Whitby more accessible to inland towns by traversing the difficult climb over the high moors. The popular line soon reached York, and continued on after grouping with the London & North Eastern Railway in 1923, and after Nationalisation in 1948.
In 1965, British Rail closed the line to passengers, and all services stopped the following year. However, the restoration campaign was rapid, and a section of the track was purchased from British Rail in 1967. The preservation group was allowed to keep a much larger section than originally planned, to prevent access roads and a cark park from spoiling the picturesque moors.
After a few short runs, the railway opened for full service in 1973, and has continued ever since. At 18 miles in length, the railway is the second longest preserved line in the UK. It is also the most popular with visitors, mainly due to the incredible, unrivalled scenery, and the options for many walks in the local area.
Accommodation
Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate
The 4-star Cedar Court Hotel is housed in a grade II listed dating back to 1671, which overlooks Harrogate's famous Stray parkland. The hotel has a restaurant, a lounge bar serving drinks, light snacks and afternoon tea, a gym and a lift between the three floors. All of the en suite rooms are air conditioned and come with a telephone, television, refreshment tray and a hairdryer.
Holiday Inn, Harrogate
The 4-star Holiday Inn is situated in the centre of Harrogate, within walking distance of the town's shops, restaurants and attractions. The hotel has two restaurants, a bar serving drinks and light snacks, a small gym and a lift between floors. Guests of the Holiday Inn also have complimentary use of the swimming pool, steam room, sauna and gym at The Academy - a health and fitness club located less than a mile away. The modern en suite rooms are air conditioned and come equipped with a telephone, satellite television, tea and coffee making facilities and a hairdryer.
The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate
The 4-star Old Swan Hotel has a history going back 200 years and is where author Agatha Christie famously disappeared for 11 days in 1926. Set in pretty gardens, the hotel is a short walk from Harrogate's town centre and has two restaurants, a lounge and a bar. When the weather permits, afternoon tea is served in the garden. The elegant, well-appointed rooms have a telephone, television, radio, tea and coffee making facilities and a hairdryer.
White Hart Hotel, Harrogate
The 3-star White Hart Hotel in Harrogate is located within walking distance of the town centre, close to Valley Gardens and the famous Betty's Tearoom. With a history stretching back over 200 years, the hotel today is housed in an elegant Georgian building and has a restaurant and a bar. There is a lift between floors. Newly refurbished for 2011, the rooms come with a telephone, television, tea and coffee making facilities and a hairdryer.
Extras
- Cancellation, medical & travel insurance: from £11
|
| Apr 05 2012 |
£295 |
| Apr 12 2012 |
£275 |
| Apr 20, 26 2012 |
£295 |
| May 03, 10, 17 2012 |
£295 |
| May 24, 25, 31 2012 |
£305 |
| Jun 01, 07, 08, 14 2012 |
£315 |
| Jun 21, 22, 28, 29 2012 |
£315 |
| Jul 01, 05, 12, 19, 26 2012 |
£295 |
| Aug 02, 06, 09, 13 2012 |
£295 |
| Aug 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 2012 |
£295 |
| Sep 06, 13, 20, 21, 27 2012 |
£315 |
| Oct 04, 05 2012 |
£295 |
| Oct 18 2012 |
£285 |
| Oct 25 2012 |
£275 |
|
|
Tour highlights
-
-
- Harrogate
- York including a guided tour
- York Minster
- National Railway Museum
- Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Railway
- Haworth and the Brontë Parsonage
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Whitby
What's Included
-
- 4 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Dinner on 4 evenings
- Guided tour of York
- Excursion on the Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway
- The Bronte Parsonage
- A day trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- The services of a Tour Manager
- Single room prices include the supplement for single occupancy throughout: £85
|
